Chapter 51:

  The Ptinum Lotus

  (Denny POV)

  She couldn't believe it. How could she? Everything had been pnned so meticulously, and yet in one moment everything fell apart. The one she had hoped to protect slipped through her fingers in a blink of an eye, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

  His words haunted her, "Sorry for dragging you into this."

  "Damn it!" she clenched her jaw, smming her fist into the ground, "I should be the one saying that!"

  If only she hadn't agreed to this stupid pn, but if she didn't...then she couldn't guarantee the safety of those she loved most. They had given her a home when no one wanted her. They were the closest thing to a family that she had. "No..." she corrected herself, "They are family."

  Her heart was beating a thousand miles per hour, blood pumping through her veins as the anger, fear, and sorrow of the st few minutes hit her like a truck. She had no idea just how bad the people she worked for were until recently. They had approached her when she had awakened and taught her how to use her powers.

  She had been grateful. Whenever they needed a hack or to find someone...she did. It was easy for her, and why not? They had given her a good job that allowed her to send the occasional gift to her family. "Mom...Dad..." she mented, "I'm sorry. I lost Lucas..." She of course was referring to Kate and Theo, the only people she recognized as her parents.

  Those she worked for had used them against her. A while back, they had asked her to...adjust some documents in order to get some kids into a college. She didn't really think much of it. With the world as it was, it was hard to get into a decent school. Besides, she wasn't exactly the most w-abiding citizen.

  Then, Lucas appeared on the news. She couldn't believe it. Dating the most famous Pyer in the world. Elizabeth Falcrest. She had to talk to Mom and Dad about it, only to find out that they didn't know. It was just like him to get caught up in the moment and forget to tell anyone.

  She was happy for him, of course. She hadn't seen him smile like that in...forever. It wasn't long before those she worked for realized that their st names were the same, and that she had been fostered by his parents. They approached her with a proposition, which was a little suspicious. They wanted her to investigate him. Watch him. Why? What interest was he to them?

  It was a little concerning, but she did it regardless. It allowed her to keep tabs on him herself. Make sure he was okay. Though, she didn't always have eyes on him. It wasn't like she could have twenty-four seven surveilnce on him, as much as she would have liked to. There were limits to what she could do.

  Before she had lost contact with one of her drones, she had managed to snap an image of him with a woman at Starfall Pza. Denny believed she was his bodyguard from the outfit. It was subtle at first, but her employers were very insistent on looking into the one who guarded him.

  Maya. A woman of mystery who had, up until this point, been Elizabeth Falcrest's personal assistant and bodyguard. It didn't make much sense to Denny at first...until she was told about Orchid.

  When she had been apprehensive about investigating further, she had received a summons to meet with someone rather important. Hector Lockhart. He was a young man with a tanned complexion and strong jaw. A rather imposing figure with midnight bck hair that seemed to draw in all light.

  Two things stood out about him to Denny. A nasty scar across the left side of his face. It cut across his eyebrow and down his cheek, leaving his left eye with a silver hue. Otherwise, both eyes were a piercing grey that seemed to look through her. The other, he always wore gloves, never taking them off.

  Apparently, he was one of the benefactors of the company she worked for. A shareholder with an immense pull over the company, but whose name never appeared on any documents. She knew when someone was trying to hide themselves. Yet, when she met with that man...she felt the pressure and presence from him like no other.

  It was him who expined who Orchid was. They expined that Maya was Orchid, and she had been hiding herself from justice. They had no proof to expose her, however, and needed help. Because she is close to Lucas, they feared for his safety.

  She had been a fool to believe them. At the time, they said they were being careful because of how resourceful Orchid was. She had, after all, gotten close to Elizabeth Falcrest. Not to mention, she was a high ranking Pyer of the Association. They couldn't move easily with all of that protecting them. Denny understood, and so discreetly began to look into Maya and tried to connect the dots to Orchid.

  According to many databases, Maya was just a normal, everyday person who worked for Elizabeth Falcrest as an assistant. However, she soon found other documents that were scrubbed rather thoroughly, but not enough that she couldn't piece them back together. Photos that depicted Orchid she reconstructed and compared to various images of Maya. It was...not easy.

  The photos didn't match. The first thing she looked at was height. Comparing the two of them, Orchid was slightly taller than Maya, and a little bulkier. Many believed that Orchid was a man, and since they were registered as Unspecified with the Association, she couldn't rule it out.

  She only had a breakthrough when she was called to meet with Hector Lockhart once more. She was given a photo that they conveniently found from when Maya was apparently younger. She was shown with a cold, emotionless expression as she stood over the bodies of several men...all dead. She couldn't have been older than nine, maybe ten.

  How could such a young girl kill so many and with such a heartless gaze? Denny's blood went cold when she compared the photo with a more recent one of Maya. Running it through several algorithms confirmed that they were indeed the adult version of this child. How did they have this? Who were these people?

  Her curiosity, and concern for Lucas, had her look into that very question. It was honestly pretty easy. Too easy. They had lured her in. Allowed her to find out who they were, and all pretenses dropped. The Ptinum Lotus. An organization of several families with prestigious bloodlines that went back ages. Possibly to the Middle Ages and beyond.

  They worked in the shadows to manipute the world, and they had used her for their own agenda. Suddenly, everything made sense. All the jobs she had done for them...how many had she helped condemn to death? Just what kind of danger did she put Lucas in? She had to do something to help him...and so she made a deal.

  She didn't really care about who Maya was. She didn't know her. All she knew is that by just existing next to Lucas put him in danger. She invited Lucas here to get him away from them so that the other agents could make their moves. They were interested not only in Maya, but apparently...she had a sister. A sister who went to the same college as the ones she had helped forge documents for.

  "I'm sorry..." Denny felt the regret pile up inside of her, tears beginning to pool in her eyes, "You're right. I didn't know anything..."

  She saw the look in his eyes when those photos were released to the public of him and Maya together. She thought that he had been fooled by her. She had hoped to talk some sense into him, but...he had known everything. She should have known.

  His response when she mentioned Orchid over text wasn't someone who was confused, but rather...someone who had intimate knowledge. "No..." she shook her head, "I knew. I just didn't want to believe it..." She had still held out hope that he would listen to her, but now she knew for sure.

  When he spoke about Maya, his eyes told her the truth. That soft, empathetic nature of his...Denny didn't know the full truth, and that's why when they arrived, she didn't put up a fight. Arriving in an ethereal, infernal bze was Elizabeth Falcrest. She was accompanied by no other than the woman in question...and another that Denny knew. Hannah Rosengard. Maya's sister.

  "You!" Maya was focused in, walking quickly over to her as she brandished a bde that Denny was rather familiar with, "What have you done!"

  "Maya, wait!" Hannah went to reach for her, but was shrugged off.

  "What have you done!?" Maya repeated, the tip of her bde pressed against the underside of Denny's chin.

  All Denny could do was stare vacantly past her.

  "I...failed," Denny muttered, "I just...wanted to protect him."

  Elizabeth was standing by the railing of the terrace, looking down with a keen interest below. However, Denny could feel the pressure from her, and as she turned a cool gaze upon her, she found it hard to breath.

  "Maya, put those away," Elizabeth ordered coolly, "She's not the one we're after."

  "But El, she's the one who...!" she began, only for her words to be cut off as the creature which protected her knocked her bde away.

  It floated there before Maya and Denny, what hair it had bristling, gring intently at Maya.

  "Azure...move," Maya ordered, but it didn't listen.

  "Azure..." Denny thought, thinking the name fitting. She didn't know why it protected her, but she was about to find out.

  "No!" A voice came out of it, surprising not only Denny, but all those gathered, "Lucas. Master. Ask. Protect. Safe. Even if...you."

  Denny then noticed that the creature, Azure, was...shaking. It was terrified, but determined to protect Denny at all costs because...Lucas had asked them to. This caused the tears to well up even more in Denny's eyes. Did she really deserve to be protected after not only putting Lucas further in danger, but getting him kidnapped as well?

  "Azure..." Maya's voice growled, taking a step forward, only for the woman known as Hannah to step in front of her, arms out protectively.

  "Big Sis..." Hannah stood her ground, staring them down, "Is this what Lucas would want?"

  This, surprisingly, gave Maya pause as she recoiled slightly. She looked at her sister with what Denny could only describe as an accusation that said "That's unfair". She couldn't believe it, but...Maya relented, twirling her bdes into a rexed position and taking a step back. Though, she did give Denny a sharp gnce.

  "You are family to him," she grumbled, looking away in defeat, "He'd be sad if you got hurt..."

  "W-What?" Denny couldn't believe it.

  The woman that she had been told was a monster. A killer with no remorse...was sparing her life because of Lucas. Not only that, but she seemed genuinely concerned with making him sad. Did she really...care about him?

  "Phew, good," Hannah let out a relieved sigh, "Now that everyone has calmed down. How about we talk about what we do next? They obvious took him to rattle us, so...Big Sis El?"

  Hannah tilted her head and began to step in front of Denny again as Elizabeth began walking towards her. Elizabeth stopped before Hannah, pcing a hand on her shoulder.

  "I'm okay, Hannah," she assured, "Lucas doesn't want her harmed, and so she won't be."

  Denny wanted to believe those words, but the pressure she felt from this woman...it was more intense than Hector Lockhart. When she had been before him, Denny had felt like she couldn't breathe, but before Elizabeth Falcrest...it felt like if she did breathe, she might die. So, she held her breath, waiting for the pin the drop.

  Walking past Hannah, Elizabeth stood before Denny, looking down at her as she reached towards Azure. She pet the little guy, who happily snuggled against her hand before curling around her arm and perching atop her shoulder.

  "Good boy," she praised him, scratching under his chin, "You obeyed Lucas admirably, so I won't bme you for what happened. Him, however, we'll have to talk with once we find him."

  A shiver went up Denny's spine, and a feeling of sympathy went out to Lucas. She didn't know what was going to happen to him, but she knew just from vibe alone that this woman would keep her word.

  "Now then, Denny, was it?" Elizabeth inquired, and it took everything in her to nod, "Right, well...are you ready?"

  "F-For what?" Denny asked, finally taking a breath and chancing a gnce up at her.

  She was met with vibrant, emerald gold eyes that shimmered with an inner ethereal fme. Her face set in what could only be described as grim resolution. She was ready to go to war.

  "Why, to fix the mistake that you made," she smiled warmly, or perhaps it would have been given any other circumstance, but in this instance, it held a rather sinister tone, "You're going to help us take down The Ptinum Lotus."

  -----

  (Lucas's POV)

  I didn't know where I was. All I knew is that we arrived somewhere...luxurious. The room we appeared in had been rather barebones with a sigil carved into the floor. A return point it seemed for the crystal. I've pyed enough games and read enough stories to understand how some magic might correte to the current state of the world.

  When we left the room, they didn't bother blindfolding me. Though, they did reach into my pockets and pulled everything out, immediately destroying my phone. However, they failed to be as thorough as they should have been. My earring...and the two sapphire encrusted cuff-links. They were a new addition gifted to me by Ellie. A unique item that could also take the form of a bracelet.

  "Aww, so much for my daily logins," I bemoaned.

  "Shut up," one of the people who held me said, "You'll not speak without permission."

  "Pfft," I scoffed, rolling my eyes, "Okay, sure."

  The man who had attacked Denny stepped forward, looming over me. He gred with disgust, his nose wrinkled as if he smelled something foul.

  "Let's see how long you keep up that attitude," he spoke with a superiority, "You're lucky we're being kind, but continue to speak out of turn, and...well, you don't need your tongue."

  "My wife would disagree," I retorted with a mischievous smirk, "Though, I should warn you. Touch me, and you'll quickly regret it."

  "Is that so?" he sneer down at me, grabbing my lower face firmly and drawing his bde, "We'll see about that."

  "Boss..." one of the others cautioned.

  His eyes looked towards the one who spoke, begrudgingly releasing me with a rough shove.

  "You're right," he stated and took a calming breath, "You're not worth sullying our hands. We're above that."

  "Whatever you tell yourselves," I chuckled.

  Honestly, I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. While I knew I was well protected, I had no idea how far they had taken me. How long would it take for Ellie and Maya to find me? "Well, if they understand why I protected Denny..." I thought, hoping that she was safe. I had protected her for several reasons.

  One, she was family. Whatever reason she helped The Ptinum Lotus for, it wasn't out of malice. I didn't bme her at all. Two, she had the highest chance out of everyone to know where I was. Even with the earring's tracking ability, Denny had worked for them and most likely had a backdoor into their systems, as well as knowledge about their facilities.

  She might not know every location, but it would help narrow it down if, somehow, the tracking on my earring was blocked. Of course, that would take a Pyer, or item, of a high enough skill level. The Ptinum Lotus might just have such a thing.

  I had to be prepared, and Denny would be incredibly useful in helping Ellie and Maya take down these bastards. I just hoped they could forgive me for making such a rash decision. I'd have to make it up to Ellie for worrying her again, not to mention...Maya was probably worried as well.

  "Get up," one of the goons ordered, "Walk."

  They tied my hands and pushed me forward. I had no choice but to follow. The moment I left the room, I was immediately hit with a grand view of a rge, overly decorated hallway with vaulted ceilings. The walls were made of a dark wood while the floors were made of grey marble and covered by an intricately woven rug. Its fibers were maroon and gold with depictions of leaves and vines woven into it.

  Tapestries hung from the wall bearing insignia and scenes I didn't quite recognize, and like a scene out of time, there were sconces made of gold hanging on the wall, lit by some kind of ever burning fme. It simply hung there, unaided by any kind of fuel that I could see.

  There were no windows, even as we walked down the hall through twists and turns. It felt like I was in some royal castle, but underground somewhere. Heavy wooden doors lined the halls, each carved intricately with the same insignia upon it. A golden circle engraved into the wood with the depiction of a silver, or I suppose ptinum, lotus flower.

  "Kind of on the nose, isn't it?" I asked as we walked, gncing at one of the doors.

  "Quiet," a woman ordered, shoving me forward, "Keep walking."

  "Yeah, yeah," I stumbled a bit, but continued walking.

  I couldn't really get my bearings, but soon things began to change. The halls grew a little wider until we appeared before a double door engraved with the insignia of The Ptinum Lotus on both sides. However, unlike the other doors we passed, the metal parts were all gilded in gold, or perhaps was made of real gold.

  "Wait here," the leader ordered, not even looking back at me.

  I was pulled to a stop, surrounded on all sides by about six people. "This feels important..." I thought, feeling that something was off. They wanted me as a hostage, but why bring me somewhere so...fancy? I knew they weren't affording me some kind of luxury.

  No, while they upheld appearances of high society and sophistication, they didn't strike me as someone who would afford their captives with hospitality. That was, of course, unless they wanted to put on a show. It made me wonder...who was behind these doors?

  -----

  (Maya's POV)

  She knew that she shouldn't have let him go alone. She knew it, and yet he had talked her into it. Now, he was taken by the very people who had made her entire life a living hell. Everything that had happened to her as a child was because of The Ptinum Lotus. Her parents had raised her as the perfect weapon. An Assassin Bride.

  She had killed more than she knew before she had ever hit adolescence. They documented her progress and listed her on auction. She had been nothing but a product. She still remembered that day when her parents were about to sell her.

  ~Fshback~

  A red dress that reached her ankles. Put into uncomfortable shoes and a ribbon tied around her neck. Her hair was long, but put up in a fanciful bun. Her mother, for the first time in her life, was gentle with her.

  She held her face, putting on blush and other makeup.

  "Remember to smile," her mother said, "Just as we practiced."

  Her mother was a beautiful woman with long, luscious red hair and tanned complexion. Maya felt nothing as she smiled the way she was taught. She knew how to make someone believe her smile. The way to make her eyes light up with life, despite the emptiness behind them.

  "That's my girl," her mother praised, making Maya sick, "The Lockhart's will be here soon with their son. Be sure to greet them properly."

  "Yes, Mother," Maya answered, only to feel the familiar sting and taste of iron as her mother backhanded her.

  "Do not speak," she ordered coldly, "Now look what you've done. We have to start over. Hold still."

  That's right. Speaking was prohibited unless asked a direct question, and she should only reply in as concise a manner as possible. Her mother didn't ask her a question, and so she had spoken out of turn.

  "Aya!" the voice of Hannah filled her ears, the only time her heart felt anything, "Woah! Pretty!"

  Hannah had opened the door to the room she had been being prepared by her mother.

  "Hannah, what have we said about barging into rooms?" her mother inquired softly, though Maya's trained ears could hear the restrained venom.

  "Sowwy, I miss Sisser Aya!" Hannah still had trouble saying certain words, but that made her even cuter.

  "Even so, your big sister has an important event today," her mother expined, covering the red mark left by her hand with some makeup, "Where is your father, Hannah?"

  "Right here," a dapper man with a gruff voice called, stepping up behind Hannah, "So this is where you were, Hannah."

  "Mhm!" Hannah beamed up at him innocently, completely unaware of the vileness behind that man's smile.

  Her father was a man who prided himself on his appearance. With a well-trimmed beard and auburn hair swept back. He always wore a suit, often with embellishments like tassels and filigree. He offered his hand to Hannah, who took it happily.

  "Come on, let's leave your sister alone," he told her, gncing over at Maya with a wicked glint in his eye, "She has to prepare, don't you?"

  Maya looked to her mother for permission, who nodded subtly.

  "Yes, Father," Maya answered, "Go with Father, Hannah."

  "Okay!" Hannah smiled, waving her goodbyes as the door shut behind them.

  "You did well," her mother praised again, "Continue to do so, and your sister will remain blissfully unaware. Fail, and...well, she does have a pretty face, doesn't she?"

  Maya's anger fred, gring with violent intent at her mother before she could restrain herself.

  "If you touch her..." Maya spoke coolly, not caring if she would be hit again, "I'll kill you."

  Her mother's hand went up, but stopped. Maya met her gaze unflinchingly. Strangely, for a brief moment, her mother seemed to smile as she slowly lowered her hand.

  "Just remember who taught you how to kill," her mother told her, "If you think you're good enough, by all means...you're welcome to try."

  Her mother's eyes glinted with a killers gre. Maya was confident in her skill, but she did wonder...was she good enough to kill her mother? She wasn't sure. For now, she was afraid for her sister's safety, and so...she recalled a girl who had come to her a few years ago.

  "Elizabeth Falcrest..." Maya thought of the name, wondering if her words were true. That she'd truly come and save them. Was she capable enough?

  She would come to find out just how capable Elizabeth was when that red dress she wore was caked in the blood of her parents, the ribbon upon her neck y in a pool of their blood, and the Lockhart Family had run from the scene.

  ~End Fshback~

  Their son had dared to try and touch Hannah, and then aimed to put hands on Maya. She had grabbed a nearby table knife, taking both of his hands. His screaming had brought everything to the attention of their parents. The Lockhart's ordered Maya captured and punished, and Hannah to be taken away.

  Something inside of Maya broke that day. Petals of red. Thorns that bit into flesh. Rending and tearing. She embodied Orchid fwlessly that day. She had hoped Hannah wouldn't remember, that she had been too young, but...looking at her now as they drove across the city, Maya had to wonder if she had simply pretended not to know.

  The outcome of that event led to her mother losing an arm and leg, and her father was put into a coma. Though, shortly after...both were disposed of, and Maya held a vendetta against The Ptinum Lotus ever since. She wanted to personally destroy them, staying Elizabeth's hand.

  All of this happened when she was ten. When she regained her senses, the Lockhart's had run away and Hannah had feinted. Maya herself was in shock for the first time ever. An eerie calm washed over her as she called the number that Elizabeth had left to her. Within minutes, the woman, or rather girl at the time, appeared with an entire force that swept through the manor and secured the area.

  They were taken to safety, fed and clothed, and then allowed to rest. However, Maya was single-minded. Against Elizabeth's caution, she donned the persona of Orchid and went on to hunt those in the Ptinum Lotus, specifically the Lockhart's. This had proven to almost be a huge mistake, if not for the fact that she had pnned for it.

  Maya was fourteen when it happened. She had refined the lessons that her mother had taught her, ingratiating her way into a party of high society. There is where he was. Hector Lockhart, the Heir to the Lockhart Family. The target of her ire.

  The desire to kill him was strong, but he was surrounded by fawning attendants. Daughters of families trying to earn his favor. She noticed he had repced his hands, most likely with high-tech prosthetics, but one couldn't tell with the gloves he wore. Despite the obstacles, she utilized what she had been taught and charmed her way into his good graces.

  Arrogance was his weakness. Pride in his status. No one would dare attack him here, especially not someone from four years ago that he probably tried so hard to forget, but she would help him remember. As he let down his guard, alone away from the party, she meant to kill him. Unfortunately, luck was on his side that day.

  As she struck a nasty blow, carving in the left side of his face, a patrol was passing by that shouldn't have been. She had checked the guard rotations several times, but one of them deviated. They heard his cries over the music, rushing to his defense. He ran as she fought off the incoming guards. She wished to give chase, but had to retreat.

  "Damn it..." Maya knew what The Ptinum Lotus was capable of. In her time chasing them, she found the remnants of their "entertainment". Torture, death games, and...worse. Yet, she could never pin it on them. Documents burned. Traces erased.

  The only thing left in their wake were the people broken or dead by their hands. Those broken were too far gone to testify, even with Hannah's healing after she had awakened to her power. For many, it had simply been too long. For the rest, there just wasn't enough evidence even with their testimony.

  Right now, Lucas was in their grasp. It was the first time that Maya felt such a heavy anxiety. If anything happened to him...she didn't know what she would do. Yes, they would find him. That was certain, but until then, what was happening to him? The thought scared her.

  "Maya," Elizabeth's voice called to her, breaking her from her thoughts, "We will find him. Isn't that right, Denny?"

  Elizabeth looked over to the woman in the car with them. She sat next to Elizabeth with a ptop open before her. The screen reflected in her eyes that darted quickly about as if in a trance. A teal aura flickered around her body, fingers moving quickly on the keyboard.

  "Narrowed it to within five miles," Denny answered, eyes never leaving the screen, "You said you lost contact with the item immediately?"

  "Yes," Elizabeth answered, "Whatever they have, it's blocking an S-Rank item."

  "No problem," Denny spoke quickly, "I'll break through. They won't harm my brother."

  Elizabeth smiled slightly, a little amused and a bit pleased, but Maya saw in her eyes the deep fear and worry that she tried to hide...as well as the murderous intent she was keeping at bay.

  "That's right..." Maya told herself, "I'm not the only one..."

  She cared for Lucas, but so did Elizabeth. Maya couldn't comprehend what she was feeling after she had lived all those lives. In each one, she had lost Lucas. Just the mere thought caused Maya's heart to ache with a pain that threatened to drown her.

  She wouldn't let that happen. She couldn't let it happen. She wouldn't let Elizabeth go through that again, and Maya refused to lose him.

  Denny controlled the car with her skill [Takeover] as it sped through the city, each light turning green as they passed. Maya looked out of the window as they drove, thinking to herself in desperation, "I'm coming, Lucas. Just hold on..."

  -----

  (Lucas's POV)

  Honestly, I didn't know what I was expecting. As the leader of those who captured me entered the room, he was in there for at least a minute before ordering me inside. The room was rather rge, enough for a rge desk against the left wall, a firepce and sitting area against the right, and then a lounge at the far back. It came complete with a bar.

  Almost everything was made of dark wood. From the bookshelves behind the desk to the furniture. It all held a sense of wealth. Accented in gold and decorated with lush upholstery. Paintings hung above the wall, and one in particur drew my attention.

  That of a ndscape which hung above the firepce. It depicted a vast medieval estate. Like something out of history. "I knew they were obsessed with their heritage, but...come on," I scoffed to myself, being pushed forward into the room.

  There was someone sitting before the firepce in a chair, a drink on the table next to them. From the looks of it, whiskey or brandy of some kind. I wasn't that much of a drinker, so I had no idea. All I knew is that they were the ones in charge.

  There were already people in the room, several individuals in suits and a bartender at the back. Most of them stood at attention, the only one really sitting comfortably was the one in the chair. As I was pushed forward, the person motioned with a gloved hand to a chair opposite of them.

  "Sit," they spoke with a low, smooth voice, "I've been waiting."

  I hated them already. The tone they used was both self-important and aloof. As if they had better things to do than talk to you, but you should be grateful they deigned to grace you with their presence. As I was shoved down into the chair, a hand on my shoulder to keep me in pce, I looked towards the one who had spoken.

  A man with dark hair that drew in the firelight, almost devouring it save for a few flickers of orange. That same light was reflected in grey eyes that stared into the pit of fmes. Though one, the left, held a silver hue from the nasty scar which marred the left side of his face. Even with such a mark, he was annoyingly handsome.

  Wearing an immacute dark grey suit, he appeared fit and filled it in well. Reaching for the drink at his side, his gloved hand grabbed the gss and put it to his lips. He took a protracted sip, savoring it before setting the gss back down. Even so, he said nothing. The one who had led me here took up position just behind his chair.

  "Mr. Avington, as you've requested, Sir," they reported.

  "Very good, Harrison," the man said calmly, as if he didn't have a care in the world, "Why is he being restrained? Is he a threat?"

  "No, Sir," the man I now knew was Harrison answered, "It's just a simple precaution. He proved to have some tricks up his sleeves, but he himself is no threat."

  "Then free him," they ordered, "We do not treat our guests like this."

  Harrison briefly gnced at the man before giving a nod to the one who held me down.

  "Very well, Mr. Lockhart," Harrison acknowledged and my blood ran cold.

  "Lockhart?" I found my gaze shifting to the man in the chair as the bindings on my hands were cut. Slowly, I rubbed my wrists and rexed slightly back into the chair. My eyes never left him. That name was very familiar, and I didn't like it.

  "So..." I spoke cautiously, "I'm a guest, huh?"

  For the first time since I sat down, the man known as Lockhart looked at me. There was a pressure I felt from it, but nothing I couldn't handle. Though I had to admit...it was unnerving. Especially when he smiled. It should have been warm and welcoming, but all I felt was a frigid air and a snake's deceit.

  "Why of course," he replied, that sickening smile upon his face, "You're a very important guest. You're the bait."

  I had realized this ever since Denny invited me to meet her alone, and confirmed it when Harrison and his men appeared to capture me. Everything they've done up until now has been to provoke Maya, and what better way to provoke her than to kidnap someone she cares about?

  Of course, they could have targeted Hannah, and that's exactly what they made us think. Not that they didn't want Hannah. They still were after her, but I had a feeling there was something more to their pn, but now I knew. The target had always been me, but I wasn't an easy target. I was protected at all times.

  They used Denny to get me alone. They maniputed her into helping them, and as more information was revealed, they adjusted their pns constantly. Maya was my bodyguard, so kidnapping me was sure to get her attention, but now they knew that I was, perhaps, something more. That wasn't all.

  The rumors they had spread weren't just to get the public agitated, but also to see if there was a reaction from Maya herself. She hid it well, but I knew that those headlines were getting to her. I was sure they made her think more about our retionship, whatever that was, and so by extension, she thought more about me.

  I thought at first it was just The Ptinum Lotus's pn, but now that I knew who was before me, I knew that it was the Lockhart Family, or at the very least...this man before me. The Lockhart's. The very same who she was going to be sold off to. Seems they were still salty about that loss.

  Lockhart found a weakness and exploited it. Maya would be single-minded now with only one goal in mind. To save me. As cruel as it may sound, however, that's exactly what I hoped for.

  I really did make the perfect bait, but instead of them catching Maya...Maya would catch them. I had wondered how I could help her, but everything I thought of just didn't work. So, I used what I was apparently good at. Getting in trouble.

  I knew I would get an earful from Ellie, and Maya, well...I'd definitely make it up to her, but right now this was what I could do. If they were after me to get to her, then that was their mistake. It truly seemed like hubris would be their downfall, and after they had been so careful.

  "Would you like a drink?" Lockhart offered, motioning towards the barkeep, but when I remained slightly, he frowned slightly, "No? A shame. It might be your st."

  "Maybe yours," I replied and nodded towards his gss, "Might wanna fill up."

  Harrison took a step forward and the hand on my shoulder tightened, but Lockhart held up a hand and both eased up and backed off.

  "Now, now," he chided, "We're civilized individuals, are we not? You don't need to watch him. He's no threat to me, even if his words are...less than respectful."

  I felt the hand release me and heard them take several steps away from me. Harrison begrudgingly obeyed, rexing back into a resting stance.

  "You train your dogs well," I commented, earning a gre from Harrison, but a light chuckle from Lockhart.

  "Yes, they are," he admitted, and I was not surprised at all that he sounded genuine, "They know who they owe their allegiance and will die for it, won't you?"

  As he asked this, everyone in the room save for me replied in unison, "Yes, Sir!"

  It was...uncanny and definitely discomforting.

  "Well, that was unpleasant," I muttered, looking at Lockhart with slight disdain.

  Lockhart's smile slowly dropped, his gaze hardening as our eyes locked.

  "Yes, unpleasant," he spoke with almost a soft growl, standing as he did, "Do you know what else is unpleasant?"

  "Your existence?" I mocked.

  "Cute," he smirked with distaste, "No. What's unpleasant is what that bitch did to me."

  My expression hardened as he spoke, for I knew who he was talking about without him having to mention them. I didn't appreciate him calling Maya that, but there wasn't much I could do at the moment. I knew fighting them would be futile, but I did have a few tricks up my sleeves.

  "You probably deserved it," I told him bluntly.

  "..." Lockhart's expression grew cold, a chill air filling the room, "You really do like to talk, don't you?"

  "Not really, no," I answered simply, "I prefer listening."

  Lockhart scoffed derisively, and I watched as he carefully take off his gloves. Everyone in the room seemed to freeze as he did so, but honestly...I didn't get what the big deal was.

  "S-Sir, are you sure that-" Harrison began, but was silenced with but a single look from Lockhart.

  "You should be honored," Lockhart stated as he turned his arrogant gaze back on me, "I rarely, if ever, show anyone this."

  As each glove came off, I was presented with two prosthetic hands made of what I immediately recognized as Star Metal. They were dark with a green hue, visible only because of the firelight.

  "She took them from me," he expined as he looked upon his hands with an almost obsessive madness, "I tried to forget that day, but then she reminded me...with this."

  He reached up to touch the scar on the left side of his face, touching it almost reverently. It was then that his eyes flicked to mine, and for the first time I felt...unnerved. I saw the obsession. The madness. He wasn't in his right mind.

  "Ever since, I can't forget her," he continued, taking a step towards me like a man possessed, "She was supposed to be mine, you know. My bride. The bde I would wield."

  I felt sick to my stomach. The way he talked...it was like she wasn't a person to him.

  "Ah~, how wonderful it would have been!" he excimed, clenching the scar of his face with an expression I could only describe as deranged ecstasy, "She was perfect! A fresh flower waiting to be plucked! Whose thorns are just as beautiful as she is!"

  "Fucking creep..." I thought, repulsed by him...and little bit disappointed in myself. I hated to admit it, but when he mentioned that her thorns were just as beautiful as she was...I couldn't disagree. I was reminded back to when she had saved me. I had been mesmerized by her, and ever since whenever I watched her spar.

  She was graceful, deadly, and above all...genuine. Whenever she wielded her bdes, she was whole. They were as much a part of her as the Maya who bit her tongue whenever she was deep in concentration while pying a game or the Maya who loved to cook for those she cared about. This fucker didn't understand any of that.

  "But then...she left," Lockhart's expression grew dark, "That fucking bitch made me unable to forget her, and then dared abandon me..."

  His gaze then fell upon me once more, but this time with sheer disgust evident upon his face.

  "Now, you showed up," he stated coldly, "I didn't think much of it at first, but then the evidence was clear."

  He dropped his hands from his face and reached into his inventory. I could feel my heart quicken as he pulled out a sharp, elegant dagger. "Finally..." I had been waiting for this, but I wondered if it would work? I was definitely nervous, but now...

  "I've only seen her smile once before," Lockhart admitted with a scowl, "But never like that. You..."

  He aimed his bde at me, a murderous glint in his eyes.

  "You know, this is perfect," he expined, stepping even closer to me, "I can't wait to see her face...when you show up just as scarred as she left me. When she's broken, I'll graciously take her in and use-"

  "You're disgusting," I spat, gring at him vehemently, "Maya isn't a tool, and you won't harm a hair on my head."

  "Oh? Is that so?" his smile was sinister and cold, sending a chill down my spine, "We'll see about that. You've been looking at me with those insolent eyes for a while now."

  Hands grabbed my shoulders, holding me down. He stepped forward, grabbing me by the face over my mouth. His grip was strong as he then levered his dagger towards me. "Fools..." I thought, trying my best to hold back my smirk. I had thought I'd need to provoke them more, but he did it himself.

  "How about..." he inquired with devilish glee, "I start with them?"

  With my eyes full of defiance, I finally allowed myself a smirk as my cufflinks began to glow a brilliant blue. The room was filled with its radiance as Lockhart covered his eyes.

  "W-What the hell!?" he excimed, quite surprised, "Items of S-Rank and below shouldn't work here without my permission!"

  "Heh, that's a shame..." I scoffed, feeling relief instantly wash over me as the cool embrace of the Great Sea wrapped their arms around me, "This one's an SS-Rank."

  "Who dares attempt to harm my beloved?" a feminine voice beckoned, echoing all around, "You shall drown in the waters of the deep for your trespass!"

  As the light of the cufflinks dulled down, the visage of a woman made of water had her arms draped over me in a protective embrace. Her hair flowed gracefully as she wore clothing made of coral. Her eyes a beautiful seafoam green that glowed with power, her gaze passing coldly over those in the room.

  "Are these the ones, my love?" she asked, which was a little strange hearing someone other than Elizabeth call me that, but...it was a part of the item.

  Not only that, but as it was a gift from her, it felt like she was the one speaking.

  "Yes," I touched her arm gratefully, rexing into her, "If you could...drown them for me."

  "It shall be done," she responded.

  Lockhart went to make a move, leaping towards me, but he was too slow. The Tears of the Sea couldn't be stopped. Cradled in her watery embrace, I watched as the wrath of the Great Sea was unleashed.

  -----

  Nikushimi