Part Three: Evil
Chapter Eight: A Father's Secret
Ariel sat sown in a chair her father indicated to her. Orlando took the seat next to her. Another shiver rocked her body. She fingered her short hair. The feelings of wanting to please her father were erupting in her fiercely. No matter how amny times she tried to not pay attention to the traitorous feelings, she wanted to succumb to all the dark forces of this world and the next.
Tymmie smiled darkly at the two. "Now, don't you two make quite a pair? Pandora made an excellent choice on her part, pairing the two of you up."
"What exactly does that mean?" Orlando questioned. Goosebumps popped up along his arms. Tymmie had a strange effect on him. He was sure that was true for Ariel, too.
"Well, that means that if anyone was to help my daughter's cause, it would be you," Tymmie stated matter-of-factly, sitting up smugly.
"Cut the bullshit, Tymmie. What do you know about Orlando?" Ariel cut to the heart of the matter, swallowing hard.
"I know that he can help us destroy the Atrox, and then the Daughters." The smile he wore was shocking. It was a smile of pure delight. "I also know how to tap into his greatest desire."
"You can't know that. Not even I know how!" Orlando exclaimed, jumping up a little.
"Stupid boy, I know many things. You can know these things, too. You can know about Ariel," Tymmie's voice was smooth, drawing both teens in. "Should I tell him, sweetheart? Should I tell him about your greatest desire? Or maybe I should start from the beginning when you were born. Now, I haven't told you that one."
"What? What about my birth?" She practically screamed, hooking herself on Tymmie's dangling hook.
"Now, maybe I shouldn't tell you. It's such a dark secret." Tymmie focused his eyes solely on Ariel, his voice lowered into a hushed whisper. "Not even your mother knows."
Ariel's murky eyes widened on that. Cassandra, she was well informed on the things that the Infidi dealt with. "Tell me."
Orlando didn't need to hear this. He had a very good idea at what Ariel's desire was and the secret her father was about to tell. Why would Pandora send him to protect her of all people?
"Your greatest desire, as you found out when you were seven, is to wield the greatest power of them all. This prince here happens to be one of the greatest powers." Tymmie shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "I would take him. I doubt you could get to the Atrox.
"When you were born, I was visited by Eris, goddess of discord and chaos. She informed me that you, Ariel, are a great catalyst for chaos, destruction, for plunging the world into dark times. She was actually quite upset that you weren't touched by her.
"I know how to work Orlando's power, and so do you. You are his catalyst. You and him can help the Inifidi rule! It is your greatest desire. Pandora gave you both what you wanted the most: to destroy."
"N-no," Ariel objected, her shaky as she formed the one syllable word. She was too stunned to think. Her whole life she had been working hard to not let her desire win, and then her fucking desire just fell into her lap. All the work, wasted from a single kiss. She could never leave Orlando, that she knew. She couldn't let him suffer a horrible fate because of her. Her father was going to make sure that they used this horrible power.
"No!" She jumped up this time. "I won't use it. I won't do this. I won't do what you want!"
"You have no choice," Tymmie yelled back, losing all his cool. She was so…obstinate!
"I'd rather kill myself than help you," she spat.
"What about Orlando? What does Orlando want? Let's ask him." Tymmie took his evil eyes off his daughter and turned on Orlando. "What do you want?"
"I want to leave. I've endured beatings, and I've almost died to keep my power from being unleashed. Nothing that happens now will change this. I won't let my power out," Orlando told him calmly, his demeanor nearly matching Tymmie's.
"That's too bad."
"No. It's not. I will die to keep evil from winning. You can't have me, or Ariel." He stood up now. Ariel almost cried out in relief.
Tymmie pulled in his anger, unphased by their words. Ariel knew her father better than any of them thought. She was, after all, his daughter. She was like him in some aspects. She grabbed Orlando's hand, ready to flee this place via shadow express. Tymmie's chin jutted up in time. The pixie didn't even get a chance to cry out. She hit the ground with impact, very much like Torrence had when she had brought her to her mother's house.
Orlando knelt beside Ariel, touching her cheek. Her skin was chilly. He turned to look up at her father. "She'll come for me."
"That's what I'm hoping for."
Next Up: Oh, no! Orlando has been taken by Tymmie. Can Tymmie win after all, holding Orlando hostage? Or will Ariel defy her nature and not try to rescue him? Can you defy who you were born to be?
