Chapter Twenty-Three: The Accident

Epithymia sits with her handcuffed. Soundingwoozy and tired. Stein stands close to her. It was another half hour until she fully awakens.

"You know... I am from a different time. I know a different world than you. Would you like to know?" She says alluringly.

Everyone looks at each other. Mali and Stein sigh. She is the daughter of titans who saved the world seven thousand years ago. Stein knowing full well that curiosity is a powerful thing.

"She is distracting us! Iolene's soul is still trapped!" Aaron shouts.

"Aaron is right... It is time to get Iolene back." Stein says as he looks at the mirror.

"I AM NOT GOING BACK INTO THAT MIRROR!" Epithymia pulls on her arm. Trying her hardest to break the magic cuffs.

Fred looks at Iolenes body and points at her. "BLONDIE!" He shouts excitedly.

She stops pulling on the chain to stop and look at Fred. "What!?" As everyone looks him with silence.

"Really?" Lexi whispers.

"Yes... Really! She is gorgeous! Why is she chained?" Fred asks as he tries to walk forward. But Lei grabs his shoulder pulling him back.

"Do you ever shut up?" Lexi snarls at him.

"No... Why should I?" Fred jokes. She rolls her eyes.

Stein then refocuses on Epithymia. "Mali... Let's do this..."

Epithymia begins screaming. As Stein waves, his hand and the gold chain disappears. She lunges forward as Aaron quickly grabs her waist and pulls her back from attacking Stein.

Beau using his strength manages to stand up. As he watches Aaron restraining Epithymia onto the mirror.

Aaron holds her hands flat onto the mirror. Mali and Stein use their draconium energy streams to absorb the energy from her.

"Iolene! Can you hear us!?" Aaron shouts as Epithymia screams.

"I REFUSE TO GO BACK!" She screams as her body begins to glow gold. Lexi, Fred, Iymp, Stein, and Mali flee to leave the room. Mali screaming at Aaron to run! Beau being weak he couldn't move fast enough. With anger, she releases a powerful mag blast! Like an explosion, Aaron and Beau get pushed back and slam through the wall! Smashing vases and destroying a large cabinet.

The mirror smashes into pieces cutting into Beau and Aaron's bodies. Epithymia collapses onto the ground unconscious. Her body falling through the now-empty frame.

Mali runs to Aaron as he lies on the ground his eyes closed and covered with cuts with mirror pieces cutting into his body. He is still. Mali shakes him calling out his name.

Stein runs to Iolene's body like Aaron she is not moving. Stein begins to cry hysterically as he shakes his princess. His blood run cold and yet began to sweat. His heart hurt, all he wanted to do is to vomit. "Laelia... Aelius... Iolene..." He sputters.

Iymp looks at Beau as he is lifeless like the other two. A large chunk of the mirror pierced into his shoulder.

Lexi and Fred look at the destroyed room. Completely speechless... Tao Wren walks in and begins panicking.

"Wha... WHAT HAPPENED!?" He screamed out. And quickly faints as Lexi and Lei quickly grab him before he hits the ground.

Stein holds Iolene damsel style. Still no movement. He places his head on her chest. In a moment he hears a thump- thump, thump-thump.

"Her heartbeat is faint..." He then takes her into Tao's room and lies her on the bed.

"Aaron and Beau are dead..." Iymp says solemnly.

Lexi wipes tears from her face as Lei gently hugs her. He remains stoic as Lei can't show himself crying. As hard as it is to him. He really liked Aaron, Iolene, and Beau. He and Aaron were just discussing their friendship not too long ago. Lei grinds his teeth and clenches his fist. How did this go so wrong?!

Mali with his gold mag stream levitates Aaron into the study and gently lies him on the table. Iymp using his mag strength lies Beau next to him.

Lei then asks Iymp and Mali to leave the room as he will call a lady of death to assist.

"A lady of death?" Lexi asks as she wipes her tears.

"The silent women who treat the dead. It is tradition for them to plan funerals and last rights. The bodies need to be rested for two weeks before buried."

"Why two weeks?" Lexi asks.

"They plant Biru tree seeds into the body. They check for the seeds growing before burial." Lei says as he looks at a comatose Iolene.

"Oh... Okay... We usually place our bodies into the volcano. Become with the phoenix... It is quick..." Lexi says as she continues to wipe her tears.

Stein and Mali look at Iolenes body as they remove the mirror shards from her body. They look at the shards as they have formed into gold draconium. Iolene body twitches. Stein and Mali gasp. "A sign of hope..." Mali whispers.

Lexi and Lei look at Iolene. Stein places Iolenes hands on her chest.

"Cheeky girl... What have you done?" Lexi whispers as she moves a strain of hair away from her eyes.

"What are we to do?" Mali talks with a quiver in his voice.

"We can only watch, pray and wait..." Stein replies.