Chapter 29------ Foul Play
Mai watched as Copellia and Kai took their places a few feet away from them. She smiled. 'Kai's finally opening up huh?' The two of them exchanged glances but Mai quickly looked away.
She leaned in closer to Riya, "Riya?"
"Hmm?"
"You know the scale's in the trophy?" Mai made sure she spoke so softly that only Riya could hear.
"Shhh. Don't talk about that now." He held her close, "Let me stay like this a little while longer…"
'Riya…' Mai never knew this side of him, but she liked it. It made her feel safe, feel loved, a feeling she treasured.
Meanwhile, Copellia was living in a dream world…
COPELLIA'S POV
OMG! I can't believe I'm dancing with Kai! And he's got his hand on my back! OMG OMG OMG!
I hope I don't do anything stupid though…
I shifted my gaze to the ground. It was so hard having to look at him in the face without blushing.
He's like the epitome of perfection! Crimson eyes, gorgeous, deep blue hair, gorgeous, the cool loner type of guy and oh! Did I mention GORGEOUS?
This is like a dream come true!
I summoned my courage to look at him again and noticed he was a bit distracted. He was looking at Mai and Riya.
Well, maybe Mai…
I felt my heart drop a bit.
What if? No he couldn't…but maybe he did?
"Do you like her?" I spoke very softly. Hey I was shy ok? It's not everyday I get to be this close to a good-looking guy.
I saw him turn his head upon hearing my question. "Huh? What?"
"Mai, do you like her? You've been looking at her and Riya for quite some time now."
I saw his eyes widen a bit, "No, no…It's just that," He turned to look at them again, "I can't believe they're engaged."
Heh –smirking inside- Masaka? (Could it be that?) He's jealous?
"Oh… I guess it's a little hard to swallow, them being so young and all." I was speaking normally. Guess I was starting to feel more comfortable around him.
He just nodded his head.
END OF POV
The song ended and all the couples parted, some…rather unwillingly.
The two of them, Mai and Riya, stood facing each other; an uneasy silence stood between them.
'What to say? Should I even say anything? I feel kinda dumb just standing here…' The both of them thought to themselves.
"I—"
"You're—"
They both said in unison.
"You go first!" Their voices once again intertwined.
"This is kinda silly isn't it?" Mai smiled sheepishly.
"Yeah, kind of." The brunette shove his hands into his pocket. He still didn't know what to say. "Uhh…-thinks of something on the spot and quickly adds-You dance pretty well."
"Thanks, you too."
Riya started to look on the floor while Mai played with her fingers. This awkward silence was frustrating!
"I guess I better get back to my job. See you later alright." She was about to leave when—
"I'll wait for you!" Mai seemed a little surprised by his response.
"Besides, I think we have something to talk about?" He asked innocently, tilting his head in a questioning manner. Mai softened her look; she knew what he was talking about.
"Yeah. Enjoy the rest of the party! Oh! And beat up Mit-chan for me!" With that she left to pick up her partner.
"C'mon Lia, it's time to work –in a sing song voice-" The ashen-haired girl pulled her friend by the arm.
"Uh see you Kai!" Copellia called out as she got dragged into the kitchen, leaving the bluenette standing in the middle of the dance floor, two things awaiting him: 1. He'd shrug his shoulders and go back to his seat or 2. Get bombarded by fan-girls asking/ forcing him to dance.
blu: Let's hope he's lucky
blu: NOT! XD
-In the kitchen-
The kitchen was…how do I put it… as busy as a New Yorker running late on his first day of work. There were stacks of dirty dishes piled high in the sink, bits and pieces of food were strewn here and there on the stainless steel counter top, chefs shouting for this crockery and that food item, waiters and waitresses scurrying about the kitchen, the banging and clanking of kitchen utensils… the whole place was worse than a town about to be hit by a tornado.
'Looks like there's a lot to be done…' Mai looked worried at the amount of work load she and Copellia had to do.
"Well don't just stand there! DO SOMETHING!" The manager shouted as he walked past them.
"Y-Yessir!" The two managed to blurt out and hurried to do whatever was needed to be done.
"Here!" One of the waiters tossed Copellia a kitchen towel. "You guys can start on the dishes." He grinned and left to do his share of the work.
"Well thanks very much!" Copellia shouted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. The both of them stared at the filthy dishes in the sink, looking a bit disgusted.
"Better get to work then…" Mai said as she reluctantly picked up the sponge…
-Fast forward-
"Ok, that's the last." Mai handed a soaking wet plate to her friend. She looked at her fingers, 'Ugh… they're all wrinkled up.'
"Thanks for helping guys."
"Nah, we finish faster with more hands on the job anyways." The chestnut-haired guy replied Copellia.
"So whaddya think? The foursome scanned the kitchen. Everything was neat and tidy, the dishes were washed, dried and kept, the counter top was wiped, no more food scraps on the floor plus it had been mopped. Yup, I'd say they were done.
"I'd say it's reasonably clean." Chace folded his arms and leaned on the counter.
"Hahaha. Let's get outta here." Copellia threw her kitchen towel basketball-style into the laundry basket. It was good to be free!
"Hey umm Mai, mind helping me with the trash?" The blue one questioned.
"Yeah, sure." She replied, despite the questioning look her friend was giving her.
The both of them lugged the huge black plastic bags down to the first floor, 'Man, this is really heavy…' The poor girl struggled under the weight. Finally they reached the first floor and Mai happily chucked the trash into the dumpster, relieved to get rid of the heavy thing.
'Yuck.' She thought as she dusted her hands off. Suddenly! Someone came from behind. She let out a scream as a hand covered her mouth and slammed her against the wall, the next thing she knew; she had a knife at her throat. Her eyes froze in horror; she could almost feel the cold edge of the blade on her skin. 'Please don't hurt me.' Her eyes pleaded, only to receive a smirk from her captor.
"Just be a good girl and nothing bad will happen." The guy started unbuttoning his shirt. 'Oh my god! I'm gonna get raped!' Mai screamed in her head, tears forming in her eyes. She shook her head in violent objection but movement was minimal due to the razor sharp blade at her throat.
Suddenly! A bottle came crashing down on his head, sending him falling unconscious on the ground. "Quick! Let's get out of here!" The girl grabbed Mai by the hand and they both ran like there was no tomorrow.
"Thank you! You saved my life! Thank you so much!" Mai said in between tears. That was a frightening moment back there, thank god for this girl! She was eternally grateful.
Mai was still recovering from the joy of escaping rape, she hardly noticed where the girl was taking her, or even take a good look at her face. The next moment, she was pulled into a room and into the arms of her fellow waiter, the helpful chestnut-haired guy. Only thing is, he wasn't so helpful now that he had a dagger targeted for her throat.
blu: ok, now it's the other part. This part took place simultaneously with the above happenings got it?
-On the balcony-
KAI'S POV
The wind blew in my face as I took a sip from my glass, the night scenery spread out before me: the neon lights flashing in the distance, the soft bustle of the streets, the refreshing scent of the wind told me that it was going to rain…
Damn did it feel good to be away from those fan-girls! I shuddered at the thought of what would happen if they had caught me…
I placed the glass on the ledge, looking out at the night sky and just enjoying the peace and quiet until—
"AAAAAAAAHHH—!"
Something shattered that peace. I immediately turned my head in the direction of the scream and saw—
Mai!
My eyes widened in shock as I took in the situation. She was struggling against this guy.
Shit! She's being raped!
I raced out of the ball room…
I took the stairs; jumping down two or three at a time. The only thing on my mind now was saving Mai. I had to get there as fast as I could!
I pulled open the door of the first floor, just in time to see Mai running with this girl. I followed them and saw her being pulled into a room.
What the hell?
END OF POV
blu: ok, back to the normal POV
-In the room-
Mai's heart beat raced. "Please…Please don't hurt me." What was going on? She was saved a moment ago and now she's in the same situation again? Why? What had she done?
"Don't worry, we've been ordered not to kill you." This time Mai was able to have a good look at the girl's face: long black hair…Where had she seen her before…
"Liz!"
"So you remembered." She walked over to Mai, undoing the rope spun around her arm.
"Please…Why are you doing this? I didn't do anything to you." From her voice, you could tell Mai was scared. She felt rough fibres rubbing against her skin, Liz was tying her up.
"Shut up!" Liz tugged on the ropes, tightening it so Mai got the message. "We're just following orders."
Just then, a knock came at the door. "It's me! Open up!"
Liz nodded to Britten and he went to let Chace in, locking the door immediately.
-Outside-
KAI'S POV
I watched as the same guy who attacked Mai went into the room.
He's in it too?
What the hell's going on?
I cautiously made my way to the door. I could hear voices inside. I recognised one of them, it belonged to Mai.
She's still alive. Yokatta. (Thank goodness)
I slowly turned the door knob but it was locked.
Damn it!
There was no choice; I had to break down the door. I took a step back and prepared myself…
blu: ok, the part next is the part taking place simultaneously when Kai's outside. Sorry if it's a bit confusing but two things are actually happening at the same time
-Room-
Mai stared at the guy who had entered the room. Wasn't he the guy who tried to rape her just now? Is this a conspiracy? What's going on?
"You! But you! –turns to look at Liz then back to Chace- She hit you!" The coolness of the blade on her skin made her shut up.
"Heh, ever heard of acting?" Chace grinned. "And Liz! Whaddya trying to do? Give me a haemorrhage? That was painful!" The guy rubbed the spot where the bottle had hit him.
"Britt—"
But suddenly! The door came crashing down, much to the surprise of the enemy.
"KAI!" Mai cried.
"Don't move! Or she gets it." Britten raised the blade so that it now touched Mai's throat. The slightest movement would slice her flesh. Mai held her breath, not daring to even swallow her saliva.
Kai stood where he was, how was he going to handle the situation?
"And so the hunter becomes the hunted. Pathetic." Chace commented rather mockingly as he wound some rope around Kai's hands.
But the next moment, Chace found himself bundled up on the floor with Kai holding his knife at Liz's neck. Everything happened in the blink of an eye: Kai elbowed Chace in the chest, knocking all the air out of his lungs, grabbed the knife in his pocket and went for Liz.
Chace scrambled to his feet and was about to go after Kai when—
"I wouldn't dare if I were you." Kai warned the bluenette, tilting the blade at a dangerous angle towards Liz's throat. The raven-haired girl struggled under him but it was no use, Kai had a firm grip on both her hands while the other held the knife. She hated to admit it but 'This guy's good.'
Chace backed down, letting out a grunt of distaste that he was made helpless under these circumstances.
"Let Mai go if you don't want this girl to get hurt." The Russian addressed the question to Britten.
"You can kill her. We don't need her." The brunette answered like it was no big deal, gaining a shocked expression from Liz and Kai. He wasn't expecting that kind of answer. Did he really not care if his accomplice died?
"I'll complete my mission, even if it means having to sacrifice my team mates." He added coldly.
"Go ahead. Kill her." Chace encouraged. This was the rule they lived by. In the world of assassins and spies, everyone was the enemy. The only thing that mattered was yourself; that you survived. You could care less about everyone else. Survival of the fittest they say.
Mai watched in anticipation at what Kai would do next; he looked like he was in a dilemma. She felt the blade loosen against her skin, 'Do I risk it?' The girl took the chance and kicked Britten where it hurt the most, causing him to double up in pain. "RUN!" Seeing this, Kai immediately let go of Liz and together with Mai, the both of them made their escape…
Chace wanted to run after them but Liz stopped him, "No, we've made too much noise." She looked at the door which lay on the floor. "People will get suspicious." She rubbed her throat, checking to feel if she had been cut. Liz displayed self-control and calmness although deep down, she was extremely relieved to have escaped that encounter alive.
She glanced at Britten who was struggling to get up, 'Men and they're…ugh… weaklings.' She scoffed.
Chace let out a frustrated sigh, "The boss is gonna screw us up for this…" Liz didn't reply. If she hadn't been so careless, if she had taken in to account the possibility of there being interruptions, none of this would've happened… If she had the strength to fight of Kai just now…everything would've been different…They would still have their target.
"Let's move out. People will get here soon."
Meanwhile…
Mai and Kai ran as fast as their legs could take them, up the flight of stairs to the third level, bursting through the door and only slowing down when they were reaching the ball room.
"Mai!" Copellia and Riya, who had been waiting outside the ball room, came running towards them.
'Riya!' Mai ran into his arms, burying her face in his shirt as she sobbed. She had been through hell tonight; everything was just too much for her to handle: her close encounter with death, knowing that her grandfather was still after her, Liz… "-sob- I was so scared! –sob- I was so scared…–sob- He's coming to get me." She cried as she clung tightly to the boy's shirt.
"Hey, it's alright. It's alright. You're safe now." Her fiancé stroked her hair in efforts to comfort her.
Kai watched as Mai cried in Riya's arms. His heart ached. 'And even after saving her, she runs to Riya…'
"Kai! You're hurt!" Copellia took his hand and he realised that he had a laceration across his palm. "It's nothing, I'm fine." He reassured the maroon-haired girl but she wouldn't have it his way.
"No, we have to get you some treatment."
"Our room's the nearest. C'mon." Riya led the way with Mai under his arm…
-Room 402-
The door clicked open…
"Oh hey, you're— Oh my god! What happened!" Mit-chan immediately got off the couch and ran to help Mai. "She's as white as a sheet! What happened?" She looked at Riya for answers as they carried her to the sofa but he couldn't give her any. Mai sat down shakily on the sofa, wiping her tears away with her sleeve.
"I'll go get the first aid kit." Copellia left for the kitchenette.
The others sat around the living room. "Here, it'll make you feel better." Drex handed Mai a cup of milk. "Thanks…" The milk really helped. Then again, she had always liked milk.
Copellia returned with a white box and knelt beside Kai. "Give me your hand." The boy slowly stretched out his palm, taking care not to widen the cut more with any fast movement. The girl gently cleaned his wound with alcohol and unscrewed the cap of some brown-looking liquid. "This is gonna sting a bit." She dampened a piece of cotton wool with the antiseptic and slowly ran over the cut. Kai felt the wound tingle, as though air was rushing into it. "Just let it dry out. It heals faster." The girl advised. "Thanks."
"Feeling better?" Mit-chan patted Mai on the shoulder. The girl just nodded.
"Can you tell us what happened?"
Mai placed her hands on her lap and took a breather, "I was attacked by a man but Li— a girl saved me. We were running but then she pulled me into a room… I found out everything was just an act, the guy who attacked me was also involved. They said something about… being sent to capture me and then Kai came and we managed to escape."
"Capture you? Who would want to do that?" Drex questioned.
"My grandfather…" Mai stared at the cup before her for no particular reason; she was just remembering what her grandfather had done…How he had scarred her with so many painful memories.
"Your grandfather?" The other Zeelans sounded surprised.
Kai just listened in silence. It was boring to hear Mai tell the story all over again. He felt like answering all their questions at one shot so he wouldn't have to sit through this conversation but this was Mai's business. And he was famous for keeping his mouth shut.
The ashen-haired girl sighed and rested her back against the sofa. "He wants to kill me. Just like he did to everyone else." Mai went straight to the point. It was no use bringing back that painful memory, it had hurt her too much…till the point that she had become immune to it.
"What?" Copellia stared at her in shock. Where was she getting at?
"He killed them… He killed everyone in our village. Burnt them all…" Mai's eyes were distant. She remembered what happened… everything was clearly etched in her mind yet she refused to let it bring her down. It was her way of fighting against her grandfather.
She would never forgive him.
"He killed them…?" Mit-chan's eyes grew watery. "HE KILLED OUR PARENTS?" She fought back her tears but Mai saw the truth, inside the girl was breaking down.
"Saya…" Drex took hold of his sister's hand but she jerked it away.
"DON'T CALL ME THAT! Only ka-san calls me that!" The white-haired girl fled the living room and the others heard a door slam seconds later.
'Mit-chan!' Mai got up from her seat and followed her. She felt responsible for making her cry. She felt responsible for her grandfather's actions even though she wasn't the one at fault… After all…he and her still shared the same blood. It wasn't unusual that a part of her felt responsible.
The rest of them got up too but Copellia turned Kai down, "Sorry but you stay here. This doesn't really concern you…" She didn't mean to be cold but some things he just couldn't know.
Kai watched as all of them left. 'Phfft, doesn't concern me? The hell it does! I'm her captain! I deserve to know what's happening to her!' He wanted to argue all that but he kept his mouth shut… embarrassed that Copellia would find out the real reason if he had said what he really wanted to say or showed too much concern…
-Room-
They found Mit-chan curled up on the bed, her head resting on the pillow. There was no light in the room except for a small table lamp near the bedside where she lay but this was enough. They didn't want to irritate her by turning on the main light, if she was comfortable in the atmosphere she was in now they would just leave it that way.
"Mit-chan? You alright?" Mai heard the girl snivel as she sat cross-legged on the floor next to her. Mit-chan was facing the light and Mai could see the glistening trail the tears had left on her cheek.
"Does it look like I'm alright?" The girl replied coldly and turned her body so that she now faced away from the light. She didn't want her friends to see her cry, she was the ice-hearted one among the group, she shouldn't be crying.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry…" But Mit-chan didn't reply; she was shunning her. This didn't make Mai feel any better.
"I'm sorry my grandfather did those things… I feel kinda responsible because –" But Mit-chan cut her off.
"Why are you sorry? You didn't do anything." She sounded a bit irritated but Mai was happy to see her get up and face her.
"But he killed everyone because he wanted to get me." Mai reasoned. However, she knew she had made a wrong move.
"So you're saying it's YOUR fault everyone DIED?" Mit-chan's voice was rising.
"I'm not saying anything! It's just—" But she was interrupted again.
"THEN?"
'Oh shit, I've made her angry.' The girl mentally slapped her head for doing such a stupid thing.
"Hey! Cut Mai some slack will ya? She's been through enough tonight." Copellia tugged on her friend's hand. The last thing they needed was a war between friends.
The flaxen-haired girl calmed down and sat on the bed, her hands gripping the bed covers.
"I think I need to explain some things… it's gonna be painful to recall but please…just listen." Mai saw everyone nod their head and she began her story. She told them everything, about her parents, about how her grandfather hated the Zeelas, about how he somehow knew about the legend of Eden and went to wipe out the whole tribe in attempts to capture her, how she managed to escape and found the Bladebreakers, that her grandfather sent people to look for her…She went on and on, summarising everything that happened all the way up to tonight's attack. When she had finished, she studied her friends' faces, awaiting their reaction.
RIYA'S POV
I clenched my fists in anger.
How could they…those monsters!
Humans! They're all the same! Power-hungry…greedy…selfish!
blu: Zeelans refer to people who are not from the 4 tribes as 'Humans'
I recalled the time when I saw my dad being beat up by some men. He had already paid his dept yet they wanted more… He couldn't give them anymore, he had us to support, and so they beat him up…
Every week they would beat him up…
-Flashback-
"Father? Why's your arm blue? Did you fall?" A young Riya pointed at a bruise and looked up at his father.
"Haha, yup. Daddy's getting old, he can't see very well." The man chuckled.
"Then put on your glasses next time." His son handed him the rectangle-shaped spectacles. The man put it on and smiled playfully at his son. "Do I look good?"
"No." The boy frowned but then grinned, "You look like grampa!"
The man laughed heartily. That was all he could do, laugh the pain away, hoping that one day, his son wouldn't have to go through the same thing…
-End of flashback-
Father… you'd always lie about how you got so many bruises… Youdid it toprotect us.
My fists started to shake.
I couldn't stand it anymore! They needed to pay! Pay for what they did to us!
"I hate them!" I spat and got off my seat, causing heads to turn in my direction.
"They treat us like dirt! Beat us up, make fun of us, kill us off like ants! I've had enough!" I felt myself burning up. All the anger inside was going to blow up if I didn't let it out bit by bit.
"I know… I hate him for what he did but what can we do?" Mai looked up from staring at the carpet.
"It's not just him! It's every one of them! Humans! They don't give a damn about us! We're like second-grade people whom they can just push around!"
I felt something burn up inside me. As I got angrier, the sensation spread throughout my body. I didn't understand but it felt good. I felt stronger, powerful… like I could do something no one else could.
END OF POV
"Calm down, man. I know how you feel but we can't do anything at 12.30 in the morning…" Drex wanted to place a hand on his friend's shoulder but immediately retracted his hand. Was he seeing things? 'For a moment there…Did Riya's eyes turn crimson?' He blinked and looked again. Riya's eyes were the same old purple.
"Something wrong?" Riya questioned. "Uh no, it's nothing." The boy quickly replied. 'I must be seeing things…'
Silence……
The faint ticking of the clock reminded Mai that it was late. "I better go. It's late and Kai's waiting."
She walked towards the door and turned the knob but a voice stopped her.
"Why do you return to them even after what their kind did to us?"
"Not all of them are like my Grandfather, Riya!" Mai argued. She had to defend her friends; they had done so much for her.
"They'll only betray you in the end. Humans are like that. It's in their blood." Her fiancé walked up to her.
"No…" Mai shook her head slowly. Her friends would never sell her out. "They're different."
"Riya's right." Mit-chan stood up to defend her friend, "We've suffered too much under their hands; wiping out our tribe was the last straw."
'Mit-chan…' Mai was shocked. Did Mit-chan really feel that way about humans too? "I know they've gone overboard and deserved to be punished but we're just teenagers! How do you expect us to get revenge?"
"With Eden." Riya replied.
"What?" Her blue orbs widened. They were going to use Eden as their trump card? 'No…No!' Mai couldn't accept it, or more likely she panicked at the thought of it. She ran out of the room. "Mai!"
Kai got up when she saw her. 'What's she running for?' But he followed her nonetheless. The both of them didn't speak a word in the lift and Mai made for her room once Kai opened the hotel room door.
"What's got her?" Tyson raised an eyebrow as he closed the fridge.
"Rough night…" With that, Kai retreated to his room.
-Mai and Hilary's room-
Mai quickly undid her uniform and took a shower. She needed to cool off…and get rid of that blue-haired waiter's scent on her skin. She scrubbed her body clean, wanting to rub off all the bad things that happened to her tonight. She slid down into the bath tub, letting the hot water run along her skin.
Was this how she was going to live her life?
'Getting attacked… Not being able to trust anyone… Eden…' "Heh." Mai let out a weak laugh. 'Everything's so fucked up…' She ran her fingers through her hair, evening out the entangled strands.
The girl got out of the bathroom, scrunch-drying her hair with the towel.
"Oh hey…you're back." Hilary groggily lifted her head. "Had fun?"
"Uh…yeah. Was a blast." Mai put on a convincing smile and the brunette plopped her head back on the pillow.
She hung the towel on the bathroom rack and dragged her feet to the bed. But she wasn't going to sleep yet, something was keeping her up. Something Riya had said: "With Eden."
'He plans to use Eden to get revenge on Humans… But what about the ones who're innocent? They don't deserve to die…… What about my friends?'
Mai knew the consequences of using Eden. She had seen his power from the video footage Kenny took of her and that was only half of it. 'If Riya manages to resurrect Eden then that would mean major annihilation of the whole Human race.' Then she remembered something. 'The trophy! Riya needs 4 jewels to resurrect Eden… I can't let him win that trophy!'
It was settled then. Riya couldn't free Eden if he didn't have the jewels. She had to gather all four of them before he did. She had to win that trophy!
Wah! This is the longest chapter I've done so far! Woo! Haha. But it seems kinda short no? Everything happens so quickly.
And you know what? Quizilla is a real foul git you know! I had a thousand over hits for my fic then suddenly its 400 over then now it's only 1! WTH! They trying to save space or smthng?
Please review:3