Victoria and Michael's Voiceover:
When I was a child, I used to talk like a child…
Ethan and Charlotte's Voiceover:
…and see things as a child does, and think like a child…
.
.
Victoria's POV
.
"Well this is a new level of pathetic." She snorts, staring at us from the base of the stairs. She looks…tired. "Mother decided to leave you two here to what?"
"Come peacefully."
"Oh shut up." She snorts. "You're a pussy." She waves at him and then to me. "And you're a weak imitation of me."
"Least mommy loves me."
Her features tighten, eyes transition just I had seen them do times before. Lump in the back of my throat making it hard to swallow. I can heart my own heartbeat. I can hear Ethan's. What scares me is I can hear hers too…and it's perfectly steady. How?
Just a distraction…just a distraction…just a-what the fuck Ethan?!
Train of thought knocked right off the mutha-fuckin track as Ethan bolts down the hall impressively fast. Manly yell as he does the shit, guess his balls dropped. Equally torn between pissed and proud I realize shit just got a whole lot realer.
She catches his right hook with one hand, the other wrapped around his throat as she slams him into one of the few existing walls clear above her head. Drywall shattering over them creating an itchy fog. Instinct over logic as I run full force toward them, dropping to my knees ten feet out sliding the remaining distance. She goes to kick out, but I'm to her side. Lunging forward, arms wrapping around her waist throwing her…or rather us down onto the stairs.
The two of us a tangled mess as she grabs my hair, ripping my head back as I wale down wild punched into any body part of hers I can manage. Ethan tires to get into the action but she kicks him back…from what I can tell. I hear a loud thud in the distance followed by his groaning so I'm still more worried about me than him at the moment.
She's too strong.
Free hand grabbing my shoulder, thumb digging into my collarbone she slams me into the railing breaking something in my back before throwing me down the hall knocking out Ethan's legs. The two of us right back on the floor a mess.
Just a distraction…just a distraction…
I stare up at her reminding myself over and over again we were only meant to be a momentary distraction. But all I feel is this massive burning of rage inside me. Hands slamming the floor, cement like my skin breaking on impact.
"D-did you…?"
"Did I what?" She snarls, glaring down at us but she keeps a distance between us. I think I've surprised her. Ha.
"Trivino…?"
She scoffs, unamused. "I already told you I didn't do that." Anger slightly wavering. Until I see her lips curve into a smirk. "IF I had been the one to do it I'd have really crucified him. Not some poor imitation with ropes. And just as a special insult to him and you little shits, I'd have done it upside down. Let him bleed out. It would have been a spectacle."
"Wrong thing to say to me." Just as I had felt the nights before…just as she had shown me I feel my canines descend as my vision changes. A growl from within myself escaping and if I wasn't so pissed the fuck off, it'd have scared me the way it does Ethan. He looks at me, but starts to stand only to have me push him back down as I stand.
"Am I supposed to be scared Chicklet?"
"No." We move toward each other and when she throws a right hook thinking that would be the end of it…I throw a left. Both connecting. Both of us stumbling. "I want you to die." I snarl, delivering a left to her ribs as she grabs my shoulder slamming me into a remaining piece of drywall.
"Get in line Kiddo."
Peering into her eyes…interesting reflection of myself in them. I know I could push on. Hell with how I feel…fuck it. All bets off, lets do the damn shit. What's it matter right? Let the chips fall. But then I hear mom's voice…just a distraction.
Duty…honor…blah…blah…
Bracing for what will come next, I spit in her face and wait for the pain. Doesn't take but a second before she's thrown me through the hall. Right back into Ethan. Crazy bitch could be a bowling champion. Me and him another bloody and tangled mess, but I resist the urge to fight now.
Forcing my eyes closed I feel her grow closer. Fear and anger building but I don't move. I just let her stand there and deliver a brutal kick to my stomach, blood shooting out from my mouth but I manage to keep my eyes closed.
And just like that…she walks off.
Mom was right.
Sure she's gone, I push myself up onto my knees. Hands going to Ethan's face, lots of blood but I can hear his heartbeat. Strong and steady. Dumbshit…but at least he didn't run. My eyes wandering from him down the hall to the next set of stairs where she had wandered off to in search of our mother.
She's all yours mom. "Give her hell."
.
Bo's POV
.
"They're okay." She whispers with a nod, hand wrapped around my wrist holding me in place. I can hear their heartbeats just the same as she can, but the level of calm she has is nowhere near what I'm feeling. "They're okay." She repeats, another nod.
Dani's heartbeat traveling away from the other two directly above us. She's out of range for me now, but I'm sure Lauren can still hear. Her eyes leave my face, moving behind me. She knows Dani is coming. I give her a nod and she lets go of my wrist, but doesn't move.
"I've got it." I whisper, forcing a smile. "Stick to the plan."
I watch her disappear into the darkness, just as I pick up the faint sound of Dani's heartbeat. And then her footsteps followed by her laugh. "Knew you weren't dead."
"After all this…still chasing after mommy."
"Please, spare me the insults. Move out of my way." She waves me off as she keeps heading toward me. "Or I can move you Bo."
"Fall on your sword Dani, die with dignity."
She stops dead in her tracks. "Fall on my sword?"
"Die with dignity Dani. Do something in your life with it."
"Could say the same to Bo."
"My family. My life. My city. My nation." I shrug. "My responsibility."
"I could say the same."
"None of this is yours. Not anymore. Maybe not ever."
"Whose fault is that?"
"Yours." I snort. "Always placing the blame on anyone but yourself."
"Last chance, move."
"Last chance, die with some dignity."
"I'm tired of you."
"Feeling is mutual sweetheart."
She does that weird shutter speed thing Lauren can do, in front of me in an instant but she goes right…she always goes right because she learned from me. Stepping to the left, her blow misses. Catching her wrist, holding it out leaving her vulnerable I deliver two quick knees to her stomach. Free hand grabbing the back of her head, spinning us around to throw her into the nearest beam.
Kicking her left leg out, she grips the beam for balance…just as I taught her to do. Hands wrapping around her ankle, the bottom of her shoe skimming my stomach. Jerk to the right and the bone snaps. Holding with my left hand, right palm slamming down into her knee another snap fills the air.
Falling to the floor with a thud, its only a minute. She lunging at me…just like I taught her. Spinning to the right she goes flying through the air, sliding down onto the floor. Growl she lets out scary, but I've heard worse. She looks up at me, snarling and if she could I'd think she'd be foaming at the mouth.
She lunges again and I guess I miscalculate because she has a hold of my shoulders. The two of us crashing down through the floor falling to the next level. Blood filling my mouth before I can spit it out. Her elbow thrown back into my face. Disoriented she takes advantage. Strong kick to the face and I'm flying through the air. Landing only when I hit a beam. There goes a few ribs.
"Dammit." I mumble to myself, spitting out blood.
"You picked a really stupid place for this." She snorts, but she's breathless.
I look up to see whatever she's boasting about now. Curiously enough she found some white bottle, pouring it out on the floor between us. The smell dulled only by the blood in my nose but I think its gas. She looks me over as I start to stand, tossing the empty bottle at me, narrowly missing. Chunk of something in her hand that she's tossing in the air like a little ball.
"Tired already?" I chuckle, pushing myself up.
"Ha." She flicks her wrist, little thing in her hand skipping along the ground like a pebble on the water. Second skip a single spark causing the entire area to combust. She just laughs, marveling at this massive wall of fire between us like she's done something special. "Too bad you never passed chemistry…or anything really. Would have known wasn't smart."
"I don't remember you graduating anything either."
She scoffs. Just smirking away on the other side. "Come fight me Bo." Antagonistically she waves me over. "Come on."
"Okay."
"Okay?" She laughs, head tilting as if I told a joke she doesn't quite get.
Lifting my hand as if to wave at her, I press it lightly to the flame wiggling my fingers at her and that stupid smirk wipes right off her face. "Pride was always your downfall Dani. You should have learned from Agathon."
"Wh—I don't…?"
I push my hand a little further in. It's a dull pain, sort of like a little headache. Doesn't even make my top ten irritations of today. The heat spreading through my body like an intense rush of excitement, but no real pain. Truth is, this really could have gone either way. Good to know I was right for once.
"Everything you are Dani is someone else's." I take a step closer to the flame, her jaw clenching. "That power you were born with? That was me and your mothers. That power that you grew into that made you so feared? That was your mothers. That skill of yours? That was mine. And the new power of yours?" Another single step in letting the flames graze my skin. "Borrowed. From who? Me."
"It's mine!"
"No." Shaking my head. "It's mine sweetheart."
"I wield it!"
"Barely."
"You want to see real power Bo?" She snarls a growl, taking two steps fully into the fire. And even though it's so subtle, I see her eyes narrow at the feel of that same dull pain. "Join me?"
There goes my favorite pair of pants.
Calling her bluff I step in, little pin pricks all over my skin but still extremely manageable. Her temper boiling over as she snarls again. "The thing about this power Dani…MY power…it takes willpower to wield it."
With a snarl she lunges through the air. My hands grabbing her shoulders as we go tumbling down the hall like a bulldozer.
.
Ethan and Charlotte's Voiceover:
But now that I have become an adult…
Victoria and Michael's Voiceover:
…I have finished with all childish ways…
.
.
Victoria's POV
.
"Jesus you're heavy." I bitch, hands underneath his arms dragging him down the stairs. "Did there have to be so many damn stairs?"
Continuing to fuss I get us down to the next level, where I'm supposed to wait. Well two floors up is where I was supposed to wait but the dysfunctional duo up there are cutting through floors like…I don't even know. Pulling him to the side, careful not to get too comfy in case they come barreling through.
I can't hear their heartbeats, can't hear Aunt Kenz's either anymore…and I'm trying my best not to focus on what that could mean. What I do hear is mother's. She's close, but I can never seem to find her. Guess it's the perfect metaphor for my mother. Always around, always protecting us but never seen. Mom was clear though, mother had to stay out of this. I don't really get why…why mom was so strict about it. Mother wasn't allowed to fight unless it became absolutely necessary.
They didn't think I heard them, Aunt Kenz and mom but she made a sarcastic comment that "we can't risk a repeat of last time". Not that I know what the shit last time was. Maybe mother lost? Maybe she didn't finish it? Maybe…lots of maybes.
I look up, catching the faint sound of mom's heartbeat followed by Dani's. Part of me wonders what would happen if I didn't let it go up there. Another part of me wonders what would happen if Dani got through mom and it came down to Dani or me. Who would mother choose?
Thoughts for another time. "Come on you big lug." I smirk, Aunt Kenz's words coming to mind as I start to drag Ethan to the next flight of stairs. "Hope mother had insurance on this place."
.
Bo's POV
.
"Where's all that confidence now Bo?" She yells, her voice muffled by the ringing in my ears. "Where's it at champ?" The pipe she had gotten a hold of coming down on my back three times. "Where's the fight?" Twice to my knee, I can't help screaming out in pain. "Difference between you and me is I can take the pain." She kicks into my stomach, flipping me over.
She's a bloody mess, more than ever before and at least I can take pride in that. Problem is, so am I. I can barely see her through it. Flashes back to the warehouse so many years ago. Flashes back to every fight I've had with her. Each one better than the last, but still always seeming to come up short.
"Story of my life." I laugh out to myself, tilting my head to spit out blood already starting to choke on it.
"Say goodbye, Bo." She raises the pipe, tossing it up slightly so she can grab it like a spear rather than a bat.
This is gonna hurt like a bitch.
She starts to bring it down. A yell cutting through the silence and for a moment I think it's me. Until the pipe drops to the floor. Dani yelling something. And…Kenz yelling something. Shaking my head, trying to push myself up. Kenzi on her back, hands gripping her face.
Dani reaches behind, grabbing Kenz and throwing her into a wall. In one motion I grab the pipe, lunging at them. One swing, the pipe right into her face sending her onto the floor with a thud. She doesn't move for a second and that's enough that I run to Kenz, dropping to my knees. Blood coming down her temple.
"Kenz you stupid fool."
"What else is new?" She groans, struggling to breathe. "To. The. Bottom. Bo-Bo."
"Sometimes I love you so much I hate you." I almost laugh, tears mixing with blood in my eyes. My hand cupping her cheek, leaning in.
"No."
"Kenz I have to…"
"You need it." She looks passed me, as I turn to look at Dani pushing herself up and stumbling. "Finish this once and for all Bo."
"Don't worry Aunt Kenzi," Now on her feet, she wipe the blood from her face and spits at my feet. "Once I finish up here, I'll bring you right back."
"Like you brought Mila back?" I snap.
"Hey! She is back…mostly."
"Kinda missing her mind and soul."
"Her mind is there."
"And the soul?"
"Insurance."
"Or you don't know how."
"I do!"
"Lies. Lies. Lies. All you do is lie Dani."
"Well you and mother are my parents…learned from the best."
"Always someone else to blame."
"Like I said," She kicks over one of the pipes scattered on the floor. "I learned from the best."
"Shall we end this?" I pick it up, not quite a sword but it'll do.
Laughing, she picks up one herself. "Please."
Metal to metal the clanks fill every second of silence. She struggles just as I do. Its been a while but she struggles far more than I do. Left…right…left…going for the knee…the shoulder…head. She blocks them each just as I block hers.
Ducking a swipe, I angle myself…kicking out into her knee. She falls to one. Swinging back, pipe against her face sending her to the floor. Swinging back I bring it down on her back three times…the fourth I stop myself.
It took a long time to realize I've always been fighting myself when it came to her.
Even now…I won. I have it. I beat her. It's here…the day that's been long overdue but…I hesitate. I do the thing that I blame Lauren for doing time and time again.
Parenting sucks sometimes…
Moment of hesitation leaving me vulnerable.
She spins up onto her knees. Her hand grabbing my side, other going to deliver a blow. Right hand catching it, left hand grabbing her throat…squeezing tightly. She looks up into my eyes shocked. Her eyes transitioning back to normal…ones that mirror mine.
Everything about her mirrors me…doesn't it.
Blinking back tears, I squeeze a little tighter struggling against her. Familiar feeling of hesitation creeping in. I refuse to do this again…I refuse to hesitate. On instinct I kick out, foot to her chest with every ounce of strength. She flies through the air, her body breaking through the beginning stages of a concrete wall.
"Bo…"
I stop short, already ready to jump down and finish this. But her voice stops me, Lauren's voice pulling me back…so rather than jumping down to the street to end this…I linger at the edge waiting for her to join me.
"You won." She whispers, taking my hand as she looks down at Dani lying motionless on the street.
"Not yet."
"Bo," Another whisper as she maneuvers behind me. "Look…" She says, pointing toward the sky where the drones have started to gather. Her head resting against mine, her heartbeat erratic and it's been a while since I've heard that sound. "Is our time over?"
Relaxing into her embrace, I nod. "It is."
.
Victoria and Michael's Voiceover:
Now we see only reflections in a mirror, mere riddles…
Ethan and Charlotte's Voiceover:
…but then we shall be seeing face to face…
.
.
Victoria's POV
.
"Go mom." I laugh softly, lingering at the edge just behind the tarp as I see her Dani fall to the street. Glancing over my shoulder, Ethan still out cold resting against a pile of rubble. Little shit is gonna sleep through it all.
Eyes shifting back out onto Dani, the faint buzzing sound of the drones above catching my attention. Least he managed to do that right. From the building across the street I see several curtains pull back slightly. A door to the building across and three down opens just a bit.
Then I remember…I'm supposed to be counting.
One-penguin. Two-penguin. Three-penguin. Four-penguin.
Come on….
One-ducky. Two-ducky. Three-ducky. Four-ducky.
Please…
One-one thousand. Two-one thousand. Three-one thousand. Four-one thousand.
Well shit…
Time to be a big girl then.
Taking a deep breath, I jump out from behind the tarp. Perfect hero landing on the street, knee and palms burning like a bitch but I give it a nine point nine. Standing up straight, I finally realize it's raining. Like really freaking pouring. Guess it's a good thing, they won't realize I'm not covered in blood.
Four steps forward and I see more doors open, more windows open. My eyes venture up to the drones above and then to the building, guessing where my parents are watching. A crack of thunder and I jump, steps stopping as Dani has moved onto her knees.
"You look like shit sis."
"Still better than you half-pint." She laughs, coughing up blood.
"Ask for forgiveness."
"Forgiveness?"
"My parents…they wouldn't give you the option. Not anymore anyway. But I am…you can thank the man you wanted to crucify so bad for that. Ask for forgiveness and you'll get a trail. I'll advocate for banishment over death."
"Still such a child."
"Do it Dani." I demand, looking up at the drones again. "Ask for forgiveness!"
"Fuck your forgiveness." She laughs as I creep closer. "Fuck you. Fuck your family. Fuck your poor little dead priest. And for good measure, fuck your God Ri-Ri."
"Well," I chuckle to myself, kneeling down in front of her. Mom did a number on her. I don't even think she can stand. Least for the moment. Bitch heals fast though. Taking a breath, I focus letting my eyes transition and canines descend again.
"Brava. You learned how to do it. Thanks to me. This strength of yours is because of me. Never forget that child. I'm in you."
My hands cup her cheeks, rain doing a good job of hiding the tears. "I told you Dani, we are all the architects of our own demise."
Her lips part to say something…a flick of my wrist and her neck snaps.
Just like that.
.
Bo's POV
.
"It's done…" Lauren whispers heavily and I almost have a comment for her…until I realize the weight within my chest. "It's over."
"Not yet."
"W-what?"
I turn to face her, taking her hands in mine "It's not over yet, we have one more thing to do."
"What?"
"We have to go now if we're going to make it to the wall."
"To the wall?"
"If this is going to work."
"Think you left out part of your plan my love." Hesitant smile on her lips.
"Didn't think we'd get this far."
.
Victoria's POV
.
Oh God…oh God…oh God…
Standing up, I take a single step back eyes staring down at Dani's body.
Fear and anger and doubt bubbling up and I feel the world spinning. Everything is spinning. I'm not okay. I'm gonna pass out. I just killed someone. I just killed my sister. I said I was okay…I think I was okay…but I'm not okay.
Am I okay?
Roaring thunder makes me jump, snapping me from the spiraling train of thought. Rolling thunder coming into focus as I look around and find out my thunder is really a crowd.
My people.
The sidewalk full of them as they come wandering out from the buildings, from the darkness of the alleys. The drones above circling in formation just like they had when mom had her victory.
Glancing to my right, sound of Ethan's heartbeat ripping my attention away from the crowd. He leans against the building, starting at me with his heavy smile. He nods and I do something completely outta character. I wave his ass over. It takes three times and my serious bitch face but he limps over to join me.
Taking his hand, I lift it up with mine. "Ka Tra, Ka nadi!"
"AAVA RYANA! AAVA RYANA!"
They shout and I can't help the fear dissipating as I look at Ethan who nods again and pulls his hand away. "Your moment sister." He whispers, stepping back as he joins them.
Long live, the princess…I like it.
.
All Four's Voiceover:
Now I can know only imperfectly;
But then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known.
.
.
Bo's POV
.
"Oh my God. Bo what's happened?" She lets out, walking ahead of me.
Shock and awe expected, and even though I hadn't seen it I knew it was coming…but it's still a bit…much to take. The weakness in the wall, the place where Charlie had abused so many times before now a giant hole. Across the grass dozens upon dozens of bodies lay. We grow closer and just outside of the hole several cars turned over and on fire.
"Bo. What happened?" She demands now, standing in the middle of what can only be compared to a graveyard.
"Do you trust me?"
"Bo…"
"Trust me." I plea, taking her hand in mine as I hear the two approaching heartbeats before she does…thankfully. "Trust me that I did this for our family and our people."
"Mother." Charlie's voice cuts through the air as she and that girl Trini emerge from the hole, fire behind them and if I didn't actually know them I might have been worried.
"Child." Lauren's head tilts. "Children."
"No way to speak to the people who are saving your ass." Trini barks.
"Watch how you speak to me."
"Lauren. Everyone. Stop." My arm wrapping around Lauren's waist, getting a better hold of her. "I asked them for…this…I guess."
"You asked for a massacre?"
"They took their liberties."
"You wanted it real right?" Charlie snarls, she looks…different. Same girl, just harder. She enjoyed the killing, I can smell it on her. Lauren was right. "Perfect PR stunt just for you mother. Does it please you?"
"Charlie." Trini attempts to reign her back in. "Our end of the deal is done. Do we have yours?"
"What deal did you make Bo?" She snaps.
"No retaliation. No acts of aggression…either way for five years."
"You must be…"
"Are you that in love with war mother? With bloodshed? You just ended one child are you so keen to end another?"
The words a heavy blow as I feel Lauren's body relax into mine. "I will tell you what I should have told Dani all those years ago and had it end there…I'm sorry I couldn't save you."
"She doesn't need you to save her….queen." Trini says flatly, hesitantly taking Charlie's hand in her own. Huh…didn't think that would go that way.
"The deal is done. Five years." I nod, very faint sound of drones drawing near. "Go before you're seen."
"As you wish." Charlie gives a fake bow, starting to turn with her…something in toe.
"Charlotte."
"Mother?"
"I'm pleased you found where you belong."
Her lips part, but she just sort of smiles taking Lauren's words for what they are before giving a nod. The two of them starting a walk, and then a jog before a full run as they disappear into the darkness.
"I know you're pissed."
"I am."
"I know this is…looks bad."
"Because it is."
"Because it is." I nod. "There was a mystic, a traitor. She was feeding Trini's people information. She tried to play it off but there was no reason for any of them to be here. You forbid it. We needed a reason why…"
"We weren't the ones to…"
"Yes." I nod again. "They're coming my love, a decision must be made."
She looks up, the drones coming into position now. Circling us. Her eyes come to meet mine. "You keep asking me if I trust you Bo," Tailing off, she takes my hands in hers, fingers intertwining. "Unequivocally."
"You and that geekspeak woman." Smirk curving my lips as I lean in, stealing a kiss. Her hands moving into my hair as she deepens the passion behind it. "We're free." She whispers against my lips, eyes closed. "We're free."
"We are."
We really are…free.