Mina was bent over the toilet, throwing up. Gizmo had praised her for her shooting abilities, and then let her go back to her room. She felt horrible.
Gizmos words were ringing in her head. No, they couldn't be right. They just couldn't be. She wasn't like them.
They had attacked her home. They had downloaded a little boy. They had kidnapped children, just to get to her.
And then it came again. The tiny proud sensation, that they had gone trough all that just to get to her.
She threw up again.
What was she complaining about? Hadn't she been given her childhood dream served on a platter? Hadn't she all her life wished for a place where she had power, and where you were so important they would do anything to get you.
Mina wanted to cry, but didn't. She wouldn't let herself.
Knocks on the door. Mina got to her feet and wiped her mouth.
"What?"
"It's dinner."
Zhana. Mina didn't want to talk to any of them. She couldn't. Her hands shook. Her entire body was shaking.
"Go away."
"Don't make me hurt them."
The children.
"Go a head. How do I even know you did something to them?"
Suddenly she couldn't breath. She fell to her knees, clutching her chest while she could hear them scream.
"Stoop. Pleas stoop."
The screaming stooped, and Mina gasped as air went down to her lungs again.
"You better wash up first. Malchior is very strict on that sort of things."
"Malchor, you were right. This girl is amazing. She tried the machine at level ten and kicked its ass."
They where sitting by a long table eating dinner. Servants where bringing the courses, and of course, Mina got a vegetarian dish. She was seated next to Zhana and across from Malchior. Mina just concentrated on her eating.
She tried to not be proud as Gizmo told them about her achievements, but she couldn't help herself. She wanted them to be proud. She wanted them to be impressed.
"Good job Minerva."
Zhana leaned over and gave her a big smile.
"I can't wait until her morphing powers start to develop."
"I don't have any morphing powers."
Malchior looked at her before he started to laugh.
"You might not have an unlimited morphing power like your father, but you have the power believe me."
Mina rolled her eyes before taking another bite.
"You don't believe me? Close your eyes and try."
Mina didn't know why, but she wanted to prove him wrong. She wanted to show him she wasn't so wonderful as he told her. As he made her feel.
Mina closed her eyes, and pictured a black raven. She saw every detail, every feather, everything. And at first, nothing happened, but after a few minutes she could feel something happen.
An indescribable pain shot through her arm and up to her brain making her cry out in agony. It was like her arm was on fire. She opened her eyes and looked in shock at her arm, which now was shorter and had feathers.
She got the image of her normal arm inside her head and saw as the feathers melted away and her arm stretched out to its full length. She looked in terror at the three sitting by the table.
"I'm impressed Minerva. You are doing much better than I anticipated."
Mina couldn't help her smile, and cursed herself. Malchior bent over the table.
"It's not wrong getting what you need."
"What do you know about what I need?"
"Just that you are getting things here, in only two days, that you didn't get for 18 years back with the titans."
Mina just took a new bite, not knowing what to say. He was right. Of course he was right. She was happy her. She knew they were proud of her, and they had no obligation to take care of her. They wanted her here. She didn't see the looks the three others shared.
"And since you where such a nice girl, you will get a new kiss."
Zhana had her pinned up against the wall, and pushed their lips against one another. Mina told herself that she was only doing it so Zhana wouldn't harm the children, but a part of Mina had to admit she actually liked it.
In three swift motions, and before Mina could fully understand what was happening, had Zhana pulled of both their dresses and pushed her down on Mina's bed. Like a cat she was over her, and softly started to kiss her from her foot and up to her head.
Between a kiss at her thigh and a kiss just under her navel, Mina suddenly remembered a discussion she and her father had when she was much younger, about homosexuality among animals. He had told her that it was actually very conmen for two animals of the same species and sex to be attracted to one another.
But as quickly as Zhana's lips again made contact with her skin she forgot about the conversation and her father. All she could think about was the sensation Zhana created in her body.
She was hovering over her face. Looking in to her eyes. Her lips moving all over her face, but not touching. Mina knew what she wanted. All the time it had been Zhana who initiated the touches. She wanted Mina to kiss her, not the other way around. She wanted Mina to want her.
Mina knew it, and as much as it disgusted her, she wanted to kiss the girl. She wanted to have her lips against her own. She tasted, she tasted like candy. Like one of the fake sorts filled with so much colour and artificial substance it's almost silly. Mina had always hated that kind of candy, but now she suddenly got a craving for it. For a kiss.
"Hormones aren't always that bad."
Zhana's voice was the last straw. Mina couldn't stop herself anymore. She kissed the girl.
She pressed her lips against her mouth, and now that she had started Mina couldn't stop. She stuck her tongue in her mouth, and the sensation almost drove her crazy. Somewhere way back in her head something told her thins was wrong, but her own delightful moans drowned the voice out.
Then suddenly she was gone. Mina looked up and saw the girl starting to dress herself. A sickening grin on her face. Zhana, now fully clothed, leaned in and kissed Mina one more time.
"Welcome to the group."
Then she left. When her adrenalin went down Mina suddenly realised what she had done. What she had almost done. She started to shake, and pulled her knees up under her chin. Tears running down her cheek.
The worst part was that she still didn't understand why she had done that? It was like something in her mind had disappeared, and she just did what felt right. Not caring about what she was doing.
She got to her feet, and went into her bathroom. She turned on the bath water. She pulled of her underwear, and didn't care that it landed on the floor. She felt sick to the stomach, and bent over the toilet as she threw up. She rested a bit on the edge, crying. She had given in. Broken down.
Her father had been right. It was a good thing she hadn't controllable powers. She went over to the bathtub and turned of the running water. She let her body sink into the warm water. She leaned back and ducked her entire head under it. Wanting never to have to go up again. But soon her lungs started to burn, and she had to raise her head. She was weak. That's why she had never been able to be a titan. She was too weak.
She dried herself and took on a blue nightgown. Her fingers went to the necklace she had taken from Erlea. She knew the locator inside it was ruined, but it was still a nice necklace. A silver bee. She liked the cool metal against her skin.
She couldn't sleep. She wasn't crying or anything. Her eyes just didn't want to close. She felt like someone filled her stomach with cement. Her fingers wandered to her necklace.
She couldn't go back home. Not now. Not like this. She was a danger, and a part of her wanted to be here. It liked the attention, the constant reassuring, being bad. She shifted. Her body was screaming after sleep, rest, but she couldn't find peace.
She sat up and rested her head on her knees. What had she done? What was she doing? Why didn't she understand anything? She was so sick of being confused. She didn't care anymore what she was, she was just sick of the questions.
A soft rap on the door. Mina placed her naked feet on the stone floor and shrieked as she realised how cold it was. She bit her lower lip as she went over the floor and opened the door. It hadn't been looked as the previous night. Malchior was standing there with a glass.
"You want to stop the questions?"
She nodded, not caring that he had obviously read her mind.
"Drink."
The glass was medieval inspired with a black dragons rapped around the glass itself, creating a shaft it its feet and claws. The drink was yellow, and smelt like pollution. She didn't care. She just wanted her head to give her a rest. She wanted to be at peace.
She grabbed the glass, put it to her lips, and drank the whole thing before she could even think about it. She knew it was a bad thing, so she gobbled ever drop before she could refuse. She let her arm drop, and Malchior grabbed the glass before it fell to the floor. He looked at her.
The feeling was indescribable. As the liquid ran down her throat, she could feel something wake up inside her. Something primal. She looked at Melchior. He was damn hot.
"I'm flattered, but it's not time."
"Party pooper."
Mina could feel her body becoming hotter, and her breathing shallower.
"I could go get Zhana. She would love having some fun with you."
Mina smiled, and went closer.
"That's cool. I can share."
He let out a chuckle.
"Your mother should have seen you know."
"Mother?"
"Nobody Minerva."
He bent down and kissed her lips ever so slowly.
"Get some rest, if you're a good girl I might persuade Zhana to play nice tomorrow."
"If she's going to be nice, don't bother."
Melchior let out a new chuckle, and went down the hall, and soon the darkness had devoured him. Mina pouted; irritated there weren't going to be some fun, but she closed the door, and went back to her bed, sleeping as soon as her head touched her pillow.
"Wow Minerva."
Gizmo looked at her as she went out of the machine. She laid down the gun and the bow.
"I have never seen anyone go through level 13 so quickly."
"It was boring. Next time lets try something harder okay?"
Mina looked up at the man and smiled.
"Something a bit more interesting than computer pictures."
"As you wish."
The man looked at her, and she got annoyed.
"What?"
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine. Actually, I'm hungry. Bye."
She turned and walked out of the room.
Back in the kitchen she pulled out a lambs leg. It was still raw, and Mina licked her lips as she took a big bite. She smiled as the meat run down her throat, and she could feel the salty taste of blood on her lips. It wasn't long before the entire leg was gone.
"Finished eating all ready?"
Mina turned her head and smiled as Zhana entered.
"Sorry."
She shrugged and went a bit closer. Mina wanted her. She went over and started to kiss her. Well, stuck her tongue down her throat. Zhana was thrilled by this, and soon their tongues where dancing around one another in their mouths. Suddenly a smell hit Mina that made her want the girl even more. She could smell how horny she was. How she wanted this. It made her crazy.
"Minerva."
The two girls stared angry at Melchior who stood in the door.
"Do you want something?"
"We have company."
Mina's eyes started to glow, and an evil grin spread on her face.
"Well we should great them then."
Gizmo gave her a bow and arrow, a gun, and a pat on the head.
"Just think of this as an exercise."
Mina stuck out her tongue.
"Now what fun would that be?"
He smiled as she went out into the hall.
"Who are they?"
"Someone called the titans."
She smiled.
"They'll regret the day they crossed us."
She turned and ran over to her post. She got her bow ready, and smiled as she waited for her first victim.
It was a woman. Long red hair and big goofy green eyes. She was flying and her hands where glowing green. Mina had climbed up a story and was looking down on the woman from a sort of inside balcony.
"Mina?"
Mina whispered, and blackness suddenly clasped around her. She fell to the floor, and Mina snickered as she saw the woman squirm on the floor, trying to escape. A man ran through the door and over to the woman. He had a mask and black hair. Mina felt she was attracted to this man, but threw it out the window. She and Zhana could have some fun afterwards.
"Starfire."
Mina jumped down and landed in front of the man, the woman on the floor between them.
"Mina?"
Mina jumped after the man and kicked after him. He flipped backwards. Avoiding her leg.
"Mina, what are you doing?"
Mina smiled. He was good. This was going to be fun. She jumped up, grabbed him with her hands, and as she came down, flicked him around. He landed on his hands, and softened his fall by giving in to it. But still he wasn't attacking. This was getting boring. She took out her gun.
"If your not going to play."
"Mina it's me, uncle Richard."
Uncle Richard? Her head started to hurt. He was hurting her. He needed to be eliminated. She shot, but missed. The bullet entered his shoulder, inches away from his heart. He grabbed his shoulder in pain.
"Mina."
She turned around as a green man entered.
"Mina, it's me. Dad."
Dad? Her head felt like it was going to split in two. Why was it hurting so much? Who were these people?
She needed them gone. She wanted them to go away. She felt her clothes rip as her body grew. The green mans eyes widened in shook and terror.
"No. Not you too. I won't let it."
He was an annoyance. Why couldn't he just shut up? She suddenly saw a green, beast, in front of her. Maybe he would be a worthy advisory. She ran over and attacked him.
He quickly raised his front paws and they stood there, claws to claws. Matched. Mina was trilled, and started to be tougher. She took a good grip on his claws, jumped up, which made him lose his balance, and kicked him in the chest as she let go of him. He flew into the wall, and she was soon all over him. Pinning him down.
"Mina."
Suddenly the green beast started to shrink, and soon she was standing over the green man.
"Angel, listen to me. I know you can hear me. You have to control this."
Angel? Mina jumped of him. She needed to get away from him. From all of them.
She had run into an empty room, and was pasting back and fourth, rubbing her hands and crying. What had she done? She had almost shot uncle Richard? She had attacked aunt Kori, and her dad? She was so sick of questions. What had she done?
She sat down, but couldn't be seated for long. Her entire body was shaking. She had almost made Luanna and William orphans. She had almost killed them. Almost killed her father. What had she done?
The door creaked, and Mina froze as she looked at the man entering. She swore under her breath. He was the last person she wanted to see.
"Mina?"
"Go away."
He took a few steps closer to her, entering the room, and the door slammed shut behind him. He took of his sunglasses, and Mina looked into the eyes that made her stomach fly, and she looked away. This was the last thing she needed.
"What do you want?"
"To save you."
"You shouldn't have come."
Her head was thumping, and hurting like hell, but yet she was happy. She was happy because he was standing so close to her. Why did he make her feel this way?
"Leave Lochan."
"I can't do that."
"Pleas."
She was screaming. Trying to hear her own voice over her heart beating. She was desperate. She wanted, needed, him to leave.
"No, you're not alright. And I can't leave before I know you're right."
"Why? Why is it so important for you to know I'm alright?"
"Because I love you."
Not this again. Why did he keep saying that? Why couldn't he just leave her alone? It felt like her head was ripping in two. Why did he keep lying to her?
"No you don't."
"Yes I do. Call it one of the questions I couldn't lie about. Why can't you believe me?"
She wanted him to leave so much. Her head was hurting so much.
"People just don't fall in love."
"Well I did. Stop saying that I didn't because I did. I fell in with love you. I didn't ask to, but I wouldn't give it up for anything. I love you Mina, deal with it."
He was angry, and this just made her angrier.
"Fuck you Lochan. I can't believe after everything, this is how you treat me. Lying to my face. Well you can just go to hell Lochan. I hate you."
She wanted to hurt him. She wanted him to suffer like she was, and got her wish. A part of her hated seeing Lochan like that, another rejoiced.
He took a step closer and she took out her gun. Not aiming at him, just holding it in her hand. He got the message, and kept his distance.
"Why don't you believe that I love you?"
"It's not rational."
"It's not supposed to be rational Mina. Or logical. Love's just love. It can't be explained or defined. Why do you think it's so wonderful?"
He came even closer, cupping her cheek with one hand, holding the arm with the gun with the other.
"I love you Mina. Just as I did this morning. The first time I told you. Our first kiss, or the first time I saw you."
Mina's head felt like it was exploding. He softly wiped her tears with his thumb.
"You can yell at me, hit me, hell even kill me. But don't tell me my feelings for you aren't real, because they are."
He let go of her arm, moving his hand to her neck, then leaned in and kissed her. She just managed to close her eyes as those familiar lips hit hers. He released her, and took a step back. Mina opened her eyes and looked into his. One cold as ice, one warm as fire. It felt wrong. Having him away from her. Not having his lips on hers.
"I love you."
Then she raised her gun and shot.