Hello everyone! This chapter is going to start the other half of this fic of Alexis pairing with Jaden.
When it comes to my romance fics (all of them) I've noticed I write couples as bringing the best versions out of each other.
So sadly Alexis will be vindictive and cruel to a atoning Camula but will learn to be a better person through her relationship with Jaden and vice-versa.
Chapter 6: A Little White Lie
Alexis stashed the old key down the slit of her glove, barely peeking out to taunt Camula.
"You want it? Come and get it," She beckoned the former vampire.
Camula thinned her lips. She had already dueled Crowler; with similar high stakes. She didn't want to duel again, but if she must...
"DUEL!"
Camula's LP: 4000
Alexis' LP: 4000
"I will go first! Come to the field! Etoile Cyber!" A dancer of flowing ember hair waltzed her to the field. Wrapped around the Dancer's body were streamers of light blue, giving the woman a more flowing appearance.
Etoile Cyber
Level 4, Earth, Warrior, ATK: 1200, DEF: 1600
"I then use this, Ties of the Brethren! But in this case, more like sistren!"
Ties of the Brethren
Normal Spell Card
Pay 2000 LP, then target 1 Level 4 or lower monster you control; for the rest of this turn after this card resolves, you cannot Special Summon monsters, also Special Summon 2 monsters from your Deck with the same Type, Attribute, and Level as that monster, but with different names from each other and that monster. You cannot conduct your Battle Phase the turn you activate this card.
Two more monsters joined Cyber Etoile's side. One was a skater of purple and lavender with wrist blades the shape of ice skates, and the other was a pink-haired girl wearing a pair of pink ballet shoes and a puffy blue bodice and skirt.
"At the cost of half my lifepoints, I summon these two Cyber Girls from my deck!" The three monsters struck the same pose; arms forming an arch and standing on a single raised foot; like the start of a ballet recital.
Blade Skater
Level 4, EARTH, Warrior, ATK: 1500, DEF: 1600
Cyber Tutu
Level 4, EARTH, Warrior, ATK: 1000, DEF: 800
"I end my turn with a face-down. Your move." Alexis finished, her stance oozing with confidence, a trait shared with her trio of cyber girls.
Despite Alexis' strong opening, Camula was undeterred. "I draw. I summon Vampire Lady in attack position!" A noblewoman of pallid green skin and hair appeared in a puff of bats. Bat-like features plagued the woman's dress, such as a wrist scarf of clipped bat wings and a claw corset.
Vampire Lady
Level 4, DARK, Zombie, AT: 1550, DEF: 1550
"Cyber Tutu is the only one who can attack me directly, so I'll destroy her! Vampire Lady! Attack!" Camula threw her hand out in an order to charge.
"Go! Doble Passe!" For a split second, the defending Cyber Tutu shifted into a ghostly haze, completely passing through the attack and hitting Alexis instead.
Alexis' LP: 450
"I take your monster's direct attack, but you'll take damage to my Blade Skater's attack points!" As Camula's vampire lady was busy finding her way through the fog brought by Doble Passe, Blade Skater glided to Camula and struck her in a double accel strike before gracefully skating her back to Alexis' side of the field. The smoke cleared and the vampire lady found her way back to Camula's side, none the wiser.
Camula's LP: 2500
"And not only that, I can attack directly with my Etoile Cyber next turn!" As Alexis spoke, her etoile cyber got into a crouching stance, readying itself to jump and strike Camula when the time was right.
"Damn it, I end my turn by setting two cards," Camula finished as a pair of cards appeared in front of her.
"Wow, let's hope those two face-downs can save you because I have game next turn! I Draw!"
Alexis then smiled as she got a brief glimpse of the new card.
"Time to send you back to wherever you came from! Twin Twisters!" A pair of swirling storm tunnels scooped up Camula's face-down cards, sending them high up in the air.
"Damn it!" Camula exclaimed, her lips pursing into a angry pout.
"By discarding my fusion weapon, I can destroy your face-downs!" Camula's cards began to crack like glass, unable to withstand the power of the crushing twin twisters.
"I suppose I must use it then, go! Raigeki Break!" Within the shattering gale, lightning cracked and brewed, the storm tunnels now energized by the pieces of Camula's trap card.
This wild and uncontrollable electricity suddenly zapped Alexis' Etoile Cyber, reducing the dancer into ash.
"I discard my Vampire Lord to destroy your Etoile Cyber…" but Instead of sending the monster to the field, Camula slapped the card onto the monster zone, summoning the cloak-carrying noble lord.
Vampire Lord
Level 6, DARK, Zombie, ATK: 2000, DEF: 1500
"What?! How?!" Alexis questioned, shocked.
"It's because my other trap card was Zombie Bed…And since I've discarded my Vampire Lord during the chain, I could summon him when your twin twisters resolve!"
Zombie Bed
Normal Trap
When this Set card is destroyed and sent to the GY: Special Summon 1 Zombie-Type monster from your GY.
"Heh, this girl sure knows her stuff about chain links," Jasmine remarked, impressed by the play.
"Whose side are you on, Jazz?!" Mindy scolded back.
"It doesn't matter. I set a card face-down. Your move," Alexis growled under her breath.
Alexis couldn't believe how her turn turned out. She got out three monsters and would've won if it weren't for her opponent getting lucky. Maybe Camula still had traces of her vampire powers, affecting her draws.
Despite this, Alexis will not give up. Camula was a shadow rider, the group responsible for kidnapping her older brother, Atticus, making her an enemy in Alexis' eyes.
Sheppard displaying clemency to Camula earlier today made Alexis sick to her stomach. It made her even more nauseous when she learned from Jaden that Camula had enrolled.
How could she be expected to forgive Camula if she almost killed Crowler and Zane? Why would Sheppard be so stupid as to give Camula a second chance?
So Alexis decided to dispense her kind of justice by locking Camula out of the Obelisk Girl's Dorm and enraging her enough to use her banned cards.
The use of cards in the forbidden list is a huge offense in Duel Academy, worthy of expulsion. Alexis remembered that during Camula's duel with Crowler, Jaden, and Zane, she used several cards on that list.
Camula doesn't know, but Alexis secretly got Jasmine and Mindy to record this duel. So all Alexis has to do is duel Camula into a corner and force her to use them. Only to get expelled after her two friends call for the school staff and show them the video.
"I draw!" Camula declared as she started her turn.
"I activate my trap card! Threatening Roar!" A fiery lion with a spectral mane roared waves throughout the field, intimidating Camula's monsters into submission.
"Now you can't attack me for the rest of your turn," Alexis explained with a smug grin.
"Damn it. I just want to go to my room and sleep. Why are you doing this?" Camula questioned with a growl.
Alexis noticed this growl. It reeked of frustration, a feeling that she could exploit.
Before Alexis replied, she contemplated what would needle her opponent. And then the thought of Camula's 'friend' came into her mind.
"Because of that boy of yours, of course!" Alexis declared confidently.
"You've got him under a spell because no reasonable person would've defended you after what you've done!" She claimed.
Camula shot back a glare, "Don't talk about him like that," She demanded.
Noticing her response, Alexis took this as a sign to push further. "You heard me. I bet you brainwashed that freak into being your mindless servant."
Alexis then glanced away to come up with more ways to enrage Camula. She was about to go off, and Alexis needed to find that breaking point.
"Because no one believes in you, you act like you're going to change, but you're still the same monster taking advantage of a loner who can't think for himself."
That did the trick.
Camula finally spoke, opening the floodgates to whatever anger she had to bear.
Yet it was not for the sake of her pride. It was for someone else.
"Shut. Your. Mouth." Her voice was as cold as ice yet burned with unbridled fury.
"I know I'm a monster…I know I won't be able to change. But I know this!"
"Someone believes in me, and he's the loner everyone hates for no good reason!" Camula claimed.
Alexis curved a brow, not expecting her to defend Orion. He didn't know he existed before he barged into the Chancellor's office and offered cookies to everyone. Nevertheless, Alexis could plant a seed of doubt in Camula's mind and make her question her 'friendship' with this Orion of hers.
"For no good reason? Don't you know?" Alexis asked back.
Camula blinked, "Know what?"
"I guess he didn't tell you," Alexis gave Camula a surprisingly sympathetic look. Mindy and Jasmine looked at each other, confused, even they didn't know what Alex was talking about.
"...But I'm not going to say a word. I'm just going to let you figure it out yourself," Alexis insisted as she gave Camula a cheeky grin, like a master dangling a treat to their pet just out of their reach.
Camula glanced at the ground for a moment. Why should she believe this brat? And even if what she said was true, Camula would forgive Orion for what he did, as he did to her.
She probably has done worse anyway; she's a former vampire, after all.
"I know what you're doing, and I'm not going to fall for it." Camula retorted, her opinion unchanged.
"Sad, then I hope you're ready for disappointment. I draw!" Alexis warned as she started her turn.
"Hmph, I guess you'll have to use Giant Trunade, because I activate Swords of Revealing Light!" From the setting sky came down three swords of pure white light, they planted themselves on the ground, forming a barrier that Camula's monsters couldn't break through.
"Now, since my Cyber Tutu is protected, I can attack directly with her!" The pink-haired dancer spun around before delivering a heel kick to Camula.
The only issue so far is that Camula was winning, and Alexis needed to goad her into playing her Infernalvania or her Giant Trunade which just recently got banned. But how?
"I draw!" Camula declared as she started her turn.
"I activate my trap card! Threatening Roar!" A fiery lion with a spectral mane roared waves throughout the field, intimidating Camula's monsters into submission.
"Now you can't attack me for the rest of your turn," Alexis explained with a smug grin.
"Damn it. I just want to go to my room and sleep. Why are you doing this?" Camula questioned with a growl.
Alexis noticed this growl. It reeked of frustration, a feeling that she could exploit.
Before Alexis replied, she contemplated what would needle her opponent. And then the thought of Camula's 'friend' came into her mind.
"Because of that boy of yours, of course!" Alexis declared confidently.
"You've got him under a spell because no reasonable person would've defended you after what you've done!" She claimed.
Camula shot back a glare, "Don't talk about him like that," She demanded.
Noticing her response, Alexis took this as a sign to push further. "You heard me. I bet you brainwashed that freak into being your mindless servant."
Alexis then glanced away to come up with more ways to enrage Camula. She was about to go off, and Alexis needed to find that breaking point.
"Because no one believes in you, you act like you're going to change, but you're still the same monster taking advantage of a loner who can't think for himself."
That did the trick.
Camula finally spoke, opening the floodgates to whatever anger she had to bear.
Yet it was not for the sake of her pride. It was for someone else.
"Shut. Your. Mouth." Her voice was as cold as ice yet burned with unbridled fury.
"I know I'm a monster…I know I won't be able to change. But I know this!"
"Someone believes in me, and he's the loner everyone hates for no good reason!" Camula claimed.
Alexis curved a brow, not expecting her to defend Orion. He didn't know he existed before he barged into the Chancellor's office and offered cookies to everyone. Nevertheless, Alexis could plant a seed of doubt in Camula's mind and make her question her 'friendship' with this Orion of hers.
"For no good reason? Don't you know?" Alexis asked back.
Camula blinked, "Know what?"
"I guess he didn't tell you," Alexis gave Camula a surprisingly sympathetic look. Mindy and Jasmine looked at each other, confused, even they didn't know what Alex was talking about.
"...But I'm not going to say a word. I'm just going to let you figure it out yourself," Alexis insisted as she gave Camula a cheeky grin, like a master dangling a treat to their pet just out of their reach.
Camula glanced at the ground for a moment. Why should she believe this brat? And even if what she said was true, Camula would forgive Orion for what he did, as he did to her.
She probably has done worse anyway; she's a former vampire, after all.
"I know what you're doing, and I'm not going to fall for it." Camula retorted, her opinion unchanged.
"Sad, then I hope you're ready for disappointment. I draw!" Alexis warned as she started her turn.
"Hmph, I guess you'll have to use Giant Trunade, because I activate Swords of Revealing Light!" From the setting sky came down three swords of pure white light, they planted themselves on the ground, forming a barrier that Camula's monsters couldn't break through.
"Now, since my Cyber Tutu is protected, I can attack directly with her!" The pink-haired dancer spun around before delivering a heel kick to Camula's stomach. She winced from the blow and let out an annoyed growl.
Camula's LP: 500
"You have one turn left, or you're going to sleep outside!" Alexis warned as she laughed.
'Or you can use your Giant Trunade and get expelled,' She insisted in her mind.
"One turn is all I need. I draw!" Camula declared.
Camula paused as she got a look at the new card.
It was Giant Trunade. The key to all her problems.
"I activate Giant Trunade! Put Swords of Revealing Light back into your hand!" Another storm brewed, this time plucking the swords out of the ground, dismantling the barrier surrounding Alexis' monsters.
Alexis hid a smile. She may have lost the duel, but she won the war.
"Now end this duel, Vampire Lord. Attack Cyber Tutu for once and for all!" Camula declared.
With a swipe of his cloak, a horde of bats escaped from the Lord's cape, swarming Cyber Tutu into a mass of fangs and leather until nothing remained.
Alexis accepted the attack without issue, shrugging indifferently as her lifepoints dropped to zero.
Alexis' LP: 0
Winner: Camula!
"Finally, now give me that key!" Camula demanded.
"Of course, good game," Alexis replied before she tossed the key to Camula.
"Yes, it was. And thank you for keeping your word," Camula paused.
"Don't ever call Orion a freak again. If you do…" Camula then slid a finger across her throat before giving them a death glare. This mean look was different than her usual scowling, like a hawk about to cleave a nest of hatchlings.
If it weren't for her promise to Orion, Camula would've lunged at them by now with nails and teeth, regardless if she was a powerless mortal. But she will refrain from such barbarism in exchange for a decent night's rest.
With her message loud and clear, Camula turned around, pushed open the gate, and walked through.
As she did so, Camula looked down at her grey heart pendant. Within the crystal prism, another mote of crimson joined the lone drop of blood. The two wisps circled and twirled around each other like a pair of dancers before they went back to drifting aimlessly.
"Hmph, two in one day, I'll be back to my true self in no time," she remarked with a slight smile.
Alexis and her friends stood there for a moment, "You two recorded that, too, right?" She asked.
"Yep! She's gonna get expelled for sure now!" Mindy claimed with a snicker as she took out her PDA, having sneakily recorded the whole duel and the threat at the end.
"Good, let's send the video tomorrow. Let's get some sleep. Good job, you two," The three girls took their leave, as they did so, they noticed that the iron gate still had the key in its lock.
Alexis was surprised. She was sure that Camula would lock them out and force them to take the long way back to the dorm. But instead, Camula showed her opponent grace despite their interruption.
Alexis shook her head as she pushed the gate open. Camula's clemency doesn't change anything; by tomorrow, she will be sent back to whatever coffin she crawled out from.