Draft 67

"Kharkov, do you mind fix her arm first?" Red pointed at Maya's loosen arm. "I dislocated it, not broke it. Just join it back."

Kharkov made a face then immediately pushed Maya's arm back into the socket.

"AH!!" Maya screamed. She breathed panically, looking at her arm then to Kharkov. "What the fuck!"

"It's weird that for some reason, Maya managed to get to Vel'Asha. Exactly at the place where Alesia was at." Red walked and stood by Akari, then kneeled down to one knee. "What are the chances of that happening? You ever wonder that Kharkov?"

"Da." He nodded. "Now we know why. Akari tricked Maya to do her bidding."

"Exactly." Red grabbed the hand of Akari and started to push a certain nerve.

The nerve made her golden Channels glow. When it was at its brightest, appeared a Siren that levitated above ground. Wearing a see through dress that her breast was visible.

"Mother!" Maya shouted. "That's my mother!"

"Maya…" Kharkov softly put his hand on her shoulder, delicately helping her stand up. "There's no ghost."

"It's right in front of us!" Maya pointed. "Can't you see!?!?!"

Kharkov lips remained together. He shook his head. "No. I don't see it."

"You're the only one who sees it." Red let go of Akari's arm then stood up. "The ghost that you see was nothing but an image. Set up by Akari."

"Foolish child." Alesia commented. "Probably doesn't even look like her mother."

"How?!?!" Maya ignored her.

"The Transfer Ritual." Red said, looking at Maya. "The gradual process of moving one Siren to another body. The process must have two willing Sirens. You did consent to it Maya, it won't happen if you did not."

"I…" She frowned and looked down. "She asked me to commit."

"Commit what exactly?" Red asked again.

"Mind, body and soul." Maya raised her head slowly. "The Host would help me get my powers back if I commit my all. But I never thought she could…"

"Well she did." Red said. "I was already suspicious when she healed you."

"I'm awake, Red. You can come in." Maya said, awoke and healed after a day and a half of sleep.

"Well, good news." Searcher Red entered the room and put down food and water that he bought on Maya's desk. "Food fresh from the pan, eat it while it's still hot. I bought some food for you too, Host."

Time slowed down for Searcher Red. Taking in the subtleties of the situation. As Red looked at the two Sirens, he realised that Maya was healthy even after rigorous training. With Akari's hand holding onto Maya's hand, flowing energy into her like a blood transfusion. A slight raised in Red's right brow.

"Don't forget to put into your notes, Searcher Red." Host Akari looked at him, with a stern face telling him to leave. "In with the many details that you take in."

Red understood and nodded. "Thank you for reminding me, Host Akari."

Host Akari turned back to Maya, her face changed into a calm smile immediately.

"After all the years, Akari never healed a Siren before. Never healed me or Kharkov." Red looked at Akari. "She only observed and teach. Spending most of her time at the temple. And intervene when it's absolutely necessary."

"Because her body died with the planet she destroyed." Alesia commented. "Akari is the ghost, not her mother."

Red turned his head to Maya. "Now we know why she wanted me to go fight Alesia alone."

"Divide and conquer." Kharkov slowly spoke with a voice of controlled anger. "So when Akari wanted to take over her body, we're not there to prevent it. She sets us up."

Maya speechless. Her face of shock slowly turned to disappointment. Her shoulder slumped like a landslide.

"So." Red said. "Akari is guilty as charged." He took a step back and motioned his palm to Alesia. "I think no one would want to defend her."

Maya turned her body around, wrinkles appeared on her face as she forcibly closed her eyes. Kharkov beside her, putting his palm on her shoulder yet still looking over at Red and Alesia.

"Finally." Alesia's channels appeared bright.

She lowered her body and reached down the neck of the unconscious Host. She lifted her up high and gave a shock. Akari awakened. Eyes opened wide and glared at the one who was choking her.

"YOU-"

Alesia tightened her grip, Akari whined as air was blocked. Alesia answered the glare back with a smirk on her face.

"You got a second chance and yet you fail again." Alesia increased the pressure on Akari's neck.

"Ack!" Akari frowned.

Alesia said nothing then slowly put the pressure on Akari's neck.

Akari's eyes widened to a circle. Alesia charged all her energy then dumped all the thunder into Akari's body. Her whole body shook. Lighten up brightly like a bulb. The sound of electric burning flesh sizzled on everyone's eardrums. Akari was no more a minute later. Alesia held her hand high as the body was destroyed, not even ash was left behind.

The Channels disappeared instantly and Alesia's left arm dangled from her shoulder. Maya turned around to see that Alesia was the only one remaining. Her face was clueless with despair.

Alesia turned to Maya wanting to continue the assault. Wanting to add another kill.

Red prevented the act, stood in front of her. "I don't think that's a good move Aldari."

Alesia remained her glare to Maya. "Move away."

"Maya has legitimacy just as much as you." He refused. "You know it."

Alesia then glared at him. "You think I care? It doesn't make a difference, she killed my daughter!"

"I didn't!" Maya pointed with her able arm.

Kharkov stood right in front of Maya. Preventing her to advance. She moved her head to the side to look at Alesia.

"None of my friends did! Handsome Jack was the one-"

"Shut your mouth child!" Alesia shouted.

"Don't call me Child!" Maya shouted back.

"Maya. Enough." Kharkov put his hands on her shoulders.

"What do you mean enough?" Maya looked at Kharkov confusingly. "You siding with her now?!?"

"Alesia is still a Siren. She's also an Aldari."

"An Aldari that was excommunicated by The Society. She went against The Society and she admit it."

"Yes I did. Against a society of human traffickers. No wonder Akari chose you, you're an idiot."

"Enough with this!" Kharkov shouted. "Both of you!"

The first time that the gentle Kharkov raised his voice, the two Siren went shut. The tense shoulder of Kharkov was a threat that they both knew they could not pay.

"I have given full support to Red. He has made a decision." Kharkov said. "Red tell them now."

Searcher Red crossed his arms. "Both of you have potential being the head of The Siren Society. Thus I made a decision, both of you shall be Nia Hewina."

Maya and Alesia objected with widened eyes.

"What the fuck!?!?" Maya blurted out.

"This is outrageous!" Alesia disputed.

"As ridiculous as it sound…" Red looked to Alesia then Maya. "This is within the rules of The Siren Society. The Nia is chosen by The Aldarise. As of now, we Searchers are the De Facto Aldarise.

Red pointed at Alesia. "With all do respect Aldari, you left The Society and Kharkov has submitted you."

Alesia made a disgusted face but said nothing.

"Meanwhile Maya…" Kharkov added. "Has already lost to Red, in fact he saved your life. We Searchers have a say on these matters."

"You guys can't. She's gonna kill all of us Kharkov." Maya pleaded. "You giving her the chance to kill us."

"Maya." Red looked at her. "Based on what happened, you're not yet qualified to be a Nia. This is the best outcome for the Searchers' interest."

"Hah!" Alesia formed a smirk.. "You're honest at least."

"And what about her?!?" Maya pointed at Alesia. "She said herself that she doesn't care about the Siren Society. She left it before that means she could leave again."

"Good point. That's why I don't appoint her immediately. Even though she is an Aldari, she's still Thundalya."

Maya began to shake her head. "This is wrong. This is going to be bad. Why are you guys letting her to.. to… I don't understand."

"Because she's your aunt Maya." Kharkov said.

"What?" Maya looked to Kharkov.

"Damn it Kharkov!" Red scolded. "Right now?"

"She deserves to know, Red." Kharkov turned to Red. "Enough with the technical things."

Maya stared at Alesia and shook furiously. "No, that's impossible."

"It is. You're Alesia's niece." Kharkov softly affirmed his statement.

"No you're the same as that witch." Maya shook her head. "Akari and you are the same."

Kharkov continued. "Your mother was-"

"My mother left me! If I did not see her. There's no way in fucking hell you saw her!" Maya shouted yet slightly shaken.

"And you both just appointed a child as Nia.." Alesia commented.

"SHUT. UP!" Maya pointed at Alesia. "I swear I will kill you!"

"Come on. Kill me with that one arm of yours." She taunted back, Red moved in front of her. "The only one who did was the weakest one!"

"Enough, both of you!" Kharkov calmed the situation. "I'm not lying Maya. This is the truth."

"Then why haven't you said it before huh? Why now?"

"You forgot that Akari banned us from even talking about her?"

Maya moved away from the group and looked at the forest. "So you know all along? Even if it was true…" Maya looked at Red. "You guys kept it from me?"

"One, it wouldn't matter until now that Alesia is still alive." Red explained. "Two, we just confirmed it recently through Axton sources. I told him specifically to not tell you about it."

"So the Commando was your source?" Alesia's face showed disbelief.

"You guys are setting me up." Maya shoved Kharkov away, the man did not even budge. "You just want to use me! This is some kind of game to you all!"

The quarrel continues between the two Searchers and the Blue Siren. Alesia behind Red, looking down, deep in her thoughts. Surprised still by how much Axton has data about her.

While the verbal back and forth continued in front The Statue of Hewina. A small blue bird landed on the shoulders of the statue. It observed the group of humans below with keen eyes. Suddenly the bird spoke.

"So the peacemaker has made peace."

The two Siren and Searchers stopped like stone. Stunned by the foreign voice. All of them looked where the voice came from. The bird was the obvious thing of interest. For it was staring at the group.

"Did that bird…" Red frowned in disbelief. "Did that bird just talk?"

The bird widened its beak, a ball of light at its throat. It screeched so loud that ears hurt mad! The ball of light ejected from the mouth and blinded everyone into light and nothingness.