Hidden Paradise

23

The smirk turned into a full smile as she looks up “Yeah” the smile stayed as Edmond reciprocates it to her. Amaris started to laugh a bit which cause Edmond to do the say. “Ahh” she screams. But not in pain, nor in agony…but with relief and a bit if joy sprinkled to it.

“You really are a great guesser, huh?” Amaris started to stand up, the chains that kept her restrained fell of as she started to slowly clap. “My Lady” Edmond got up and bows down, gesturing her to sit on the throne.

“Amaris” she turned to Athena, her eyes were filled with tears that threatened to fall anytime soon. She bent down to her level and used her fingers to lift up her chin. She smiled at her.

A smile they both knew that meant ‘run’. Athena’s eyes were filled with horror while Amaris stands up, the smile was still in her face. Alex stared at her, blinking multiple times as the smile didn’t get washed over his confusion. “W-what are you going to do?” She looked back to Athena.

Everyone else looked dead except for the two. She replied with the same smile but wider. “Oh, Athena” She giggle as she went over to claim her throne. “Welcome back” Edmond greeted “WHAT ARE YOU DOING AMARIS KING?” Alex yelled

“You’re just…joking, right?” Athena asked in a small voice, hoping she would stab Edmond any second. “Elena! Do something” Alex kept yelling at the thing…it was useless.

“This is why I shouldn’t have gone to Paraiso…” Athena mumbles. A smile slowly crept to her face, trying to push her feelings down. Amaris raised an eyebrow at her… “What exactly does she expect me to do?” She smirks while Edmond pours her a drink

“This is what you’re looking for, right?” Amaris held the green shard in front of Edmond as he nods happily. She smiles once more. “AMARIS!” Alex yelled again, deciding not to ignore the poor creature, she turns to him “What?”

“What do you think you’re doing?! Being with the enemy, seriously?” He gave her a disappointing look “Listen, we can still win against them…please” He begged, tears started to form in his eyes. It couldn’t bare to see Amaris with them.

“Is it Elena? We can leave her! It can be just us 6- no…us 3! Or if you want just the two of us or take Athena and leave me here! I’ll be fine! Please” his tears fell down unto his cheeks as he lowered his head.

Amaris leans back to her chair. She didn’t hesitate to drink again and giggled at his state. She didn’t had anything to say; but seeing her friends in vain….made her feel powerful. A feeling that she couldn’t describe.

It was like stealing someone’s money and then buying them stuff, like cheating on your test and passing it; that feeling you get when you lie and they believed it…yes, it was just like killing Athena’s hamster years back then consoling her by sharing the fishes.

Guilt was covered with pleasure every time and that was what made it worth it. The power she felt.

“Amaris” Athena called for her one more time. The sound of her crying still sounded irritating to her. But she felt no pity towards the two.

“AMARIS-“

“GUARDS” Edmond yelled like the queen of hearts. Three people started to beat him up. They pushed him to the ground, face first as they continued to weakly kick him around his body as it lied still. “Alex!” Athena fell down to her knees “Why?” She asked

Amaris opened her mouth to answer and closed it back once more, knowing it would to be complicated for the dumb creatures. Instead, she snapped her fingers and sighs of relief was immediately heard from the back.

“I thought you’d never ask for us to get up” Kira groaned, her restraints stared to fall of as she stretches her arms wide. She didn’t forget to look at Athena. Her eyes was filled with horror while more tears came out. Kira looked at her disgustingly as she gave Amaris a 90 degree bow “My Lady” she stood in front of her.

“Wah! I couldn’t believe I survived through all of that” Mark stood up next, dramatically stretching his arms as he bent his body sidewards “What’s wrong with them?” He lets out a chuckle while passing by the two.

Even though it was just small kicks on his body, Alex felt the sharp pain from their triangle pointed shoes. Tears started to come out more of his eyes, silently crying as he heard Mark’s voice. “My Lady” he greets Amaris.

“My Lady” a third voice came; the two looked up to see Haruki…even bowing to her. Edmond gestures the guards to leave him as Alex kept crying. His fists banged on the cold hard floor; Athena bit her lip and tried to swallow her feelings.

“Why?” Alex slowly wipes his tears, his arms still ties together. Amaris just stares at him with a glare. “WHY?!” He repeats but she stubbornly stays quiet.

“And what with the others?! Are you guys officially dead?” He kicks Jason who was next to him. “As if they were ever alive” Jason’s body fell hard to the floor and urns into dust in less than a second. He looks at her, horror filled his eyes too. Seeing them horrified at what she did earned a smile on her face.

“You maniac” he stars mumbling “YOU PSYCHO” He yelled. Amaris snapped her fingers once more, warning the guards as she saw them about to beat him up, again. Both Athena and Alex expected her to talk to them but she kept looking at them and her mouth stayed sealed. “Where is he?” She impatiently looks around.

“Wanna sea a magic trick?” Amaris finally spoke up. Athena looked over to Alex as they both hesitate “What kind?” a smirk forms on Amaris’ face once again. They knew it was a mistake.

She snapped her finger once, startling them as the windows got opened by the harsh wind. 'Thats'....it?'

Grunting sounds were heard from the back, it was Oliver. He stood up, his body was way bigger than it was before and his gaze harden. His heavy footsteps echoed throughout the room as he slowly became dusty after every step.

Soon, the wind carried the dust off his body, revealing a wrinkly monster than hovered against the two that kneeled down. "O-oliver?" Alex looked at his brother, horrified of what he has become.

"No, silly. Oliver's probably dead. He's a Hanbi" realization hits Alex as he turns to the others. They looked lifeless still, because they were already lifeless. 'It was all just a figment of imagination'.

Rage filled Alex once again. "Where's my brother?!" He roared. Yet again, Amaris still stayed unbothered at him "Hmm...gee I don't know. I mean the whole time I've been with y'all" she shrugs at them. The same shrug she gave to every question she didn't want to answer.

"Why are you doing this?" Athena cried, her voice was filled with not rage, but with pain. She never liked crying, no. But she couldn't hide how she felt this time. It was too mich to take in.

"You're a traitor" Amaris stopped whatever she was doing and claps one more time. "You wanna know why?" Edmond brings her a bowl of water as she stood up from her throne.

Amaris took the bowl and drank the whole thing "That's Yelo's water! How dare you steal that-"

Athena stopped as she gasps with Alex.

Amaris's hair immediately turned into a ponytail, a bunch of front hair falling unto her face as it was colored with violet stripes. Her outfit became completely black, covering her entire body. She looked like a spy.

'She is one'

Her eyes turned from dark green to deep purple within seconds as she finished the whole thing "It was NEVER Yelo's water and don't you DARE forget that. It's called Nerò. You selfish people" she mutters the last part, walking back to her throne as she hands the bowl back to Edmond.

"This...whole time?" Athena was too confused. The place where he rgrandmother warned her about was here and the people she didn't want he rto meet was standing in front of her...it was her best friend.

"Why....WHY?!" Athena cried once more. "ENOUGH" Amaris finally snapped back as she gestires to the guards. They immediately got into action as they surrounded the two and dragged them out of the room.

Athena's shoe's made marks while she was getting dragged. She restricted too much. What was she going to do anyways? It was her best friend that betrayed her.

"Just why?" Her cries slowly got lower and lower as she jist lets the guards drag her out of the room.