Assassin's Eye

Chapter 18.

Lucy blinked to let her eyes adjust to the sudden darkness. She looked back at the three behind her and smiled warmly.

"This is where we part ways... I want you guys to go back to the front now, and stay as far as possible from this place until it's over."

Taylor furrowed her brow. "What do you mean? We've gone with you this far so why can't we stay and fight... We have already done so mu—"

Lucy held up a hand to cut her off. "Sorry, Taylor. If you come, you will die. That's just the way it is."

"But we've fought so well up until this point," Taylor continued, taking a step toward Lucy. "We've—"

Lucy glared at her, her expression suddenly turning venomous. "You've nearly died at every obstacle we've faced. You fought valiantly, and if you're worrying about hurting your pride, don't. I'd rather you lose some ego than your lives. Go."

Taylor looked as though she was going to retaliate again, but Alex tapped her on the shoulder. Lyon started toward the other side of the bridge. Taylor shot Lucy one last hurt look before following her friends. Lucy smiled sadly at them as they left. Sorry... This is for the best. She took a deep breath and stepped into the room.

Miki sat on the throne in the center of the room, exactly as the last time she had seen her. Jax hovered near the window facing the right side of the fortress, his blue hair catching a ray of sunshine. Lucy gathered her courage and started toward Miki as she was stopped by a voice.

Miki looked at her coldly. "I heard that you let Nemos die."

Lucy's heart caught in her throat for a moment as her eyes widened. "You heard what?"

"I heard," Miki swallowed and continued as Lucy caught a glimpse of the fury behind her eyes. "I heard that you let Nemos die on a wretched island out of all things."

Lucy glared in reply for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden statement. "What do you have against islands?" she asked, pushing her hair behind her ear.

Miki looked down and shadows fell over her face. "I had hoped it wasn't true..." Lucy thought she heard sadness in the girl's voice.

"I tried to do everything I could think of... I—"

"You did not try to do everything you could!" Miki's voice cut her off again, the anger glowing hot red in her black eyes. "If you had, then my Nemos would not have died! He would still be here. This is all your fault!"

Suddenly Lucy was angry too. "You're accusing me of killing him? Seriously?" Miki looked straight at her.

Suddenly Miki was behind her, a dagger to Lucy's throat. "Yes," she hissed. "This is your fault, after all."

My fault... Lucy's ager changed into sadness as the thought wafted through her mind. Is it, though? Is it my fault? I was the reason he went... My addiction was the reason he sacrificed his safety... My addiction to the thing that they tortured me with. Lucy put a hand on the blade at her throat, pressing it more into her skin as a hot droplet of blood rolled down her chest. She pulled the blade away suddenly, the metal cutting into her palm as she snatched it from Miki's grasp and pointed it back at her. A small strand of brown hair fell into Miki's face. Her eyes narrowed.

"I see that the Jade Leaf hasn't killed you yet. It's quite a shame. That would have been more painless than the least painful thing I want to put you through right now."

Lucy shot a hand out to try to catch Miki in the gut, but she vanished again, appearing a bit further away. Lucy scowled and cursed.

"Having problems, Lucy? Your mind mustn't be very clear if that's the best you can do right now. I think I'd rather fight you after you've come to your senses." Miki turned to the man watching from the sidelines. "Jax," she said, appearing back by her throne again and sitting wearily, "Take care of her, please. Apparently she hasn't learned her lesson."