****PARADISE SAGAS: BOOK 1: WARRIORS OF PARADISE****
Chapter 13
His uniform was unlike any of the others.
Beneath a silver cape, which covered his shoulders, was a dark blue uniform. The silver breastplates shown in the sun as he took another step.
His blue eyes sparkled as if this had been his first time outside. He turned his head and smiled at Lexa. His dark blue hair rippled in the wind.
Lexa smiled back at him, before she turned to Pure, "I have not killed your brother. I have made him whole again. And I can help you, if you let me."
"NEVER!" Pure shouted, "Brother? How could you let her do this to you?"
The warrior took a step forward, "I'm free, sister." His voice was warm, "For the first time in so long, I'm free. Come, sister, le her heal you." He extended his hand down to her
"No! Brother! Evil!" Pure took a step back.
"My name, sister, is Virtue." His voice turned colder as he stood beside Lexa.
~*~*~*~
Kevin watched in awe as the new warrior appeared, ~But he's not one of us. There are only five warriors.~ He sent.
~No.~ Cam e Lexa's firm reply, ~He may not be one of MY warriors, but he IS one of us.~ Lexa hadn't even looked at him.
Kevin winced in pain again.
He almost didn't see David flying towards him
~*~*~*~
Lexa spotted David when it was too late. Luckily, Kevin brought up his weapon and blocked David’s deadly blow. David snarled and Lexa took a step forward.
Virtue clamped a hand down on her shoulder and she couldn’t move. He snapped his fingers on his free hand and all were transported, deep into the caves again.
~*~*~*~
"This fight will end here. Now." Lexa whispered as Kevin swung out with his glaive.
Virtue nodded, "Yes. Here. Now."
"EARTH SWORDS SHAKE!!" David screamed as the ground beneath his swords cracked and ran straight to Kevin, where they burst into dark energy. Kevin cried out in pain.
"SUPERNOVA FIREBIRD!!" Kevin finally called upon his powers, aiming just to the right of David.
A ball of energy formed between the blades of the glaive. The energy shot out and turned into the shape of a bird. It narrowly missed David.
He looked amused as the bird flew past.
"Some aim."
"I wasn’t aiming to hit you." Kevin pulled back, "I don’t want to hurt you."
"Oh, isn’t that sweet?" Kendra took a step forward, Virtue made a motion and Kendra froze. Her eyes grew angry as she struggled to move against some unseen force.
"This is not your battle." Virtue spoke, Kendra stopped fighting and looked at Lexa.
It was as Kevin raised his glaive to block David’s bow again, that Lexa saw the blood. Kevin wasn’t going to win It seemed that David had just realized this also. He smiled.
He pulled back and struck out again.
Lexa shook her head. This wasn’t happening, her warriors—her FRIENDS—were KILLING each other. That thought made her wrench herself out of Virtue’s grasp. In the back of her mind, she thought she heard Daenna call. She felt Virtue try to stop her the same way he had stopped Kendra. But Lexa was far stronger than Kendra. She broke through his spell.
"DAVID! Don’t!" She yelled. David didn’t respond. Kevin winced as he strained his muscles. Lexa reached out an put a hand on David’s arm, "Adam? Please, don’t." She whispered, soothingly.
David’s muscles relaxed as color returned to his eyes. He shook his head, "Lari?" He asked, weakly. He looked at her before his eyes rolled back into his head and he fainted.
Lexa caught him and slowly lowered him to the ground. She pulled his head to her chest and rested her chin in his hair, as Kevin sank to the floor nearby. She knew what was coming. The silver bracelet reappeared on her arm. It clinked softly with the other one as both David and Lexa were surrounded by a soft, silver light.
~*~*~*~
She watched the full moon from a balcony. She was alone and her mind was racing.
Suddenly, two warm arms circled over her shoulders. She smiled as she leaned into his embrace.
"Lari? Are you okay?" He whispered in her ear.
"It will be finished tomorrow." She answered, solemnly, "At least, for us. I was just thinking about all I’ll miss. Everyone I won’t see ever again."
He turned her around and kissed her forehead. He smiled at her as they pulled away.
"Come, then." He took her hand, "Let’s spend our last night with our friends." He pulled her towards the door.
"Yes." She smiled, "Yes, I do believe you are right. With our friends."
"I’m always right." He laughed.
"Whatever you say, Adam. Whatever you say."
~*~*~*~
The warmth faded with the light as Lexa opened her eyes. David was still unconscious against her. She smiled, slightly as she brushed a strand of hair away from his face.
One last warrior. There was only Kendra left. And Pure, if possible.
She looked up at Virtue, who smiled, slightly. He extended his hand, and David floated upwards. Lexa stood and turned to Pure.
"There isn’t much you can do anymore." She said to Pure, "Please, join your brother."
"I will not turn to your side! Lilith is my Queen!" She shouted.
"Thank you," A voice hissed in the shadows, "For finally mentioning me. So nice to see you, Lari."
Lexa stiffened, "Lilith. What do you think you are doing."
"I’m doing what should have been a long time ago. What was promised to me." Mist weaved around Pure, "Submit yourself, Pure. Let me use you to finish them. You are my puppet."
"But what about me?" Kendra spoke up.
"You will return to your leader." Lilith hissed, moving around Kendra.
"No. Please, Lady."
"Yes. It will be a better challenge for me." Kendra gripped her head as Lilith spoke, "Do not fight. You have served me well, but you are now in my way."
Kendra screamed before she collapsed, unconscious.
"Now, Pure. SUBMIT!" Pure jolted as the mist enveloped her completely. Pure’s scream turned into a dark laugh.
As the mist faded, Pure had changed. Her golden eyes were now blood red and her brown hair had turned to midnight black. There were small fangs peeking out from her evil smile. She now wore a long black dress with a necklace with a brown stone wrapped in silver wire.
Lexa remembered her now. This was how Lilith had looked when they had sealed her away.
Lexa took a fighting stance. This would end today.
Soon.