Star-Crossed Blades KFP

Blood Oath

Sapphire runs up the ramp towards the Jade Palace. She goes inside and quickly searches for a wooden door leading to the archives.

A soft glow emits from the room when she walks in. She sees a floating Leopard head reading books.

"Woah! I didn't think my jacket would go incognito on you. But any leads yet?" She asks Ava, who shoved a bunch of papers into her bag.

"Not quite. There's a story about traveling to different worlds using a significant amount of power and a lotus connection." Ava states, putting the remainder of the books back in place.

"Lotus connection? What's that supposed to do?" Sapphire asked the leopard, getting her bag. Ava turned to her with a solemn look on her face.

"I need more information to work with before I can confirm a theory." She states, quickly walking out of the room. Sapphire runs after her in frustration.

"If you have a theory, tell me, and I'll provide the information I possess. Look, Ava," Sapphire tugs on the jacket for the leopard to stop heading towards the exit.

"I need to get out of here. There's something that's been trying to find me, and I don't think I can keep fighting it off." Sapphire said, facing the hesitant leopard. Ava looks into the hidden desperation and fear behind the gaze.

"Can you show me the forbidden scroll? It might help answer a few questions about the lotus connection," Ava said to Sapphire. They both walked out of the archives and into the display hall. A pair of golden eyes follow their footsteps from the shadows.

.............
Viper makes her way into the Jade Palace. She is met with Tigress holding back a glare.

"She's at the fountain with a stranger. You have one shot to prevent possession. If all fails, push her into the water." Tigress said, walking away into the shadows. Viper eyes the palace with a heavy heart.

"She's innocent, Tigress," she says to the thin air. She pushes the door open.

.........
Sapphire heard the door creak open. Ava snatches the scrolls into her bag and throws the hood overhead. Sapphire sighs in relief to see her body blend into the background of the fountain.

Sapphire turns to face a worried Viper.

"Hey, Vi. I'm really sorry for leaving again," Sapphire began, only for Viper to interrupt with her tail pointing at her.

"Did you find your jacket?" She asked the girl, who twitched at the sudden question.

"No. I ran into an angry dancer and decided to wait for you here instead. My jackets were probably stolen," she ends.

"I see. Well, I have to tell you something important, and I want you to answer honestly," Viper said, taking out a red bracelet. Sapphire eyes the gift reflecting a warm orange.

............

"I didn't know what color to get. So I got this shade of red as a present. Do you like it?" Viper said with a warm smile. Sapphire nodded overly enthusiastically and grabbed the bracelet.

'Hopefully, Ava can sneak out. I don't think Viper would like to see a ransacked archives room. And a forbidden scroll is gone." Sapphire thought to herself.

"Yeah. It's a nice color, and Vi," Sapphire said, smiling at her friend, who took a deep breath.

"Do you have the lotus artifact?" Viper asked with a dead voice.

Sapphire fumbled with her response. "I-" her throat starts to clench as her mouth fights to stay open. She drops to her knees with her arm turning red with the necklace.