Y/n's pov.
" Why?, This isn't her fight " I said.
" She's avenging her mother, I tried to turn her away from it but she's as stubborn as the both of us " Heidi said.
" Revenge is her favorite word, but Malia is strong, Rowena was already struggling with her phoenix flame, how do you expect Paige to win this fight? " I asked.
" She's trying the phoenix spell "
" Phoenix spell?, I'm sure you know that is a profoundly stupid idea, she could die " Laurence said.
" I'm in the ditch here " I said.
" It's a spell where after you were killed, the spell will bring her back to life and that is only if she does and survives the phoenix flame " Heidi said.
" She had the phoenix flame with her doesn't mean the spell will work " Laurence said.
" It will work, but you need to stay here and protect your daughter " she said.
" What if Paige fails?, Malia will go after Esmé and it will be for nothing if Paige dies " I said.
" That's why I'm here " she said
" What?, We don't have time for this " Laurence said then grab his sword on his desk.
" Wait " I said and Laurence turns to me in confusion but I look back at Heidi who has a serious resting face.
Noticing she's wearing the phoenix amulet Paige gave her around her neck.
" Your not thinking what I'm thinkin are you? " I said.
And with no hesitation,
" I am " she said.
" No " I walk up to her and she stood in place.
" Heidi, this isn't your fight either " I said.
" It's our fight now " she said.
I furrow my eyebrows and scoff.
" Why are you doing this? " I asked as I clench my hands beside me.
" I know you will never forgive me for what I did to Gia, nothing like this would ever had happened if we just leave you alone that night in the forest " she said.
" No, we're passed that- "
" Please just let me do this " she interrupts me and I clench my jaw.
" I can never forgive myself either " she said.
" We appreciate the support " I see Laurence walk up beside me.
" But this is in between Malia and us " Laurence said.
" Your not changing my mind, I know what I'm doing and I hope the best for your daughter " Heidi said.
" I don't understand why? " Laurence asked.
" Sisterhood " I said.
Laurence looks at me over his shoulder in confusion.
" You won't understand it so don't even try to figure it out " Heidi said.
" I genuinely wasn't even going to try " he looks back at Heidi.
There was silence.
" And for the record, the level of awkwardness we're all currently experiencing is entirely genuine " We turn our heads to Jemma who just stood by the crib with a smile.
Soon enough Esmé burst out crying and Jemma turns around picking her up from the crib while I approach, she pass me my baby girl and Esmé keeps crying as I try to comfort her.
" I'll guard your door and tell you if anything happens " Heidi said then leave the room while Laurence turns around to me.
" Sisterhood? " He asked, I snicker.
" I thought you didn't wanted to try " I said.
He place his hand over Esmé's head and caress her gently as she gradually calms down.
" I notice how Heidi is always there whenever we're in trouble or something comes up " he said.
" We grew up together, that's all you need to know " I said, he pulls me closer to his body by my waist while I comfort Esmé.
" Jemma, you and the staff should go home " Laurence said.
" Why is that? " Jemma asked.
" Since we'll be staying here, there's going to be chaos any moment, your lives shouldn't be in between us " Laurence said.
" He's right, go home Jemma, inform the others " I said, she stood there and sigh.
" I want to stay " she said.
" I've served my mistress for a while to know how much you two are in love with each other so I am willing to stay and take care of your daughter for you " she said, I smile.
" We appreciate it and thank you " Laurence said.
" I will inform the rest of the staff as you request "
~ Time Skip ~
It's been half an hour.
I strike the blade of my axe with the stone and use my thumb to feel how sharp it is but it's just not enough for me so I keep striking my blade, looking over my shoulder while I'm sitting on this balcony railing where I see Laurence in the room carrying Esmé in his arms. He's just humming to her while he walks around the room in his armor, I look back at my axe seeing how it shines from the sunsetting in the distance. I just toss the stone to the floor since it's already sharp and my arm is tired. I lift up my axe vertically and let the handle rest on the surface of the marble railing, looking at the handle that has custom engravings on it.
This is a new one Derek got for me since I broke my very first one on the first night of school, I'm gonna miss that axe but this is one is better, bigger, durable and more lighter. At least it has more than one purpose other than chopping wood. I'm suppose to use it during the war but Derek gave me the bow so I had to put it away. I look up at the sky and I'm not a morning person, but the sun is beautiful this early, it's a little cold as well.
" Baby " I turn my head to the door to see Laurence standing there with Esmé.
" Baby? " I furrow my eyebrows and he smiles a little.
" Might as well call you that " he said, I snicker and swing my leg off the railing and hop off.
" Something come up? " I asked.
" No, just checking on you " he said.
I step forward giving a kiss to my daughter.
" We both know who's the real baby here. . . " I said, he smiles and look down at his daughter.
" You " I look up at him and he looks at me with his jaw dropped.
" I love you too " I peck his cheek before walking back in the room and towards the door.
" Where are you going? " I look over my shoulder.
" I'm gonna talk to Heidi for a minute " I said then open my door.
As I step out and leave the door I see Heidi leaning against the wall and holding an amulet token, she's just caressing it with her thumb, I also notice a teardrop pass her hand.
" Hey " I softly said to not startled her but she did anyway and turn away wiping her face.
" Yeah? " She asked, I hear her sniffle.
" How much do you really love her? " I asked.
She turns around to me while tucking the amulet in her shirt.
" Need something? " She asked.
" I think I should be asking you that " I said.
She sighs and shrug.
" You know what?, I'm not gonna be ashamed of it, I could use a pair of boobs to stuff my face in right now " she said.
I chuckle.
" Well mine is full of breastmilk so that's a no " I said.
She sighs then lean against the wall again with her arms folded, noticing she has a dagger strapped to her left thigh and a few small blades in her belt.
" You think blades will stop her? " I asked.
" I have some magic and the two of you " she said, I snicker.
" Her magic won't work on me, so I have to be yours and Laurence's support " I said.
" I didn't mean for all of this to happen " she said, I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.
" What? " I asked.
" All this. . .it's my fault " she said.
" Why would you think that? " I asked as I step closer to her.
" Everything started when we try to kill you in the forest, if I hadn't stopped Syrene you wouldn't come here and I wouldn't have met Paige, she wouldn't try to kill you, you almost died three times or more by now and I wouldn't fall in love with Paige then this wouldn't happened and now your daughter is involved-. . . "
" Hey " I grab her shoulder and turn her towards me as tears stream down her face.
" Stop talking like that " I said, she shakes her head and wipe her tear.
" I couldn't stop thinking about it " she said.
" Did you tell Paige? " I asked.
" She already has a lot on her plate, adding mine won't be much of a help " she said, I caress her shoulder and pull her into a hug.
" Why do you think I'm here?, We call it sisterhood for a reason " I said, she chuckles a little then hug me back.
" Thanks for the advice but I'm prepared for whatever outcomes will happen later " she said and we pull away.
" What's your plan after everything is over? " I asked.
" Go home " she said, I sigh and nod before giving her a reassuring caress on her arm.
" Make yourself a promise to take care of your own life " I said.
" I think I know what I want " she said, I smile and nodded.
" As for you, I think you have everything you want " she said.
I look over my shoulder where she's looking through the gap of the door where I see Laurence just swaying his body while holding Esmé.
" I like to think it's not about getting what you want, it's more to finding what you need " I said then turn my head back to her.
" Wow, that's a quote you should put in a library " she said.
I scoff then punch her shoulder playfully as she did the same one in return, I then notice a glow on her shirt.
" Your glowing " I said.
" What? " She looks at me in confusion and I gesture to her torso.
" Is that your amulet? " I asked.
She looks down to see the orange glow then reach her hand in, taking out the amulet where the gem in the middle is just flickering.
" What the hell? " Heidi muttered.
" What does that mean? " I asked.
" It's Paige, her magic is connected to this " she said, I furrow my eyebrows.
" She's in trouble " she said.
" Go " I said.
She looks up at me in confusion.
" What? " She asked.
" She needs you right now, go find her, Laurence and I can handle this " I said.
She was about to respond back but we both look back at the amulet as the light dies out, I gasp lightly as Heidi's face is on the urge of crying. Her fingers curl around the token as I step forward and place my hand over her shoulder for comfort.
" You don't know that yet " I said.
" What if- "
" No " she looks up at me after I interrupted her.
" You won't start grieving without seeing her body, for all we know she's still alive " I said.
She swallowed a lump in her throat and nodded.
" Yeah, your right " she said.
Heidi keeps staring at her amulet where the gem is not glowing anymore.
" Hey "
She looks up at me with water just gathering in her eyes.
" You can go if you want to, Laurence and I got this " I said.
She takes a deep breath as she put down her hand and let the amulet hang around her neck, gradually I notice how her face relaxes and changes into an emotionless expression. Wiping the tear that stream down her cheek, she looks at me with seriousness and a little hint of rage.
" Heidi? "
" I'm more useful here " she said then turn away walking down this hall.
" Where are you going? " I asked.
She doesn't answer and just walk off, I sigh before turning around to the room and see Annette holding Esmé while Laurence stretches his arm.
The best dad she could ever have.
~ Time Skip ~
" Paige can't be dead " Laurence said as he walk back and forth calmly across the room.
" I don't believe it either " I said as I check two of my daggers on my right thigh.
Seeing they're sharpened enough and I push them back in their sheathe.
" Her spell didn't just not work " he said.
" We don't know that, it might take some time but it's also an advantage to us " I said as I put my foot down from the coffer and Laurence glanced at me.
" Why'd you think that? " He asked.
" Heidi just found out her girlfriend might be dead, she's hella pissed and definitely want Malia dead now, she'll give her all, I don't like it but it's the best we got " I said, he hums then continue on pacing while fiddling with his heirloom ring on his finger.
" Anytime now " he said as he continue to pace.
I then turn my attention to the door where I see Annette bursting into the room, I stood up quickly and Laurence turned around.
" Annette?, I thought you went home " I said.
" What happened? " Laurence asked as she pants and try to catch her breath.
" Heidi and Jemma are outside!, Their in trouble!, Malia! " She pants.
Laurence and I glanced at each other before we bolted out of the room, Annette step out of the way and I have my axe to my back so I would run faster, Laurence did the same with his sword.
" How did we not hear her?! "
" I don't know! " I said and we go down the stairs and turn a corner.
We hear nothing and it's a little silent but we made it to the kitchen and through the back door. We see Heidi and Jemma talking by the pitcher pump talking, they both got startled by us bursting through the door.
" Whoa!, What happened? " Heidi said.
" Where is she? " Laurence asked as we pant.
" Who? " Jemma asked as she put down the bucket of water.
" Malia! " I said.
" What?, We haven't seen anyone " Heidi said.
" But Annette said she was here " Laurence said.
" Annette? " Jemma asked.
" Yes! " Laurence and I exclaim in unison.
" That's impossible, I've sent Annette home "
" Huh? " Heidi turns to her.
" Everyone has went home, only I stayed " Jemma said.
" That means, that was-. . . "
Heidi gasped while our hearts sink.
Beach Bunny Cloud 9.
Bye!
ฅ'ω'ฅ
~ Mariko