A pair of black eyes flutter open to only widen in disbelief. Here she was, tied up in chains and left here to rot in this vast cell. "What...is this?!" She scolded, promptly attempting to free herself from captivity. Of course, being tied this tightly led to no avail. No, she had to be a bit smarter in this one.
Her small hands clench and fall back onto the cuffs keeping her from even being able to bring her hands to her knees. This was pathetic, what a pathetic position to have Ninjago's jade princess in. Really? In chains and in no condition to fight back? Hah, the fight was practically one-sided! Harumi was displeased.
She didn't even need a second to know who the culprit was to her first imprisonment, compared to Lloyd who had to sustain much worst. It was none other than Garmadon, was that even a question? She shut her eyes, bringing herself to take a deep breath. She needed to find a way out of here and fast. What if that man tried to attack the others back at the bounty? She couldn't bear that thought.
She didn't have any weapons with her. How foolish, letting her guard down at the most crucial of times, therefore leaving even a dagger back in her bedroom.
Lloyd, oh FSM, what was Lloyd up to right now? A part of her wishes that he had discovered her disappearance from the party. She wanted him to look for her, or was she just being selfish? Was she being too selfish to want the green ninja to save her out of all people? She didn't feel this useless as when she was back in that pile of smoky rubble. These times proved that she was only bluffing when she had claimed so long ago that: "Ninjago's greatest villain is the one that always gets away." A bitter laugh escaped the prisoner.
But just as she was about to mutter another word, the door of the room she was currently in had opened, revealing the four-armed man. Harumi would have glanced away in cringe, however, she really couldn't in this position.
It was almost mild jubilation to have herself vulnerably exposed to him like this.
"What do you want?" She sulked, narrowing her eyes down. This look were as sharp as a dagger's tip. The hostile look she was giving was makeshift, her black pupils engulfed in hatred threw daggers at him.
Garmadon crossed his arms, laughing at her attempts of being threatening. "Just what are you playing at? What's with that look?" He decided to continue this roundabout talk despite being aware that both of them knew the context of this situation all too well. But Harumi was simply not having it, she wanted out.
Therefore, to show her impatience, she began to lunge at the man. Fierce sharp canines were exposed for Garmadon to see. This young girl, so full of hate and negativity. Where was all that love that she had claimed to have?
"Now now, you're chained up. I'm sure you wouldn't want me to transfer you to a more...uncomfortable cell." He mocked, advancing forward as the girl in front of him had lowered herself back on her knees like she had been staying in for the past two hours. Harumi growled, her rebuttals for release almost sounding like a bark. "When I'm out of here, I'll make you sure you pay for everything you've done to my family and Lloyd! Shouldn't you be ashamed that said father had dared hurt his own son?!" She argued, the chains shaking above her resonated across the room.
Garmadon didn't even flinch after hearing her rebuttal. "If it's you Harumi, you should be the one that's ashamed. You're speaking as if you are above consequences. Hypocritical, isn't it?" He mentioned, stepping been closer. Ah, Garmadon had always loved crossing lines, proven by his precedent attacks to tear the resistance apart. None of them had been successful however, he has a few more plans in the work, awaiting for results.
Harumi lowered her head, now staring at the man's ribcage, ah yes, he had no heart, no surprise there. Was it a routine of his to find weaknesses of his rivals in power? Why was Garmadon even bothering? Harumi couldn't help but bitterly smirk at the thought that Garmadon actually believed that Ninjago will submit to his orders and the said emperor himself. Hah! She hadto supress laughter from concluding that thought. Her enemy had noticed her silence. But that didn't shut him up, not even close. "Ironic that you're the one chained up. Didn't you say you wanted Lloyd to be in this position?"
-"That was in the past. But for your information in case your mind had a blank, he did end up in this position several times again and again. With you planning all of these capture quests for Lloyd, I'm surprised he didn't title himself as masochist! For better anyways!"
-"Don't make me laugh. That fool is not my son nor will I accept a masochistic one."
The exchange between Harumi and Garmadon went this way. Mildly amusing for the both of them, returning eachother replies that spilled more venom than the other. "Speak for yourself, you'd rather go through the hard work of war than to simply expire." The white haired girl spat. That only earned her a cold slap from the older man. He growled, his eyes flaring a deep shade of crimson.
"Do not question the strength of an oni, girl."
-"What If I dare to? Punish me even more? Have the guts to kill me? Finally showing off your oh so fearsome 'oni strength?' I'm trembling, really."
Slap. A grunt. Blood trickled down to the ground. Garmadon had assaulted his prisoner once more and for what reason? A simple truth. Lloyd had defeated his father once even when he was using his power to the maximum. As long as Harumi believed in Lloyd and in her friends, she wasn't so terrified of the man now deciding to dig his claws into her cheek. "That's enough." He demanded.
Harumi chuckled at his order. Just who said that her will was to follow his rules once more? Her and her generals have already decided whose side they would be in. For certain, it wasn't with this demonic megalomaniac. "Never. I will never stop because what you're doing is not right. As long as I have Lloyd-" she was interested by Garmadon breaking into a fit of laughter. The sound of his mocking tone slightly put on her edge.
-"Lloyd? What will Lloyd do for you? He doesn't have the power to teleport down here and save you, right? my princess?"
The man had every right to reply to her oh so patronizingly as always. Harumi hated it, utterly hated it more than ever.
-"Shut up. I've seen miracles unlike you. Whenever I'm around Lloyd, a miracle is performed. As long as I believe in him and his promise to come and save me, I will never do anything you demand from me."
-"Oh jade princess, girl, my dearest jade girl.....why have you done this?"
Harumi pursed her lips, stopping her tangent for just a second. "Excuse me?"
-"You know exactly what. Why have you protested on not being my ally anymore? You'd have kept a majority amount of authority if you stayed with me-"
-"Happiness and love means more than authority. I'd happily sacrifice my position to be with the ones I love."
She declared in a heartbeat. It only angered Garmadon more. Yes, she had noticed the way he had looked at her throughout the entire conversation.
At first, he seemed relaxed, oblivious that looks can deceive you. Now, his mood had soured, he had just been bitten by an anacondai. Packed and loaded with venom, Harumi was ready to cut through any of his attempts at despair.
-"Ah well, I see you're still not fond of your new room. Perhaps a decor change will set the mood."
-"Letters of your apologies to Ninjago city would set the mood lightly than having this cell's walls stained in velvet blood."
Garmadon chuckled at that. Was he...actually enjoying her tensed mood?
For sure, Harumi hated all of this. She felt like she would burst in any minute.
-"Are you implying that you'd like your wallpaper to be nothing but a foul man's thousand regrets on the change of Ninjago city?"
Harumi hissed at that. Of course that's what she meant. "And what if I am? A good beige with black-plum ink scribbled all over would make a fine design choice."
-"Keep this up and I just might."
Was the last thing he had told her face to face. The man turned around to make his way towards the door. One of his four arms twisted the handle, allowing Harumi a brief view of her old base's corridors. Ah, the view was nostalgic even if she wasn't exactly content on which side she was fighting for at that time. Leaving Harumi completely alone again for FSM knows how long,
Garmadon waved at her. "Until then, farewell! I'm sure you know that I do intend on making the resistance pay no matter what."
The white haired girl shook her head. "Bite your tongue, dark lord. Despair and treachery never wins." She responded, a quick reminder really. When the door shut and Garmadon was out of her sight, her lips opened to breathe. If she could, she would have brought a hand to her forehead, slapping it gently.
That last response she gave him...just how naive was she actually?
~~~~~~~
A/N Hiya! LillaSmolBean here and thank you for reading chapter 52 of Reconciled hearts! (Wow! 50 chapters already?) If you enjoyed, please leave a vote and comment down below your thoughts. So let's see, I guess I do have a few things I want to write about in this A/N. The first being the most important topic: The change of publication schedule!
Instead of every week on Friday, it's now simply changed to every 2 weeks on Friday! Why? You may ask, well due to school. I hope everyone is content with that.
Second, I absolutely enjoyed writing the interactions between Harumi and Garmadon. So much hatred and angst for one another, just what I needed after bearing with fluff for eons now. XD I don't usually write in this format but today, I did feel particularly fond of this writing style so it might return in the future? If the chapter is short of course. Tell me if you enjoyed their interactions or not. Or even advice! I'm always looking for ways to improve!
Anyways, that's it for this A/N. Thank you for reading once more and I'll cya all later in the next chapter! Later!^^