Ryana walked slowly around her newly-cleaned kitchen, completely lost in thought. The cottage was strangely silent; the only thing that could be heard was a bird song drifting in from outside. Although Ryana and her “sisters” weren’t exactly the most boisterous bunch, a house with four people usually rang with footsteps, occasional conversation, and whatever mischief the youngest two could cook up. Today, there was nothing.
This fact wasn’t lost on Ryana, but an outside observer wouldn’t be able to tell. Her eyes were unfocused and reflective; clearly, she had a lot on her mind. However, it was hard to tell whether this was a burden or a relief. In fact, that was the question she wrestled with at that very moment.
Ryana’s walk took her out of the kitchen and into the living room. She all-but dropped herself onto the couch, her wings lazily curling towards her. Just a few weeks* earlier, she never would have dared to expose them like this, especially not with all her windows open and sunlight streaming in. But things had changed since then, and now…now she was free to wear her wings as she pleased. But it wasn’t without its cost.
Just then, an all-too familiar pain exploded in her head; a dull pain, all things considered, but very prevalent all the same. As she winced and rubbed her temples, concentrating to help alleviate it, her mind slowly drifted back to that night, immediately after she had learned its original cause….
(*I’m not sure how much a time jump it’s been ( ), so I’m just assuming here. )
~*~*~
Phoenix Archer’s eyes widened. Her mind was being torn apart?! That was a unbelievable concept, even for Hasaré! “Wh…what?! Why? How?!”
Hasaré sighed, almost as if bored. “Do I really have to explain it?” Folding her arms triumphantly, she explained, to both of the writhing figures, “To make a very long story short, Evelyn didn’t come to me as willingly as she would like to think. In fact, at first, we practically had to wrestle her to the ground before she’d listen to two words from me.” Hasaré rolled her eyes and commented, “It was so frustrating.”
“Why would she want to listen to you, when you just prattle on about pointless topics just to gloat?”
Hasaré ignored her, and continued, “I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to gain her trust; I couldn’t even break her will. Empaths are so stubborn.” She glanced at Evelyn and, for the first time that the girl could remember, had a look of pure disdain. “That’s why I had to try something new.” Hasaré’s taunting tone was replaced by disturbing nonchalance. “Essentially, Ryana, you two have bonded…but it’s not a natural bond. No, I’d have to say it’s one of the greatest melds of science and magic in existence. My scientists bonded the two of you.”
“You hinted at that before.” Phoenix Archer tried to snap, but it sounded more like a groan. “Why? It seems like a liability.”
“Because I knew how this would play out. Naturally, there would be a point when this quite unnatural bond would start destroying itself—and the two of you along with it.” Despite having heard this before, Phoenix Archer couldn’t help but feel almost sick and terrified at the thought. However, Hasaré either didn’t notice or didn’t care, as she continued, “And, as such, I’ve assured that there are only two options for you.” Hasaré gestured to Evelyn, explaining, “You could let this bond continue to rip your minds apart, until, sometime during the next few days, it kills you…and turns Evelyn into a mindless automaton, with no personality or will over her own.” Hasaré pretended to think it over, then commented, “And, as absolutely loyal as she’d be to me, she would be very worthless. Her Empathy would be destroyed in the process, and her other skills severely impaired. She would be slightly useful…as a soldier, but still damaged goods.” She looked straight at Ryana, despite the fact that she wasn’t looking at her, and pointed out, “I think you know how I’d treat her if that were to happen.”
Ryana knew exactly how, but she really didn’t want to think about it. After all, she already knew that option one was out. “What’s the other choice?”
Hasaré slowly pulled out a small, metal device; it looked a lot like a headband of some kind. “I have the means to cure you…the only means, unless you can think of someone who can do the research and create a new one of these in mere days. I can give it to you, and you both will be, instantly, completely cured of all the symptoms of your bond.”
“Sounds perfect.” Ryana commented, sarcastically. “But I know what you’re doing: what do you want me to do in return for this cure?”
“It’s very simple, Ryana. Just swear complete fealty to me, and I’ll set you free.”
That statement was the last thing Ryana expected to hear…even though, all things considered, she should’ve seen it coming. This was what Hasaré meant; she and her mother had always wanted to buy her loyalty, one way or another. But still…to go to this extreme? However, that wasn’t important at that moment; her main concern was…what should she do?
Thoughts raced through Phoenix Archer’s head; on the one hand, she knew better than to make any kind of oath of loyalty to Hasaré. Her evil knew almost no bounds; there was no way Phoenix Archer could ally herself with her. And yet, she didn’t see how she had any choice. As much as she would never forgive herself for saying yes, she couldn’t bear the thought of turning Evelyn into a mindless machine for her own sake. Her own life didn’t really matter…did it? Adding to it, much as Phoenix Archer hated the thought, she really didn’t want to die…at least, not at Hasaré’s hands, playing her game. She would much rather prefer to have died fighting the Organization over this!
However, she realized that there was another option…but unfortunately for her, Hasaré practically read her mind: “And don’t even think about giving me a false vow; even if I can’t figure it out right away, I’ll always have an ‘on’ button.” Here, she gestured with the headband once more. “Like I said, it cures your symptoms…but the bond itself remains. If you disobey me, even once, I can start this all over again…and you still won’t have saved yourself, or Evelyn.”
Strike one…but all the same, it reminded Phoenix Archer of a very important point: “What about Evelyn? What happens to her if I do what you want?”
“What about her? She gets her mind back, and she can leave, for all I care. Nothing will ever happen to her again…provided you cooperate with me.”
“You’re willing to lose a strong solider for me?”
“Evelyn? She was expendable from the beginning; I knew this would come. Besides, it’s a little late to win her loyalty back now. I doubt I could forcibly regain her devotion without killing her, and that would be a little counter-productive, don’t you think?”
That only made matters worse. Now it wasn’t just Evelyn’s limited freedom to no freedom at all—a refusal meant that Evelyn would lose her last chance at complete freedom. Maybe… maybe saying “yes” was the right thing to do after all…but being willing to help Hasaré with whatever evil plans she had? How could that be right?
The simple fact was that this wasn’t a simple choice.