Lina stared in horror. The dagger in Emily's thigh had ruptured an artery and a thin, but steady stream of blood slowly flowed out of the wound and down her leg to pool on the thick carpet. Outside, a storm had come up, and the wind blew the water droplets against the stained glass.
The blood flowed down Amelia leg to pool on the carpet.
Those in the room stared at the onyx handle of the dagger rising up from her leg.
The blood flowed.
There was no sound but the rain pattering against the windows.
The blood.
"Ameila!" Lina gasped, breaking the silence. "What are you doing?"
Ameila shrugged. "He either shows or I bleed to death."
"Not if I can help it." Lina started forward only to rear back as the fireball formed into existence in Ameila's hand.
"No Lina. We spent the last three years playing by his script and I'm sick of it. If I'm so important, then he can show up and pull the dagger out. If not," Ameila shrugged. "Then I guess I'm done for." She looked at the preceptor. "I'd like some milk to drink please."
Y-Yes highness."
Lina looked at the clock. It had been two hours since Ameila had plunged the dagger into her thigh. A thick pool of blood had gathered under the chair.
Aside from a slight paleness, Ameila was perfectly calm. She sat in her chair reading a scroll and occasionally taking a sip of milk from the mug next to her.
"He's not coming." Lina said at last, though unsure of why. "Its been two hours."
"I suppose you're right." Ameila said calmly as she pulled the dagger out. "I suppose more extreme measures are required." With that, she pointed the dagger at herself and plunged it at her stomach.
"Now Ameila, you'd hate yourself later." Said the purple haired man who's grip on Ameila's arm was the only thing keeping the dagger from piercing her skin.
Lina caught the flash of triumph in Ameila's eyes as she dropped the dagger and grabbed the man by the lapels of her robe and then pushed him backwards, slamming him against the wall, the knuckles of her hands pressing against his windpipe.
"Nice to see you Xelloss." Amelia snarled. "What took you so long?"
"Traffic." Xelloss replied glibly then grunted as Ameila shoved him against the wall. Hard.
"I just lost my kingdom Xelloss. Ameila said. "I want to know why, and what you know about it."
"Ah," Xelloss said with a smile. "I'm afraid that that is a GACK!" He cried as Ameila jerked him away from the wall and slammed him against the window, breaking it open, the impact sending his ruby tipped staff and shards of colored glass raining down into the stake filled fosse that encircled the Motherhouse.
"I'm real sick of hearing that Xelloss." Ameila said pleasantly as Xelloss' feet found a foothold on the wall below the windowsill. "Now before I let go and watch you drop into that fosse below, tell me what I want to know."
"You don't have the nerve." Xellos replied.
"Really?" Ameila asked and loosened her grip on the Mazoku's robe just enough for him to slip backwards with a jerk without falling. "Bet your life?" The flicker that flashed across Xelloss's face said that he wasn't that sure. "I didn't think so. "Ameila said conversationally. "Now, why did everyone in my Kingdom suddenly go nuts and start worshipping Ceiphed?"
"Membership drive?"
"Let me explain something to you Xelloss. I'm not Ameila, Queen of Sailoon, Champion of Justice right now, I'm a woman. I'm seven months pregnant, I've had a really bad week, and I watched two close friends of mine try to kill me. I'm not in the mood for games, and the only thing between you and a very messy end to your pathetic existence, is my grip on your robe. Now I'm losing blood fast and soon I'm going to pass out. When that happens, I'll lose my grip and you fall."
Xelloss chanced a look down into the fosse. The stakes all pointed upwards and they looked awfully sharp.
"Why Xelloss? What's going on? Tell me before I drop you."
"I don't know." Amelia started to loosen her grip. "I don't!" Xelloss almost yelled. "Truly! We're as mystified as you! All we know is that there's a new Mazoku moving in. He has his own associates. New people, no one's ever seen them. For some reason he's set up shop in Sailoon!"
"Thanks Xelloss." Ameila said, and let go.
"What are you doing?" Xelloss yelled, grabbing hold of the broken remains of the window. "I told you what you wanted to know!"
Ameila smiled as the Trickster's weight began to pull the frame out from the wall.
"You weren't paying attention Xelly-poo."she purred. "I said before I drop you."
Xelloss's eyes widened and then narrowed and he smiled.
"Clever girl." He said as the frame broke away and he fell.