Chapter 9 - Hyde your feelings

 

Thatti threw her bag onto her dorm room bed and collapsed onto it, exhaustion weighing her down like a lead blanket. She had just finished a late night study session with her friends, and her mind was still buzzing with the day's events.

As she lay there, trying to relax, a tiny object caught her eye. It was a small, rectangular box, nestled among the clutter on her bedside table. Curiosity piqued, she picked it up and examined it. It was made of a strange, iridescent material, and it was sealed with a wax seal that bore the crest of the realm of Bedlam. The realm was notorious for its treachery and deception, even to Orchidians.

A shiver ran down her spine as she realized what it was.

 

The next day Thatti stood in the deep of a nearby forest. He'd already made arrangements, the fact he was keeping this close an eye on her made her heart strum angrily. "You sure you'll be okay?" Caleb asked, not entirely sure what the deal with Thatti was, but knowing it wasn't good.

"Yes, absolutely, Caleb. I'm going to be very safe." Thatti said, turning around to hug Caleb. "I'll just be dealing with a little something." She folded her arms and gripped Headhunter, Becca cautiously glaring out at the crimson red wall of flame that rose up ahead and began swirling into a vortex. "I've got to go deal with... My evil Ex boyfriend." The last thing he saw was a flash of light and fire as Thatti stepped through the vortex and teleported away.

Thatti stepped out, red cobblestone and the heat of brimstone, sulfur and magma greeting her in the noxious air. “Hello Bedlam.” She whistled. Pumice crusts littered the air, mixing with the heat from the volcano, the sulfur burning her lungs and making her eyes water. A black carriage soon arrived, a gem butler riding the coach. "Miss Nezura, your suitor awaits." She rolled her eyes. "Nice to see you again Jevy. Glad you're doing well." She hopped into the back and road

along, the red and black smog of the cave walls above and around her still making her claustrophobic within this path. The carriage after 20 minutes crossed a draw-bridge, lava below. She stepped out of the carriage into a huge castle, she had come here a few times before and already expected the worst. The coach's lights dimmed to reveal a boy with purplish skin dressed in a black dress shirt and black tailcoat, a pair of black sunglasses, his white hair spiked into two vertical ascents on opposite end, slicked back bangs in front. "Hello, Hyde." She hissed, a hint of derision in her voice.

"Yes, yes, Thatti. It's nice to see you again." He said, a glint of silver teeth in the dim of the lantern-lit entrance of the castle. They were in front of a large opened double-door, red like the blood of a sacrifice, of some sort. They entered, the large gate slamming shut behind them. He attempted to kiss her hand, only for her to slap him away. "You little bitch. Don’t." That may have been cute, when she was young and naive. When she saw Gems as rebellious heroes, and believed he was a true Prince. But now she knew he was a villain. Gem liberation, some nonsense he preached. The same nonsense told by…

Her mind trailed off. Hyde guided her to the foyer and then to numerous other Gems in white porcelain eye-masks dancing along the floor.

Her eyes locked on a particularly beautiful mask in a pearlescent silver, she turned to Hyde. "That one."

Hyde walked over and whispered to the dancer. Soon a masked dancer with a bowtie ran up to Thatti. "Miss Nezura, it's a pleasure to meet you, I am Gem Lithium, one of Hyde's tailors. You must remember me." She bowed. Thatti looked her up and down and nodded slowly. "Please, can I show you something?"

"I missed you Lithy! One of the few parts of this stuff ridiculous castle I always looked forward to. You're dressed very good looking," Thatti said, as they stepped into a large banquet room, a

large chandelier of lava-crystal hanging above them. "I'll go with you." They walked down the hall, and Thatti put her hand on the wall of the corridor. Lithium laughed, pointing a finger at her face.

"You're a very important person, so you should get an important outfit." Lithium presented a black-silky dress full of lace, latex gloves and boots and a tiara covered in purple jewels. "This should fit you, Miss Thatti." She began to undress Thatti and then suit her into the costume. She blushed, knowing the other girl was probably just a servant. "Oh," she started to say, blushing red. "I-I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable. I hope this makes you feel special." Thatti blushed, and thanked Lithium for her services.

Hyde's hand felt like a furnace when he put it on her shoulder and pulled her away from Lithium.

"You are very special to me, Thatti," he whispered in her ear. She cringed at the sound of his voice. He took her hand, and began to waltz.

Thatti, having memorized the steps followed along effortlessly. "Yeah? Could've swore you were dating Diane nowadays." She pouted. "You know, the gem that's been trying to kill me and take my wand?"

Hyde nodded, the red sclera of his eyes visible through his shades. "Well, what can I say, she's

 

very… attractive. Hot headed, just like you used to be."

 

Thatti rolled her eyes. "I see you're still being a dick about it."

 

Hyde paused and then smiled. "Sorry, but let's move on, you're here now. So much has changed, in your absence, and in my life. I'm sure you've come here because you still have feelings for me, right?"

Thatti, caught off guard, laughed and shook her head. "Don't be silly, I'm here for revenge."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought… you know… I'm just trying to make you happy…" Hyde said, his voice shaking.

Thatti's smile faded and she got in his face, shoving him away with a scoff. "I didn't realize I was a charity project for you. Maybe I should just forget the whole thing and just leave you alone."

He grabbed Thatti's arm and held her firmly.

 

"Please, Thatti, I still have love for you.. I just wasn’t ready last time."

 

"Come back to what? A tool like you?" Her glare grew intense, and she pulled away from his grip. "Let's get one thing straight. You are first of all, a Gem. Second of all, a boy. Those two alone should disqualify you. And third of all you as my Ex, are dating someone who has made my life hell this past month. Why would you even think I'd want to get back together?"

He stopped cold, slowly removing his shades. "You used to be so sweet. What... happened to you?"

Thatti rolled her eyes and glared. "Please? Please? You want to know what really happened, you really want to know the truth about me?"

"Of course," he nodded.

 

"I grew the fuck up. My brother died, and all his ridiculous ideals and little speeches died with him. Independence? For you and your kind, for males? I see through all that now. And I see through you, and all your lavish princely bullshit."

"My people have been oppressed for too long, they have no choice to fight. Gems cannot exist under these conditions anymore. It's about time they did." Hyde declared, Lithium fixing him some tea and rubbing his shoulders gently.

“You're just another pretty boy looking for a young girl to put his arms around and…"

"Oh, you're not the only one with baggage." He interrupted. "What?" She paused.

"I know. I know you hate this. The fact that I still love your smile, your passion, the silly way you used to toss me around and that you left me after breaking my arm." He said, pulling Thatti back into an embrace, but the girl resisted. “You were always so weird. I dig weird.”

Thatti said nothing, pouting at these facile charms.

 

"Do you know how hard it was to confront my mother? She never liked you, or the Domina." Hyde said. "I tried to convince her for so long to accept you, and then when you left me she never stopped gloating and holding it over me."

"I'm sure she had her reasons." Thatti shook her head. "I never understood the diamonds either. And between you and me, telling my mom I was going to be your ‘mommy’ for a little while earned her ire for quite awhile, you think dating a gem is normal in Orchid? I got picked on by my brother for months."

Hyde shook his head, sighing. "You know the Domina, Thatti. She's just evil. She's been after us all the time, trying to take over or depower my mom's throne, trying to take away my people.

She's been the worst kind of villain. Surely you can sympathize, like when we were younger."

 

"My mom was right." Thatti announced tersely. "After what happened with him, with Gems at the scene just watching and acting innocuous while he was murdered? You're all worthless, all corrupt. It's not just your mom, it's all of you, and I think it's time you all get what's coming to you." She turned away and stormed towards the ballroom door.

Hyde began to call after her. "Please, Thatti, we can change, let's go away together."

"Go to hell." She muttered under her breath, opening the door and feeling the heat of Bedlam's Underridge upon her. The only place hotter than the hearth of Gaia, and as the ground shuddered she turned to glare at Hyde. The irony on her words wasn't lost on her.

She stepped outside into the heat, the castle beginning to blur in the heat behind her. She looked around, seeing a black figure, a tall gimp-masked man with an umbrella. "Hm?" Hyde soon caught up to her. "Please, my mom has a few words to say." He noted the gimped-figure, going and taking her wrist as if to keep an eye on them.

Thatti rolled her eyes. "I'll be leaving soon." She looked back at the castle. "You know what I hate about you?"

"What?" He asked.

 

"You're too damn good-looking to be the bad guy." "Hear me out! I can help you."

"How? Besides by getting lost." Thatti was indignant, she couldn't believe she used to date this prick. A gem. A BOY. Worst combination really.

"I know who killed your brother." He said, the gimped-man breathing heavily smoke in and out as if a molten mist was released.

Thatti turned around, Headhunter instantly turning into a tall blade and pointing at Hyde. "What?" Her eyes turned fierce and she grit her teeth. "What are you trying to say? You know what happened?"

Thatti's fist tightened around the handle of Headhunter. "Well, maybe not. But come talk with my mom, please." Her hand fidgeted at his words.

"You know something about my brother, you bastard?!" She snarled, and the gimped-man raised his umbrella and waved it at her, but dared not speak.

She was sweating, a bead of sweat falling down her face, the skin between her brows crinkling. "I'm going to kill you, you fucking lunatic!" She stormed back towards Hyde, Headhunter glowing blue and ambient purple with energy as she slashed at him. He blocked with his arm. "Hot and heated, like always." His arms went up and 7 colored orbs were raised along his vertical axis, moving along the width of his arms. With a wave of his hand, they shot out at her and exploded along Thatti's right side, and Headhunter's handle in the middle of her sword- holding arm. She screamed in pain and drudged forward. "Code 6: Hypernexus Rush!" Her body began speeding up with teleporting after images and she launched herself at Hyde, dodging his Chakra bolts. "Aren't you a bad guy? Can't I just kill you? Maybe I should just shatter all you goddamn gems." She cried in frustration as he caught up and dodged all her strikes and threw her around. "Oh yeah? Then why don't you just try to hit me? You always loved hitting me so good."

The two struck each other simultaneously, Thatti flinging a large gout of magma onto Hyde, but he threw a bolt of lightning through it. Headhunter flashed in and out with red and blue glows, Hyde's orbs exploding at Headhunter's handle. In the scuffle Thatti knocked him against the castle wall and Headhunter struck Hyde across his chest. He fell into a broken wall and Thatti walked over, the heat of the battle scorching her face. She stepped on Hyde's hand and held his face until it crumpled and contorted in pain. He grumbled. "Blossoming: Samael." His body began to enlarge, head melting into an antelope skull, muscles growing out as he grew taller and slimmer. His waistline shrunk and chest grew massive with sizable breasts resembling a busty chest and well-endowed female figure. Black claws grew from the tips of his hands as well as on his feet, like a canine's.

"You really think you can match me, Gem of Wrath? Even your power-ups are nothing to me. You're just a boy. A shiny shitty rock." She snarled and swung at his head. Her hand went at his skull, but he ducked down and Headhunter struck the ground in front of him. His body glowed red as he shot himself up and smashed a hole in the ground, the shockwave sending Thatti flying into the catering room. She picked up an eclair and took a bite, before pointing Headhunter and striking Hyde again with a series of powerful blasts. The guests fled around the scene, with one of them grabbing Lithium and pulling her away. "You're all cowards, aren't you?" She screamed and struck again. "I'll grind any one of you into dust." He soon struck back, his body becoming ashy-grey and skin peeling from his torso, the flesh of his skin showing red and white beneath, revealing his bones in this state. A skeletal antelope-woman with crystalline muscle attached, his appearance extruded power. With a powerful swing of his arm he rumbled her, the pain of the blows and the fight making her body throb. She felt like she was in a daze. She swung Headhunter at his chest as a spear, but the blow failed to penetrate. He laughed and grabbed her left arm, sending a shock through her veins as he squeezed it and then punched her away, a crackling sound bursting through the air. "Why? You had to turn on me?" Hyde asked, a smirk on his face. "Can't be with me, that's alright. You just need to give me the wand." "Fuck you!" She turned Headhunter into metallic cyan-gloves with spikes and started swinging wildly at him, the 8 ft gem of wrath punching back. They knocked each over a couple of times as the guests ran away, screaming and yelling. Thatti swung her right arm at his face, but she wasn't prepared for a slam against the ground that caused her to spin around in the air and then come crashing down on the ground. Hyde stood over her, grinning. "This is it, love." She clapped her hands together and Headhunter morphed from into a howitzer pressed square at his chest. Thatti pulled the trigger. The shot blasted him bitterly. "No, you sicko. THIS is it."

The shot put a gigantic hole through his chest and had him smoking as he was pushed back.

He was able to open his mouth, breathe a crimson beam and get a shot through Headhunter's hilt, before she slammed her hand against his jaw. "I don't have time for you to mope around all day, playing games with gems. You're a villain, a criminal, I can't believe it. I.. I cannot believe I still feel things for you, I mean that." The girl dropped Headhunter. She pushed against his chest, getting him back against a large stone wall and driving him into submission. The two, in the heat of passion leaned in and began to kiss. His Blossoming state wore off, reverting his transformation and he shrunk once again returning to normal. Thatti grabbed him by the hair, pulled his head to her own and began to kiss him more intensely, her hands clutching at his chest and his hands clutching her waist. He kissed her back, the heat of the fight driving them wild and passionate with a fever pitch of emotions.

 

 

 

"I know you love me, love isn't easy to forget." He grunted, spurting blood from his mouth. "You know it won't change the way things have to be. Can't make it work between us, can we?" She shook her head. "No, we can't. I have to see it through to the end." She sighed, pushing him away and sitting on the floor.

“But I think, if we just sit down and talk, maybe… we can work this out?" He said, placing his hands around her hips. She looked at him, a sad, defeated look on her face. "Maybe."

The two then laid flat on the floor, guests whispering around the room but giving them some space. Hyde was still catching his breath, the crackling energy of his regeneration slowly closing the smoldering hole in his chest.

"Gems are supposed to be obedient. Not.. so damn hot." Thatti said, dusting herself off. “I hate that I love you. But I love that I hate you.’ She hit him playfully a few times. "I guess you and I are the same. Passionate. Just… always fighting with each other." She laughed and shook her head. "Just like when we were dating."

She looked at him, a sad expression on her face. "What are you going to do, Hyde?"

 

"Make it right." He said, putting his hand around hers and then pulling her to him in a warm embrace. He said, holding her close and staring at her tear-welled eyes. "The world has been shitty to us, but we can make it better."

She bit her lip and stared at his hands, the gem on his left wrist glittering in the light. "Then show me." She whispered.

 

 

Lazuli was shuffling along to her next studyhall, when she saw someone run into the girl’s locker room. The instant recognition set her off like a bloodhound onto a culprit, and she slouched her way through the door, sneaking in. The shower was on, she tiptoed and walked past the stalls, a lithe silhouette at the very end behind a curtain. With a single wave of her hand, the water turned icy and they howled. Caleb hopped out bare breasted.

The gem held her mouth. The boy screamed, high-pitched.

 

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!” The boy screamed, “Why are you peeping in on me!?”

“I saw you enter.” Lazuli responded, her lips pursed. “I had to know why. I thought you were just perving out but..” By god, she couldn't believe what she was looking at their chest. "Are those real?"

“Why!? Goddamn it.” Caleb screamed, running to grab a towel and throw them around himself. Lake said, her eyes looking over their body. She began to look down Caleb's torso, towards her hips and legs, until she looked at the ‘boys’ head.

The two sat down on a bench, Caleb shivering from the cold.

"Its just, appearances being what they are.." He trailed off.

“Are you, trans?” She asked.

 

“No. Nothing like that.” He felt rather annoyed by these questions.

 

“So then what is this?” Lyras asked, pointing at Caleb's breasts.

 

Caleb was speechless. "How.. do I explain this?" He sighed and showed her his crotch.

 

Lazuli hyena laughed. "You're.. dickless!" She would've fallen over then and there. "And those tits. That means you're really a-"

"Shutupshutup don't say it!" Caleb covered his ears. "I know, I know."

 

“I've seen girls before who were flat chested but this is.. what was I saying?” The gem looked around the room, trying to avoid making eye-contact. "Does Thatti or Jel, or anyone know?"

He shook his head. "No one outside my family. And I'd like to keep it that way."

 

Lazuli sighed. “Well this changes things. I’ll keep it a secret." She said, her eyes locked onto Caleb's chest and crotch.

She looked around, trying to find something to occupy her attention. "Can I at least look?" "Can we please not talk about my privates?" He whined.

"Of course." Lazuli said, and walked out of the changing room. "Just girl-talk." She hyena laughed out to the hallway, Caleb running after her to keep her silent.

 

 

 

The two Ex lovers sat on a ferry as Jevy and Lithium rowed through a stream of lava. Gem Kindergartens were visible around them. "It never ceases to amaze me that Gems are born from the ground." Thatti observed the toiling and production of new gems yet-to-be, those to join this

community, or simply become genteel servants for Bedlam's upper crust. “Most anyway.” He replied.

"I don't know about this Hyde, but we can try." She said, and he hugged her tightly, holding her as close as he could. The two soon came to the foot of a cliff, and Hyde gestured to Lithium.

"Take us to the court. I want to show her everything."

 

"It's not like it’s the first time I've seen your mother." Thatti rolled her eyes. Lithium nodded, and soon they were floating up to the base of a massive black and grey palace overlooking a red sea. Thatti breathed hard, the castle shimmering with gold and red colors and going up atleast a hundred stories. She then smiled and placed her hand on Hyde's shoulder, her love still apparent. They entered through a square-shaped hole with no door, walking through a shadowy corridor with an eerie light ahead. The passage led into a cavern of sorts, and at the end of the cavern was a wide hollow chamber with platforms from every floor, a magnificent and grandiose place. They stepped out of the shadows and through a large open space, seeing the illuminating figure cast from the 18 meter figure sitting on a crystal throne.

"Hello." Red Diamond said.

 

The Diamond turned to them, a smile on her face.

 

"Mother." Hyde bowed, presenting his Ex. "You know Thatti."

 

"My love, the jewel of my eye. I'm happy to see you as ever. And it's been so long Miss Nezura." The Diamond. Thatti looked with a hint of amusement, eyes gazing at the gem's geometric gaunt features, her red dress diagonal-split going over one shoulder and leaving the other bare, two shiny opera gloves on each arm. Thatti rolled her eyes, noticing the two other court gems by her side- Petal's. In a crimson tint distinct from the Gem of lust she knew.

"And how could I not? Not only are you a famous and loved daughter of the Domina, but you're also the girlfriend of the Gem known as Hyde. My son. You must be very proud."

"Ex girlfriend." Thatti corrected. "Right.." Red said.

"No, it's alright."

 

"No, it's really not." The Diamond put her hand to her mouth and then sat back in her throne, sighing. Thatti grumbled, she always hated how theatrical this woman can be.

"Look, I know you hate my mother. She wasn't thrilled when she found out about my, teenage romantic pursuits either."

"You're right, we have not seen each other in a long time, so let's start over." Red Diamond's voice boomed with authority, she took on a more official stance. "Your Kinderling was shattered recently, no?"

Thatti rolled her eyes. Kinderling.. the idea of gem family was so strange to her. "Yes, my brother. He was murdered." she said. "By a gem." She added.

"How do you know?" Red asked.

 

"I have my ways." Thatti shook her head, a bit angry at the lack of sympathy on Hyde's mother's face. She could not believe her ex had such a cold hearted mother.

"I have been meaning to talk with you for some time. Do you know who it was that shattered the original Diamonds? Those whose courts have long since been dissolved?"

"Entertain me." Thatti added. Hyde eyed her, as if reminding her manners.

"The Domina. And Glitterkiss, who she lead as her legions. They annihilated the rebelling Pink Diamond. She and her army was crushed, her power was dissolved."

"Yes I'm well aw-" Red Diamond folded her arms. She always did that when she felt others were out of place, Thatti knew and went silent.

"Then it was Green Diamond to go first. Shattered by the Domina. Beyond that? Orange. Turquoise. Silver. Scarlet. And lastly Teal, the youngest Diamond- shattered by your own mother, Lyras Nezura." she rasped, the name tasting like ash in her mouth to say. Red Diamond's fist clenched, the ruby embedded in her gauntlet glinting with unshed tears, she slammed it against the seat's armrest.

"Your mother is the powerhouse of Orchid. The DOMINA. That is the true nature of your realm, power and force." She growled, anger now showing in her face. Thatti rolled her eyes.

"Your mom had a nice little quote for me once. Keep your child and his 'ideals' away from mine, or I'll just crush the living shit out of you." she spat, looking to Hyde.

“Yes, the Domina is quite the charmer, isn’t she?” Red Diamond smiled, letting her fiery red updo lay back against her throne seat.

Thatti wasn't amused and sighed. "She's talked about you. You know what she has to say, she never thought Red Diamond was such an interesting person. Always the one to blame others for her own problems, you know. She isn't wrong."

"My point is simple. Your mother. Was wrong. Is. There are no innocuous Orchidans, only ones seeking power and ones seeking its destruction. Power is everything." Red Diamond grumbled. "Your brother knew that well. He was quite familiar with, the ideologues of struggle and liberation."

"And why is my brother's murder not a Gem's fault, if they’ve always had those kinds of traitorous ambitions?" Thatti said.

"Because he wasn't for your kind, was he? Even you know that much. Your brother considered himself in solidarity with us. A rebel." Red waved her arms for all to see, a theatrical gesture to ensure her entire court was listening. "And who has crushed all the rebellions of the past? Who maintains their power with an iron will under the facade of the goddess's will?"

"What?" Thatti gulped. "What the fuck are you talking about?" Her hand was shaking, Becca getting dizzy in her hand. "Are you saying the Domina- my mom was responsible for his death?" Headhunter growing into a large, sharp blade. The blade glowed red as she drew it along the diamond, the blade emitting a crackling sound as if about to electrocute the court. The court was silent as Red Diamond shook her head. She got a sickening look on her face, like she knew what Thatti was going to say next.

"Your kind will never be a part of our kind. You're just dirt and carbon, worthless. My mom would never kill her own son." She said, but the more she forced herself to say it the less true it felt. She knew she was only trying to keep up a façade and didn’t doubt this accusation for even a second.

"You are being impulsive, child." Red Diamond shook her head. "Insolent. Just like that grotesque parent of yours. You would be better off minding your t-"

"SHUT UP!" Thatti screamed, the two Petals in the court now having drawn their weapons. "What's more important? My brother's death, or your shitty feud with my mother?"

"Don't be childish, your actions have consequences." Red snapped. "Your mother is the leader of a movement of oppression that has been building for generations. That movement is only gaining power, and trying to drop its anvil around us ever further each and every day. You want to be with Hyde? Fine. Be with him. Or don’t. I don't care. Just don't get in the way of my

power." She leaned in. "But I have warning for you, a prophecy. You are powerless against fate, little Domina daughter."

Thatti stood up, her body shaking. "I'll show you who has no power." Headhunter's handle glowed violet and it turned into a large blade. "I'll show you who's powerful."

The two stared at each other for a moment, the blade's glow burning red like a fire. Thatti's eyes narrowed, the blade emitted a crackling sound. A bead of sweat going down her temple.

"It's not your life I care about or want." Red spat out. "But your Perceptcival. This Gem of Sight has been the prophet to many." She pointed to a red sapphire. "She says if you hold onto that weapon of yours, it shall be the end of you, your absolute destruction. Their divination is rarely wrong. So if you want to be with Hyde and his kin, you can do that, it's your choice. But don't forget this prophecy, don't forget my warning."

She dropped a strange golden jewel, some tiny fragment in the palm of Thatti's hand. There was a strange ominous feeling from it, an uncomfortable specter of familiarity she couldn’t shake.

"I've heard enough." She said, stepping back and looking at him. "Take me back, I can only listen to the in-laws for so long." She joked, the entirety of Red Diamond's court looking at her disapprovingly. The two walked out of the court and back through the cavernous hallway, the castle floor and its shadows fading away. Lithium pulled them on their ferry away from the cliff and back to its normal course, Thatti looking at her hand as they rowed through a sea of lava. A strange golden shard embedded in her hand.

"She may be alot, but she never lies. Please, listen to her." Hyde said. "That wand is dangerous."

 

"Silly me, falling for the words of the queen of the damned." Thatti scowled. "You're really going to believe that crap?"

Hyde folded his arms and looked out the boat.

There was a long silence.

 

"I may have asked Diane to steal your wand for me. That’s why the Crystal Gems…"

 

"You're an idiot." She pouted, but smiled. He was so silly, she couldn't help it. "Yeah, I already figured that out, so whatever." She laid back in her arms as she laid abit on the boat. "She's crazy about you, and you know what? You two belong together, couple of nuts. Only trash like her would listen to you and do whatever you tell her."

"I'm serious." He said, the boat turning a corner. "Sapphires foretell the future with accuracy. The prophet has foreseen a dark future for you, and that weapon."

"Maybe there are strands of truth, sapphires are good at the whole, future seeing-biz. Buttttt.." Thatti blew raspberries. "Nah. I'm not giving up Becca, she’s, my friend. Why should I give her up over some dumb prophecy?"

"If you don't destroy it, it will destroy you." Hyde shook his head, looking at her. "And I don't want that, because.. I love you." He said. She just looked at him, a hint of anger in her eye. “Don’t you still love and trust me too?”

"Are you crazy? No way. The two of us? Were terrible together." She kicked and thrashed like a little kid. "We were always arguing and kissing and fighting and kissing and hitting each other and then comforting each other some more. What kind of sick relationship is that?" The ferry reached the end. The two began to get off.

"Even so, I'm still crazy about you, Miss Nezura." He said, a smile on his face, suit crisp. "I hate you." She said, a softening smile on her face as she looked down at him.

"I know, but that's okay." He said, putting his arm around her.

 

"I'll keep my stupid wand." She sighed. "She's the best. Hands down, the best."

"Ain't no way I'm giving up on Becca."

 

"I'm going to protect you, one way or another." He said. "Even if I have to take that wand away from you by force."

"I'll kill you first." She grinned, Jevy preparing the carriage to take her back. "Catch ya later, Hyde."