She found herself staring into a pair of blood-red eyes. She exhaled. Kelse.
The demon's face twisted in a snarl of sharp teeth. Their edges appeared to be bloodstained. Edor tried not to shiver, and that made Kelse smile.
Are you okay? Edor asked.
Don't ask me that! Kelse snapped. Her tail whipped across Edor's thighs, its spikes creating small cuts. Edor winced, which seemed to restore Kelse's good mood, but Kelse's good moods weren't particularly pleasant either. You ask such stupid questions. Rabbit.
Edor knew better than to ask her sister to get off of her. That would just make Kelse dig her knees deeper into the angel's wings.
What do you want? Edor asked, without hostility. Kelse grinned, showing sharp teeth. Edor wanted to believe that the dark stains at their edges weren't blood, but she couldn't quite manage it.
Would you believe the pleasure of your company? No, I don't suppose even you are that stupid. Kelse leaned back--not enough to take her weight off of Edor's wings.
Do you need help? Edor asked calmly--as calmly as she could.
Would I come to you if I did? Kelse snarled, then contradicted herself with, I never need help.
Wisely, Edor said nothing. Finally Kelse stood, releasing her sister's wings. Edor scrambled to her feet as Kelse paced before her. Edor could feel her heart speeding up, wondering what Kelse wanted. The demon was not in the habit of paying social calls--at least, not social calls that were pleasant for their recipients.
Kelse turned suddenly, and Edor stared in confusion for a moment before hearing what Kelse had: voices. Young voices: children, coming to play in the meadow as they often did. Kelse looked over her shoulder and smiled, lips pulling back across bloodstained teeth.
Kelse, don't! Edor said, but she should have known that her protests would only make Kelse more determined to act. Kelse dropped to all fours, her smoky gray fur vanishing in the grass: there was only the movement, like a shark through water. Edor ran after her, but she was not as fast as Kelse; as an angel, she relied on magic rather than physical fitness.
The children emerged from the trees: a boy and a girl. They saw Edor, were startled by the look on her face, but after a moment and a whispered conversation decided that she must be a lunatic--besides, the boy realized that here he could prove his bravery, by protecting his companion from the lunatic or, just maybe, the danger she feared. He couldn't imagine anything he couldn't prevent.
Go back! Edor shouted; she was getting no closer to Kelse, but Kelse was getting closer to them. Edor launched herself into the air, spreading her wings, and landed on her sister's back. Kelse turned and snarled, clawing at Edor, trying to get to her eyes. The children screamed at seeing the demon erupt from the grass. Had Edor been more vindictive, she might have shouted, Now will you run? But there was no need: they did.
Kelse had decided on a bigger prize. She had pulled Edor to the ground and was clawing, attacking with long nails and tail and...Edor wanted to believe the things that had just grazed her shoulder weren't Kelse's teeth. On the ground, Kelse had the upper hand: she was stronger. Edor pushed her hand into her sister's fur; there was a burst of light and Kelse was thrown off Edor, snarling. Kelse turned to renew her attack, but before she could, a Crokabek landed on her shoulder and cawed at her.
Be glad that I have better things to do, Kelse snarled at her sister, and turned and flew away.
---
It was a few weeks later that Edor, along with everyone else in Neopia, found out what Kelse's "better things to do" were. It was a dreadful war, the Darkest Faerie's bid for power; Edor did not fight, but she worked as a healer. Besides desiring an end to the war, her greatest wish was that her sister wasn't on the other side; but Kelse fought as one of the Darkest Faerie's lieutenants, her bloodlust and cruelty bringing her quickly through the demonic ranks.
Even when the war was over, Edor could not truly celebrate, because Kelse was one of the enemy, and Kelse was too violent to let go and...there was no consideration to keep Kelse alive, like the ancient laws that kept Faeries from killing each other (misbehaving faeries were occasionally turned into butterflies, but that wasn't death).
Kelse's execution was surprisingly well-attended--you'd have thought Faerieland would have grown tired of death by now. Her sister was in the front row: traditional relative's privilege at executions, though of course most of them would have preferred not to have to attend at all.
Kelse was dragged, chained, to a raised dais before the crowd. Behind the dais were the seats of the High Faeries--Fyora, Jhudora, Illusen, the Fountain Faerie, the Negg Faerie, Taelia, and the Battle Faerie. Missing were Jhudiah--she had long since been estranged from the rest of the Faerie world--the Soup Faerie, who was too busy, and the Darkest Faerie. And there was no need to guess why the last missing Faerie wasn't present.
Fyora stepped up to a podium and began to read from a long scroll: We are gathered here today to witness the execution of a dangerous enemy of Faerieland, the demon Kelse, for crimes including and exceeding...
Edor didn't want to listen to what her sister had done; she could imagine well enough. Kelse turned the best she could in the chains and snarled, Would you get on with it already? Can't you find a more humane execution method than boring me to death?
Once upon a time, that would have been shocking, but Faerieland had had enough of demon behavior. Now there was just a grumble of anger from the assembled audience. Fyora's eyes flashed.
As you wish, the Faerie Queen said. She raised her staff.
Wait! Edor cried; she ran up onto the stage, grabbing her sister's arm. Kelse growled. Fyora's staff flashed; the crowd screamed; and, in an incredibly cliche way, everything went black.
---
Edor woke up in what she recognized as Faerie City's infirmary. A Water Faerie sat next to her bed. For some reason, leather straps held her to the bed.
W-what happened? Edor said groggily.
Edor? the Water Faerie said.
Yes? Edor looked around. Why am I strapped to the bed?
There's been an, uh, unusual occurrence, the Faerie said. I have to go report that you've woken up and you're actually you this time.
|"I'm actually me this time"? Edor repeated. Who else would I be?
But the Faerie was gone. Edor craned her neck, trying to see the door of the room, but she couldn't manage it. She wasn't sure how long she lay there before someone else entered. It was Fyora, the Faerie Queen.
After a moment of silence, Edor said, I'm sorry for not bowing, but I really can't.
Fyora said, We've been very worried about you, Edor.
The Water Faerie, who'd returned with Fyora, added, This has been just nerve-wracking. It's enough to make me want to get out of medicine for life!
Fyora silenced her with a regal glance.
What you did at Kelse's execution was... a first, Fyora continued. I suppose your devotion, though misplaced, is admirable.
I'm sorry, Edor said. I know that I shouldn't have done it, but I couldn't bear to watch...
Then you shouldn't have come, Fyora said, sounding a little annoyed, but then her voice softened. Your interruption of the execution has had an unprecedented effect.
What happened? Edor asked. Is Kelse...?
Your sister's body is gone, Fyora said, but before Edor could react she continued: Her consciousness, however, seems to have been transferred into your body. It has been over a week; you have appeared to wake up several times, but each time it was Kelse's mind guiding your body. The first time, we were caught off guard--we thought she was truly dead. It was not pleasant.
Edor winced, understanding Fyora's unspoken message.
When do you think I can get up? Edor asked after a long silence. I feel fine.
Fyora exchanged a glance with the Water Faerie.
To be honest, the Water Faerie said, you're not entirely here for your own good.
We want to find out if it's possible to get Kelse's consciousness out of your body, Fyora said. Not only will this improve conditions for you and everyone around you, but... Kelse still needs to be punished for her actions in the war.
I did nothing wrong! The snarl ripped from Edor's mouth without any action of hers, but the Faeries did not look as shocked as Edor felt.
It's Kelse again, the Water Faerie commented. Edor, if you can still hear me, that's why we still have you strapped down.
Edor tried to answer, but she found herself unable to speak, or move at all.
You call that slaughter "nothing wrong"? Fyora asked harshly.
Kelse shrugged. It was odd, Edor thought, to feel her muscles moving when she had done nothing to move them. It was a war. Your side killed plenty of ours as well, Madam High-and-Mighty.
























































