[Chaos Echo]

Well, here we go. One I've been building toward for some time. Let's see how well I did.

Chapter 27

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?Allie!? Carline called. There was no form of response. ?Dammit!? She hurried along. Since seeing her arm yesterday, Carline had tried to get the truth out of her, but she was evasive, and the entire conversation went in circles for hours. She?d finally dismissed her, telling Cecily after she left to keep a close eye on her. But now, she?d apparently been lost. Cecily came in earlier crying that she couldn?t find her anywhere, so now Carline had everyone in the mansion looking.


Carline still didn?t understand it though. Allie hadn?t had anything resembling a history of that? Why would she hurt herself like that? As far as Carline knew, her life was going wonderfully. She had a great relationship with her girlfriend, she was happy living in the mansion? why would she?? ?Madame!? Tuicia called out, coming around the corner. ?What?? ?Ah ?ave been sinking? per?aps we are going about zis all wrong? Ah mean, ?ow can we know it was ?er ?oo did it aneeway?? ??you did see it, right?? ?Yes, Ah know, it could not be accidental. But what if? what if someone else did it to ?er? What if someone else cut ?er like zat, and maybe zey z?reatened ?er to keep quiet about it?? ??what.? ?Look, Madame, it may seem out zere, but Allie is not ze type of person to do zat to ?erself! ?and besides, Ah ?ave? seen similar situations myself.? ?Maybe, but? fine. Gather up everyone. I?ll be there shortly.? ?Oui, Madame.?


Tuicia rounded the corner she came from again, and Carline turned to go to her bedroom and get something. ?Who the hell would do that?? She thought as she went. ?That?s just? ugh! I swear, if it is any of them, then?? She stepped on something that crinkled beneath her feet. She stepped back, and saw it was a crumpled paper. ?Bah, who?s leaving things lying-? She cut herself off once she inspected it closer, and realized it was the letter sent to Dee. Carline picked it up and smoothed it out. There was one glaring difference, though. Written diagonally across it, in big red lettering, were the words ?STUPID BITCH.? She noticed, disturbingly, a few red dots on the ground as well, leading into the closet next to where it lay.


She thought she heard a whimpering from inside the closet, so she stopped and listened. From within, she heard Allie?s voice, quiet and distressed sounding. ?Please, Hakira? no more? please? it hurts? it hurts so much?? Then her voice changed to a completely different tone, one that sounded sadistic and menacing. ?Shut up, you cunt.? A sharp cry of pain came from within. ?I can?t stop until you learn your lesson, you stupid bitch. You clearly didn?t last time, since Dee is STILL ALIVE.? The last two words were punctuated oddly and forcefully.


Carline tried the door as quietly as she could, but it was locked. The quiet voice came back, and now she sounded like she was in tears. ?P-please! No more! Anything! I?m sorry! I? just? I don?t want to kill anyone!? Carline froze. Killing people!? ?I was o-only here for information! N-never to kill anyone! Please, Hakira! N-no more!? ?But it was your own fault that she was here, ?anonymous letter?. You were trying to get me found out! But then you couldn?t even make up for your misdeed. I mean really, you were set up right by her car, you had the opportunity to set the explosive, but no. You pussied out.? Carline?s eyes widened at that statement, and she considered whether she should try to force her way in or not. ?You?re lucky I need your breasts and fat ass that you so value,? the Hakira voice went on, ?or else I?d be going after them instead. Maybe that?d convince you. Oorr?? She paused dramatically. ?Maybe next time I could target that delicate little lover of yours.? Allie did something between a shriek and a gasp. ?No! Please! Don?t hurt her! I?ll do whatever you say from now on! I won?t undermine you again! Just? no more! I?m begging you! The pain is unbearable!?


??very well. You sound genuine enough.? The Hakira voice lowered. Carline felt magic occurring within; magic to create silence. She stealthily cancelled it out, immensely surprised. The supposed Hakira hadn?t seemed to notice. ?Now listen carefully this time: I can sense your mistress outside the door. She?s been there a long time; I don?t know if she heard any of this, since I?m not sure if I put up the spell powerfully enough. I want you to march right out there, and if she brings it up, tell her you?re schizophrenic, or multiple personality, or something.? ?Th-thank you. I?ll go and-? ?Now just wait! We?re not done here?? ?Wh-what? B-but you? you said-? ?I can?t just let you go now. You can find her later. We?ll finish this first, just to give you a permanent reminder.? ?N-no! Please! Don?t, please, I?m begging-? She started screaming loudly in pain, and Carline immediately crushed the lock and burst in.


Allie was standing inside, only wearing her underwear. She was dragging a long, heavy knife down her arm, cutting it deeply, parallel to the previous wound. Her arm was bleeding heavily, but even though she was screaming piercingly, tears were freely streaming down her face, and the entire rest of her body was trembling, her arms were completely, unflinchingly steady. ?Allie! What the hell are you doing?! Stop!? She moved to her and ripped the knife from her hand. Allie stopped her pained screaming and gasped several deep, shuddering breaths, the instrument no longer tormenting her, and then collapsed.




Several hours later, Allie was lying unconscious in a makeshift hospital bed. Carline, Tuicia, Anni, and Cecily all sat around her. Cecily was softly crying over Allie?s lifeless form, while Carline?s most medically inclined servant tended to her as best she could. ?So what the hell happened, exactly?? Anni asked. ?I don?t know! I was just passing by and heard her talking to herself! She was saying some really disturbing things, and then she started screaming, and I went in and found her mutilating herself with this!? Carline held up the knife, still stained with Allie?s blood. The blade was crooked, and the handle was ornately done, gold designs all over it. As soon as Anni saw it, she became withdrawn. ?Zat is? we don?t ?ave anyzing like zat ?ere. Where did she get such a sing?? ?I-it was mine? I bought it from Miara? but how did??? ?I have no idea. But it?s crawling with curses. I still can?t get her wound to heal properly, or the one from yesterday either; they?re going to be pretty nasty scars forever.? ?I-it doesn?t matter!? Cecily said. ?I just? I just need to know that she?ll be okay? Anni, why did-? ?It?s not my fault! I can feel it too, and it wasn?t cursed like that when I got it!? ?Allie? Ah ?ad no idea she was so unstable?? ?No, that?s the thing. I don?t think she was herself. I think something really bad is going on, and I need to know what.?


?What do you mean?? Anni seemed particularly worried. ?Well, when she was talking to herself, she was referring to different selves.? ?So what, she?s multiple personality?? ?No? the other one of her said to claim that she was if she was questioned on it. I don?t think that?s how it works.? Anni looked puzzled. ?And there?s more. The other her, the one that had her doing this? she?s a magic user.? ?Ah did not sink Allie could use magic, zough.? ?She can?t! Even now, I can?t sense a thing off of her.? Cecily choked back her tears so she could speak clearly. She grabbed her hand, making sure not to touch her damaged arm. ?Allie? what?s wrong with you? there?s something really wrong with you? you?re the thing that matters most to me in the whole world; please? we all need to know??


Allie?s eyes opened slowly. ?Mmm? what happened?? They all sat debating what to say, and Carline was the first to speak. ?Allie? are you okay?? ?Y-yes, Miss Carline. Why do you ask?? She noticed exactly who was in the room, and the state she was in. She clapped both hands over her mouth, but then winced from the movement of her right arm. ?Ow? oh, I remember now?? She laid her head back again. ?I?m sorry, misses. I must?ve been very frightening. I? the knife? I?m very self-abusive?? The corners of her mouth twitched as she spoke; she didn?t seem sincere at all.


Carline leaned close and began to talk quietly. ?Allie, please. We?re very worried about you. Tell us? why are you doing this?? ?I?m sorry, miss. I? hate myself, really. I cut myself often. All that keeps me going is you guys.? ?Allie. That?s not it. This isn?t? Allie, please. Tell us the truth. I heard? parts? of your conversation in the closet.? Allie had a look of brief triumph, before fading back into a neutral face. ?Oh, you did? That? I?m multiple personality. I? I have one, her name is Hakira. She?s violent? manipulative? spiteful? I?m really sorry, I should?ve told you before. You should lock me in an asylum. Yes, that?d? that?d s-solve it. For both of us??


?Allie? you?re still hiding it.? She sat up straight again, looking to the other three. ?Tuicia, Anni, Cecily. If you could leave for a moment. I really think I need to talk to her alone.? ?Madame, she is dangerous! ?ave you seen what she does to ?erself? Ah cannot do zat!? ?Tuicia, please. I need to talk to her in private.? The two looked into each other?s eyes, and Tuicia realized that there was no way to convince her otherwise. She sighed. ?Fine, Madame. But if Ah ?ear ze slightest of sings, Ah am coming right back in. Come, you two.? Those who weren?t Carline stood, the gardener looking at Allie. ?Allie, please, please tell Miss Carline. We want to help you. I want to help you. I don?t? I don?t want you doing this to yourself f-for any reason?? She trailed off, and Tuicia ushered them out of the room. Carline looked up and saw the other servant still tending to Allie?s arm. ?And, if you don?t mind, Nina?? ?But Miss Carline! She needs-? ?I?ll only be a moment.? Nina sighed. ?Very well.? She left the room too, shutting the door behind her.


Immediately after hearing it shut, Allie was more alert. ?Are they gone?? ?Yes?? ?Miss, I need to tell you now then. I?m? not me.? ?Pardon?? ?I?m? a puppet. I always have been?? ?A puppet? What is that supposed to mean?? ?Everything, all of it? it was her. I?ve been trying to fight it, I?ve been winning, but? she?s getting desperate as she loses control over me.? ?You?re not making any sense.? ?I?ve been noticing? the more time I spend with you guys? the better I can fight her off? I?ve been hoping that maybe? I could completely suppress her? she?s getting lesser and lesser?? ?Who is? You mean the other woman?? ?Yes? Hakira? now? maybe you could help me? put her down for good?? ?What do you mean?? ?Her influence is already crumbling? maybe if you can help me seal her somehow, with some kind of magic, then she could die inside me like that.? ?Who is Hakira?? ?I don?t have time to explain now? can you do it or not?? ?It?s complicated, but? I think I can.? ?Then do it!?


Carline raised her hands, unsure if this was a good idea, since she?d never done this before, but pressed forth anyway. She pulled a tremendous amount of energy, and laid her hands on Allie. A divine glow danced around them, and a low rumbling came from her hands. Allie breathed rhythmically, trying to focus on keeping down the thing she claimed to have. The two stayed like that for a while, but something seemed wrong with Allie as it went on. Her breathing lost its rhythm, and her face began to get screwed up. ?Miss? it?s not working! She?s trying to leave my body now! I? can?t hold her!? ?Don?t worry, I?m almos-? Suddenly the glow was vanquished, and Carline?s hands were flung from Allie?s body. ?Allie! What?re-? She cut herself off as she saw Allie?s face. She was whimpering softly, while a thick blue smoke poured from her mouth, nose, and eyes. The whimpering changed to laughing as it went, and the laugh was nothing like Allie?s own, inflection or not.


?What the hell!?? There was a furious pounding on the door. ?Madame! What is going on in zere!?? ?I-I don?t know!? ?Ze door is being ?eld shut! Ah cannot get in!? ?Out of the way! I?ll-? Carline heard a loud bang that rattled the room, and then silence. ?Damnit! Annee, she tried opening it! Ah sink ze recoil knocked ?er and Nina unconscious!? ?Allie, miss! How is Allie doing!?? While they panicked, the smoke ceased to emit from Allie, and began to coalesce into a figure.


The smoke stopped being thick and blue, and took on a distinct appearance. It was that of Allie, a perfect copy of her. That is, until she opened her eyes, and revealed a harsh and red gaze, a blatant contrast to Allie?s inviting brown. ?It?s no use for them.? She said with Allie?s voice, but with the same tone she used when torturing her in the closet. ?I?ve sealed off the door. They don?t remotely have the power to breach it.? It was then that Carline worryingly noticed a pair of jewel-embedded armlets resting just below where her sleeves ended. ?Are you Hakira?? The other woman smirked. ?Yup. Stupid little Allie was about to tell you too much.? She glanced over to the now lifeless woman. ?But I will give her the credit due; she was getting close to harmlessly assimilating me. It even shows in my appearance. Rulfort never had any kind of will but my own.?


Carline was somewhat nervous in the face of someone who claimed to possess this much power, but she stood strong. ?What are you then, that you can possess people? A spirit from the Otherworld?? ?Hah! No, though I did spend some years over there. I am but human, like yourself. And no, I do not possess people. I create them.? ?You create them?? ?Yes. Empty shells for my spirit to inhabit. Alleant? is hardly the first. Though she was the most simple.? There was a loud rapping on the door. ?Madame, what is going on in zere!?? ?Shut up!? Hakira snapped. ?You?re lucky I even allow you to hear my beautiful voice! But really, this isn?t even my own voice yet.? ?But Allie-? ?Yes, I?m getting there. This conversation will move at MY pace, thank you.?


?Yes, she started as but a shell, even when you first laid eyes on her. I appreciate the compliments to her butt, though.? She reached down to feel her own. ?Very nice handiwork, I must boast. Too bad it?s so fat. Not at all tight and toned like mine. But as I was saying, over time, she began to develop a personality of her own from my acting, and a will. That was new; never before had my puppets become their own entity.?


She began walking closer to Allie. ?It?s too bad it was almost disappointingly easy to get her in here. I mean, good lord, I almost matched every physical preference you have to start with! I?ve got the skin, I?ve got the hair, I?ve got the curves. Oh yes, I?ve got the curves.? She slipped a hand beneath Allie, feeling her ass. ?So very like mine, if I weren?t so fit. But such soft cheeks she has?? ?Stop that!? Hakira stopped her groping and looked back toward Carline. ?And why?s that? It?s my body. It?s masturbation at worst.? ?No! She?s not you! Not anymore!? ?And how can you prove that? Is she even alive without me in her?? Carline hadn?t even thought of that. ?The answer, however, you sorcerous wench, is surprisingly yes. I?m amazed, really. She developed her own self so well, she no longer even needs me. I suspect it has to do with that Cecily woman. That whole ?love? bullshit is surprisingly effective.?


Carline did see how Allie was breathing, though somewhat irregularly. Everything about Hakira pegged her as unstable, so for Allie?s sake, Carline had to keep her talking. ?Why did you come here? What for?? Hakira did not bother to face her. ?Information.? She pulled her hand out from under Allie, and moved up to her chest. ?Oh, but her tits.? She grabbed hold of them, leaning over the bed to do so, and letting her own press against Allie?s belly. ?They?re so big and full and round, just like mine.? ?S-stop it!? Hakira ignored her, and slipped Allie?s bra off of her breasts. She leaned over and lightly grabbed a nipple. ?So wonderful, these little things. I almost wanna suck on ?em.? She pulled on it, and let go, watching Allie?s breast jiggle. She fell back a bit and began to feel up Allie?s breasts, gently massaging them. ?They?re so much more impressive on her than me. She?s got a smaller body to cart them around on. I?m kind of jealous.? She got a foul glint in her eye. ?But I can fix that.? Her hands glowed momentarily, and something small and shiny fell from her sleeve. Without missing a beat, she grabbed it and swung it in a wide arc at the underside of Allie?s breast.


Carline immediately processed what had happened. She shot forward, shoving Hakira out of the way. She put her hands on the quickly bleeding wound, and began to mend it with her magic. ?What is wrong with you!?? Hakira ran the dagger along the palm of her hand, disinterested, in a way almost like she was filing her nails. ?I can do what I want with her. She?s my puppet, and one who?s gone a bit out of line. She needs punishment.? There was banging on the door again. ?Please, whoever you are, don?t hurt Allie any more! I?m begging you!? ?I said SHUT UP!? Hakira roared in the direction of the door, and flung the knife at it. It didn?t get far before it uselessly impacted the ground. ?Dammit. Her body is so weak.? She held her thin arms in front of her with contempt, her right hand bleeding from her fooling with the blade. ?I need mine back. Delicious and sensual curves aside, she?s got nothing over mine.? Her hands glowed an intense dark blue, and along with them all the sapphires on her armlets.


Suddenly it all stopped. ?There. Now I should revert to myself.? She looked down over her borrowed form. ?Though it?s a shame to lose this one. I quite liked being so short and squashy.? She grabbed her breasts, and began to squeeze them. ?Hers are so much more sensitive than mine. It?s quite? erotic?? She fondled and teased them, a light laugh escaping her. As she did so, she could feel her body beginning to return to its normal self. She felt her legs lengthen a small bit, and dropped her soft breasts. ?And now, Carline, you?ll get to see me in all my beauty.?


She stretched toward her toes, feeling a popping in her back as she did. It was followed by a bit of tightening back there, a bit of muscle building. ?So, since I know you want to know what?s going on, I?ll fill you in.? She said, straightening up. ?Where to begin? I suppose with how I got here.? She lifted her sleeve nonchalantly as she spoke, watching with amusement as her arm became gracefully thicker, athletic muscle appearing on it. ?You see, it started with Bella. After stealing her armor and weaponry from Aphira, and a few other things, I seduced the secret of resurrection from the witch?s daughter, whatever her name was.?


She felt the wonderful tightening of her rear, and let a hand travel down there, lifting her shirt to feel it. It still retained a bit of Allie?s softness, but it was distinctly one that had been worked hard for. Her smile increased. ?So then I let her do her thing. Before long, you came in. You kidnapped the elder princess, but I held my tongue. Couldn?t jump the gun there. But when you took the younger, oh, that?s when I incited Rudy into doing something about it!? Her thighs also became more defined, as fat was traded in for muscle. And as her legs grew still longer, her stockings became tighter on them. ?So a few stacked debates later, and we had Bella after you!?


?Now see, I?d heard tales about your evil and might, so I was curious to see who would prevail there. To my amazement, it was you!? Hakira arched her back as her ribcage got a bit wider and her torso lengthened slightly. Her uniform was beginning to get tight on her body. ?When you brought her in, the new, worthless her, I didn?t even know what to say! So I just abandoned my old plan and came here.?


?So from what little I read off of you when you were defending yourself, I constructed that thing.? She pointed to Allie, who seemed to be completely calm and peaceful. Hakira?s vile smile widened as she looked over her arm, which now had the tone of someone who worked out often. ?I used your pathetic carnal fetishes to open a quick gateway to you.?


?How disappointed I was, though, when I found out you were not evil in the least; just a pussy who had bad luck. Still, though, the other thing you held was still of value to me.? ?And what was that?? Carline asked, saying the first thing in a while. Hakira thrust her arm forward dramatically, a single finger pointing at her. ?Your magic. I could not believe how big a pool you have. It?s more of a damned ocean! And the power that inherently comes with a source that large? even with these-? She indicated the armlets, which now fit much more snugly on her muscled biceps. ?-I only just beat you. That kind of anomaly is incredible. So I stuck around to see what kind of information I could gather.?


She stopped there and looked down her body. ?This is going far too slow. Excuse me a moment.? Once again her hands and armlets glowed in unison, and her metamorphosis sped up. Her hair began to grow out, and her face lost some of its roundness, becoming more angular and seductive. She began to grow more steadily, most still in the legs, and even her breasts got a bit larger. Her uniform audibly strained against her growing form.


She put a hand on the opposite bicep and squeezed it, reveling in the tone and hardness it had. She flexed her arm, causing her glove to slide down toward her forearm. She let out a ?Ha!?, her voice markedly different from Allie?s now; quite a bit deeper, smooth and sexy. She bent over, offering a generous panty shot to anyone who would?ve been standing behind her, and felt her solid legs, and how tight her stockings were on them. Even with just a quick flex there she might-


But that didn?t matter, as her legs put them past their limit in their slowing growth, tearing a vertical line through almost two thirds of each one. Her feet also became tired of her constricting shoes, and ripped them horizontally, bits of them gently sliding down around her feet. Hakira felt her thighs, firm but still smoothed by a thin layer of fat, and straightened up, satisfied, revealing her Amazonian height. ?What do you think, Carly~? She said, in a voice that simultaneously suggested intention of seduction, rape, and murder. She half-turned, lifting her skirt, and took in a deep gaze of her large ass, her thong wedged deep between her cheeks. She dropped it again, where it covered to only just below her crotch.


The upper part of the uniform, on the other hand, wasn?t so well off. Her thickened torso left little room for it, and her slightly larger breasts and significantly larger chest behind them made it very tight, and she could only take shallow breaths. Her sleeves were also no longer loose, tightened by her wider shoulders and thicker arms. To relieve this, she inhaled deeply, and then wrapped her arms over front of herself, tight as she could, until she heard small twangs, and at that even tighter, until she heard a loud rip. Hakira then simply grabbed the neckline of the uniform and tore, pulling a line down it to below her breasts, and she popped them out, where they kept still from the tightness of the bra strap against her back.


Her hair stopped at the length of her upper back, and it fell randomly over her face, giving her a feral look. She took a moment to fix this however, separating her hair into a style she saw fit. She looked over her torn, ill-fitting clothing. ?Oh, but this won?t do. Give me just one more moment, if you would.? Hakira held her arms straight out in front of her, and suddenly all of her clothing set fire, a dark blue blaze. Within no time it burned off, leaving her in the nude aside from her armlets. Shameless about her nudity, she ran her fingers over her toned abs. ?Almost forgot about this?? She also felt her breasts, large and soft, but also firm and pretty perky. ?And these too? Allie only WISHES she looked like me.?


She cast a seductive gaze at Carline, turning and striking a pose for her. ?I ask again, what do you think? Much better than that little girl, yes?? Carline averted her eyes. ?Get back to explaining.? She said, in an entirely serious tone. ?Hmph. Fine.? The blue flame returned, passing over her body in eerie silence. This time it left her clothed again, in pants of a dark, rich blue, extraneous material strapped to her calves; a black camisole, which draped loosely over her hips; and more cloth wrapped around her forearms, in mock versions of sleeves.


Hakira held her arm toward her dagger, which flew off the ground and into it. She ran the blade along her right palm again, smiling with satisfaction as it failed to cut the material of her newly gloved hands. She then grabbed the hair over her face and pushed the knife against it until it cut, so that it hung only just below her chin. Then, as a final test, she spontaneously flung it in the direction of the door again, and this time it not only reached, but stuck in the door up to its handle. Cecily was heard gasping on the other side.


?But back to business. Where was I? Oh yes.? Her face lit up again as she continued recounting. ?So I let myself continue to go around as her. But problems arose as she began to develop her own sense of self. At first it was easy to get her to do what I wanted. She was weak-willed, and effortlessly controlled. But then she started separating from me. She didn?t do what I wanted. No, Allie had to be a stupid fucking faggot, and fall for the fucking gardener. I made her a lesbian so that she would go after someone who matters, like Anni. NOT THE MOTHER FUCKING GARDENER!? She bellowed at the door, whipping her head around to face it.


Hakira took a moment to regulate her breathing and fix her hair before continuing. ?That derailed my plans quite a bit, but then some time later you made such a wonderful suggestion, I had to take advantage of it. That day where you insisted we all be drunkards? I got you to tell me things you can?t even imagine, little Carly. Things that I shall find quite useful later.? She looked over her shoulder to Allie and sighed. ?But alas, all good things come to an end. Recently she?d been actively defying me, so I?ve had to keep her in line with violence and threats against her ?wuvewy Sessy?. But now that I?ve been found out here, there?s little reason to stick around. Or, for that matter?? She held up her hand, and in a burst of flame Anni?s fancy knife appeared in it. ?Little reason for her to either.?


Carline started and spoke out, now that Hakira was no longer content just talking. ?What are you planning to do to her?? Hakira waved the knife in front of her. ?What do you think, dumbass? I?m gonna cut her up until she doesn?t move again. You got a problem with that?? She straightened up, and walked over to Carline, looking down on her. She was intimidating, well over a head taller and quite a bit bulkier, her scarlet eyes piercing the sorceress, but Carline stood her ground. ?No! I won?t let you hurt her any more!?


Hakira snorted. ?Good luck with that.? There was another flash of azure flame, and now Hakira stood behind Allie, knife dangling above her face. Carline moved to stop her, but Hakira just hovered it over Allie?s closed eye in a warning, and she immediately stopped. ?What do you want? Why are you so interested in my power? Why are you doing any of this?!? Hakira laughed. ?Why am I doing this? No reason. No reason at all.? She pried Allie?s eye open with her fingers. ?I. Just. Like. Seeing. People. Hurt!?


In time with the emphasis of the last word, her knife did a quick and brief plunge as Carline watched in horror. ?NO!? She screamed. ?Miss Carline! What happened!?? Cecily?s worried voice called through the door, but Carline paid it no attention. She tried shoving Hakira again, but her much larger frame didn?t give nearly as much as when she?d had Allie?s body. So, wearing that same sick smile, Hakira did the same action, and Carline shrieked again. ?STOP IT!? Hakira spun the knife in her hand apathetically, and wiped it on Allie?s shoulder. ??s not like she?ll die from that. I only got her eye. She?s got two for a reason.?


Carline immediately set to work trying to heal it, but found out with horror that whatever Hakira had done cursed the knife with far outclassed her ability to heal. With no time to lose, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, recalling what Praeli had done for Tuicia last winter. Her hands shimmered softly, and she tried as best she could to put Allie in that same kind of stasis. Hakira watched smugly, arms folded. ?Impressive spell you got there. Might need to learn that one.? Carline ignored her comment, focusing as hard as she could on Allie?s well-being, and she heard a small pop. She opened her eyes, and Allie wasn?t moving at all any more, or bleeding.


Hakira applauded from the other side of the bed. ?Well done, well done. Do you really thin-? Carline casted at her, infuriated, and Hakira blocked it effortlessly. ?DON?T YOU INTERRUPT ME WHEN I SPEAK!? She roared, ramming her foot into the table Allie was on, sending it skidding into Carline and knocking her off her feet. ?I don?t think you?ve learned yet, little Carly~? She said, abruptly switching tone to a dangerously playful one. Without warning she hopped up on the table, leaning over Allie?s body. She grabbed her right arm, and seared through the bandage that Nina had applied, leaving a burn along her arm. Then she casted something of her own, something her armlets pitched in on, and Allie seemed to fall out of Carline?s spell. With no delay, she took the knife to it, slowly cutting across it like one would a steak.


?NO! Stop!? Carline got up and ran to Hakira, tugging on her left arm, but if Hakira was in any way slowed by this, Carline couldn?t see it. Allie?s arm was beginning to bleed badly. ?Try harder, little Carly. You?re gonna need to do better than that if you wanna save her~? Carline was both sickened and enraged by her, and casted the worst things she could think of at her. Without missing a beat, or even any physical reaction at all, Hakira blocked them all, the sapphires in her armlet shining brilliantly.


?C?mon, you can do better than that!? Hakira said, staining her gloves with Allie?s blood as it spurted from the deep wound she was making. ?Stop, damn you!? Carline cried out, as she tried everything she knew, even the buxom spell, but to no effect. Hakira just happily sawed away, ignoring her. ?If you want me to stop, try harder. You limit yourself. Draw more into your store if you wanna get- Ooh, I think I just hit her bone!? She began laughing, but it was no overdone evil laugh. It was a genuine, joyful one, that of someone who was having a great time. Somehow this pissed off Carline more than anything. She clenched her hands as they grew black.


?ENOUGH.? She said in a powerful voice. It was enough to cause Hakira to turn her head toward the source. Carline held her arm straight at Hakira, who seized up, and then flung her sideways, off of Allie and into the wall. Hakira was up quickly, and cracked her neck as she got into a fighting stance. ?It?s about damn time you did something.? She growled. Carline had only intense hatred on her face. She raised her arm again, slowly and deliberately. Hakira jammed the knife into the wall, and readied herself. Right as Carline casted, so did Hakira, and the two stood like that, pouring in immense amounts of magical energy, each woman?s cancelling out the other?s.


Suddenly Allie?s shuddering breath caught Carline?s attention, and she remembered what kind of condition the maid was in. She cut off her end, and to her surprise, so did Hakira. She ran to Allie?s side, keeping the demon in view, and she tried her hardest to fix Allie?s arm. Once again, she couldn?t stop it, and she began to panic. Hakira, on the other hand, merely retrieved her weapon and began to walk over. ?You?re not serious, are you? Didn?t we do this very thing mo-? ?Shut the fuck up!? Carline yelled, casting at her. Hakira didn?t expect that one at all, so she took it without defense.


Hakira twisted her neck a bit in rage. ?What did I tell you about interrupting me, bitch?? She changed her grip on her blade to a reverse one, and closed in. ?It seems you just can?t learn, can you?? She began to pour in some more vile enchantments on the dagger, but was surprised when nothing happened. Instead, she felt a tingling in her chest. ??the hell?? She took a few steps back, and tried again. The same nothing occurred, and the tingling became stronger.


She twisted her lips, now somewhat angry that this wasn?t working. She did it again, allowing her magic amplifiers to join in this time, and still nothing. However, now she felt a thrust in her bosom as her breasts plumped up slightly. She also felt a tingling she vaguely recognized from a long time ago. Recognizing it for what it was, she stopped trying to use magic, and put her free arm over her chest, glaring at Carline. ?So, you?ve finally found a practical use for that damned spell, have you?? Carline nodded, glaring back at her in return. ?With that in play, any moment now, your spell will fail, and Tuicia will come in and deal with you. I wouldn?t try anything anymore.?


Hakira sneered at her. ?That so?? Her breasts were very slowly but steadily growing, with how much magic she?d put in all at once, but she didn?t let it hinder her. She calmly walked over to Allie?s other side. ?I?ve still got one more thing.? She grabbed Allie?s earring and ripped it out, and Carline jumped up on sight of her action. ?Recognize this?? Hakira said, holding out Carline?s backup reserve. ?I recall it worked for the actual device, so it?ll work here I imagine.? She held her hand up, and it glowed a vivid red. ?Yep,? she concluded with a violent smile.


Carline became almost exasperated. How long was this going to go on for? She couldn?t stop her! ?However,? Hakira said, ?you people bore me now. I?m done here. I?ve wasted months here, and I?ve got better things to do. A step of my life plans needs attending to. I?ve got to visit an old acquaintance of mine. I believe you know Gelly Gartave, yes?? She reached into her shirt, producing something bright green, ethereal, and shiny, and dropped it on the ground. ?We?ll be in France with that Laurent bitch. Buh-bye!?


Hakira disappeared in fire before Carline could react, and the door flew open. ?Madame, what ?appe-? Tuicia gasped and put her hands over her mouth on seeing Allie, and Cecily screamed and fainted. Carline ignored both, recognizing what Hakira had dropped. ?Both of you, get out, n-? She only had enough time to set up a barrier as it exploded.




Carline awoke with a start, and immediately sat upright. Tuicia was sitting at her bedside. ?Shit! Tuicia, what- where?s Allie?!? ?Madame, Madame, calm down. She is being taken to ze finest of ?ospitals as we speak.? ?What? Who by?? ?Cecily and Nina ?ave driven ?er. She is stable for now, but?? Carline put a hand to her head. ?How long has it been?? ?Almost a day.? ?What?! Shit!? She jumped out of her bed, but her legs gave beneath her. ?Madame!? Tuicia was immediately at her side to help her up. Carline submissively accepted her assistance. ?D-dammit? what did she do to me?? ?Ah don?t know magic, Madame, but she did some kind of explosive Ah sink.?


Carline sat back down. She kept her head down, debating events. After a while, she looked up at Tuicia. ?Tuicia? I have to go stop her.? ?Madame, you are not in condition to-? ?I don?t care! If I don?t, then she?s just going to go hurt more people! Even now, she?s going to get Gelly!? ?Madame, please, didn?t you learn anysing from what ?appened? She is vicious and powerful! You can?t beat ?er! Zis is what ze Knights are for!? ??no. Tuicia, I have to help. Someone like her won?t go down easy.?


?Madame, she will kill you if she desires to! Please, do not do zis!? ?I don?t care! I?d rather die a hero than be remembered a murderer!? ?Madame! Do not talk like zat! Even now opinions will change! Before you know it, people will realize-? ?No! They won?t! People won?t ?realize?! People never ?realize?! It?s been nine years and no one?s ?realized?!?


??Ah ?ave.? Tuicia said quietly. ?What?? ?Madame? Ah? Ah can?t let you go srough wizh zis. Not alone. If you are doing it, if you really ?ave to do it, if Ah cannot convince you ozherwise, zen Ah can?t let you go alone. Ah will go wizh you. If? if you are to die zere, zen Ah die wizh you, because Ah cannot live wizhout you. Ah? Ah? l-love you, Madame?? Carline was caught off-guard by her sudden confession. ?What?? ?Ah ?ave only just realized what zis feeling meant, but Ah cannot deny it. Madame, you are ze light of ma life, and nozhing makes moi ?appier zan being wizh you.? ?Tuicia? is that really how you feel?? She nodded, tears beginning to lightly go down her face. ?Ah sink it always ?as been.? She bent down and kissed Carline on the cheek. She straightened up and wiped her eyes, a blush decorating her face. ?Ah will be? be putting supplies in Cecily?s vehicle, Madame. We leave in a few hours.?


Tuicia clicked out of the room quickly, embarrassed, and Carline put her hand on her cheek. ?Now she tells me, of all the times??