Chapter 5: Wicked rather than weak

Song recommendation: "Shameless" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=polycpBREYA)

"Please tell me you're not serious," Clover implored.

"I'm always serious," Ace remarked coolly.

"This is not a game!" Clover exclaimed. "Open the box right now!"

"It won't open if you force me," Ace stated unmoved, "and I'm not joking around."

Clover spun around unsteady on their feet, almost collapsing back into the throne. They kept shaking their head in disbelief before finally turning to Ace with an irate and wide-eyed glare.

"Open it right now," they said viciously.

"No," Ace replied coldly.

"I can't believe you!" Clover spat.

"Believe it, Clover," Ace replied indifferently.

"Why!" Clover screamed, "Why are you doing this to me?! You know I need that necklace,"

"Then take it. Shouldn't be hard for you to break the magic," Ace said unsympathetically. "I'm just giving you what you want,"

"You think I want to kill you?" Clover released an incredulous breath.

"You said you would. A deal is a deal, right Clover?" Ace smiled soberly.

Finally, Clover collapsed back onto the throne staring at Ace speechless. Ace stared back unwaveringly. Clover threw their face into their hands in defeat.

"So this is it ?" Clover asked after several moments of silence, "You're giving me an ultimatum,"

"Kiss me one minute, throw me away the next," Ace shrugged, "You don't play fair, Clover. Why should I?"

Clover let out a laugh in spite of themselves, "You are literally the stubbornest person I have ever met,"

"Thank you," Ace sniffed.

"IT'S NOT A COMPLIMENT!" Clover slammed their fist against the armrest so hard it made a dent.

"Well stubborn or not, "Ace replied unflinchingly, " it's done. I can't break the spell even if I wanted to,"

"You don't understand what's at stake, Ace!" Clover entreated exasperated.

"To be honest, "Ace said flatly, "I really don't give a shit and I'm done begging you to tell me,"

"This is about more than just you and I," Clover enjoined solemnly, "This is...this is not something I can just ignore or push aside like before. I need that necklace. The demon world has to be destroyed!"

"THEN destroy it!" Ace retorted emphatically.

Clover blinked slowly in utter bewilderment before letting out an unsteady breath, "Just get out of my sight," they breathed venomously.

Ace turned unceremoniously and left the room. He found Michael and Bird waiting outside the door.

"You're here early," Michael observed. Something in Ace's manner was different than usual.

"Have you already been healed, Ace?" Bird smiled.

"Yes," Ace answered reservedly. "But I would go in there for a while if I were you,"

"Why not?" Michael interrogated.

Ace shrugged, "Clover seems to be a bit upset about something. I'm not sure what,"

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It was sometime later before Michael or Bird decided to go back. Michael had heeded Ace's warning this time. When they returned, they waited outside hesitantly.

"You can go in," Noni grunted, "What are you waiting for?"

"Nothing!"Michael snapped.

He stepped inside apprehensively. His eyes immediately went to the throne. Clover was sitting a bit forward. Their eyes were glazed and their expression fixed. Michael and Bird reached the throne.

"We're here because..."

"I know. I know," Clover interrupted briskly, "Give me your hand."

Michael held out his hand and Clover took it hastily. After healing Michael, they hastily healed Bird as well.

"Are we done?" Clover asked brusquely, then glanced up, "Where's Kali?"

"I thought she came earlier?" Michael questioned.

"No, she didn't, " Clover stood up restlessy, "Tell her to come find me when you see her,"

"Why would I see her?"Michael remarked, feigning innocence.

Clover glanced back with a raised eyebrow but instead of replying let out a sigh and walked away.

Clover's mind was still racing. What should they do? There were ways to break a blood magic spell but all of them ended badly. It was as Ace said. There wasn't a way to open the box without killing him.

It was the worst-case scenario that Clover had been trying to avoid all along...

Clover hastened to their room and opened the door, still lost I thought. Their eyes snapped up. They let out a sigh of relief.

"Kali?" Clover sat back on the bed rubbing their eyes tiredly, "I've been looking for you,"

"Here I am," Kalanda replied drily.

Clover glanced up at her pensive.

"What were you doing in here?"

"Nothing," Kalandra answered coldly.

"Kali, were you in my room yesterday?"

Kalandra shrugged, "Maybe,"

"Why?" Clover asked.

"Why not?" Kalandra replied.

"Did you take something?" Clover's eyes narrowed.

"What if I did?" Kalandra exhaled angrily.

"Did Michael tell you to take it?" Clover sighed.

"No!" Kalandra argued. "I took it because...I wanted it. Since when do you care?"

"Since you started courting someone who has tried to kill me on numerous occasions," Clover snapped.

"You always said Michael was your favourite apprentice," Kalandra smiled slightly.

"That was before," Clover said sharply.

"If you didn't want Michael and I to be together, why didn't you say anything?"Kalandra replied provokingly.

"It's not a matter of whether I want you to be together," Clover said flatly, "You can court who you want, but you don't steal from me,"

"If it was Ace..." Kalandra started.

"Ace wouldn't steal from me," Clover interrupted. "He's too shameless for that sort of thing," they added under their breath.

"He stole from me," Kalandra gritted her teeth.

"This is not about him," Clover sighed, " You have to take responsibility for your actions. You're not a child anymore, Kalandra."

"What does it matter?!" Kalandra shrieked. "What does it matter if I steal from you now? What does it matter if I do anything you don't like? What does anything I do matter now?" her eyes filled with tears.

"Kali," Clover put an arm on her shoulder.

"No!" Kali slapped the hand away. "Did he give it to you?"

"What are you talking about?" Clover asked gently.

"Did Ace give you the necklace?!" Kalandra screamed, "That lying little..."

"Kalanadra!" Clover interjected, "Stop it. Were you spying on us?"

Kalandra let out an unsteady breath, "I thought you had changed your mind. These last weeks...you seemed happy,"

"You know happiness has nothing to do with it," Clover stated somberly.

"So you've decided then?" A tear rolled down Kalandra's cheek."You're giving up?"

Clover wrapped their arms around, "You always knew this day would come. I told you from the start."

"But why?! Why do you have to die for something you didn't even do?"

"Just is just how life is."

"It's not fair!" Kalandra sobbed.

Clover pulled her back and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"Come on. Haven't I lived a good life?" Clover smiled playfully, "Haven't we played a brilliant joke on everyone this whole time?"

"That's not the point," Kalandra sniffed.

"Yes, it is. I've lived a full life," Clover said warmly." I have no regrets,"

Once more Kalandra started crying again. Clover patted her like a child letting her cry for as long as she liked.

"Why did you even bother to save me, Clover?" Kalandra whimpered through the tears.

"I guess I'm just greedy." Clover gave a small smile, "I do things on a whim. I can't help it."

Kalandra pulled back fiercely, "You've saved more people than just me. It's not a whim! I've seen it so many times and even when they don't thank you for it, you never asked for anything in return. "

"Have you forgotten everything I've taught you?" Clover exhaled, "I've never saved anyone. You can't save someone who doesn't want to save themselves. I never gave you nor anyone else a power they didn't already possess."

"Still you let those Empire dogs call you wicked, you never even tried to defend yourself. Why do you always have to be the bad one?!"

"Bad and wicked are just words. You do 'bad' things, they punish you. You do 'good' things, they still punish you. If that's the case, I'd rather be wicked than be weak. You live and die by the sword, that is what they've said in the west for as long as I can remember. All my life I carried that sword and I killed it with it. It's only fair that it gets to kill me too. It wouldn't be like I didn't deserve it for the things I've done,"

"So you'd die letting everyone hate you?" Kalandra entreated.

"I'd rather choke to death on their hate than their pity." Clover chuckled mirthlessly.

"Well, I'd rather watch them die than you,"

"And maybe you will. That's the beauty of life. No one gets a happy ending."

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After being healed by Clover, Michael and Bird ate dinner together. It had been a while since they had done so but they had ended up by coincidence in the pantry at the same time. It was somewhat awkward at first, but it went some way to making amends. They were used to each other after all. It was easy to fall back into old habits. Though Bird remained on guard, he seemed at least open to reconciliation.

Michael entered his room feeling content with their progress. It was dark by the time he returned and he found the room by candlelight. He was surprised to find Kali already sitting on his bed. He set the candle down by the bedside with a sigh. He was about to chastise her for entering without permission when he noticed that her face was wet with tears. He sat down beside her staring at her face in disbelief.

"What's going on with everyone today?" he said with an incredulous smile. "Have you been crying?"

Kali was staring straight ahead with a completely blank expression.

"Don't sound too surprised," she said flatly.

Michael tilted his head to one side with a grin. "What's wrong, Kali?"

"None of your business," she answered categorically.

"Ouch," Michael threw up his hands mockingly, "I would ask if you want to be alone but you're in my room, sitting on my bed,"

"You still want the necklace?" Kali cast her eyes over to him.

"You already know the answer to that," Michael replied apathetically.

Kalandra shoved a hand into her pocket and threw the contents at Michael. He caught the little box in his hand and looked down.

"What is this?" he asked perplexed. It had terribly dark energy.

"It's sealed with blood magic but you can probably find a way around it," Kalandra said drily.

"What is this, Kalandra?" Michael repeated more firmly.

"It's the necklace," Kalandra gave a weak smile."I stole it from Clover. You were right,"

The corners of Michael's mouth twisted into a dark smile. He stared at it in disbelief.

"Oh Kali," he breathed, "Have I ever told you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met?"

"Don't you mean the most useful," Kalandra said in a low voice without looking up.

Michael turned on his heels abruptly and bent to one knee beside Kalandra. He held her hand to his lips and kissed it.

"Is there a difference?" he smiled.

Kalandra looked down wearily, "Not to you I guess,"

"You look so sad, but this is a day we should be celebrating, my love,"

"So I've finally earned the title of your lover now?" Kalandra said unimpressed," Well, at least you're keeping your end of the bargain," she said without conviction.

"For giving me this, Kali," Michael held up the box to her with a smirk, "You can be my wife for all I care."