It was burning like the fire inside Sasha. She was on a berserk march, and the list was shorter by each second. She was doing a great job clearing the way for the Ivy.

“I think Denise is starting to get full”, Ivy said.

Sasha took a look at Ivy. She was pretty pale.

“Maybe we should take a pause?”

“No, I should have known before.” Ivy squared her shoulders. “I am sorry I refused to see what you had to sacrifice, for me to be able to be with Isaak.”

Ivy’s cheek was pink as she glanced towards Isaak. Sasha felt her heart full of love.

“Sorry to break it to you sister, but I had chosen the assassin path before I volunteered to be known as his girlfriend.” She grinned. “No need to play the victim.”

“How can you deal with it?” Ivy asked.

“It makes Denise happy”, Sasha said.

It was too early for that joke. Sasha put her hand on Isaak’s shoulder. He looked from Ivy to Denise and grimaced. The dragon nodded, seeing what Isaak saw.

“Rest easy, I will not drop your precious”, the dragon buffed at Isaak.

Ivy was white as a sheet, and the risk of her fainting was very real.

“Sister, it has to be done”, Sasha said briskly. “What we can’t deal with is knowing I could have hindered others suffer, but choose not to”, Sasha said. “I since I leveled, I can feel the justice.”

Sasha picked out her sword, holding it in front of Ivy, the sword pulsating in pure white.

“I prefer when you do treasure hunting”, Ivy said. “But yeah... I know.”

“She is my best guardian,” Isaak said. “You know I can't afford to just let her treasure hunt.” He suddenly looked worried. “I will not be able to use a princess as a bodyguard.”

“I am no princess”, Sasha said. She hides the sword, suddenly unsure of the color of her and Isaak. Would it be pulsating in red?

“Let's continue tomorrow”, Denise decided. “Sasha will coop with the pain for the night.”

Ivy nodded. Sasha said nothing. She hoped Denise was right. Her fingers slowly stroking her bracelet.

“Morning girls”, Isaak said.

Sasha and Ivy laid close together in bed. Sasha felt drowsy and warm. As she opened her eyes and welcomed the reality she felt pain slice through her body. She involuntary let out a cry.

“I have breakfast for the two of you.” Isaak put down a tray. “And I have taken the liberty to invite some people to my simple home. They are waiting in line to meet you, Sasha.”

“Splendid. What a thoughtful thing to do.”

She started to move up from bed when Isaak shook his head.

“Breakfast first, lady. Then we deal with the future of this country, and your appetite for destruction.”

***

“Stay here for now Ivy. I will come back any moment.”

Sasha walked out of the bedroom with Isaak. They were heading for the headquarters, Denise slowly crawling behind them, her hissing a tune of anticipation.

“No leftovers Denise. If anyone figures what happen I will lose trust.” Isaak said with a stern cold voice. “You can’t be a crime lord with no trust.”

“My table manners are perfect”, the snake said.

There were three of them. Sasha didn’t know what Isaak had said to get them to come, and she didn’t really care.

“Pure red people. Wonderful”, Sasha said, holding her sword in front of each and everyone sitting and waiting for them. “It is such a nice color. Isn’t it?”

She got no answers, just confused looks. She wanted this over with quickly. Out of her new magic she had tested to restrict, to cover with needles, and break down their strength. Now she wanted to drench them in hallucinations. It wouldn’t be as good as Denise’s, but she felt she had the gift, and more than that, it was a gift that would drain magic out of her, being one of the trickier to master.

“So, how did it went?”

Ivy walked back and forth in the kitchen, the tea standing untouched at the table.

“I’m full”, Denise declared. “Do you want that tea?”

“Help yourself.”

Denise slurped, ended it with a big burp.

“Too little sugar. Take two next time will you?”

“Well, of course”, Ivy said. “What is happening now?”

“We will head to the graveyard”, Isaak said.

“To Aliyah?”

“Not Aliyah”, Isaak said, “But close enough.”

“Are you coming?”

“Yeah”, Ivy said, beaming towards Isaak, “I love to.”

Sasha squeezed her sister tight, engulfing some of her comforts, trying to comfort her as well.

“You know you don’t have to?”

“I know”, Ivy said. “But you will need me.”

Isaak and Sasha were strolling casually at the streets, Denise silently moving in the air above them, Ivy riding on her back. Denise had covered them up in her invincible bubble, but they were still there. It was a pity no one could see the entrance of the queen on her magnificent dragon.

“So. What are you going to do about my sister?” Sasha asked low enough for only Isaak to hear. “You are making her suffer.”

“I am trying to protect her. You know better”, Isaak said.

“She doesn’t want your protection, Isaak. She needs you.”

“I am no man for a princess.”

Sasha sighed. Isaak was a stubborn man.

“But you are the man for Ivy. Don’t let her title ripe you of your happiness.”

Isaak just looked in front of him, suddenly dead still in his tracks. Sasha saw where he was looking.

“We will be late for the graveyard,” Isaak said.

She had known it was just a matter of time. They had left too many traces behind not to catch the attention of the royals. What she hadn’t counted on was seeing all the three of them at the same place. She was not fit enough to meet them. Not yet. They would have to regroup. Luckily Denise and Ivy were protected, out of sight. Which was probably not the case with Isaak.

“Meet me at the next place”, Sasha said, pushing Isaak behind her. “Go with Denise. I will shake them off.”

“I will not leave you”, Isaak said.

“I didn’t ask”, Sasha hissed.

“You heard the lady. Jump up”, Denise said, putting her giant snakehead under Elias's butt and throwing him backward. He landed in a perfect flip just in front of Ivy. “We will circle in the air above you. Make a run for it rebel.” Denise whispered in Sasha’s ear before she took off, her wings spread in front of Sasha. They were looking cute, the next king and queen in line, riding a giant pink dragon.

Sasha smiled before her eyes turned back to the queen, the king, and Elias. Apart from her wanted to stay, to see which excuses Elias would come up with. The smarter part knew better. She turned around and run.

“Sasha!”

She heard footsteps closing in on her. Elias voice cut the air, the magic he throws after her accompanied by the queens. Sasha stepped to the side, looking inside of herself. She had the magic to restrain others. Would she be able to twist it to bounce off the magic?

“Sasha wait!”

Sasha didn’t even slow down. She would not let Elias and his company catch up on her. He had used her for his own good. The traitorous voice saying she was doing the same was just an itching scratch, something to fuel the dragon lightning she sent backward. The earth was struck with her magic, the street covered in dust and stones. She hurriedly turned left. It would be easy to shake them off at the marketplace.

“Elias wait”, the king yelled, but Sasha could feel his aura. Elias didn’t bother listening to the king. He was on a hunt, and he had got the scent of the prey.

Sasha turned easily under the market table filled with vegetables. She did pick two oranges as she was at it, silently promising herself to come back and pay later. Using some of the oldest magic she knew she brews a cocktail of the oranges and lets them go. Turning around another table she soon disappeared in the crow. Behind her, she heard Elias curse.

He had slipped in the pool she left, his skin turned brightly fluorescent orange.

Three zero to her.