Nefarious Negotiations

Vy let out an elongated sigh of boredom, standing up and lifting her dress as she carefully stepped down. Her throne quickly disassembled as each piece levitated beneath her feet forming a descending stairway one step at a time until she reached the ground level. By then, each step hovered around before fitting into the missing spots connecting the ground floor like jigsaw pieces.

"Save this, save that, you people can be so overdramatic. What you're asking for is to undo the ceremony and give back my body. I'm not too sure that I am willing to accept this wish of yours. I quite like this vessel of mine, I think I'll keep it." Vy spoke in a calm tone, her hand sliding down her waist as if to make her point. "Nice, tight and sexy. Perfect hips for child bearing, healthy womb for motherhood. No children however, I want to experience that. The gift of having children, that's my wish."

Glancing around to scan the place, her eyes switched from Leone to Spi'Reto to Felix. Each man was exhausted, heavily wounded or dying. Not in the healthiest state, she gathered. Vy began to pout. "Shame, seems none of the men here are in any place to father a child in me. But perhaps I can change that."

She walked over towards Spi'Reto, kneeling down as the others stepped back feeling intimidated. Her eyes lit up as soon as Spi'Reto made eye contact with her. "What do you say, elf? I know who it is you fancy, why not have a little fun and give me a baby? A healthy, beautiful little baby growing in my belly, that sounds heavenly wouldn't you agree? And hey, help me with this and I can give you who you want."

Spi'Reto blushed and turned away, briefly glancing at one of the girls. He made eye contact with her and opened his mouth, tempted to say something before turning away as his face turned a bright shade of red. Hanging his head in embarrassment, he then covered his mouth to cough, shaking his head no.

Vy frowned when suddenly her eyes grew wide as she felt something shoot right through her head, as if suddenly her veins began to throb and the sharpest migraine pulse at her temples. Her face scrunched up as she held her head, turning left and right and grunting in pain and misery. Felix leaned back, everyone was staring at this awkward display as Vy seemed to be under pain.

"Lousy little insect! Don't you know who you are dealing with? We made an arrangement, q-quit fighting it!" Vy shouted, her nails scratching into her scalp. "Argh, this damn feeling! I hate it, I hate this damn sssssense of mortality aaghh!"

Na'Vi and Reta hurriedly pulled Felix a few steps back as Vy fell to her knees, whining and squealing with a higher pitched voice. Her hair had descended and hung over her shoulders and sweat was beginning to run down her forehead. Emyri gasped and covered her mouth when Vy without warning began to bang her head into the floor repeatedly.

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" She screamed with every hit she inflicted on herself. Each time she would lift her head, their would be a bloodied imprint left behind and it would grow with each blow. Neither person in the room had the slightest clue what was happening to her, nor did they have the courage to stop her. She would lean back and clench her jaws tight, banging her head with closed fists as blood began to drip down the side of her nose. Clutching her left breast, she folded over and groaned loudly while slamming her hand down. "FINE! But throw another tantrum in my head and I will not hesitate to break this fucking body of yours, YOU HEAR ME!!!"

As she shouted, a sharp gust of wind rippled through the chamber room, sending everyone's hair flying back on impact. Panting as she sat up, Vy's hair had once again begun to float bringing back that ethereal appearance in her. Her eyes were restored to emit their white glow, she wiped the nasty wound on her forehead and it cleared away as if nothing were there at all. Now serious, she sniffed and wiggled her nose.

"You can have your wish, but our ritual demands sacrifice."

"That's absurd, we don't want a wish we just want them back as if nothing happened!" Na'Vi shouted.

Vy glared at her. "But something did happen and here we are. So then, you want just the three or all at once?"

"All." Nyitzcha looked confused. "Isn't d'ere jus' three?"

"We want all of them back." Felix responded. "Can you do that?"

Vy scoffed with a wave of her hand. "Of course I can, but I ask you why should I?"

"Because you asked." Na'Vi fumed. "You can't just change your mind-"

Vy began to levitate as a few loose bricks gravitated around her. "I can do whatever I please, do NOT tempt me to demonstrate."

"What arrangement?" Felix asked her. Vy seemed to calm down, the rocks now dispersing around them as her feet touched the ground. "You said you made an arrangement, what arrangement?"

"Pfft, your silly friend made a plea for the return of the sacrifices given. My sisters and I accepted on several terms."

"An' dey are?' Nyitzcha asked, standing by his side.

Vy smirked and held three fingers. "We have decided on three terms to be met for the restoration of your friends. You want your three to be returned yes? Convice us, make your plea and tell us why they deserve to be brought back. Your farmers pray to the gods for bountiful harvests without us ever asking for their prayers. So when I demand you to pray and grovel to a superior being, remember what is at stake. For you it's not just a bad harvest but for me its a feast."

With a clap of her hands, a flash of light crackled like lightning before tearing open into a ball of white emptiness, expanding until its round edge touched the ground. Vy flashed a mischievous smirk at them one last time.

"But there is a catch, only one can make their plea to us for each sacrifice. That means one for Syri, one for Dimyri, and one for KuliKuli. Choose carefully, because you will only have one shot at each."

Everyone shared a worried look amongst each other, with Emyri beginning to panic. "Leone, Leone don't close your eyes! Please get up, please!"

Nyitzcha hurried over as Nukka stepped aside to make way. "Was wrong?"

"I can't stop the bleeding, I press it but it won't stop!"

Nyitzcha reached for Leone's sleeve and tore the fabric off, crumpling it into a ball and pressing it along where his sword entered his body. "Keep it d'ere, it keeps 'is wound shut fer now. Ay, big bear!"

"Hmph!"

"Pick 'im up carefully, take 'im down to dat other cat, yer friendly one."

"Hmph." Nukka nodded, carefully reaching for Leone's body and scooping him with ease.

"Careful." Emyri warned, Nukka nodded and moved him slowly. "I-I can't go with him."

"I'll do it." Spi'Reto coughed, clearing his throat. "I may need a visit to Zimi as well-"

He was interrupted with a fit of wheezing, his hands holding his chest as he struggling for air. Reta and Na'Vi helped Spi'Reto up, Nukka knelt down as he held onto her fur from behind. Standing with carrying both wounded men, Nukka began walking down the stairs in a quick pace. She froze briefly before turning back. "What of the one on the ground? Does Nukka need to help him too?"

Felix shook his head. "Im exhausted, but I can walk. Take them first and hurry."

She nodded and disappeared down the stairs, leaving Emyri, Felix, Na'Vi, Nyitzcha and Norowa Reta alone with Vy. Vy was tapping her foot, arms crossed as she looked around.

"Well, take your pick?"

"I'm going for KuliKuli, no question." Felix retorted. "Emyri, will you be going in for Syri or Dimyri?"

Emyri shook her head. "I can only choose one, right? This is unfair, you can't make a mother choose."

Vy huffed and let out an exaggerated groan. "Reluctantly we have arranged someone to go in for Syri." When everyone looked puzzled, she rolled her eyes and pointed to herself.

"You?"

"Janette. She wouldn't have it any other way. That leaves KuliKuli and Dimyri left."

Na'Vi stepped forward. "I'll go for KuliKuli."

"What?" Felix looked shocked.

Na'Vi put her paw down. "You're not in a good state, I can smell the blood in your system. You're bleeding internally, all of that adrenaline in your system has worn off and you can hardly stand. I can do this for her."

"Err." Nyitzcha looked over toward Felix.

"Are you sure?" He asked, thinking of their history together. Na'Vi looked insulted.

"I was her best friend since we were kids, and I was her first love. Let me do this for her, let me be her savior here. What, you're worried I'll try to take her from you? You're not the only one who loves her you know."

Na'Vi knelt down to make eye contact with him as she spoke in a softer tone. "She was my Nityri, I know her just as well as you know KuliKuli. For the longest time she's been lost between both lives, maybe this is our chance to bring her back."

"She's not Nityri anymore." He calmly replied, looking down. "And she's outgrown the KuliKuli I knew."

"I know." Na'Vi sighed. "It's complicated, I want to uncomplicate this. But we don't have much time to discuss here. Can I do this or not?"

A brief flash of light lit the room grabbing everyone's attention as Vy clapped her hands with glee. "Wonderful, our first volunteer! Only one left to go."

"What! Who?" Emyri asked in a loud voice.

Na'Vi turned back to face Felix. "We can't waste our time, now or never! Yes or no?"

Felix felt his eyes dance around, unable to focus as his mind raced through a billion worrying thoughts. Swallowing hard, he grabbed her arm and nodded. "Do it."

"Thank you." Na'Vi stood up and made a run towards the portal, jumping through with a fierce cry much to Vy's amusement. With a smile, Vy turned back to face everyone before stepping back into the portal herself.

"I'll be seeing you lot on the other side." She winked before disappearing in a flash of light.