280 Gods Gif (1/2)
”DON'T CALL me ”brother-in-law” again if you don't want me to burn you alive,” Wixx warned Elis Ripperton, then he pulled his arm away from the Blue Dragon. ”If you're here to fetch Aku Moonchester, then just take your trash out quietly. Don't mess with the little tiger.”
”I am not messing with the little tiger,” Elis Ripperton denied. ”I'm just giving him a chance to save his poor spirit guardian.”
”I know what you're trying to do, Elis Ripperton,” he said. ”You're trying to divide our force, aren't you?”
”You're free to believe that theory of yours,” the Blue Dragon said, then he turned to Ainsworth. ”Don't worry, little tiger. Faline is safe. But I don't know how long she'd be safe though. Your spirit guardian is too frail compared to yours.”
Ainsworth growled and was about to attack Elis Ripperton when the little tiger's feet were suddenly covered by ice keeping him in place.
Of course, everyone instantly knew that it was Kiho's ice.
But the Black Serpent didn't arrive alone. He was with Aku Moonchester. And surprisingly, the two weren't fighting.
”Calm down, little tiger,” Kiho said to Ainsworth, then the ice around the little tiger's feet melted. ”What's happening?”
”Elis Ripperton has Faline,” Ainsworth growled.
”And the Blue Dragon is tempting to lure the little tiger with him,” Wixx added while looking at Kiho. ”It seems like it's their plan to divide our force.”
”How dare you accuse us of using cheap trick?” Aku Moonchester ”complained” lightly. ”In the first place, aren't you the one who abducted Drake in the first place?”
Drake was Elis Ripperton's spirit guardian.
”That's right,” the Blue Dragon agreed with the emperor. ”You abducted Drake. It wasn't my fault that I found where Faline hid my spirit guardian. As Drake's master, it is my responsibility to save him and punish his abductor.”
Ainsworth growled but he didn't move an inch from his spot when Kiho put a hand on his shoulder.
Now Wixx once again felt guilty.
He shouldn't have entrusted Drake with Faline alone. Why didn't he think of sending at least one Keeper with the little tiger's spirit guardian? One of his many flaws was really caring only about Tilly and Luna.
”That sounds fair,” Kiho said, causing everyone in the room to turn to him. Ah, the Black Serpent's golden eyes were glowing menacingly. ”You won't mind if we retaliate, will you?”
Ainsworth looked shocked at first, then he nodded firmly in agreement with Kiho's statement.
”Of course, we won't mind,” Aku Moonchester said. ”But save that for later. Lord Ripperton is only here to fetch me.”
”Like I said before, if you're going to leave, then leave now,” Wixx said while glaring at Aku Moonchester and Elis Ripperton. ”Enjoy your last peaceful days, fellow gentlemen.”
***
”NIA, I'm leaving,” Aku said to his beloved after he packed his things. ”Will you really be alright alone?”
Nia, who stood in front of him, nodded. ”They can't hurt me because of the binding vow,” she assured him. ”You also put a spell in the vial that you gave Lady Nystrom, don't you?”
He nodded as confirmation.
Even though he gave the vial of his blood to the Supreme, she wouldn't be able to open it. The bottle had a spell. It wouldn't break even if someone as powerful as Lady Nystrom tried to destroy. After all, the spell that he put in it would only allow Nia to open the vial.
”Only you can open the vial so they can't kill you,” he assured her, then he cupped her face between his hands. ”And don't worry. I'll follow you soon.”
She only nodded as a response.
”By the way, did you get it?” he asked her.
She nodded. Then, she pulled out a small vial from the pocket of her skirt. The little bottle was filled with black flame inside. By that, he meant the Black Flame. ”I stole some of Lucina Morganna's Black Flame before I let her out just like what you asked me to do.”
”You did well, Nia,” he said, then he kissed her on the forehead while putting the vial in the inside pocket of his jacket. ”Thank you.”
”What do you need the Black Flame for, Aku?”
To be honest, he didn't want to keep things from Nia.
But for now, he couldn't fully trust her again. Since he knew his beloved so well, he was aware that she was hiding something from him. But just like what he did in the past, he didn't confront her. Instead, he would just patiently wait for her to reveal her plan.
Nia is smart but she lacks perseverance and motivation. Once her initial plan fails, she easily loses interest. Then, she starts a different game that she may not see through the end again.
He liked that about her though.
As long as Nia doesn't have the strong urge to abandon me, she can never truly run away from me.
”If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to,” Nia said casually when she realized that he didn't want to answer her question. ”I don't mind.”
”It's not that I don't want to share my plans with you,” he lied with a sweet smile on his face while caressing her cheek. ”I'm just being careful, Nia. You'll be alone with Lady Nystrom and her group. I don't want them to read your mind or something like that to happen.”
”You don't have to explain,” she said. ”Like I said, I don't mind.”
Aku just laughed it off. Then, he cupped her face once again to kiss her on the lips. ”See you soon, Nia.”
Nia nodded, her face as blank as usual. These days, he noticed that his beloved wasn't even trying to hide her coldness from him. ”See you later, Aku.”
Why did it sound like she didn't mean those words?
***
”TILLY, I don't mind even if you already have two kids.”