“A Trio, a Mascot Character, and a Killing Game Walk Into a Bar” (68.12) (Marmalade)

Right as Syval joined the fray, the video feed of Reed on a big screen in the bookshelves changed around as Reed showed us for just a second before switching to one of the boys. That Achilles guy made it to the trio, and apparently one of them was a traitor, and...even being in mid-battle I felt suddenly sleepy trying to follow any of it.

"Wait, Reed said that's the winner's room," Kalei said, dodging a lumbering punch from the bookshelf guy. "The rest didn't get hurt or anything, did they?"

I saw a glimmer of that other side in her eyes as she the idea that any of our friends could have been hurt in this crossed her mind.

"I'm sure they're OK!" I said as Aira and Syval teleported and flew, getting a few hits in on Shelv. Their strategizing could use some work as they relied heavily on zooming by, striking, and fleeing before looping that again. "Just focus on the fight and not...letting it out, you know?"

Kalei nodded. "Right, thanks Marms."

Lucian, one of the boys on screen, cackled wildly as he revealed that he was the traitor.

"That's right, Seth Kerres, all this time I've been plotting for this very day, my beloved friend," Lucian said. "Or should I say...my beloved enemy?"

The feed split to one half Lucian's room, and one half Reed's. Penteldtam raised his hand.

"Um, Reed? You said I was the only one you formed a pact with." Penteldtam said.

"Stop talking," Reed said. "I can make pacts with whoever I want."

"But...why?" Seth asked. "Why would you do that? And, uh, what does that even mean, exactly?"

"It means that you have fallen right into my little trap," Seth said. "You and your little sweetheart Gwen, taking all the time in the world together. When that's time you really could have been spending with me. And now we'll spend eternity together, once I kill Gwen!"

Gwen looked shocked, and tried to speak up. "Lucian, I thought we were fri—"

"How could you, Lucian! My dearest and best friend! Aaaaahhhh!" Seth wailed, shouting until Gwen stopped talking entirely.

Elisa stood directly in front of the screen, entranced by what was going on.

"Oh, it's so toxic!" Elisa said. "This is amazing!"

"Tch," Achilles said. "It sounds like we have a problem." He cracked his knuckles as Elisa squealed.

"Quiet, you oaf," Lucian said. For some inexplicable reason, Achilles obeyed and didn't start a fight. "You interrupted me. Where was I? Ah, yes. How could I? How could I not after you chose Gwen over me time and time again. I decided to get a Gwen of my own, that's when I met Reed, who is really powerful and can alter reality in void spaces. Here, we rule! Here, I am loved and cared for, and you will be too! We just need to get rid of Gwen, and everyone but us!"

"Can someone mute that?" Kalei asked. "Where's the speaker, I'm sick of hearing this guy talk."

"Wait," Aira said. "That's like, super creepy, right?"

"What is?" Kalei asked.

"Well, say Lucian's around our age, and Reed is some kind of ageless being, that's still kinda super weird right? And he's with Penteldtam too?" Aira said.

"I really don't think we should put that much thought into any of this," I said. "Especially in the middle of a fight."

"I suppose so, it's just—ack!" Aira said as Shelv threw Syval at her, sending the two careening to the back of the library. They seemed to not be too seriously injured, but they were groaning on the ground, not getting back up. I started to run to check on them, but froze.

Kalei let out a huge burst of her powers, encasing Shelv in ice. The block of ice began shaking as the monster tried to free himself.

"That should buy us a second," Kalei said. "Any ideas?"

"Um, I have one, maybe," I said.

"Sure, what do you got?" Kalei said.

"We're not getting anywhere, I know I was just saying to hold it in, but are you sure you don't wanna just real quick...do the thing?" I said.

Kalei sighed.

"I know, I know! But maybe just shift, beat this guy, then go back?" I said. "I can distract the others."

"Really, it's just Roux I'm worried about," Kalei said. "I don't think Elisa would notice, you could just say that Achilles guy took his shirt off and she'd—"

Just like that, Elisa sprinted to stand between us. "What'd you say about Achilles?"

"He's uh...if you look in the back of the screen, he's taking his shirt off!" I said. I pretended to look that way. "Wow, he's like, totally naked?"

"What?" Elisa screeched, whirling and nearly tripping over herself as she ran back to the screen, getting out her phone and taking approximately 100 pictures in five seconds before she even made it.

"OK, she's taken care of," I said. I didn't see Roux around, but Chumbler and Z.O.K. were still rolling around grappling with each other. "Maybe make an ice wall to block the rest? I'll keep Roux out."

Kalei sighed even more deeply.

"What? Is that dumb?" I said.

"No, Marms, I'm incredibly mad at myself that I didn't even think of that." Kalei said. She grinned. "You're a bad influence on me, aren't you?"

Suffice to say, hearing that from Kalei, her voice almost a purr, it sent a swarm of frozen butterflies down my spine.

"I was trying to be good with my Downside. But if you think it'd work..." Kalei said.

"I still have the...just in case bag, too," I said. "So you don't have to worry about that if you don't have your adaptive gear on."

"Oh!" Kalei said, remembering what I meant. "Damn it, we really should have thought of ice wall sooner, we could have had this wrapped up right away."

She sighed again.

"What now?" I asked, hoping I sounded more joking than annoyed.

"I still don't know if I can trigger it at will," Kalei said.

"Just picture what triggered it last time, maybe?" I said. "Or think about what'll happen to everyone if we let these idiots win."

Kalei nodded solemnly. She shut her eyes, and clenched her fists.

"Kay, I can feel it," she said quietly. "Stand back, alright?

I obliged, seeing the aura of energy surround Kalei as she began shifting into her more bestial, powerful Downside form. I stepped away just enough before she raised a circular wall of ice around herself and Shelv.

It was all up to Kalei now.