Chapter 225 - Blame

I sigh in irritation as I say "Taking care of a serious problem with this woman's help." The old man bristles and says "I was on the way to handle the monsters myself! We don't need help from outsiders! You can clearly tell she isn't from our world."  

My brain literally can't deal with this man and the things he says... "I guess the saying 'You can't argue with stupid' applies to people like you. I finally understand this on a personal level." I say staring at the old man with a look of disapproval.

Eris snorts in laughter and quickly covers it up as the old man's face turns beet red from anger. Eris steps up and says "My name is Eris and I am the one who originally sealed these beasts so they called me to seal them away again." 

The old man openly sneers at Eris and says "Well you obviously didn't do a good job the first time or they wouldn't have been able to get out." Eris smiles at the old man but it's terrifying. I step up next to Eris and say "This has nothing to do with Eris. If she wasn't here, we would have all died."  

The old man turns to look at me before looking between Eris and I with disgust, saying "You two even look similar. Is everyone from your world this messed up?" My mouth literally falls open with shock as Eris chuckles. 

Eris suddenly looks down to the ground and rocks on her heels before looking back up to the old man and saying "You should really learn how to take a helping hand instead of biting it like a dog. Also, you should reeeeeally learn how to treat a lady."

Her eyes glow that eerie color again, making the old man step back a little as she says 'Maledictus eris' Her voice echos around us with those two words making us all a little uneasy but when the old man starts coughing, we all look over to see him cough up worms.

I gag and cringe as the old man looks back to Eris with true fear "Witch! You're an evil witch!!" Eris continues to smile at him as she says "I tried the nice way but you continued to be a dɨċk." She shrugs her shoulders and says "It was either this or I kill you. I figured I should show a little mercy to idiots."

The old man coughs up more worms making me shiver with fear. Bolin and Xia both step back and look at the old man in fear. The old man stumbles back before lifting his golden staff towards Eris. With a shaky voice, he says "I will kill you!!" 

Bai Lei and I step up to protect Eris but she just shakes her head at us as the old man tries to send an attack but nothing happens. He tries again and again but when nothing happens, he coughs up more worms before passing out with anger and shock. 

This time, Bolin and Xia don't bother catching him as he hits the hard ground. Eris lifts her hand and swipes it over the old man saying "He'll be fine. I just wanted to teach him a lesson." She then looks up to Bolin and Xia and says "Hello, my name is Eris."

Bolin nervously clears his throat as he says "B...Bolin. Nice to meet you." Eris beams at him with a large smile and turns to look at Xia. Xia licks her lips and looks over to the old man one last time before saying "Xia"

Eris gives her a knowing smile and tilts her head to the side. Eris takes a step closer to Xia, causing Xia to nervously step back. Eris takes a deep breath and says "You smell like blood and dark intentions... who are you sleeping with?" 

Everyone, including myself, look at the two in shock. Why is she asking her that? Xia's face turns pale as she stumbles back and says "I I I... I'm a clean vɨrġɨn!! How dare you accuse me of sleeping with someone!"

Eris looks at her in surprise before turning to look at me with confusion. I awkwardly shrug my shoulders, not really knowing what to say or what she wants. Eris begins slowly walking around Xia as she says "I don't care if you're a vɨrġɨn or not... I want to know why you're covered in so much evil and darkness... I thought maybe someone was trying to hurt you but you seem to... enjoy it."

Xia suddenly reaches out and tries to slap Eris but Eris quickly catches her wrist with a straight face. Xia tries to pull away but Eris holds her tight and refuses to let go as Bolin tries to defuse the situation by saying "Okay ladies, let's use our words, please... I'm sure Eris here was just concerned about you, right?" 

Eris continues to stare deep into Xia's eyes before saying "What I should really be asking is... Why do you carry the same energy that has hurt Nova?" Everyone becomes so silent, we can all hear the old man snoring in his sleep. 

I step forward with a bad feeling and ask "The same energy that hurt me?" Xia still tries to remain calm as she says "You have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not with anyone." Eris tilts her head to the side and says "I didn't say you were with anyone. I only asked why you're carrying the same energy that has caused Nova pain." 

Xia's face turns three shades lighter as she tries to twist out of Eris' grip but she can't. I step up close to her with a million things running through my head but the only thing that comes out is "Your sleeping with Eli?"

Again, everything is met with silence as Xia stares at me with large, shocked eyes. Suddenly, her entire face contorts into an ugly sneer as she says "So what!? We love each other and we make each other happy! What's wrong with that?" 

I stare at her in shock and confusion before softly asking "You... do you know what kind of person he is?" She laughs at me and says "Only you were stupid enough not to know! Of course, I know! I have no problem making him happy, unlike someone else."   

I suddenly realize that she was truly on Eli's side. How long? Has she been telling him about me? Hundreds of questions fly through my head as I ask "What has he asked you to do?" My heart races in my ċhėst as I finally realize just how close he had gotten to me without realizing it.

She thrashes around again trying to break Eris' hold but Eris doesn't budge. If I'm not mistaken, Eris is even suppressing Xia's powers. After a minute of struggling and cursing, Xia finally stops and says "He wants me to bring you to him!" She spits at me like a madwoman and says "I would never let you have him! He's mine!" 

I use my magic to clean the spit off my dress with an eerie calm and say "You can have him" I then turn around to walk away but Bai Lei stands right behind me with a warm, knowing smile. I walk into his open arms and bury my head into his ċhėst as I try to calm my racing heart. 

Just like Eris said... I can't let this control me. I thought I was ready to face him but my body wants to lock up and freeze in fear. It's almost like my body is reacting against my will... like it remembers. Eris stares at Xia before saying "You have a chance to get out before it's too late... to walk away and gain something but if you don't, you'll lose everything."

Xia pulls against her again but this time, Eris releases her. Xia falls back and lands on her ȧss as she screams out in anger. "I curse you! I curse you all!! Eli will kill you all!! Including you!" She says pointing at me. I step away from Bai lei's embrace and walk over to look down at her.

"Wrong. Eli won't kill anyone, especially me but he will kill you. That's just how he is. You should know that better than anyone." I say with a grim look. She sneers at me and quickly jumps up. She looks around at all of us before quickly disappearing. 

Bolin looks completely confused as he shifts from foot to foot with unease. I turn to him and say "I'm not entirely sure how things work in your Realm but I can tell you that Xia has betrayed you all. She's working for Eli, the one responsible for all of this. The old man at your feet is too blinded by his own hate to properly understand what's happening here so I hope you can report back to the others with the truth."

Bolin blinks in surprise before deflating with a sigh. He rubs the back of his neck and says "I think it's time to tell the others about Master's behavior. I will tell them what happened today but I'm pretty sure they're gonna want to know who this man named Eli is."

I nod in understanding and say "I can tell them anytime they want." Bolin gives me a tired but grateful smile as he walks over and picks up the old sleeping man. He throws him over his shoulder like a sack of tators and grabs the golden staff before disappearing.