Chapter 8: Betrayal

“We are under attack!” Scylla yelled, the background noise deafening. “Dido, get the royal family out now!”

Not waiting for further information, Dido raised her teardrop locket into the air.
“Compassion Guardian Battle Power-Up!” Blinding dark blue light surrounded Dido completely.

As the light faded, Dido was dressed in her battle gear. Her wavy blonde hair was encased in a bun at the base of her neck. Her only armor was a silver breastplate, held in place by leather straps that crossed her back. The Teardrop Glaive, clutched in her bare hands, shone blue-gray in the moonlight.

Grabbing Adonis by the hand, she ran back into the ballroom. Clytie and Cassandra had already transformed and barricaded the doors, sealing off the ballroom. However, several of the doors were shattering under massive, repeated blows.

Reaching the platform where Cassandra and Clytie guarded the king and queen, Dido opened a portal. Viscously, she shoved Cassandra and the monarchs through, followed by Adonis. She turned to Clytie but the Guardian of Love shook her head.

“Hyperion and I will hold the attackers off as long as we can with what guards we have in here. Hopefully we can buy you some time.”

“Clytie, you can’t be serious?!” Dido cried.

“Go, Dido! You have to protect the prince at all cost! Go!” Clytie cried, a boom reverberating throughout the ballroom. She moved toward the door that had been breached by the attackers. “Now!”

Saying a quick prayer for her friend, Dido stepped into the portal. Clytie sighed in relief as the portal closed behind Dido. Unsheathing her swords, she rushed to help Hyperion and their small cluster of royal guards.

Satisfied that the others were gone, Clytie forced herself through the crowd of trembling aristocrats to Hyperion. Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind and an arm stretched across her throat. Clytie tried to pull the arm from her neck but the grip only tightened.

“Hyperion, stop now!” Atalia commanded, pulling her arm higher.

Clytie, struggling for breath, stood on her toes. Hyperion studied the situation for a moment, his eyes locking with his wife’s. He sadly motioned for the guards to stop, his eyes never moving from Clytie’s face.

“Good,” Atalia sneered, her eyes shining with triumph. “Now order your men to open the doors.”

Hyperion remained motionless. Atalia tightened her grip once more, further restricting Clytie’s air. “Now, Captain.”

“Hyperion,” Clytie rasped, her voice echoing in the mostly silent room. She couldn’t get enough air to talk. ‘Protect Cignus,’ she mouthed.

Summoning her strength, she said, “I love you.” Without warning, she drove both of her elbows into Atalia. Yelling in pain, she let go, sending the Guardian falling to the floor.

Taking several deep breaths, Clytie rose to her feet. “The doors, Hyperion! Keep them closed!”

“You will regret that, Guardian,” Atalia warned. The young woman dove at Clytie. Instinctively, the Guardian dodged and then countered with a quick punch. As Atalia fell, Clytie drove her knee into the aristocrat’s stomach and struck the woman’s back with her elbow.

Atalia collapsed to the floor with a moan. Several of the guests stared at the Guardian with awe. However, the victory was short-lived, as the first of the ballroom’s doors collapsed completely.

Running across the ballroom, Clytie heard a second door fall. ‘Protect the prince, Dido,’ Clytie begged. ‘Make our sacrifice worth something.’

Sizing up her opponents, Clytie raised her hands above her head, drawing energy. “Love Heartbreak Meltdown!” The blast destroyed several attackers, but the frightened and dying screams around the room told her that she and the royal guards would not be enough.

* * * * *

Adonis surveyed his surroundings, shocked at what he found. The sky was an angry sea of reds and browns, as fire, smoke, and evil consumed the palace. Debris littered the landscape.

“What are we doing here?” he demanded, as Dido emerged the portal closing behind her.

“I thought that moving to this remote part of the grounds could buy us some time,” she said.

“Time for what?”

“Only four of the Guardians are left, Your Majesties,” Cassandra said softly.

Dido, bowed her head. “I was hoping that I was wrong,” she murmured.

Cassandra glanced at her with sympathy before turning back to the king and queen. “Your Majesties, it’s time.”

“Time for what?!” Adonis demanded.

“My lord, Amalthea has returned as the Child of Darkness,” Dido explained softly. “We cannot stop her. The only hope is the prophesied warrior, the descendant of the Child of Light. She is to come from your bloodline. You must be protected at all costs.”

“Why?” Adonis cried. “Cignus is already being destroyed!”

“The Child of Darkness will not stop with the conquest of Cignus, and that evil will continue to spread until the coming of the Child of Light,” Cassandra replied.

“Come, Adonis,” the king said. “It is time.”

“You can’t ask me to leave! Not like this!” Adonis protested.

“I commended your courage, my son,” the queen said softly. “However, the prophecy must be fulfilled.”

Adonis turned to Cassandra, who clutched her staff tighter. In desperation, he turned to Dido. “Do you still ask me to go?”

“The prophecy must be fulfilled,” she replied. “Make all of this happen for a reason.” She stroked his cheek for a moment. “Please, Adonis.”

Iphigenia and Latona came running toward the group. Both were injured. Iphigenia was clutching a bloody left shoulder, and Latona had used part of her tunic to bandage a gash in her thigh.

“We are running out of time,” Latona panted.

“You must act now,” Iphigenia added. “They are searching for the royal family, Adonis especially.”

“Please go, my prince,” Dido said, backing away.

Gazing at Dido for a moment, Adonis turned to his parents. Trying to ignore their tears, the king and queen joined hands. A white light began to surround them.

“Send him to Crystal Tokyo. It is on Earth in the thirtieth century,” Cassandra said.
“Atolei la ause e li a amei ro eterei, Prince Adonis.”

Before he could answer, the light intensified and then disappeared with the prince. Dido stared for a few moments at the spot where Adonis had been standing. “Atolei vender faire te lowa,” she whispered.

“Someone is coming,” Iphigenia announced, removing her bladed boomerang from her belt with her good arm. The other Guardians followed suit, readying their weapons and forming a protective arch around the monarchs.

The figure moved slowly, but steadily, toward them, cloaked by the smoke and increasing darkness. Something metallic flashed occasionally, the intensity growing with each nearing step. “Who are you?” Cassandra demanded.

The figure emerged, revealing Scylla. She and the Sword of Sorrows were covered with dirt and blood. However, she did not appear injured. Her eyes flickered over the group. “Where is Prince Adonis?”

“Safe,” the queen replied.

Latona limped to Scylla. “We thought the others were gone,” she said, stretching her arms out to embrace the new arrival.

Dido studied Scylla, suddenly feeling cold. ‘There are only four of us left,’ she thought. ‘The connection to Amalthea!’

“Latona, don’t! Stop!” Dido cried, racing to the pair. The Guardian of Joy turned to Dido as Scylla lifted the Sword of Sorrows. Dido and the others watched helplessly as the weapon plunged into Latona.

Without flinching, Scylla jerked the sword free, smirking as Latona collapsed into a heap onto the ground, the ground turning crimson underneath Latona. Scylla watched Dido approached unflinchingly, her eyes flickering with cold amusement. “Maybe you will be a better challenge,” Scylla said, “dear sister.”


Betrayal “We are under attack!” Scylla yelled, the background noise deafening. “Dido, get the royal family out now!” Not waiting for further information, Dido raised her teardrop locket into the air. “Compassion Guardian Battle Power-Up!” Blinding dark blue light surrounded Dido completely. As the light faded, Dido was dressed in her battle gear. Her wavy blonde hair was encased in a bun at the base of her neck. Her only armor was a silver breastplate, held in place by leather straps that crossed her back. The Teardrop Glaive, clutched in her bare hands, shone blue-gray in the moonlight. Grabbing Adonis by the hand, she ran back into the ballroom. Clytie and Cassandra had already transformed and barricaded the doors, sealing off the ballroom. However, several of the doors were shattering under massive, repeated blows. Reaching the platform where Cassandra and Clytie guarded the king and queen, Dido opened a portal. Viscously, she shoved Cassandra and the monarchs through, followed by Adonis. She turned to Clytie but the Guardian of Love shook her head. “Hyperion and I will hold the attackers off as long as we can with what guards we have in here. Hopefully we can buy you some time.” “Clytie, you can’t be serious?!” Dido cried. “Go, Dido! You have to protect the prince at all cost! Go!” Clytie cried, a boom reverberating throughout the ballroom. She moved toward the door that had been breached by the attackers. “Now!” Saying a quick prayer for her friend, Dido stepped into the portal. Clytie sighed in relief as the portal closed behind Dido. Unsheathing her swords, she rushed to help Hyperion and their small cluster of royal guards. Satisfied that the others were gone, Clytie forced herself through the crowd of trembling aristocrats to Hyperion. Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind and an arm stretched across her throat. Clytie tried to pull the arm from her neck but the grip only tightened. “Hyperion, stop now!” Atalia commanded, pulling her arm higher. Clytie, struggling for breath, stood on her toes. Hyperion studied the situation for a moment, his eyes locking with his wife’s. He sadly motioned for the guards to stop, his eyes never moving from Clytie’s face. “Good,” Atalia sneered, her eyes shining with triumph. “Now order your men to open the doors.” Hyperion remained motionless. Atalia tightened her grip once more, further restricting Clytie’s air. “Now, Captain.” “Hyperion,” Clytie rasped, her voice echoing in the mostly silent room. She couldn’t get enough air to talk. ‘Protect Cignus,’ she mouthed. Summoning her strength, she said, “I love you.” Without warning, she drove both of her elbows into Atalia. Yelling in pain, she let go, sending the Guardian falling to the floor. Taking several deep breaths, Clytie rose to her feet. “The doors, Hyperion! Keep them closed!” “You will regret that, Guardian,” Atalia warned. The young woman dove at Clytie. Instinctively, the Guardian dodged and then countered with a quick punch. As Atalia fell, Clytie drove her knee into the aristocrat’s stomach and struck the woman’s back with her elbow. Atalia collapsed to the floor with a moan. Several of the guests stared at the Guardian with awe. However, the victory was short-lived, as the first of the ballroom’s doors collapsed completely. Running across the ballroom, Clytie heard a second door fall. ‘Protect the prince, Dido,’ Clytie begged. ‘Make our sacrifice worth something.’ Sizing up her opponents, Clytie raised her hands above her head, drawing energy. “Love Heartbreak Meltdown!” The blast destroyed several attackers, but the frightened and dying screams around the room told her that she and the royal guards would not be enough. * * * * * Adonis surveyed his surroundings, shocked at what he found. The sky was an angry sea of reds and browns, as fire, smoke, and evil consumed the palace. Debris littered the landscape. “What are we doing here?” he demanded, as Dido emerged the portal closing behind her. “I thought that moving to this remote part of the grounds could buy us some time,” she said. “Time for what?” “Only four of the Guardians are left, Your Majesties,” Cassandra said softly. Dido, bowed her head. “I was hoping that I was wrong,” she murmured. Cassandra glanced at her with sympathy before turning back to the king and queen. “Your Majesties, it’s time.” “Time for what?!” Adonis demanded. “My lord, Amalthea has returned as the Child of Darkness,” Dido explained softly. “We cannot stop her. The only hope is the prophesied warrior, the descendant of the Child of Light. She is to come from your bloodline. You must be protected at all costs.” “Why?” Adonis cried. “Cignus is already being destroyed!” “The Child of Darkness will not stop with the conquest of Cignus, and that evil will continue to spread until the coming of the Child of Light,” Cassandra replied. “Come, Adonis,” the king said. “It is time.” “You can’t ask me to leave! Not like this!” Adonis protested. “I commended your courage, my son,” the queen said softly. “However, the prophecy must be fulfilled.” Adonis turned to Cassandra, who clutched her staff tighter. In desperation, he turned to Dido. “Do you still ask me to go?” “The prophecy must be fulfilled,” she replied. “Make all of this happen for a reason.” She stroked his cheek for a moment. “Please, Adonis.” Iphigenia and Latona came running toward the group. Both were injured. Iphigenia was clutching a bloody left shoulder, and Latona had used part of her tunic to bandage a gash in her thigh. “We are running out of time,” Latona panted. “You must act now,” Iphigenia added. “They are searching for the royal family, Adonis especially.” “Please go, my prince,” Dido said, backing away. Gazing at Dido for a moment, Adonis turned to his parents. Trying to ignore their tears, the king and queen joined hands. A white light began to surround them. “Send him to Crystal Tokyo. It is on Earth in the thirtieth century,” Cassandra said. “Atolei la ause e li a amei ro eterei, Prince Adonis.” Before he could answer, the light intensified and then disappeared with the prince. Dido stared for a few moments at the spot where Adonis had been standing. “Atolei vender faire te lowa,” she whispered. “Someone is coming,” Iphigenia announced, removing her bladed boomerang from her belt with her good arm. The other Guardians followed suit, readying their weapons and forming a protective arch around the monarchs. The figure moved slowly, but steadily, toward them, cloaked by the smoke and increasing darkness. Something metallic flashed occasionally, the intensity growing with each nearing step. “Who are you?” Cassandra demanded. The figure emerged, revealing Scylla. She and the Sword of Sorrows were covered with dirt and blood. However, she did not appear injured. Her eyes flickered over the group. “Where is Prince Adonis?” “Safe,” the queen replied. Latona limped to Scylla. “We thought the others were gone,” she said, stretching her arms out to embrace the new arrival. Dido studied Scylla, suddenly feeling cold. ‘There are only four of us left,’ she thought. ‘The connection to Amalthea!’ “Latona, don’t! Stop!” Dido cried, racing to the pair. The Guardian of Joy turned to Dido as Scylla lifted the Sword of Sorrows. Dido and the others watched helplessly as the weapon plunged into Latona. Without flinching, Scylla jerked the sword free, smirking as Latona collapsed into a heap onto the ground, the ground turning crimson underneath Latona. Scylla watched Dido approached unflinchingly, her eyes flickering with cold amusement. “Maybe you will be a better challenge,” Scylla said, “dear sister.”


Chapter 9: Always Have Hope Jupiter's Gone