Mei arrived on Mars with her charge a younger girl of 12 named Felicia. We were introduced and Pei shared that we were both descendants of Olivia. Mei shortly after took Felicia to visit the sisters compound where she was initiated in her heritage by madam Sophia.
Pei and Mei went off on their own to Himetsu and left me alone in the Capital Domes. I relished the opportunity to stroll through the central gardens and admire the hundred foot high water fountains. The gardens were at least a square mile in size and considered a waste of prime land that could be used to grow high yield crops, instead of flowers and terraced landscapes.
I found myself getting lost within the gardens and stopped by one of the many fish ponds to admire the colorful koi fish. Crumpling up a cookie I had saved, I fed the eager fish and watched as a flock of geese and mallard ducks floated by. It was a picture of serenity and I could find myself wanting to remain there.
My ears pricked up, and I could sense someone's presence behind me. Adrenaline began rushing and coursing as my heart began to pump faster. My pulse quickened and I steadied myself. As if by instinct and from Pei's training, I raised one fist up to my ear and felt the sharp noose choke around my neck. I struggled for a few moments and broke free.
Whoever was attempting to strangle me, lacked the strength, but her technique was apparent of a sister marine. I was gasping for air as I turned to confront my unknown assailant and in the haze of my eyes I made out a feminine figure, shorter than I, but only a shadow. The failure, must have startled her as she quickly fled, not realizing I would soon faint and pass out on the ground.
Pei found me and said I was very fortunate. She scolded her sister Mei and said it was Felicia who tried to kill me. Felicia was my half-sister and by tradition one of us would have to die. Both Pei and Mei were observing me in the gardens. They did not intervene when I was attacked and I furiously asked why, was this some kind of test?
Pei shook her head. If Felicia were a threat, I would already be dead. She asked instead for understanding and patience. The little girl had no one and now with Pei having succeeded in killing the rogue sister, she had first choice of which of the two would live. She clasped my hands and kissed my cheek. Poor Felicia.
The sisters convened and the madams brought forth Felicia to the docket. She was found wanting and sentenced to death. They made no qualms or special reservations as a descendant of Olivia. She had already selected her funeral urn and placed it on her alcove.
Felicia looked despondently towards Mei who was equally dismayed. No tears. For no reasons I could understand, I shouted out towards everyone in the auditorium fashioned into a makeshift courtroom. The room fell silent as all of the sisters eyes were on me. I demanded to know why they were sentencing her to die and as the victim of the accused if I did not have a say in her trial?
Madam Sophia allowed me to continue to speak and address everyone. I looked towards Felicia who showed little emotion and stiffened her shoulders. She showed coldness and disdain towards me. She would prefer death than to be spared by me. I chose the latter and after some hushed deliberations by the senior madams they would allow a temporary stay.
We left the auditorium and in the hallway, Pei angrily grabbed by arm and asked what I was doing. Sophia soon stepped out of the doorway and interrupted us. She placed her hands on my shoulder and asked me to walk with her to another room where Felicia was waiting and seated at a table.
We sat across from each other. Felicia looked away, but listened as Sophia spoke to both of us. By tradition it is true, one of us must be killed by the other, but we are also both sisters and daughters of Olivia. This makes things complicated and she then shared that among the other madams she also has a half sister. Felicia looked up intently.
Sophia wanted us to consider that and as daughters of Olivia we were exempted from whatever the Neo-Artesians traditions. She also wanted to share that she had long suspected madam Naoka of wanting as she lacks any bloodline and for a time she suspected and had placed five daughters of Olivia in the care of Naoka who in turn loathed to place five of her own daughters to become mentors and protectors.
Sophia then looked to me and shard that as Naoka had seven daughters she sent her youngest Pei on a suicide mission to Triton station. It was Anna Three who saw through this ruse and spared Pei, but made it clear to Naoka she knew her plans by killing two of her daughters and forcing her to place me under the care of Pei.
Felicia then asked what is Naoka's intentions? Sophia gestured to all of us, the total annihilation of all the old sister bloodlines. With the end of Anna's last descendant, this left the daughters of Olivia, and while numerous, the only remaining threat to Naoka to start her own dynasty.
Sophia placed her hand on mine and had great pity for me. Felicia is the daughter of sister Marina and she naturally wanted to keep her safe. She made a bargain with Naoka and placed me in her charge and training, which was substandard and would poorly prepare me for when Felicia and I would eventually meet. Marina was also found wanting.
She trusts Pei who is becoming aware of her own mother's duplicity. She is not so certain of Mei who remains loyal and equally as cunning as their mother Naoka. Sophia then released us and said it was ultimately in our own hands, by either of us killing each other we would be helping Naoka further her ambitions.
My head was dizzy and I instinctively reached for Felicia's hand and held it in mine. She didn't shudder or recoil and we spoke for the first time without any motives. What madam Sophia shared was true and we were all pawns in some game that has been played for generations. Felicia sincerely apologized for trying to kill me and she knew no promise of hers would be sufficient to allay any suspicions I harbored that she wouldn't try to do it again.
I later confided to Kallos about what had transpired and I only spoke of the gardens and Felicia. He was shocked and asked if I was okay. I was still a little shaken by everything as it was the nearest experience with death and was grateful for Pei's training. We embraced and he also wanted to confide with me, he still felt guilty and embarrassed that he had never told me about his relationship with Pei. For a time he did love her while he was still with me. He wasn't sure what to think of it now with all three of us spending so much time together. He confessed he was finding it a perfect situation to have both Pei and I, together. I slapped him.
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