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Irideesa

“S how yourself, my love,” Alainen called.

“No, you don’t understand. I have become a monster, Alainen. That wretched human girl cursed my entire squad. We have done everything possible to contain the evils, but they corrupted our bodies,” Irideesa called back.

“Irideesa, I refuse to believe that. You’re beautiful, even if you look horrendous now,” Alainen argued.

Irideesa sighed. Why would Alainen not believe her? She merely told the truth, but Alainen seemed to wish to disbelieve it. Or maybe Alainen loved her that much he’d be able to look beyond her new body shape. Did Irideesa trust him?

Alainen had cared enough to hunt her down. And there was desperation in his voice.

In the three months since she had been changed, Irideesa had hidden away from everyone, even her own squad. In shock at their horrific change, some, like her, fled to the far corners of the world.

Irideesa’s transformation was even more of a heartache. The man she loved was close by, calling to her. She’d been terrified he’d reject her and not realise she was still the same person inside, even though she carried the Sin of Anger.

“Irideesa, please. Come to me, my love. I refuse to believe you’re the monster they all say. My beautiful lover must be in there,” Alainen called, and his words gave Irideesa pause.

Why was Alainen so insistent she couldn’t be a monster? Irideesa was and knew it, but Alainen’s persistence made no sense.

“No, Alainen, go away, please. For our sakes. Let my squad find the Jar and replace these evils, and then I shall come home,” Irideesa called.

There was silence.

“Have you fallen out of love with me?” Alainen demanded. His voice sounded closer, and Irideesa looked around. She was near a large river, as yet un-named and surrounded by trees.

Unlike her sister, who’d taken the name Medusa and hid in caves, Irideesa had found them claustrophobic. Instead, she had headed for thick forests with cool coverage and rivers to swim in. Irideesa loved swimming and was naturally drawn to water, and this new form of hers also seemed to enjoy the water.

“I love you, Alainen. But I must attend to certain matters. Hunt Pandora, bring that wretched human to justice, gather the evils. Once I’ve done that, I will return,” Irideesa called.

“There you are,” a smug voice stated, and Irideesa jumped and spun around. “You’re beautiful, my love.” Alainen declared.

Irideesa looked down. Alainen couldn’t see her bottom half as she was hidden behind a rock. Tears formed in Irideesa’s eyes as she gazed at the warrior she loved the most.

“Alainen, you shouldn’t have come. Why did you wish to see me brought so low?” Irideesa asked.

“Gorgeous girl, I told you I’d always walk by your side. Come out now, embrace me,” Alainen demanded. He looked closely at her and seemed startled. “Your eyes, they glow strangely, almost a white, green colour.”

“My face and upper half remain the same. My bottom part is changed,” Irideesa said. Something inside was warning her, but she didn’t know what about.

“Come out now!” Alainen ordered, exasperated.

“You were warned!” Irideesa snapped in return and slid out.

Alainen’s eyes widened as he took in her serpent tail. The scales on it glittered iridescently, and its length was four times the size of her body. The tip of Irideesa’s tail ended at a point unlike Medusa’s, which had a rattle.

But it was her stomach his eyes landed on.

“What is that?” Alainen exclaimed in horror.

Irideesa’s hand covered her bump. “That is the child we created in love. I know not if it too is cursed.”

Alainen’s eyes were huge, and Irideesa saw the disgust in them. “Alainen, leave. Let me finish my hunt.” “No. This shall not be,” Alainen muttered. For a brief moment, hope flared, but it died a quick death as Alainen drew his God Sword and attacked.

Irideesa moved out of the way, yanking her own sword from its harness.

The swords clashed together.

“You are a creature of the dark, a monster full of sin, an abomination of wickedness,” Alainen shouted as he aimed for her head.

Irideesa pulled back and counter swung. “I am the same person inside!” she yelled.

“Liar!”

“I loved you!” Irideesa cried as she delivered her own blow.

“Another lie! I have joined a squad to hunt all of your kind down. We shall kill each and every one of you vile monstrosities for your crimes against God!”

Irideesa jumped back as an arrow landed near her. Alainen’s full betrayal become apparent as men appeared with bows and arrows notched.

Alainen stepped forward and pressed his attack, which Irideesa parried.

A sneer crossed her face. “I am not the one who betrays love. I’m not the one who is a monster who hunts innocent victims. My squad is hunting Pandora and the Jar, and we shall succeed. And you’ll grovel at my feet for forgiveness. And I tell you now, it’ll not be forthcoming,” Irideesa snarled.

Alainen pressed forward, and she once again defended. But as another arrow landed near her, Irideesa knew she had to escape. She slashed forward and cut Alainen’s handsome face.

“Now your internal ugliness will be visible for the world to see!” Irideesa hissed and dived into the river. She swam deep as possible as arrows rained down in the water, and, using her tail, she was leagues away within minutes.

Surfacing momentarily, tears streamed down Irideesa’s cheeks as she escaped.

The warrior she had loved, who Irideesa thought she had a future with, had sorely betrayed her. She’d never forgive Alainen for this.