The Dark Rebirth of Pandora: Revenge of the Abyss

Chapter 567: Emotionally Intense Conflicts

”...So, Elena, why did you bring us here?” I ask Elena with a little smirk. She’s still the same weird little thing she’s always been. Pandora really did something crazy to this girl’s body.

”Grimm, I called you here because of your daughters...” Elena says, rubbing her eyelids as she looks at Zephyra, who’s staring at the ceiling with complete disinterest.

”Is there a problem?” I ask, curious. Elena seems really, really tired. It’s kind of strange to see, though I get it. Paperwork is so tedious it feels like it never ends.

”Oh, they got into a fight and ended up killing a few people as collateral damage. It’s a small problem, but still something that needs to be discussed with you...” Elena can’t stop staring at Zephyra, who looks like she’d rather be anywhere else.

”Why?” Zephyra asks, as if she wants to be in any other place.

”It’s simply because the academy is a place where students need to feel safe to learn. It’s hard to feel safe when two daughters of the Demon King can suddenly fight and accidentally kill people.”

”It’s true that the academy exists for the four of them to learn and grow, but they still need to learn how to control themselves. Pandora rarely killed people accidentally, most of the time... though she did kill a lot of people on purpose.” Elena realizes she used a terrible argument.

That makes me stifle a laugh. Pandora really did usually only kill people accidentally when she lost control, like when Zephyra ran away. But to compensate, Pandora killed quite a few people on purpose, and people from the castle sometimes, too.

”Zephyra, you’re the queen, you know? This is important for you too...” Elena tries a different approach.

”Elena, does this really matter? Let that girl do whatever she wants. I don’t care. I was busy. Did you really need to call me here?”

”Your daughter blew off half of Azazel’s body. That’s important. Azazel has high regeneration, but if Lycoris had attacked Eclipsya or Aqua that way, it could have been problematic.”

”Hey!! Hey, hey, hey!! What the hell did you say her daughter did to mine?!” I ask furiously. I didn’t know a damn thing about this.

”Grimm, calm down. It wasn’t that bad for them. Besides, they’re both already being appropriately punished for their mistake. The reason I called you here is simply because I don’t have time to look after them for small things.”

”Pandora used to do a lot of things in the past. Now everything is on my shoulders. The kingdom is huge, there’s the whole logistics problem, the war with the elves, and training the soldiers. Taking care of your children when they cause chaos is difficult... just... please keep an eye on your kids...” Elena speaks with a tense and exhausted tone, and I can see the faint dark circles under her eyes.

”Wait, Elena, how long has it been since you slept?” I ask, interested. Luckily, I already knew Azazel has immense regeneration. Azazel probably has more regeneration than Pandora did when she was young, because Azazel can regenerate from drops of blood completely automatically.

”...Ever since Pandora left, I haven’t slept. Because of the ’evolution’ Pandora put me through, I became stronger and more powerful, so sleeping wasn’t a real necessity anymore, and I had too much work.”

”But I’m exhausted. I really just want to sleep, but I don’t have time to sleep...” She speaks, exhausted.

”You want me to take care of the kingdom while you sleep?” I ask maliciously.

”...” She stares at me with so much suspicion.

”That suspicious look is kind of pathetic. I’m a queen, you know? I managed my own kingdom easily for years.” I’m still the Vampire Queen; I easily know the best choices to make just by looking at the future that springs from the decision I’ve accepted.

”Maybe... Zephyra... you’re the queen, but you don’t do anything, yet you still have authority. Can I leave Grimm in charge of the kingdom for a few hours?”

”Do whatever you want as long as you don’t bother me... and about the problem with Ryona, just take away that stupid animal Pandora gave her, and Ryona will start behaving.” Zephyra calls her daughter by a strange name while referring to Lycoris’s hydra.

’Ryona? Why did she call Lycoris Ryona?’

”...” Elena looks as confused as I am, but we let it slide, not knowing what Ryona is supposedly supposed to mean.

...

...

...

”I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!!” Eclipsya says, trying to grab Lycoris while Azazel holds her back.

”I’M GOING TO KILL THIS BITCH AND YOU!!” I shout, being held back by Lycoris, who won’t let me go finish off the life of the whore who attacked her.

”Sister Aqua, it’s okay!! You don’t need to do this!” Lycoris says, trying to pull me back.

”Sister Eclipsya, forget it!! I was the one who started the fight!” Azazel says, trying to hold Eclipsya back.

”AND YOU, YOU BITCH, YOU THINK I’LL LET YOU TOUCH LYCORIS?! I’LL CUT YOUR HEAD OFF!!!” I scream at that damned Eclipsya, who thinks I’ll let her hurt my girl.

”I’LL SMASH YOUR FACE IN, YOU PIECE OF SHIT FISH! I’LL GUT YOUR ORGANS AND HANG THEM IN THE SUN WITH SALT!!!” She screams at me, threatening me, while the two of them struggle to stop us.

This is all the fault of that damned Azazel, who started picking on Lycoris!! That bitch started the fight.

”BRING IT ON!!! I’LL KILL BOTH OF YOU!” I yell at them as the cafeteria is completely empty. Everyone left to avoid getting caught in the chaos.

”If you two don’t stop, I’ll start hating you!! Stop nooowwww!!!” Lycoris and Azazel say at the same time, making me and Eclipsya stop. I look at Lycoris with hurt in my eyes.

”Why are you mad at me! I’m just defending you from these damned, shitty harpies who started this!!” I say, indignant at the situation.

”Aqua, it’s okay. Me and Azazel have already sorted things out. Besides, we’ve already been punished for the problem. We don’t need you two causing more trouble for us!!!” Lycoris says, pulling me by the tail.

I look at Eclipsya and Azazel and snarl at them. This isn’t over yet. I’ll get even.

”In the next competition, you two are screwed! You failed leech and fake wannabe goddess!!” I tell them as I’m being dragged away by Lycoris, while Azazel drags Eclipsya away.

”Bring it on, fish!! I’ll make sushi out of your body! And I’ll make sure to rip the scales off that stupid lizard you love so much!” Eclipsya says arrogantly, as we both lose sight of each other when we’re pulled around the corners.

Lycoris continues pulling me, heading for the dormitory, while I’m filled with hatred for those two.

”Lycoris, why did you stop me!! It was Azazel who started it!” I say, frustrated at her for not letting me wipe out those two’s entire bloodline!

”Aqua, I don’t want you to get hurt or fight with the other sisters! I appreciate that you fought for me, but that was my fight! And you don’t even know why me and Azazel fought.”

”But you’re mine!! You’re my Lycoris!! It would be a disgrace for me not to defend what’s mine!!” When I say this, Lycoris finishes pulling me into her room. She’s flushed, though I don’t know if it’s from embarrassment, anger, or exertion.

”I know you wanted to help me! But seriously, you wanted to start a fight in the middle of the cafeteria?! Aqua, if you want to help me with this, then get first place in the grades and in the school competitions!” Lycoris says, throwing me onto the bed.

”...Tsk...That’s so unfair!...” My instincts are on edge. How dare that leech touch what’s mine.

”Here, take this!” Lycoris shoves something into my mouth. It tastes sweet.

”What is it?”

”A sedative. The nurse gave me some to control stress and avoid fights. Azazel got some after we fought, too. They were created by Mama Pandora, who knew we would have violent fights. They’re made with her blood.”

’Sedatives... like we’re animals... damn...’ It’s so humiliating to have someone give me a sedative as if I were some kind of irrational beast.

”...” I lie down properly on Lycoris’s bed and turn to my side, not wanting to look at her. I’m hurt that she didn’t accept my help and defense and even stopped me.

This makes me bite my lips hard. The taste of blood starts to spread as my gills flare and tremble from the stress of the situation.

”Sister Aqua, don’t be hurt. We’re all sisters; we shouldn’t be fighting!! I love you, and I’m grateful you tried to protect me, but I didn’t need help.” She lies down beside me, hugging me.

”You could have just accepted it... you know how embarrassing it is to have you refuse my help?” It’s a stab to my pride. I would do anything for her, my beloved, and she just needed to accept it.

”Don’t worry about it, Sister Aqua. I’m happy you tried to help me! But I don’t want you to get hurt over something as unimportant as this!” She hugs me tightly.

”...Okay...”

”Sister Azazel and I fought over something related to my hydra. I ended up losing my temper when she provoked me and gave me a noogie, so I attacked her. But we apologized to each other and sorted it out.”

”You should go talk to Sister Eclipsya later and sort things out. I bet Sister Azazel will also give Sister Eclipsya an earful.” She caresses me while intertwining her tail with mine.

”If it’s for you... fine...” I mutter, frustrated, but accepting it for now.