Life or Death

Lolo

The whole Draginucous family gathered around Iris as Deera to her. Tara gasped, pushed passed all of them and ran to Iris’s side. He knelt down and held Iris’s hand as her panting slowed down and started to become normal.

“Tara!! Back away from those beasts!!” Heath and Norma yelled as they gathered Amilia, Badilia, and Celia.

“No, Ma and Pa. You have to understand that Iris is my daughtren and I have to be with her.” Tara said calmly as he held Iris’s hand.

Regina came out of hiding and hit Tara upside the head with a small rock, knocking him out. Regina lifted him up with her magic and walked through the doors with Heath and Norma. Deera started crying as I walked up and knelt next to Iris. I sighed and looked at Deera.

“Head on home, Mada. Uncle Killer take mada home along with your siblings and your mada and fada.” I said as I set a bag beside Iris.

“Grandchild? Is everything alright?” Lavender asked as she went to touch my shoulder.

“I will take care of her from here. Go on and follow Killer home.” I snapped at Lavender as I jerked my shoulder away from her touch.

Lavender, Drago, Celestial, Flower, Hera, Terrorling, Death and I watched Deera stand up and walk over to Killer. Deera whistled and motioned them to follow her out the door. They gathered up behind Deera and Killer. They left with Killer and Deera. I got up and closed the door behind them. I opened the bag and looked in it. I grabbed one of my daggers and observed Iris. Her breath started to get slow and shallow. I thought maybe it was time to put her out of her misery. I knelt next to her and swallowed hard. I held the dagger above my head and started shaking. I breathed in and out until my shaking hands had gone still.

I whispered, “Sorry, my sista.”

I closed my eyes and the dagger came down within my hands. The dagger hit the floor beside Iris. The dagger laid there on the floor and I started looking around for my other dagger. I found it in the bag nearby, and I took a deep breath. I grabbed the first dagger and raised it above my head once again. I noticed her eyes had opened up. Her eyes darted around looking for something or someone.

“M… Madre? Padre? Where are you?!? Madre!! Padre!! Where are thou?!?” Iris yelled with a questioning look as she sat up.

I dropped the dagger as Iris “looked” at me with eyes as white as snow. She “looked” around and started to stand but fell back to the floor.

“Let me help you.” I said as I grabbed the bag and put both daggers back in the bag.

I grabbed Iris’s hand and helped the shaky Iris stand up. She smiled and gained her balance. She sniffed the air and walked to the door. I slightly smiled and walked behind her a few feet.

“Padre? Madre? Brada? Where are you guys?” Iris asked as she stood outside and heard a crowd booing her.

“I am right behind you, Iris.” I told her as she relaxed a little bit.

She bowed her head and I walked out behind her. Then, there was cheering when they saw me. I took Iris’s hand and guided her through the crowd. They grabbed rotten tomatoes and threw them at her. She heard them throw the tomatoes but took the wrath of their anger. The tomatoes hit her as she walked beside me. She turned into a red covered human.

“Lolo? Lolo!! Bring her here to me!!” Amilia yelled as she jumped up and down for me to see her above the crowd.

I sneered, and Iris growled. We kept walking until we got to the front gates of our home and I opened them. I comforted Iris as we walked toward familiar steps. Iris perked up and started smiling as Deera started running toward us as we walked through the front gates.

“Madre? Madre!! I… I need you.” Iris said as I let go of her and Deera hugged her.

“Oh, my dear Daru Daru! Is she hurt or no, Lolo?” Deera asked as she wiped away a tear from her eyes.

“No, she isn’t hurt. But…” I said trailing off when I saw three of my acquaintances heading toward us.

I pushed Iris down to the ground and she started growling. Deera grabbed my arm and opened her mouth to speak. I elbowed her in the head, knocking her out. Iris growled and changed into her elf form with her blood armor on. She grabbed her spear and stood up. She stumbled around a little bit before standing her ground.

“Come at me, sista of mine!!” I yelled as I grabbed my daggers.

The 3 acquaintances stopped and saw that I was fixing to fight Iris. Their eyes widened, and one of the elves grabbed his scythe and walked into the yard.

“Death Keeper, sir!! Shall I help you?” He asked as he put his fist over his heart and bowed to me.

“You’re so unpredictable, brada!! Get over here and fight me!! Let those you call acquaintances fight beside you!!” Iris snarled as she held her ground.

The other two came running in with their swords drawn. Iris kept growling and the elf with the long brown hair dropped his sword in admiration of Iris. The other elf with a long silver mohawk punched the other elf in the arm.

“Come on, man. That ain’t cool that I am the only one holding a sword now. Get it together, Levi!!” The elf with the long silver mohawk snapped at him.

The elf with the scythe and short, bushy silver hair swung at Iris and she dodged. She blocked his attack with her spear and pushed him back. He ran at her again, but she blocked and held her stance. She stood her ground and smiled at him. He looked at her confused and she pushed him down to the ground as she knocked his scythe out of his hand. She pinned him to the ground with her knee and pointed the sharp point of the spear at his throat. He held his hands above his head.

“That hurt, Bud!! I am not hurting this young lady. Can you three not see that she is blind?” Levi snapped at Bud.

Bud lowered his sword and stared at Iris. He noticed her eyes were as white as snow.

“Death Keeper, sir. Levi is right, she IS blind.” Bud said as he put his sword away.

“Don’t turn your back on her. She is smarter than she looks, guys. Iris knows how to use her other 4 senses and figure out where we are standing. Help Raja get up.” I said as Bud looked at me.

“Bud!! Help me out!!” Raja exclaimed as he looked at the point of the spear.

Iris stood up from pinning him and walked slowly backwards. Raja stood up, grabbed his scythe, and ran toward the front gates. Bud turned his back to her and started walking away when suddenly, Iris ran toward him and grabbed him by the back of his neck. Iris growled as Bud screamed like he was on fire.

“Bud!! No!! Drop him, you monster!!” Levi yelled as he picked up his sword and pointed it at her.

She growled and faced Levi, still holding Bud. Levi wiped away a tear and looked at Iris. I ran toward her with my daggers out. She threw Bud at me and Bud hit me, knocking both of us back. Iris walked toward Levi and stopped when he touched her left shoulder with the tip of his sword.

“Put your sword away, dear Levi. It is no use against me.” Iris said with a smile.

He looked around for Bud and I. He saw me standing up and Bud laying on the ground in front of me. I coughed and shook my head no toward Levi.

“Don’t listen to her, Levi!! She is trying to get you on her side!! Don’t do it!!” I yelled toward Levi as I checked on Bud.

“Why should I listen to you?” Levi asked as he looked at Iris.

“Listen to me and you can have anything you want. I shall grant and give you whatever you wish.” Iris said as she smiled.

Levi put his sword away and looked at Lolo then back at Iris. He swallowed hard and looked at Lolo.

“What is your choice, Elf of the North?” Iris asked as she backed away slowly.

“Sir Death Keeper edo neska gazte amorratu hau. Ez dakit norekin joan behar nuen. Sir Death Keeper or this ravishing young lady. I… I don’t know who I should be going with.” Levi said in Basque as he looked at Bud who was sitting up.

Bud sat up and looked at Levi. He started coughing as Levi stood there, watching him. I motioned for Levi to come over to Bud and I. Out of nowhere, Iris ran toward Levi and grabbed him by the throat before he could move. She lifted him up off the ground as he started squirming. Killer ran to see what was happening outside when he saw Iris holding Levi in the air by his throat.

“Let him go!!” Killer snarled the order at Iris from behind her.

“No, Uncle!! THEY attack me and mada!! THEY need to pay the price!!” Iris snarled back as she started to squeeze Levi’s throat.

Killer ran toward her, but ran into some kind of shield that was around her. The air from around her and Levi started getting thin. She had a mask made out of magic, letting her breathe normally. The lack of air started to suffocate Levi as he gasped for air. Then, Iris heard Tara’s footsteps running toward her, but she ignored him. She heard more steps running toward her, and they weren’t anyone she knew by memory. They started screaming and yelling at her as she blocked them out. I watched Tara break her shield and walk up to her as the air around them returned back to normal. She felt Tara’s hand upon her shoulder. She kept growling and Tara squeezed her shoulder. She stopped growling and set Levi down but kept ahold of his throat.

“Sweetie, no more. Let go of him, my dear.” Tara said sweetly.

She shook her head and her eyes started to sting. She blinked multiple times until she could finally see. She was shocked to see that she was choking Levi. Raja, Bud, and I were around her, weapons drawn and pointed at her.

“L… Levi?” She asked as she let go of his throat.

“Yeah, *coughs* yeah. Why did you attack my crew and I?” Levi asked as he rubbed his neck.

“Lolo attacked me. I am so sorry, Levi. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, especially you. I am so sorry.” Iris apologized as she started crying.

“It’s alright, Iris. I know what you went through a few years ago. I am just worried about Bud.” Levi said as he walked toward Iris.

“Death Keeper, shall we advance the attack?” Bud asked as he held his sword up toward Iris.

“Levi!! Move, so we can kill this one!!” I snapped at Levi.

Levi did as he was told and moved away from Iris. She looked at Lolo, Raja and Bud angrily. She turned into her Black Draginucous form and growled. Bud swung his sword and hit her claws. His sword broke and she laughed as she pushed him back, hard. Bud hit the wall, knocking him out. Iris went to bite Raja out of existence when he jumped up and hook her horn with his scythe. She lifted her head and he held on for dear life as she tried to knock him off.

“Now!! Do it now!! I cannot keep her distracted for long!” Raja yelled as Iris desperately tried to get Raja off of her.

I growled and ran toward her, daggers out and I ended up stabbing her left front leg with one of the daggers. She screeched, and everyone fell to the ground as they covered their ears. She pulled the dagger out and changed into her elf form. She lifted her hand with the dagger up and saw a cut in her arm about two inches long.

“Why would you hurt me, Lolo?” Iris asked as she fell to her knees.

She fell completely to the ground. Her breaths slowed, then they stopped. Tara ran over to her as I ran off with Raja, Bud, and Levi in tow. Killer ran over to Iris and checked for a pulse.

“She’s gone, brother in law.” Killer said as he stood up and looked at Tara.

“There is no way she’s gone. She has to be alive.” Tara said as he looked at Killer.

Iris

I awoke, sat up, and looked around. On my left, I saw an angel with feathered wings around land so green that the fruits are always ready for the picking. On my right I saw, a barren desert that held a woman who had skeletal wings stretched out. Both women held their arms out for me to enter one or the other’s land.

“Choose wisely, my dear Daru Daru. Life awaits you and Death defeats you.” A woman’s soft and tender voice said.

I stood up and asked, “Why are you making me choose?”

“My dear, Daru Daru. It is your choice whether you live, or you die. It is not our choice to make. All we can do is persuade you to go one way or the other.” An older raspy woman voice said.

I growled and clawed the air around me until I saw Levi facing me with tears in his eyes, running down his cheeks and falling to the floor. I stopped and went to touch his cheek, but my hand went straight through. I watched him cry more and heard his voice.

“Why did you do that? Why did you kill her, Death Keeper?!?” Levi yelled.

‘Who is Death Keeper?’ I thought to myself as Lolo’s body appeared out of thin air.

“I did what I had to do! It was my mission to kill her and get back to Master. Grow up, you big pansy!! It is only one out of many that we have killed!!” Lolo snapped back as he walked around the knelt Levi, by my body.

“You can tell our so-called Master I am done, DONE!! She has gone too far this time!!” Levi yelled as he stood up and grabbed a necklace, not the collar around his neck.

Lolo, Raja, and Bud looked at him surprised and wide eyed. It had paused, and I walked around to see what Levi had grabbed. I saw that it had a picture of him and I when we were in second grade. I started to cry and took it from his hand and flipped it over to see that our birthdays were the same day, October 15. It continued as I put it back in Levi’s hand.

“This is when Iris and I were in second grade!! She and I have the same birthday and everything!! She is my soul twin!! She completes me, and you know that, Death Keeper!!” Levi yelled as he cried some more.

“Levi!! Why didn’t you defy me then? Why are you defying your orders now?” Lolo asked angrily.

“I am defying them now because they weren’t killing someone over what they do or who they are. Back then it was, kill for vengeance or beat them up. This order was out of spite, not vengeance!!” Levi growled as he walked over to Tara and Killer.

He knelt down next to Iris’ body and said, “Thanks to you, she is gone.”

“Levi!! Levi!! I am here not gone!!” I yelled as the scene disappeared.

Another scene showed up after that one. It was the Draginucous family and the Elven Family, including Deera, Tara and Lolo. They were circled around my body and mourning. Then, they all separated ways, even Tara and Deera split ways. Tara went with his family and Deera went with hers. Lolo stayed with his Master and carried out some gruesome jobs that brought blood and shame to both sides of the family. Both families lined up, opposite of each other in a forest nearby and started a war. It disappeared, leaving me helpless and crying.

“N… no, no, no!! Madre and Padre wouldn’t split just because I am gone. They wouldn’t split… Would they? Lolo would care that I am gone, wouldn’t he?” I snarled as tears rolled down my cheeks and I fell to my knees.

“Daughter of Tara Diera and Deera Freedom, may I call you Daru Daru?” A woman’s voice asked as she walked up.

I looked up and saw a woman of a cream color with black hair. The woman changed into her Draginucous form. She was a Black Draginucous with a blue sheen to her. I stood up and changed into my Black Draginucous form. She was the same size as me.

“Yes, ma’am. Whom are you?” I asked.

“Daru Daru, I am Darius Raven. Welcome home, young warrior of the Sun Goddess.” She said as her slick black feathered wings unfurled from her side and extended up and out.

I couldn’t find the words to describe Darius Raven. She smiled at me and motioned for me to unfurl my wings. I unfurled them and somehow, they were now feathered. My wings had a purple sheen to them. They were exquisite compared to some wings I have seen.

“Home? What do you mean by home?” I asked very confused.

“Home is where life happens. Be what you want. I am your mother’s twin sister that was rightfully killed when I was your age by an Elf from the Southern Forest. I know whom he was. He was known as Tara Tarantula.” Darius said as she walked toward the angel and the green landscape.

“What? My father couldn’t have killed you when he was younger. My father doesn’t like to talk about his past and what he did when he was younger.” I said with a hint of surprise in my voice.

“Surprised, are you not? The elves and Draginucous have never gotten along except for your father and Deera. I remember seeing how happy your mother got when she would see Tara on the streets in Belgium.” Darius Raven said as she walked toward the Angel.

I followed her to the angel and the woman with the skeletal wings screamed. The woman disappeared along with the barren desert she was with. I looked at the angel and she touched Darius Raven.

“Remember my dear Daru Daru, be careful of the choices you choose. Darius Raven will be the same age as your mother when you see her again.” The angel said with a smile as

she set her hand upon my head.

I felt like crap when my soul got back to my body. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. Tara, Deera and Death, Deera’s younger brother, stood around me with a smile.

“She’s alive, my dear!! She is awake!!” Deera exclaimed happily.

I stood up and looked around for Lolo. I didn’t see him anywhere in the yard. I couldn’t feel his presence anywhere in the house or in the yard.

“Where… where is Lolo?” I asked as I grabbed my spear from Death.

“He ran away from here.” Flower said as she smiled.

“What a coward. He apparently cannot handle the consequences of his actions against me. He will burn and suffer. I will be back.” I said with a growl.

I walked through the front gates. I walked all the way to Lolo’s Master’s home in the middle of pretty much nowhere. I knocked on the door and Lolo answered.

“Iris? I thought I killed you.” Lolo whispered.

I walked past him and through the door. Everyone stared at me as I walked all the way to the end and into their master’s office. I slammed the door open as they started whispering and Lolo followed me into the office.

“I don’t know who you are, but I will not stand for anymore of this nonsense.” I growled as their Master stayed silent.

I could tell their Master was a female by the shape of the shoulders. She lifted her hand up and it was thinner than a male’s hand would be. She snapped, and Lolo appeared beside me. I growled and started getting frustrated and irritable.

“Take her away from here and KILL her this time.” She said as Lolo bowed.

“Holo Gina and Aphrodite!!” Lolo yelled for them.

Holo Gina, a Moon Howler, and Aphrodite, an Angel with a broken wing, went to grab my arms, but I started fighting them with my spear. I knocked them both back and growled. They came at me again and I blocked Holo’s strike with my spear. I blocked Aphrodite’s wing slice with my shield. I pushed them back and I jumped onto a chair. They laughed as I jumped from the chair and landed on Holo Gina. I ran toward a dark corner and looked at their Master.

“Back off!! I only want to…” I started to growl but was knocked out cold.

When I hit the floor, Aphrodite had stood behind me with her eyes only showing. Holo Gina growled and stood up. They grabbed both of her arms and drug her out of their master’s office. Lolo sneered and picked up Iris’s spear. Lolo went to walk out when he heard Deera scream out his name. Lolo ignored it and followed Aphrodite and Holo Gina out of the room and to The Chains. Aphrodite grabbed the chains and wrapped them around Iris’s wrists and ankles. After a couple of hours, I woke up slowly and looked around. I started fighting the chains that were around my ankles and around my wrists, but they only got tighter. I saw something move within the shadows and started growling.

“Show yourself!!” I growled as I kept an eye on the shadows.

“If you insist, sista.” Lolo said with a smile as he stepped out of the shadows.

“Help me, brada!!” I exclaimed as I started to cry.

He lost his smile as he watched me cry. He shook his head and broke my spear across his knee. I looked at him shocked and put my head down in shame.

“Did I break something important to you, sista of mine?” Lolo asked me as he dropped the broken spear onto the ground.

I stayed silent as tears ran down my cheeks. He started to laugh until it was interrupted by a little bit of pain.

“What is the matter, sista?” Lolo asked with a smirk.

He growled and felt pain running throughout his body. He walked backwards, quite a ways away from me and started breathing heavily. He screamed and fell to his hands and knees.

“Ugh… what is happening… ugh… to my body?” He asked as he felt nauseated.

“The change is happening, brada. It’s the most painful thing I have ever felt. Now, you are feeling that same pain I felt. It is nauseating, painful, heart wrenching and hard to control where you do it at.” I said as I changed into my Draginucous form.

It broke the chains and I turned back into my elf form. I looked at Lolo as he doubled over, and my instincts told me to grab him and take him outside for more room. I sighed and grabbed Lolo. I took him outside and headed toward a cave. Something tripped me at the edge of the forest. Lolo landed a few feet away from where I landed on my face.

“Where do you think you are taking Death Keeper?” The elf with a long blonde braided hair asked as he came out of the shadows, swords drawn.

“Away from here, duh.” I growled as I stood up and picked Lolo back up.

“He belongs here with me and Master, not you!” He growled as he swung his swords at me.

I sighed and dodged them. He kept attacking and I kept dodging the blows. He swung low to the ground and I stepped on them. He tried pulling them out from under my feet, but it was unsuccessful. Lolo groaned, and I pushed the elf back. He stumbled backwards, and I ran off while holding onto Lolo.

“Why… ugh… why are you helping me?” Lolo asked as he felt pain searing throughout his whole body.

“Hold your tongue, brada. We are almost home.” I assured him as I skidded around the corner and onto the street we lived on.

I stopped and set Lolo down carefully. I set out a blanket that I had hidden in Lolo’s backpack. I set Lolo upon the blanket, carefully. I changed into my Draginucous form and grabbed each of the corners carefully. I took flight and flew home. I got there within 3 wing beats and set him down on the ground. I landed and fell to the ground as I changed into my elf form. Deera, Killer, Lavender and Drago all sensed the presence of Lolo and I. They ran outside and saw both of us laying on the ground. Deera went to run toward Lolo but Drago stopped her and pointed toward me. They stood back and watched us. I stood up and walked over to Lolo as he started coughing.

“It is alright, dear Lolo. Relax and let it sear through your veins. Relax and let the pain melt away.” I said as I knelt next to him and touched his shoulder as he curled into a ball.

He relaxed, and he grimaced as the pain seared through his entire body. He wanted to scream but he heard me whisper something about not to scream. He clenched his teeth instead and took deep breaths. He got to his hands and knees. He looked at me with tears in his blood shot eyes. Then, he dropped and grabbed my arm. His grip got harder as his eyes changed from a blue hue to a deep maroon color and slits had formed. His body grew into a white and slender Draginucous. His head changed from an elf to a Draginucous head similar to mine. He stood up and lifted his head to look around. He was completely white except for a black skullcap marking. I changed into my Draginucous form and smiled at him. We both heard Deera, Drago, Lavender, Death, Terrorling, Flower, Celestial and Hera cheering.

“Welcome Blood Skull.” I said as I held my paw out for him to touch.

“Heh. This feels amazing but, strange at the same time. I didn’t think this was possible for me. I guess I was wrong. My name is… Blood Skull. Daru Daru, isn’t it?” He said as he looked at me and then at Deera.

“My name is Daru Daru as a Draginucous, but I am known as Iris in my human or Elf form. How do you feel about your transformation, brada?” I answered with a smile.

“I feel so strong and strange at the same time. It feels good, I guess?” Lolo said as he looked at himself from claws to the tip of his tail.

“That is a good sign that it is working.” I said with a smile as I changed back into my elf form.

Lolo changed into his elf form and fell to one knee and a fist upon the ground. He stood up, shaking, and looked at me with a grin. Not a bad grin, but a happy grin. He was beaming with joy until we heard Bud, Holo, Levi, Aphrodite and Raja yelling out his name.

‘Oh no. They are coming to get me and will do everything in their power to get me back. That includes hurting my family.’ Lolo thought to himself.

‘Ah, hell. Them again? They are here for Lolo or are they here for me since I took Lolo away. Wait, they aren’t yelling Lolo, they are yelling Death Keeper. Is that Lolo’s name or someone else’s name?’ I thought to myself as I started hatching a plan.

The Freedom Family ran inside the house for their weapons and ran back out. Lolo and Iris both screamed and when they came out, both of them were gone.