Shadow Emarin/Paloma fic, part two: CUCALI'S REVENGE

Emarin's Shadow pursued Paloma through her world, poofing into existence now and then as she watched her run away. She waited until Paloma tired, no longer able to run as quickly, before she appeared in front of her. She wore a cruel smile on her face as she grabbed Paloma's wrist.

"Hello, darling. Did you think you'd get away from me that easily?"

"No! Get away from me!"

Shadow Emarin pulled her in close, twisting her arms behind her back. A leg came up around Paloma's own, pinning her to the Shadow's body, as her other foot came down on her boots to keep the girl's feet on the ground.

She transferred her grip on Paloma's wrists to one hand, and the other came up to caress Paloma's cheek.

"I won't. You're mine, Paloma. You should be *honoured* to be mine. How dare you go off with another seadweller?"

"You can't dictate who I pity, Shadow!"

"Oh, but I can. And I think you deserve some punishment for trying to leave me..."

Shadow Emarin leant back and slapped Paloma, hard.

"Why do you make me do this to you? You should just accept me!"

Paloma glared at her.

"I, I'll never accept someone like you."

"Perhaps you'll be more compliant after I kill those pesky interests of yours... you can come into my arms and mourn, Paloma. I'm a gracious highblood. I'll allow it."

Paloma spat in her face. "If you dare touch them, I'll kill you!"

The Shadow grimaced, wiping away the spittle with her free hand. "I suppose I'll just have to force you. It's all right, dear. Blackrom's just fine with me."

"No-- get away--"

The Shadow's free hand began to wander.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!"



Cucali wasn't in the Land of Cliffs of Rhyme for Paloma or anything. She had to visit another world for one of her quests, and this was the first portal she found, okay? Okay. She certainly wasn't wandering around hoping to meet up with that stupid mossblood.

When she heard Paloma's distant screaming, she stiffened. That idiot was getting herself in trouble again?! Cucali scoffed and turned away. It wasn't her problem.

... when she heard Paloma shout again, she turned back, and began running towards the source of the sound.

What she saw disgusted her. A shadow was all over Paloma, forcing her mouth onto her lips. Cucali took out a cherry bomb and threw it at the ground near the two of them, stepping forward with a sickly-sweet smile.

"Heeeeey, Emarin! How's it going?"

Paloma staggered away as the Shadow released her from the surprise of the explosion, eyes wide. Shadow Emarin turned to Cucali, smiling right back at her.

"Wonderful. You're just the troll I wanted to see. Come a little closer, would you?"

Cucali didn't stop striding up to the Shadow. Her leg came up to kick her in the stomach, and the Shadow staggered backwards, coughing from the force of it.

"Hmph. If you insist, we'll dispense of the pleasantries." She took out her telescope and took up a stance.

"Yeah, yeah. Quit talkin', you're dead."

Paloma backed up as the two seadwellers circled each other, knowing she was even more useless without a weapon. Cucali acted first, throwing a grenade at Shadow Emarin. The Shadow knocked the explosive into the air with her telescope, where it exploded.

Emarin's Shadow darted forward, swinging her telescope down towards Cucali's head in a clear attempt at a killing blow. Cucali dodged under her and drove an elbow into her side, matching it a moment later with a punch. The Shadow moved away, and they each other warily.

It only lasted for a moment before Cucali threw more explosives, a couple of cherry bombs. Shadow Emarin wasn't able to knock them both away, and she staggered backwards as she was hit. Cucali ran forward, pressing her advantage with a kick. The Shadow took it unmovingly, and slammed her telescope towards Cucali while she was on one foot.

That's when the Shadow received a rock to the back of the head. Paloma stood a good few steps behind the two of them, tossing another stone up and down and looking vengeful.

Cucali took the advantage, pressing forward to slam her fist into Shadow Emarin's face. As the girl staggered, Cucali stepped back and threw more explosives at her -- the big ones.

Shadow Emarin poofed out of existence a moment before they exploded.

"Come back here!", Cucali yelled, but it was useless. She was gone.

Paloma approached, biting at her lip. "Cucali..? Are you okay?"

"You idiot -" Cucali turned and slapped Paloma, shaking with rage. "What the fuck did you think you were doin'?!"

"I, I didn't, I wasn't..."

Before Paloma could properly process what was happening, Cucali wrapped her up in a tight hug.

"She didn't hurt you, did she?"

"I, I'm okay..."

Paloma leaned into the hug, wrapping her arms around Cucali in turn. Her voice hitched.

"Thank, thank you for saving me... again..."

"I keep tellin' you to quit gettin' into trouble, stupid mossyblood."