Rage and humiliation swirled within Kadyrelite’s mind. Once her cousin.. no, that senshi had escaped, there’d been nothing else to do but apologize profusely to the General and vow to kill Orcus herself. Yes, kill her and bring that misbegotten starseed of her’s to General Schorl herself. Inside, she could feel Strytha’s answering rage and agreement.

Wise Kadyrelite. Wipe out the aberration, yes. Prove your loyalty to the Dark Kingdom. Prove to the sweet General that you can be trusted! Strytha will help, yes.

In a dark corner of her mind, Kadyrelite was aware that she should be horrified and disgusted by the idea of murdering her cousin in cold blood. The rest of her merely raged and wondered why Melian could have had the bad taste to be a senshi. And not even a useful senshi. Instead she was a Dark Mirror. Technically, she knew the Dark Mirrors were infused with Chaos. But it had taken root strangely in them. And once, they’d been considered allies.

Not anymore, Came Strytha’s hissing whisper. They cannot be trusted. They must be wiped out.

“Yes.”

Kadyrelite hadn’t often had cause to teleport, but she was doing it tonight. Melian’s family home was locked up tight and she vaguely recalled an email from her own parents telling her that aunt Stacy and uncle Michael were going on a trip around the world and would be gone for several months. So much for that idea. And as for Melian’s apartment… Much as she would have liked to investigate there, the simple fact was she didn’t know exactly which apartment to check in. And she didn’t particularly feel like inspiring a witch hunt for some new peeping tom in the neighborhood. <********, it was Strytha who offered a dose of calming influence. The tiny youma writhed soothingly within her chest as it spoke.

Consider, child. Whatever else your cousin may be, she is not stupid. Doubtless she has already gone into hiding. But! She cannot hide forever. Darling Kadyrelite and Strytha will keep careful watch. We will find her again.

The tone of smug complacency nearly shocked Kadyrelite. Still, she could see the sense.

“But what if we can’t find her, even with all of our watching? Mel is smart, Strytha. I can’t let her get away, not after this. If I can’t give her over to the Negaverse in service, I’ll give them her life instead. ******** Dark Mirrors!”

It pleases Strytha greatly that you say and think these things, little Kadyrelite. You will make a fine officer one day. As for finding her, patience! We will flush this hare soon enough. Give it a day or so. Strytha is sure that Alodie will be able to get more information in this instance than Kadyrelite.

Kadyrelite had the distinct impression that Strytha wanted her to puzzle this out on her own. If it thought Alodie would be better at gathering information, then…

“Oh!” she exclaimed, suddenly smiling, albeit grimly. “You mean I can talk to her friends and classmates and see if they’ve heard from her. It does seem the only feasible plan at the moment, doesn’t it.”

She gnawed and worried at her lower lip and she considered the idea from all sides. Finally, she threw up her hands and agreed.

“All right. It’s the only way for now. So do we go home now and plan more or go report and hope no one roasts us where we stand?”

Home for now. Reporting can be done tomorrow when a bit of sleep has had a chance to wipe away the abundance of emotion. Rest, sleep, eat. We will find your cousin. And then, you will prove once and for all where your loyalty lies.