Ditto's POV
Mommy has been gone for a while now. I know she told me she'd come find me, but I'm growing restless. I'm worried about her. I'm scared that I'll never see her again, that I'll be trapped here forever. Sagittarius has been keeping me company. He's brought me toys, crayons, and coloring books to play with. Delicious food from the chef's kitchen. I appreciate his company, but it's not the same. I want my Mommy. I need to hear her voice. Sagittarius comes into the room to check on me.
"How are you doing, little guy?" He asks.
No, it's "little one." Not "little guy". I hug my teddy bear and try not to cry in front of him.
"I want Mommy." I whimper.
Sagittarius sighs and sits next to me, "I know, buddy. It'll be ok."
"How do you know?" I ask.
"Because your mommy is one tough son of a gun." Sagittarius says, "No matter how many times she gets hurt, she never stops fighting. I know she's coming to save you and take you back home."
"Why are you helping us?"
"I owe your mommy my life, buddy."
I say nothing. There's so much about Mommy that I don't know, but I'm willing to learn.
"Come on, buddy." Sagittarius says standing up, "I think you've been locked up for long enough."
Sagittarius takes me for a walk around the castle. I stop and look at so many things. Flowers, statues, stained glass murals. It's all so pretty. He takes me into the courtyard so I can get some fresh air. I smile at him and he smiles back, but it has sympathy.
"I'm sorry, Ditto." He says.
"For what?" I ask.
"Serren hurt you." He explains, "I had to monitor you constantly to make sure you wouldn't die from your injuries, despite the excellent job the nurses did of healing you.
I take a minute to process what he says. It did hurt really bad. But why did he wait until now to say anything?
"Sagittarius, why are you telling me this?"
"Because she's here."
BOOM! An explosion causes the ground the shake, followed by the sound of screaming.
Sagittarius quickly takes me back inside.
"Sagittarius, attend me!" Prince Serren calls, "Bring the boy with you."
Without a choice, Sagittarius brings me into the throne room and locks the door. However, he doesn't give me to the prince. He keeps me by his side. Prince Serren chuckles, "I knew you were too soft." Before he can respond, the prince pushes me aside and claws out Sagittarius' throat. Blood sprays onto the carpet. Sagittarius' body drops in front of me. I feel my sanity start to fall. Bile rises in my stomach, I double over and vomit.
"How sad." The prince says flatly.
He then grabs me by the hair and drags me to his throne. I try to struggle, but it's no use. I'm too tired, my stomach hurts, and I just want to go home.
"My prince." The oracle says, "She will arrive soon."
"Let her come." The prince says, "I'll slaughter her in front of this miserable worm just to break his spirit." He forces me down on my hands and knees, then sits on his throne.
"Now, be a good little maggot and stay quiet." He commands, using me as a leg rest. My cheeks heat up with humiliation. The heels of his shoes dig into my back. I groan as I try to stay still, but it's difficult. Mommy, please hurry.
As if on cue, the door to the throne room is kicked down. Mommy stands in the doorway. Her clothes are dirty and blood stained. Her beautiful blue eyes, now red with rage. Prince Serren rises from his throne with a grin. Mommy looks over at Sagittarius' body, the prince follows her gaze and nods. Mommy rolls up her sleeves and cracks her neck. She knows he hurt me, and now she's going to hurt him. To my surprise, the oracle appears in front of Mommy.
"I will not allow you to harm the prince." She says, summoning a ring of fire around her. Mommy sighs and motions her towards her.
"Foolish traitor." The oracle sends orbs of fire towards Mommy. She dodges them with ease and dashes forward. The oracle sends out a ring of fire, Mommy jumps over it and strikes her directly in the jaw. Throwing her aside, Mommy stands before the prince, who applauds her.
"Well done, Libra." He says.
"Cut the bullshit." Mommy snaps, "You put your hands on my little one, killed the one guy I asked to protect him, throw a poor excuse of a bodyguard at me, then sit here and expect me to take your praise? No, I'm not some corrupt political running mate. You took what's mine, now I'm taking it back."
Prince Serren laughs, "What are you, some hopeless mercenary?"
The oracle dashes at Mommy. She grabs her by the throat and snaps it like a twig.
"No, I'm a fucking Hunter Killer." The oracle's body drops, "And you are my next target."