Tera's eyes were red and she was wiping at them. David had gone over to her to comfort her, but she had pushed him away. Now he was just standing a few feet away, looking at her sadly like a sick puppy.

  "Look, Tera," I said with a flat tone, causing her to look over at me. "I hate you, and you hate me. That's pretty obvious, correct?"

  She nodded and sniffled. "You are a horrible person, a deceitful witch that has done horrible things to people ever since I met you. I don't know why Empress Tama likes or trusts you. I only hope one day she can see you for the monster you are!"

  I actually winced at that. I had known Tera didn't like me, but for her to outright hate me that much seemed a bit excessive. "Well, she does trust me, and the truth is I trust her. I want to help her, and that's what I am doing. You don't have to believe me. But Tama sees me as her best friend, and I am doing everything I can to live up to that."

  "By doing what you always do? Lying to her and everyone around you?!" she snapped at me, venom dripping from her words. I actually took a step back. I felt like I had just been hit by a brick. Actually, that would have been less painful.

  "I did what was necessary! You don't understand!" I started to say, but Tera cut me off. "No one ever does, right, Saki? Because you are the smartest person ever, right? We are all just puppets to your divine fucking intellect! Well, fuck you!"

  I opened my mouth, but try as I might, nothing came out. Despite my hatred for Tera, what she said struck so close to home I... Grabbing my chest, I felt my vision blur. No... not now. I need... erase them all, they aren't needed. Tears filled my eyes, drowning my vision. Things began to go blurry. I felt weak.

  My body began to move on its own and terror filled me now. But it was no use, my hands moved up, a purple hue coloring my vision. NO. I felt the voice taking control again. The helplessness, the endlessness. I tried to fight, but it was no use. It dragged me deeper into my despair, feeding off my anger and resentment.

  I finally gave up. It didn't matter anyway. I had tried to do the right thing. This is what happens when Saki tries to do the right thing, I thought.

  "Nya! What is Saki doing! You can't have purple parties without Tama! Purple is Tama's favorite color!" Her voice cut through the haze. It sliced through the turmoil and pain, the hatred and frustration. The voice spoke again: erase... erase. "No, I will not!" I screamed as I forced back control of my own body.

  Tama's voice came through again as I regained control of myself. "But why not! Tama wants purple party!" I felt myself giggling as I pushed through. Of course she would say that.

  My vision returned to me and I took a deep breath, feeling the air fill my lungs as my body was once again mine. The purple hue around my vision was gone now.

  I sighed in relief just as Tama appeared in front of me, looking upset. "Aww! Why did Saki remove the amazing purple colors? Tama wants to make colors like that!"

  I couldn't help myself. I giggled, which turned into laughter. I fell to my knees laughing as I held my stomach before looking up to Tama. "I am so sorry, Tama. I can't control that. Tell you what, when we get back, I will throw you an amazing purple party!"

  Tama looked down at me with a smile, and for just a moment, I swear I saw something in those eyes. Understanding, trust... love. Then it was gone and Tama was Tama again as she bounced around and asked more questions about the purple party we were planning.

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  All I could do was nod as I recovered and thought about how much my life had changed in such a short time after meeting this... my... empress.

  I slowly stood to my feet and after a moment looked over to Tera. After what just happened, I realized I didn't have anything to fear with Tama here. She protected me again. All I had done was fail. No more, I would be a good friend if it killed me.

  Tera wasn't looking at me. She was happily nodding along to Tama's insane requests of balloons, and a party pig? Painted... purple... I shook my head at the image that flooded my mind and focused. "Tera, we need to talk. Right now." I said as I looked directly at her, ignoring Tama as she grabbed my shoulder and giggled maniacally about special berries that made things more purple.

  Tera looked at me and her smile faded as our eyes met. "What? Going to try and cause more manipulation? Maybe kill more people for getting in your way?" Tera spoke with a calm tone, but the underlying current hit like a truck.

  But I felt Tama lean against me and place her head on my shoulder, and I felt warmth. "You are right, Tera," I said, my voice shaking slightly, as I took Tama's hand. Her grip was strong and she held on to me. "I have been a horrible person, and my outlook isn't always the best." My voice quavered slightly, but I didn't stop. "But ever since I met Tama, just like you, I have changed, and I want to believe it's for the better. I want Tama to be right in entrusting me as her best friend. I made mistakes, and I won't pretend otherwise. But you need to understand something. Tama doesn't like the royalty stuff, she doesn't like being worshiped, and she really doesn't like being treated better than others."

  "Oh, and what makes you the end-all, be-all of what Tama wants!" Tera said with barely contained rage. "You dare pretend like you're her best friend when you lie to her face and keep secrets!" I winced at Tera's words, but Tama spoke.

  "Tama trusts Saki! If she has secrets and lies to me, it must be something Tama doesn't want to know!" Tama's tail swished back and forth and her ears were flattened as she glared at Tera. "Also, Saki is right! Tama hates being bossy and mean. Tama wants to be friends with everyone. You need to stop being mean to Tama's best friend!"

  Tera stumbled back, acting like she had now been hit by a brick. Though in fairness, I barely noticed this as I was staring open-mouthed at Tama. "Tama, I…" "Nya! Tama is busy, Saki! Give Tama a moment!"

  Tama stepped forward, leaving me standing there wide-eyed in shock. "Also, Tama does not want your fun time or head pats! Tera obviously has been thinking nasty thoughts about Tama and it makes her uncomfortable! Tama has been nice until now, but attacking Saki makes Tama very angry!"

  "Empress Tama, you don't..." "NYA!" Tama screamed at Tera, and Saki heard actual rage in her voice. "TAMA IS NOT AN EMPRESS. TAMA IS NOT ROYALTY. TAMA IS TAMA." The words came out like a wand on auto-cast, and I watched as each word seemed to verbally hit Tera like she was getting stabbed by a spear repeatedly.

  "Please... empr... Tama," Tera was now actually crying. She fell to her knees, her head down to the ground. I winced inwardly. That was a bad move.

  I saw the moment Tama snapped. Her rage finally reached a crescendo as she reached for her katana. For the briefest of moments, I watched, unsure if I should stop her. I hated Tera so much after everything, but...

  "Tama, stop!" I spoke before I even considered my words. They came out like a wave. "Thank you for defending me, but killing Tera isn't the right thing to do. She was right. I have been a horrible person. You have shown so much kindness. Let me return the favor. It's time we were all honest with each other completely." I took a deep, shuddering breath as I spoke my mind. Each word was harder than the last. But I had to say it.

  Tama turned to face me, her face clouded with rage and frustration, her pupils tiny pinpricks against an overcast face.

  "Please, Tama, let me fix this. Give me a chance to make things right before you do something you might regret," I said pleadingly. I felt strange, trying to save the life of the person who had not only tried to kill me twice but was actively hateful towards me. But...

  Slowly, Tama's face cleared of the rage covering it and she looked at me with an innocent look which shifted to a smile a moment later.

  "Tama trusts Saki to know what to do!" she said. Then she simply giggled and said, "Tama is going to go hunt something. She will be right back!" And with that, before anyone could speak, Tama had simply vanished again.