Stances and Gambles

**Aileen POV**

Father shifted on his feet. He wouldn't be the first one to answer. "I can't let myself die before my Father. I'm not allowed to make him bury his own child."
"And your Father would most likely die protecting you from me. He never goes down easy." Tom looked over at my trembling brother. Trevor had already lost so much today. Now his squad leader was considering killing his adorable sister.
My brother spoke quietly, "Squad Leader Tom told me that I have-"
"Tom and I have already spoken. You want to be a squad leader, correct? Well sometimes our orders aren't the right path and we have to adjust accordingly. Things change and plans need to be altered. Almost every time you're in charge of a mission, something will happen. It will not go exactly as you planned." I had never heard Lena sound so cold. She was right. I had just been thinking the same thing earlier.
"Don't let what that demon girl said to you cloud your head and jeopardize the mission. This isn't you!" After no comments fell from Trevor's mouth, Lena demanded a response. "You want to be squad leader, then stand straight and answer me! What do you want to do about Aileen?"
My Father glared at Trevor as well, "you claim to be her brother, but there's no way someone as spineless as you could have survived under the same roof as my daughter. Show me you are family like you claim. Answer her...son." Father's words were harsh with no hint of emotion. His teeth were clenched, but I don't think the other's noticed. He hid his tension well.
Trevor looked up. Clearly Father had said "son" sarcastically and it ignited some kind of rage inside of him. Trevor was barely holding back from assaulting my Father. I had to admit, I agreed with them. My brother was cocky, but never really took the lead. He hadn't done much of anything the entire time we were here either except getting mad, or sad. A squad leader had to be able to conceal their emotions; another thing Trevor had failed at here.
Finally, Trevor met my gaze. Sometimes we all need a little tough love from those closest to us.
My brother spoke clearly and confidently, "the DSS thinks that protecting you is second to finally getting a win against Shiuku. They finally got the guts to attack thanks to you and the information you gave; along with having the final guardian of course..." he gave a quick nod to the squad leader. "The DSS is grateful to you, but not to the point they would put this battle in jeopardy. We are to help get you out, but not at the cost of our mission. They do not care if you survive. Some think it would be a kindness...before you give birth in a few months."
"Some are adamant that it would be better if you died, so you can't have the child." Lena corrected. "Just like some of Shiuku's men that have joined us. They think it is best we get rid of the problem before the kid can grow up. The world fears your baby."
"I know all this! Shiuku painted the picture for me during his special news broadcast."
My baby kicked in my stomach. *He has a fighter's spirit already! Not going down without a fight!* I smiled at the absurd thought, as if my baby actually understood what was going on.
Lena's eyes narrowed. Letting out a low breath, she rested against a wall, folding her arms under her chest. She motioned for him to hurry his speech along and get to the point. Trevor tensed up. Not very boss-like for someone desiring to become a squad leader. Judging by Lena and Tom's face, he wasn't persuading them that he was ready to take charge of anything. Trevor swiped a sweaty palm over his forehead.
My patience was running thin now too and I was the one wanting to stall while the castle collapsed around us! None of what was being told was new and I was tired of being reminded of the obvious. Grinding my teeth, I barely kept my thoughts to myself. Silence would eventually force my brother to talk; just like it does with everyone else. Trevor would feel the need to fill the empty space.
Trevor shifted on his feet before looking back up at me. A tear rolled down his cheeks. At that moment I knew what was coming next. "You're a member of the DSS. We all know the risks when we join. If we can protect you with no losses then yes we should. We certainly shouldn't kill her Squad Leader Tom. That being said, our mission does come first. If we suffer too many casualties, or Lena does not break enough marks; this all could be for nothing. We would lose everything we've gained and our fallen will have died in vain."
"The DSS and Final Guardian need to stand together. Otherwise Shiuku will win and everyone will suffer." I said plainly. I trusted my friends' intentions more than their words.
At last, Shiuku was done stalking me. His aura was lifted off my shoulders. All my friends seemed to relax except Tom. He had the same guilty expression that I wore. What was he planning that none of us knew?
Shana appeared horrified. She gripped at her heart and stumbled back a few steps. I had to tug her leg to keep her away from a massive hole. "You, you all are the enemy? I assumed you were here to save Shiuku's friends and colleagues! You're the group of murderers here to stop my loving Shiuku's plans for world peace and unity!"
*Loving? Friends and colleagues? Just how long was she stuck in that room? Does Shiuku really hide all his real intentions from her? For God's sake, he pretended the DSS' goals were his to this woman. She had no clue what her "Loving" Shiuku was really plotting.*
Shana's terrified eyes found mine. "Aileen, come on dear. We need to get you out of here. They clearly are a threat to us. I think I heard one of them say something about Demon Lord Darren being here. He's a kind lord. Let's find him and get out! I'm sure he's finished with that traitor Devon by now."
How were her views so distorted? Now Darren kind lord too? For some reason Shiuku sheltered her from the truth. He had hidden his real agenda from her. All she wanted was to save lives. Related to Shiuku, or not; Shana was an exceptionally honorable woman.
I felt bad for what was about to happen; what I was about to do. I prayed to God that I didn't go to hell for this. I prayed even harder than Shiuku would fall for his own trick.
A sickening aura spread throughout the building. Everyone was immediately on edge with the exception of Shana. She was relieved and smiled towards the expanding aura. Damn was he getting close to fast. I guess that was why he stopped watching me. He was only checking on where and how I was. That had to be it.
I swallowed hard; it was almost show time.
All the walls around us caved in. The floors above were no longer supported and came barreling down on top of us. Lena held up her arms. She called on her ground ability as we all ducked and covered our heads. Rough edges of stone scratched at my arms. I waited for the inevidable, I had wasted too much time waiting for Shiuku; all for some stupid gamble.
I blinked several times not understanding why I wasn't squashed. Standing a few feet away was Lena. Despite how many marks she removed, healing she had done, and fights she had won; Lena was able to protect all of us. Countless levels of floors and rooms were flung to all around. Everywhere around us was covered in debris, broken furniture, and shattered glass. A mere centimeter around all six of us was clear. The castle had also stopped shaking. She had done something to the foundation and structure. Lena had undone, or at least postponed what Darren had started.
Tom started climbing the hills of debris towards me. Just as Lena became skeptical of her husband, the rubble formed into a large circular mass. It blasted into Lena and sent her flying. The same globe of rubble materialized above her. She managed to use wind to slow the globe's momentum. It rammed into her stomach. Lena was crushed under its weight.
To my surprise Tom took several steps towards me; not his wife. His expression was almost as blank as Father's could get while he made his way across the wreckage. He didn't stop until an enormous aura forced our attention forward.
And there he stood. Shiuku returned to his destroyed home with eyes glowing an awful shade of red. I had never seen such evil raw malice radiating off him before; no matter how pissed he got at me. Every cell in my body was begging me to go check on Lena. That blast of stone took a lot out of her. From what I saw, she was barely able to keep the stones from puncturing anything vital.
I never thought I would see her fall. She was the one destined to stop Shiuku; and was taken out in mere seconds. I could hear my heartbeat drumming in my ears.
"Shiuku, you will not harm them. You will let the final guardian go! The two of you can really battle when she is not low on energy." There was no room for doubt. I had to be confident in my plan.
"And why would I do that? She is what stands in my way." Shiuku's eyes were still burning red, but he managed to smirk at me. "Besides now the DSS has officially accepted my declaration of war. She even turned some of my men against me!"
My idea. Guilt nibbled at my conscience. I willed it to stop. Shiuku was just trying to get under my skin. Behind me, I could hear the sound of Lena making her way back to her feet. Elementals really were a lot more resilient than regular humans. That would have killed Father or I.
I motioned towards my brother. We knew each other better than anyone else. I had faith that he would read me now as well as ever.
"We could kill your sister." I spoke the words, but was unable to glance at my target. Trevor understood immediately and pulled the doctor next to him.
Shiuku reached for his ice element. Quickly I focused the same way I had with Darren. Several arrows of ice flung out from Shiuku's fingertips. I hadn't been able to stop the attack; however, I did hinder it. The ice arrow's speed dwindled before getting close to my brother. He dodged them all with ease.
Trevor unsheathed a wicked piece of steel and placed it against Shana's throat. He scowled at Shiuku, "you used me against Aileen. I would be more than happy to return that pain to your family."
The good doctor was shocked. She had been so sweet to me and I was using her life as a bargaining chip. "I have a deal for you this time."
Shiuku started snickering at me. "Oh do you now little one? I knew you admired your dear Father, but I never would have guessed you would act like him. Using someone's own family against them; seems right up the Dark King's alley."
"You did the same to me." I gritted out. Shiuku wasn't freaking out like I had hoped.
"Yes, but there was a difference." Shiuku spread his hands, palms up. "I would have killed your adoptive brother. Does he really have the spine to hurt a caring doctor? Is he really going to kill my innocent Mother?"