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Lace giggled from where she was waiting for Hornet amongst the white roses.
“Ah, little spider! I was wondering when you would arrive,” she said. “You may have defeated me once, but I doubt you can do it again!”
“Cease your incessant prattling, would you?” Hornet huffed. “Face me with that twig you call a pin rather than talking me to death.”
“Wouldn’t you like that?” Lace smirked, brandishing her pin. “Dying to the sound of my melodic voice?”
“Somehow, that’s worse than being stabbed by Sharpe,” Hornet muttered, though Lace heard it anyway. She lunged, intending to pierced Hornet’s eye. Hornet parried effortlessly, knocking Lace back with practiced ease.
“I have been alive for centuries,” Hornet said as she sliced at Lace, who quickly moved out of the way. “I’ve fought reanimated corpses more skilled than you!”
“Oh, please!” Lace cried indignantly as she attempted another stab. “I’m one of the best fighters in the entirety of Pharloom! You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“I know damn well what I’m talking about,” Hornet snarled. “You’re weak, Lace. Accept that fact.”
“I am not weak!” Lace roared, tackling Hornet to the ground. Hornet winced as the thorns beneath the roses dug into the spaces between her shell plates.
If you’re going to show up, now would be the time , Hornet thought, hoping her sibling was listening in.
“Ever heard of the God of Gods, Lace?” Hornet hissed, lifting an arm to block a punch to the face.
“The what?” Lace paused.
“Start praying,” Hornet advised, pressing herself to the ground as the Lord of Shades manifested from the shadows and flung out an arm, sending Lace flying across the meadow.
Lace, to her credit, got to her feet pretty quickly, but by then Ghost was winding up for another shot. Hornet stood and backed away to a safe spot to avoid friendly fire, flipping Lace off out of sheer pettiness.
“Fight me yourself, co—“ Lace was cut off by an incensed snarl from Ghost, who pulled themselves further out of the shadows just so they could loom over her.
“Uh…” Lace’s voice was small as she stared up at Ghost. “Was that your daughter over there, or something…? Sister, maybe? You don’t really look related, but…” she trailed off.
“I’m just gonna go!” Lace grinned nervously at Ghost and began to make a break for it, but they grabbed her and threw her instead. Lace screamed the whole time, her voice swiftly growing quieter with distance until everything was silent.
Ghost turned to check on Hornet, holding out a clawed hand for her to climb up onto. She spotted onto it, allowing them to check her over.
“I’m fine,” she offered, though she knew it would be in vain. Ghost would believe it when they saw it.
Satisfied, they put her down before waving goodbye and dissolving into shadows. Hornet observed the wrecked meadow in front of her, laughing quietly to herself before moving on.
She doubted Lace would try to kill her a third time after this.