Little Background

CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION1

‘You have one new voicemail… Sent today at 11:30 a.m.:’ 2


“I thought I was going to wake up in a normal house on a normal street. I thought I was going to wake up in a mundane world with mundane systems. I never thought I would end up here. 3

I just created this place when my parents split. It was hard to deal with the world, so I didn't. I made my own. I lived there, showing only the base signs of life on the outside. I made friends, had adventures, lived well. Then things got weird. 4

I started seeing flickers. Not like crazy flickers, like the flash of a madman to a sleep deprived fool. But distinct things would change. In the "real" world, we had a willow in the back yard. When I went out there a week ago, it was one of the vibrant purple flower trees that are so common in this world.5

That's all the background you need. I'm stuck here, and I have no idea to get home. My own little creation is in civil war and there's nothing I can do to help it. People always ask, “What would you do if you woke up in another world? Wouldn't it be cool?” 6

I've actually done this. And I can tell you what you should do.7

By God you should run.8

I don't know if this even went through. My cell phone says it has a connection but there's never any sound. If you can hear me, I'm on the run and in grave danger. My name is Kiki Lawrence.9

And I'm stuck in Little Background. Please. Send help somehow.”10

‘End of message; to save this message to the archives, press nine; to delete your friend, press seven; for more options, press star.’11

12

13

CHAPTER ONE:
TRAVELER14

It all started during my parents divorce. My parents fought so much that they fought with me. We get so far into it, it would come to blows. I’d run into my room and just scream to drown them out. Then I began creating. 15

I was just doodling, and then I discovered I continuously drew one thing. A person. I have no idea who she is, but I drew her constantly. Then I began dreaming. I would dream of this place... and I’d add a little more every night. Soon, I began living in it. When my parents would fight, I’d run there in my mind. 16

Then I began staying longer. Like a junkie, I drew out every dose until I absolutely had to come down. Then I gave up.17

That must really be what did it. When I gave and just stayed there for a year or so. I befriended the leaders of the race I had created. I had adventures. I gained power. Then, one day, I stopped. I left, and never thought I would go back. That’s where I make my fatal mistake.18

I was walking to school, when I looked at the willow in my backyard. Usually, I just saw a willow, green leaves, smooth bark. But I stopped dead. And I gaped. 19

It was so many different shades of purple… Everything from baby’s blanket lavender to the color of midnight moonrise clouds. The flowers were almost bubblegum bright, and hung. Maidenrose they had called it, as each flower seemed delicately shaped to form a standing girl. It smelled of cinnamon and spring water. The bark was like liquid satin.20

I started crying. It had been my favorite in Little Background. My friend, Amee, looked at me oddly.
“You okay chickadee?” she asked in genuine concern.
“Can’t you... Can’t you see it?” I said incredulously.
“It’s just the old willow. Nothing that special.” Amee replied with a shrug, “Are you alright?”21

I shook my head no and passed out as darkness usurped my vision.22

I awoke in my room, an ice cold rag on my now soaked forehead. I sat up slowly, and my head throbbed in reply. I ran my hand gently over my hair until I found the source of the pain. A goose-egg sized lump had just sprouted on my skull. I slid off my bed tenderly and walked out into the living room. 23

A professional-looking individual was sitting in The Chair. We knew it as The Chair because it had been Dad’s chair. He looked at me.
“Hello Kiki.” he said softly, “I heard you had an incident this morning.”
Now I know who it is. It’s the truancy officer. Basically, a teacher charged with visiting the kids who skip class and smoke pot or deal drugs or whatever they claim to do.24

“We didn’t see you in class today. Your mom wasn’t home when we called so we drove over. Your friend here,” he nodded towards Amee, whose face was streaked with dried tears of panic, “flagged us down. It was a good thing to. You had almost stopped breathing.”25

My eyes grew wide at this news. Surely, the Maidenrose wasn’t poisonous? It couldn’t be... We had maiden tea so many times back there... I snapped back to attention.26

“We’ll excuse you today, seeing as I was a witness to your injury. Amee is excused also, as long as she can stay here with you.”27

I nodded slowly, “Yes sir.”
He left. Amee looked at me. “What is wrong with you? You just fell and then made these weird gasping noises.”28

I shrugged. I was still in shock. A thought crossed my mind and I grew cold. What if Little Background wanted me back? And what if it wanted me back so bad... it was willing to kill me? The Necromancer’s Guild could get a hold of me then...29

“Kiki? My mom is here. She got permission to take me home. I’m leaving now, O.K.? You have my cell phone number. I plugged it into speed dial number four.”30

I nodded again. “Yeah, sure. Thanks, Amee... I could’ve died.”31

“What’re friends for?” she replied with a smile. She hugged me, and I think I hugged her back, “Take good care. Eat something.”32

And she left. That was the last time I saw her. I grew used to seeing the Maidenrose alone. Amee wasn’t allowed to walk to school with me anymore. See, her parents are way Catholic... and her priest told them my behavior seemed possessed. They’re a little gullible. So, day after day, I passed that stupid tree.33

Then I saw other things. 34


I was sitting in class and staring at the clock on the top of the wall. I was thinking about religion. And I found a way to compare it to school. 35

School is definitely a religion. We have a main God, the clock. We have clergy, the teachers and school board and other such staff. We have practicing followers, the students. We even have different sects and groups. Jocks and preps, Goths and emos.
They are just as weird and competitive as Catholics and Protestants, or Jehovah’s Witness and Mormons.36

School is like religion. It really doesn’t make any sense, but you follow anyway.37

Something skittered over the clock face. I jumped a little, and my teacher droned on. It skittered back, and paused. It was a lizard. They called it a cat snake even though it has legs. It has a long body and tail, with two flaps of skin covering its ears. So, from the side, it looks like a stretched cat.
It looked at me, and flicked its tongue. Then the wall peeled back a little. I know, it sounds insane, but it did. The wall slowly rolled down a little on the corner, and something was looking at me. 38

I recognized her. I’d been drawing her for so long now. She looked at me and grinned. I blinked and it was gone. I felt the blood drain from my face, and once more, darkness usurped my shaky vision.39

I came back to consciousness, but I didn’t open my eyes. I listened instead. I heard speech... but it wasn’t in English. My eyes snapped open, and someone looked at me with intense eyes. I blinked, and again it vanished.40

The nurse stood over me. “I’m sending you home.”41

The ride home was hell. I kept seeing unfamiliar soldiers hiding in the shadows. I saw the uniform in the light once. It was emerald green, hung to the knees. It was emblazoned with a maiden rose flower. Oh, did I mention all these soldiers were women?42

My thoughts exactly. They patrolled around my house the whole two days I was home. A few times they’d grin and wave menacingly. Once or twice, I saw my portrait subject walking amongst the ranks. Then I’d see an older, and possibly crueler, version patrol the ranks. She was tall, and always looked at me like I was a target. Which... now that I think of it... I probably was. 43

Then the attack came. They busted down the door when I came home. Mom had left, blissfully unaware of the deadly ranks. I was stabbed through the stomach twice, by long spears. The subject of my portrait pushed the soldiers out of the way, grabbed one haft gently, and twisted hard. I felt my eyes rolling up in death when she leaned intimately close and whispered, “Not one step further from hell than himself can fly. Time to clip your wings.”44

My sight went black.45

46


CHAPTER TWO:
WRONG TURN47

I coughed. I was dead, but I coughed. It hurt really bad. I covered my mouth with my hand and rolled onto my side.48


A hand roughly shoved me back flat. My coughing got worse and I realized I was going to be sick. I tried to roll over again, but the hand shoved me back down. 49

“Look, I’m going to be sick.” I said between coughs, “Now back the hell up!”50

I rolled over, unaccosted, and coughed until I felt the bile rising in my throat. I quickly got up on my knees and pushed my hair back, leaning forward. I felt the bubble in the back of my throat, then closed my eyes and thought of my surfboard. When I opened them, there was a puddle of brown blood on the ground. It looked like an old stain.51

“Old blood. You didn’t need it anymore, and you couldn’t ingest it.”52

I knew that voice. I turned around, and there she sat. The object of my portraits and comic strips, all in a folder at home. She sat, sipping something from a crystal glass. It was a deep red color, and it looked like it belonged in a blood bank. 53

“I didn’t drain anyone; stop acting like I’m a vampire.”
I looked at her. She wasn’t very tall. Maybe my height; about 5'8"; but she had this “Don’t even try.” air that terrified me. Whenever I drew her... she was happy.54

“This is happy. Happy conqueror, that’s me.”, she looked out the window.55

I looked as well, and saw the smoke. It drifted like ripped feathers from the wings of birds of war.56

“We seized power a year ago. Ever since then, it’s been a civil war. Countless have been lost.” she shook her head, smirking, “But they are merely casualties of war. When it’s all over, I will allow memorials built in their name.”57


I looked at her, this miniature Xerxes of Persia; this womanly Napoleon. I looked at her and I felt true fear. Not the kind of fear that snatches at you on a rollercoaster, or on Halloween when your friends jump and scare you, or when your seven years old and think the Boogeyman lives in your closet. The kind of fear you feel when you sit next to evil and it says hello.58

She smiled cruelly at me. She opened her mouth to say something, when the door flew open.59

“I told you not to keep her in here!” roared the figure. I knew her too. The tall woman who patrolled the soldiers? It was her.
She was mad.60

She stomped forward, her jacket billowing like Satan’s favorite cloak, eyes flashing like twin blood rubies... or twin...61

“GARNET! HOW DARE YOU CRASH INTO MY CHAMBERS LIKE YOU’RE GOD!”62

...garnets. Never mind. She turned to me.63

“What the hell are you looking at, you walking first course?!” she snarled.64

I sat heavily down and scooted away, diverting my now teary eyes. I was scared. First I meet Lucifer, then Satan. What’s next, Beelzebub?65

Apparently so. Someone else followed with a steady stride. Her white hair, tan skin, and purple eyes were in such stark contrast to the other two; with their porcelain skin, dark hair, and gemstone eyes.66

The fact Garnet and “Napoleette” had cruel teeth like some kind of vicious dog does not help. Neither does the wolf like ears. I watched Garnet turn and calm slightly.67

“Artemis. Your report?” she spat.68

“All is well on the Eastern front. We’re flushing out the rebels using those new weapons you gave us, Your Highness.” with this sentence, Artemis nodded towards “Napoleette”.69

“Never mind that, what of the South?” said Garnet, clutching her hands into fists to hide the slow lengthening of her nails.70

‘Retractable claws?’ I thought.71

Garnet looked at me then. And then she was kneeling an inch away from me.72

“Yes. And I will not hesitate to use them on you. Do you understand?”73

I nodded so fast my neck cracked. Garnet smiled coldly and stood.74

“Let’s go Artemis.”75

Artemis looked shocked, “The south wants war!!”76

“Then I will give them war. And death. And pain. And other such goodies.”77

I shivered as Garnet left with a quick and unfelt salute to Napoleette.78

Napoleette looked at me. “My name is Kikita. You may call me that.”79

I just watched as she turned towards a bookshelf, “It’s less annoying than ‘Napoleette’ anyway.”80

I felt myself grow cold. “How did you...”81

“Telepathy.”, she pulled a book down from the shelf and turned back around. She set it on the desk and leaned against the mahogany wood, hand on the book cover.82

“Do you want to know what’s going on?”83

“Well, duh.” I felt anger I hadn’t had time to acknowledge rise swiftly to the surface, “I’d like to know why I was murdered in my home. I’d like to know why I’m back here. I need to know what you people want, and I use PEOPLE very loosely.” I spat, boiling over.84

Kikita’s lip rose a little in a snarl. I smiled at the touched nerve. Time to grind.85

“What, surprised? You screw up my world, you treat me like target practice; and that’s after having soldiers surround my home for two days; you let that... that... THING called Garnet threaten me, then you automatically assume it’s going to be all ‘Yes, please’ and ‘No, thanks.’?!” I was screaming now, and her eyes flashed while her hands flexed, “Well GUESS WHAT? I WANT TO GO HOME! NOW SEND ME BACK! I LEFT THIS PLACE BECAUSE I DIDN’T NEED TO COME BACK! I HOPED I NEVER WOULD! I. AM. NOT. CRAZY!” I screeched, red in the face.86

Kikita lunged at me, and I stepped aside. The old abilities came back, and I remembered how to fight. She lunged once more and I sidestepped, bringing both fists onto the back of her neck. She fell heavily, but was up in a second. Then she was in front of me way too fast to be human.87

She looked just like her sister, so I knew she wasn’t human.88

She pinned me down, her long claw at my throat. “We ARE people. And you need to be here. Just listen, understand me, you little witch?” I nodded as she asked, “Would you like to know what’s going on?”89

“Yes.”, I said, breathing heavily. Then I walked to the desk and opened the book.90

91


CHAPTER THREE:
TWENTY QUESTIONS92


I opened that horrid book, and I’m not sure why. Maybe it was her smile. It seemed so disarming. I should’ve known better than to trust those creatures, but we’ll get to that later. The main thing is, I opened the book and learned a history that was not meant for human eyes. I learned the history of “Those with Bloody Eyes”…93

I learned the history of berserkers. 94

You say “berserker” in history class and the teacher launches into a lecture about the Germanic tribes that scared the Roman legions. They’re lying to you. The berserkers are a tribe, yes, but they are about as German as a French poodle. They are the forerunners of werewolves. Werewolves were simply an unfortunate genetic defect that went wild. It separated from the main group and became a species of its own. 95

Berserkers are special. They “died out” of our world many millennia ago. What they actually had done was somehow escape. It involved a sacrifice, made by the First. Because of this sacrifice, she was granted a second chance by their gods and goddess. She would be reincarnated one year after her life ended. Here’s the killer. She can only be killed by her hand or the hand of one of her own. So the gods and such had thought they trapped this innocent woman, condemning her to eternal life, and preventing her worship. They did not think she would actually commit suicide. 96

She did. Not shocking, given that she had lived 8400 years already. But what really froze my thought processes was the name of the most recent incarnation.97

“Garnet is the First?!” I yelled.98

“Of course. Couldn’t you tell by her attitude? How many soldiers, no matter the rank, would dare treat their ruler with such base disregard?” said Kikita.99

I thought for a moment on this idea. It was a very good point. But Garnet seemed like the kind of person who didn’t care about rank. She called the side effects of war “goodies” for Chrissake’s! That’s just not normal.100

Kikita smirked. “She’s a tad on the angry side…”101

“A tad?” I said in sarcastic disbelief, “Of course. If she really snapped we’d all be doomed, right?”102

“No.”103

I looked at her, confused.104

“I would be fine. She’d simply rip you apart and eat you. You should realize by now why no human messes with us anymore.”105

Once again I felt my body temperature drop to the floor and beyond.106

“What? You think these teeth are for show? A quirky little flaw that is just so irresistibly cute?” she smiled, showing the ominous points on each milky white tooth.107

“You mean... I’m a food source?” I said, “Well, that explains being called a ‘walking first course’.” I said wearily.108

Kikita shrugged, still smiling.109

I sat down on the side of the desk, gripping it with my hands. I looked at my shoes, how the grime of earthly life seemed to infect them when compared to the green marble floors. I tilted my head back and let a breath I forgot I’d been holding out in a slow silent whisper. I licked my dry lips, and looked around for a jug of water.110

Kikita held out a glass with the dark liquid in it. Resisting a Bela Lugosi impression, I took it with a nod of mute thanks, and drained it. Kikita raised one eyebrow as I allowed the overwhelming drink to flood my senses and I fell asleep.111

The next morning, I opened my eyes to the too bright light of a righteous hangover. The vicious throbbing in my head thudded with the dull “whumpf” of a body hitting carpet. I stood shakily, and fell down. 112

“Idiot.”, sounded a husky voice from the room corner. I looked over in fear of seeing the General from Hell, and found her seated comfortably in the window, a towel full of ice in her hand. Her eyes had the same squint mine did. Apparently we were in the same boat.113

“Don’t drain Ruby wine unless you have the experience I do.”, she said, tossing me the towel full of ice, “I’m fine now. Hold that over your eyes for a bit, then come down stairs.”114

With that, she left. I held the ice in my hand, vaguely wondering if it was coated in Scarfer poison, but decided that; since she held it for so long, it couldn’t be. I lay back down and covered my eyes, and felt the delicious cold seep through my shockingly warm skin. I thought about the townspeople.115

I remembered Madame Brujeria, a woman with vampire-like qualities. I remembered Roma, the chef in the Inn down the road. Then I tried to remember the royal family, and found I couldn’t. I couldn’t recall their faces at all, in the slightest detail. I felt hot tears sliding
down my face again, and they dripped over my ears because I was lying on my back. 116

The last throbs of my headache died away and I sat up, wiping my tears on whatever I had been wearing. A young man entered the room.
“I am Ryon. I am to lead you to the baths.” he said with a bow.117

He had an exotic…BEAUTY to him. He had smooth chocolate skin, thick dark hair, but bright green eyes. I swallowed my awe and nodded. He took my hand with a smile and gently led me down the extravagant halls.118

“Her Highness has asked me to accompany you until you fully regain memory of the palace.” he said softly in his cream smooth voice.119

I nodded. I can play amnesia. 120

121


CHAPTER FOUR:
SUPERGRAVITY122

The measured padded sounds of our feet walking down the hall lulled me almost into a sense of normalcy. I began wondering what was happening at home. Would anyone miss me? Did they find my body? Mom had to have come home by now. 123

Did she cry?124

…Did she tell Dad? Did he cry?
Or is it going to be another Prozac fest, like the last time something bad happened to me? I come home for help… No one believes me until…125

“We are here, Madame Kiki.”, Ryon’s voice slices through my thoughts.126

I look up and smile. The baths are still the same. The same white ivory inlaid on the same ebony, symbolizing the equality of all things. The grey highlights and grey towels, to show that there are in-betweens. 127

I pulled my clothing off, not quite caring about the red faced boy behind me, and I stepped into the hot water. I sank slowly, my face plastered with a humongous grin.128

“I have found heaven.” I sighed to myself.129

“W… Will that be all, Madame Kiki?” stuttered Ryon.130

I nodded towards him. Then I dunked my head, and could almost feel that thick layer of depression and sadness just fade away. My anger disintegrated into the hot water, fed by manipulated currents and heated by steam, fire, and a little “magic”. I doubted the magic, but with things like Garnet and Kikita on the loose, one can never know.131

I let myself float back up, and my hands drifted to the sides. I snatched a familiar bottle, and felt a smile break out onto my face.132

I drizzled the shimmering contents of the bottle lightly onto my hair, and worked it slightly in. Then I sat back, and let it work. If I’m going to be here a while, I might as well look the way I did so that I can be recognized. 133

They called it Alchemist’s Moon. It was made with slivers of silver. I had had my hair cut recently, and they always said it would restore anything. So, why not test it on my hair?134

I sat and daydreamed for a few minutes, thinking how nice it would be to have my hair long again. Then something tickled my chin. I opened one eye and looked down, and saw the ends of my hair. I quickly went under and scrubbed at it, then surfaced, thinking I had just been hallucinating. But when I came back up, it was still there. I laughed for the first time in a while. I grabbed a warm towel, and wrapped it around myself. I looked towards the door to go back to my room and get some kind of clothing, when Ryon’s hand popped into the ajar door and placed neatly folded clothing next to it. I slunk over and went through the soft things. I pulled up a shirt, and found something I hadn’t expected.135

“Thank God. I thought I had to go commando with it.”, I said to myself.136

Squeaky clean and dressed, I followed Ryon down the main staircase. He really was quite knowledgeable, considering royalty rarely educated servants.137

He looked sideways at me. “I’m related.”138

I turned my head so fast I felt my neck crack. “You’re what?!”139

“I’m Her Highness’s cousin.” he said softly.140

I looked at him, confused. He’s a member of the usurping bloodline! He should be treated like the rest of the family.141

“She refuses to acknowledge our relations. My great-great-grandfather… went a little crazy. For some reason, he suffered from a strange defect. He looked entirely human. He didn’t have those… fits. The only thing that gave him away was his eyes. So, he covered them. But then all this new technology came out…”142

He continued talking as I began thinking. The king… I remember him vaguely talking of a “side of him he wishes was completely gone”.
Could he be…?143

Nah. Couldn’t be. It wouldn't make any sense. Otherwise this civil war shouldn't be happening if it was just another branch of the true line. It wouldn't make any sense.144

Then again, nothing is making sense right now. Hell, I’m looking at a mini-Xerxes with wolf ears and a penchant for killing people in a fit of uncontrolled rage who has an insane sister and is trying to take over the world I created.145

I’m so needing some therapy after this crap is over.146

I found the main doors and pushed them lightly, perfectly oiled hinges sliding open without a sound. I walked through the town, my spirit cracking a little more with every step. I stopped in front of the old Inn and cried. My head fell back and my teeth crunched as I gritted them in grief and rage.
It was destroyed. The beautiful mahogany walls were in splinters, looters had taken or broken everything of value. Dark stains dotted the dark wood remnants where male soldiers had relieved themselves.147

I leaped onto the wood, memories flooding back, but the royal family still sadly absent. My hands grew dirty and splintered from pulling the wreckage apart until I stopped frantically digging. A thick hand poked from the wreckage. I pulled harder, shedding the denim coat I had pulled over my clothing. Soon, my jacket and my shirt slumped like worn workers over a jutting wall post and I worked in my tanktop. My hands sprinkled blood in delicate spurts until I uncovered the bodies of Roma, his two sons, and Mama; his wife.148

Roma was barely alive. I looked over his sizeable girth until I found the problem. Tiny holes in his body, centered in his stomach. Delicately, I put pressure around the wound until a small lead slug worked itself out. Only then did I realize how far along technology had come.149

“Papa Roma, can you hear me?” I spoke frantically to the now open but rolling eyes.150

He focused on me, and smiled, “My daughter from Elsewhere. How good to see you again.”151

I smiled, eyes wet. “Still cooking much and eating too much?”152

He nodded and grimaced. “They came from the west, and shredded our forces. We are no longer your world.”153

“I don’t care about that, Papa Roma. You know that. I gotta get you help, there’s just got to…”154

He shakily put a finger to my lips, trailing the hand to my hair. He stroked it softly as he spoke in the dry rasp of one who is pulled by Death. “No, child. It is too late for me. My family is dead. I am injured in the stomach. Its… harder to breathe. Maybe… Maybe we will meet in… In that heaven you once spoke of.”155

His eyes rolled back and his hand dropped to my shoulder, shivering with the last spasms of pain, and then going still. I reached a hand to cover his rapidly cooling one, remembering the sneak tastes he would hand me in his kitchens. I looked to his wife, who held me when I cried as though I was her own child. I looked to both his boys, ignoring the gruesome gouges over their faces, remembering when they taught me to fight, and win. I let Roma’s iced hand drop to the dust, watching it curl and I sat heavily, dangled my head down, and sobbed silently, the only one to shed tears for a normal man.156

It was getting dark as I dusted off my hands. I hadn’t wanted to move the bodies, So I buried them where they lay, marked them with crosses made from the wreckage. I walked mechanically down to the half destroyed mansion on the end of the street. I pushed open the door and stepped inside to discover another nightmare. Injured townfolk lined the walls, and a wispy woman tended to them.157

“Madame!” I called out loudly, happy to find someone alive. She looked at me for a second, and then ran towards me, looking as though she merely floated on her gown. She wrapped her arms around me and held me tightly speaking so fast and softly that I couldn’t understand her. 158

“Madame, what’s all this?” I asked.159

“I have started a civilian hospital, mija. It was the least I could do. Those creatures have destroyed everything.” She said, gritting her teeth.
I looked at the bags under her eyes, and the thinness in her pale body.160

“Have you slept!?” I said loudly.161

“I think so… About a day and a half ago. So many patients pour in every hour…”162

I put my hands on her bony shoulders and looked hard at her. “Sleep. Even if it’s just an hour or two. You can’t help anyone if you’re delirious and ill.”
She nodded as there was a pounding on the door. Everyone turned in fear as I creaked open, and Garnet stood there, licking blood from two fingers. “Come on, kiddo. Time to go. You visited your little buddies.”163

I looked at Madame and waved a small wave as I walked out. I heard a click as they locked the door behind us.164

“So, how was your little romp, huh, kiddo?”, she said with a oddly lighthearted smile, “heard you stopped by old Roma’s Inn. How’s the old cooky?”165

“Dead. Buried. At peace.”, I said, numbness pooling in my gut and spreading.166

“Dead? But we left his place intact!”167

“I guess Kikita changed her mind.”, I answered coolly.168

Garnet cursed loudly and swung a fist wildly, coat arcing in the back draft of the motion. A soldier dropped like a rock, neck at a wild angle, and dead.169

“I told her the best plan would be to leave the people their lives! Not destroy them one by one!”170

I turned in surprise to the highly emotional General Garnet. Her eyes glittered as her claws dug into clenched fists. I turned away again and continued. “The whole building is gone. Kitchens, rooms, bar, all of it. It’s totally leveled.”171

Garnet sighed, almost sadly. “I remember stumbling into there on my travels. He saved me, you know. I had gotten into another fight back home and was on another “exile”. I fell in, bleeding. He pulled me to the kitchens and washed the cuts with hot water off the stove.” She smiled and shook her head as her eyes gained a purple coloring, “I think I called him every name in the book. His wife walked in and smacked me dead on the mouth. She pointed a finger and said…”172

“No respectable young lady will speak in sailor’s tongues!”, we intoned in the same, loving mockery of the old woman’s European voice.173

Something strange happened that put the soldiers on edge. Garnet laughed. I laughed with her, loud and long. Then footsteps sounded off next to us. I saw a flash of white hair and heard a level monotone.174

“General, we have a situation.”175

Garnet stopped laughing and turned, her eyes gaining a scarlet blaze once more. “What?”176

“The townspeople demand you release Kiki. They say they will attack if necessary.” 177

“How many of them?”178

“Only about ten or fifteen men.”179

Garnet nodded, a sadist’s smirk coating her face in murderous glee. “I will deal personally with this.” She gestured at her small squad, “Come along… and bring the girl.”180

I looked in fear at her and began to pray as I followed the robotic soldiers to what I knew would only be pain. 181

182


CHAPTER FIVE:
BREAKDOWN183

I stood in the front of the soldiers, they held me still as I watched Garnet stride out to meet the boys and men I knew like family. They held my mouth silent as I tried to scream for them to run. When the massacre began, however, they let me scream all I wanted.184

They ran at her in ones and twos, and there had been twenty, not the ten reported. Garnet didn’t care. She let her claws and teeth rip through them like so much meat. Then she got bored and began toying with the remaining men. She’d flit through them in the ever-darker night air, snapping blades and necks. I saw the last of them drop and was spitting blood myself from screaming my throat raw. 185

Garnet walked back, a maniacal smile shimmering on her face, her eyes brighter than the moon that now hung in the black sky, freed of the clouds of smoke from the long day.186

She stepped up to me, and lifted my chin with one blood soaked finger. She laughed low once and said, “Give up all hope, girl. They will all die, in time.”187

And she kept walking as the soldiers drug me, my feet unmoving, my legs unworkable, and my mind and heart completely crushed into dust.188

The last image I had before sleep were the dust flecks swirling in the breeze from Roma’s hand hitting the blood-engorged dirt.189

I awoke with a start. I looked around as the most recent happenings crowded into my vision. I stood up and looked across the room at the mirror by the window. A basin of water sat there, shimmering like a crystal ball or magic portal. A towel lay folded next to it. I stood and walked over to it. A note in chicken scratch lay next to it.190

“I’m sorry kiddo. It’s my job. I had Little Ryon bring this up to get the blood off your face. Come to the kitchens when you’re finished. I have a surprise.
Sincerely,
G.S.”191

I stared at it in pure disbelief. She slaughtered people I love and then APOLOGIZES? I blinked and looked at my reflection. I looked like the Satan Braveheart. Half my face was covered in blood like some kind of gruesome warpaint. I all but threw my face into the basin of ice-cold water and scrubbed harshly. When I finally gained the ability to look in the mirror, my face was nice and healthy pink again. I scrubbed of my arms as well and rinsed my hair. By the time I was done, the water swirled almost black. I changed my clothes and went downstairs, and turned down the hall. One more flight of stairs down and I found the kitchens. They bustled with activity, and I found a very tired Garnet sitting on a stool, drowsing, her arms crossed and mouth slightly open. I touched her shoulder lightly, and she jumped awake.192

She turned to me and yawned once, all her teeth flickering in the light from the roasting fires. She closed her mouth and stood, stretching, lean muscle moving under her skin. She beckoned to me and wormed her way through the kitchen leading me closer to the far wall where we could speak.193

We finally reached the wall when she turned and looked down at me, something like sympathy in her eyes.194

“I know how close you were to Roma and his family. I discovered what happened. Kikita ordered his Inn destroyed because she expected it was a hiding place of rebels. I’m… I’m so sorry, kiddo.” She reached into a pouch hanging off the back of her belt, and pulled out a small package, tied in Mama’s hair ribbon. “I found the few items they took. I’m… I’m giving them to you. I’m really sorry kiddo. Try to keep your chin up. Oh, and on more thing. I found this…” she handed me a folded piece of paper, with Papa Roma’s signature adorning the front. “I haven’t opened it yet. I figured it wouldn’t be right.”195

With that, she left. I walked back to my room for privacy. I sat down on the bed and opened the paper first. I shook as I read it.196

“Hello my daughter from Elsewhere, if that is who you are. They reported that a girl was captured and taken to the palace who resembled young Kiki. I hope it is you reading this right now. I’ve missed you so much, my child. Mama has been worried sick since you left. They boys miss you terribly. I hope I get to see you once more before the end. Her Lady Kikita came to the door last night, demanding I aid her cause and cease serving the rebels. I told her I would help anyone who needed me, friend or enemy alike. She was unhappy with my answer. We will try to leave, but…
Oh, wait, my wife is calling for me… It sounds bad…”197

I shut my eyes. He must’ve been writing as his home was leveled.198

I turned to the small box. I untied the ribbon, ignoring a tiny bloody tear in the fabric. I pulled the top of the tiny package off and looked inside. Mama’s jewelry stared back at me, along with Papa Roma’s ring and the studs both the boys wore in their right ears. And a smaller box. It had a tag on it. “To our loving sister.” I shut my eyes. They had gotten me something the day they died. I picked it up and opened it. It was a pair of rings, both sized for my ring fingers. The rings had the first letter of their first names on them. I cried as I put them on, the metal cold and almost soft as I clenched my fists in hatred and finally just screamed, unleashing an unfamiliar animalistic sound unto the world.199

Four soldiers charged into my room, weapons drawn, and I flung myself at them. I punched, kicked, bit, and clawed with my bit-to-the-quick nails as anger clouded my world-weary vision. They tried so hard to restrain me. They finally resorted to slapping me with the butts of what looked like small pistols and the flats of blades. Garnet charged in, scattering them.200

“What the hell is going on here?! What were you doing to her? And why are you screaming?!”, she finished, her pale face slightly flushed, eyes brighter than normal.201

I couldn’t answer. I kept struggling against the two new soldiers who held me. I finally slipped free and began attacking them. Two strong arms picked me up and a voice yelled, “Get outta here boys! She’s lost it!”202

I writhed and snapped until I felt someone trying to shake me by the shoulders. I turned in their grasp, desperately trying to escape and wreak more havoc, but she held firm.203

“Garnet, LET ME GO NOW!!!” I screeched, sinking my teeth into her hand and tearing sideways. She wrapped both corded steel arms around me and spoke softly. “Just get this out now, kiddo. You’re not hurting anyone but yourself.”204

I wanted to hurt someone. I wanted to beat them into submission and rip their sanity away. I couldn’t escape. I bit and twisted and scratched. I felt every twitch of pain that passed through Garnet. I kicked my legs up and pushed off from the nightstand, and we fell. I had hoped it would make her let me go, but she just sat back up, almost cradling me like a child, hushing me. I opened my eyes and glared at her. I saw something then. Something so pathetic I almost felt sick. 205

Garnet’s eyes were wet. She squinched them shut and continued shushing me like I was a child. The spell broke. I couldn’t take it. I began crying. Right there, in the surprisingly motherly grip of the toughest and most dangerous General in the Army. I was so sick of crying… Of tears. And I think Garnet was too. She carried my worn out body back to the bed, clearing the jewelry from it and setting it on the vanity. She set me down, and stroked my now long hair as I suppose I fell asleep. I opened my eyes briefly to listen as my door opened. It was Kikita.206

“Well, Mother Dearest, tending to the hostage… are we?”207

“Shut up you little brat. I told you I didn’t want this to escalate!”208

“It hasn’t. I’m simply guaranteeing our positions as rulers.”
“By destroying this place? This people?”209

“I think you mean ‘person’. I know you miss your pups, my lovely sister, but you know as well as I do that this campaign is necessary for their survival. Your mate will not oblige us as he so generously states, and neither will his friends.”210

“Maybe I do mean person. I see my daughters in this child. Because that’s what she is. A CHILD. Compared to us, to our race, all of these people are children. They have a short enough life. Why are we shortening it more? I wanted to extend a hand of friendship, but you and our parents with your war-mongering…”211

“She’s still awake.”212

Kikita glared at me, her eyes narrow and deadly like a cobra waiting to strike. Garnet walked over to me and pricked a nerve on my neck. Their voices faded as I sank into pure blissful ignorance. I only caught one last sentence.213

“Kikita… this has GOT to end.”214

215


CHAPTER SIX:
MAKE-BELIEVE216

I woke up but didn’t move. I could feel the grease in my hair, the dirt tickling my skin, but I couldn’t move. My head hurt, I had welts and bruises from pistol butts and sword blades. I missed home. I had only been here a few days but it felt like years. All that had happened had happened so fast it was almost a blur. I had lost people who were important. I had possibly gained an ally. I had made an enemy out of the leader of one of the most powerful armies ever. And even though it was all in my head I had no control over any of it.217

I turned my head to look at the door. It was firmly shut; and locked no doubt, to prevent the loony prisoner from escaping her luxurious prison. I turned my face back up to the ceiling. No tears streamed backwards down my upturned face. No sobs wracked my body until my bones cracked against each other. No emotion oozed from my pores. I shut my eyes. “I’m so sorry for not remembering until now.” I said to the empty air. I opened my eyes, memories flooding back to me through the now broken barrier set there by a therapist who only wanted to help. I sat up, draping my arms over my knees. I sighed once and slid off the bed. I walked softly to the baths, and scrubbed hard at the bad memories and burning scrapes.218

I stumbled out, eyes bleary from burning soap and ice cold self hatred. I had known this was going to happen all along. I remembered the day I left. They asked me to stay because His Highness’s “other family” could make a bid for power. They told me they had advanced technology. They told me everything. 219

I looked out at the army. What they had was updated almost daily. No doubt, Kikita was reading my mind and scanning memories for hints and ideas. I saw a soldier flip open a phone. She had probably found the memory of my phone shattering on pavement. She was developing technology at an alarming rate, so fast that she would no doubt be the dictator of this entire world within days now.220

I sighed as I passed rooms that were empty on my way to my cavernous chambers. I heard mutters in a few of rebellions that would never survive. Then I stopped by one specific room when I heard giggles. Not normal giggles of a kitchen maid and a serving boy, as I walked in on once. It was a male and... GARNET?!?!221

“Why don’t all of you just stay with me and my brother? We could definitely take care of you! No more wars, or power struggles... we could get little Kay some SERIOUS therapy...”222

“No... I couldn’t risk endangering my pups like that. You know what happens when Kay has her little moods.”223

“There’s someone outside the door hun.”224

“Really? Lemme check...”225

My eyes got wide and I went to run away when they door opened and garnet looked at me, her lips slightly swollen and her eyes shining. I looked over her shoulder to see a quite impressive male lounging casually on her bed. He looked at me and winked. I felt heat rush through my face as I realized I was in my towel, dripping wet. Garnet leaned over and whispered, “It’s alright. Just run along to your room and change. When you come back I’ll make some introductions.”226

I nodded as I rushed off. 227

“She was cute...”, I heard him say as he laughed in his throat.228

“I’ll show you ‘cute’.”, said Garnet with an unchararistic chuckle. 229

I shut my ears after that as I ran into my room. I quickly pulled on something, then realized what I was wearing. I stopped in the mirror and admired myself (a first for me)for a few seconds. Then I bolted out the door and down the hall, where Garnet waited. Her smile grew bigger as her eyes shone.230

“Kiddo, there’s some very special people I’d like you to meet.” She pushed open the door and ushered me gently in. Twin boys argued on a couch, a young girl sat and chatted with the male Garnet had been cuddling up to. A slightly older, but more aggressive looking female sat on a chair, with an expression much like Garnet-in-angry-mode on her face as she glared at me then looked away.231

I felt Garnet rest a hand on my shoulder. “Kiki, this is my family. The boys are Zach and Cody; my sons; the younger girl is Rei; my second daughter, the older one is Nikki and the pale one grinning on my bed is Chad, my mate.”232

Rei walked up to me and looked at me, then turned around and glared at her brothers. “I can hear you two even if she can’t...”233

The taller one, Zach, looked at her and rolled his eyes. “So? I’m entitled to my opinions.”234

Cody just shrugged, “What he said. I’m just not dumb enough to say it.”235

As he stated this I watched Rei slug her brother in the ear. He yelped loudly and I accidentally let forth a giggle.236

“Rei is the law when ‘Mommy Dearest’ isn’t home.”, said the older girl, Nikki. “Except with me. Right Chad?”237

He nodded as I looked in confusion at her. “You call your Dad by his first name?”238

“That fool isn’t MY father. My father is with our aunt right now...”239

“Well, he isn’t exactly wise with his choice in women...”240

“You have no room to talk, King Manwhore...”, said Garnet with a laugh.241

He sat up slightly, a look of mock indignation on his face. “I resent that!”242

Rei looked at her father and smiled sweetly, “All politicians resent the truth, Daddy.”
We all laughed at that as he stuck his nose in the air dramatically, crossing his arms. “I’m not a politician. Politician mean the people can actually choose which wack-job they want to rule them. I’m a dictator, which means...”243

“Which means he rules via man-parts, not IQ points.”, said a cool voice from behind us.244

“Auntie Kay!!”, yelled Rei as she ran up and hugged her. I stepped back over to where the boys sat. Another male followed Kay into the room. He seemed quieter and more reserved, a lot like Kikita. Which probably meant he could be a sadist as well.245

“Chad, you realize your friend and your scribe went on a walk around the grounds two hours ago?”, asked Kikita, covering a smile.246

“So?”247

“Shouldn’t you find them before someone else does?”248

“I don’t care that much...”249

“But what if...”250

“What if the moon was made of cheese? They’ll be fine. What’s the worst that could happen?”251

A series of rude remarks floated up from the grounds, followed by another voice laughing very hard, it seemed.252

Garnet rolled her eyes and walked quickly over to the window. I walked over with her and looked down. A guy was sitting on the dusty ground, holding his stomach and laughing as a girl chased a soldier with a notebook and a very sharp pen, judging from the scratches on the poor guy’s face.253

“Knock it off you nutjob! You’ll make the poor guy explode with his laughing!”, yelled Garnet cheerily. This prompted some very interesting language and more screams from the soldier.254

“Oh Jeez... She’s latched onto the poor guy.”, Garnet looked at Chad with one raised eyebrow, “You just can’t control anything, can you?”255

He smiled, shook his head, and leaned back onto the pillows, his hands comfortably curled underneath his head. Zach laughed with him, but Rei and Cody stood up. “We’ll help you Mom. Bekz can get pretty wild.”, said Rei.256

“And someone needs to drag Kaleb back in.”, sighed Cody resignedly.