The next day, the girl was forbidden from leaving her room. The two guards she had seen posted by the stairs were now outside her room. She had slept in, undisturbed, and awoke with the vague sensation that the break of schedule was some kind of punishment. She'd opened the door, only to find them standing outside.
"Ah!" One of them remarked. It was Frederick, whom she had spoken with before. She recognized his face, and saw his eyes marked with a tired pity. The other guard's face was dark with blame and annoyance. It was Frederick who spoke. "You're up at last. Sorry, girl- can't let you out of your room today."
Her face look positively crushed, and she made such a face that Frederick seemed to almost back away apologetically. "Look, it's not my decision. The Princess' handservant told us to, and he had the authority of the Security Chief to back it up. WAnts you kooped up today, says you need to learn your dependence or something."
"You're not supposed to TELL her that, you idiot." His partner grumbled. "Now she'll just be pissy that she's being punished."
"Oh, come on, Raynor. Look at her. So what if she did sneak around a bit? It's not like we haven't wanted to, only we have posts to tend to. This place is ancient and old.. just imagine what kind of secrets its dusty rooms hold." Frederick gazed reverently at the walls, looking a bit foolish.
Her face was inquisitive, and she looked at Frederick expectantly.
"What..? You didn't know?" Frederick looked to Raynor.
"If she's telling the truth, she probably doesn't know anything about the Stormsidi." Raynor said. "I think that would include how old the castle is, or why.. well, if she's telling the truth." He sniffed and looked at her, his fingers tightening his grip around the spearshaft he held.
Frederick shrugged and looked at the girl. "Well, let's just ask her. Hey, do you know why this castle is important?" She shook her head, and he looked at Raynor with a "see?" look.
"How did you even GET this position?" Raynor muttered darkly.
As if he thought the question was sincere, Frederick responded. "WEeeell, my pappy was good friends with the King, one of his personal bodyguards. Kinda like the Princess' manservant, but officially recognized. Bless the king's heart." There was a moment of silence between the two guards. (The girl's participation was more or less considered voluntary.) "So a year or so ago I got an invitation to join the royal guard. Then this guy came and asked me to spy on the royal family for them, and they'd pay me a pretty big sum of silver. Of course, I said I'd never even consider it and they'd best find themselves lost, because the royal family was good to mine and I'd never betray them, not even for all the riches of the fairies. Well, the very next day, the Princess' manservant is at my door and takes me from home and hearth and wife to here." He exhaled and took a big breath.
Raynor stared at Frederick with wide eyes and blinked. "Wasn't meant to be answered, lad. But.. I see. Well, tell her whatever you want. If she IS a.. well, then you're not telling her anything she already knows. As long as you keep it to public knowledge." Frederick shrugged.
"Sure. It's not like we know anything the public don't." Frederick responded. "Alright, listen. You know why the Stormsidi's called such?"
The girl shook her head.
"Well.. do you know what fairies are?" He asked, looking nervous. She shook her head. "They're ancient things. Not human, but they looked human.. anyways, a long time ago, they interbred with the royalty of an ancient nation, called.. erm.."
"Blackwulfen."
"Something like that." Frederick said. "And the kings and queens of that line founded the Stormsidi. Following?" The girl nodded. "As a result, their line has always been.. blessed, I guess you could say. Fairies are weird. Their blood is even weirder.. but they've always ruled well."
"You speak of our Princess, Frederick." Raynor warned.
"I mean no disrespect." Frederick said. "Just, they've always.. well, I guess it's hard to convey in words. They're not mad, or ill. Just unusual. But powerful, wise, and majestic." He nodded. "And of course, their blood empowers the Stormsidi.."
"No one really knows the secret of the Stormsidi." Raynor finished. "But the royal line has something to do with it. An ancient power.. it was last used in legend, to defend the Stormsidi against barbarian hordes."
The girl listened intently, eyes flicking between the two, leaned against the doorframe with arms crossed.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Dream Journal: Shells
It is time to save the world again.
I am an investigator, cold and aloof, investigating the death of a citizen on our small little worldship. Their eyes have sunken into black sockets, and their expression is cold and miserable. It was just another game in the daily list of games the whole ship participated in. First person shooters, random physical activities. Everyone does them, every day. The person was "Shot" during a game and died for real and in a most unusual manner.
I am the only investigator on the ship. I ask questions. I discover that there are others who have died like this in the past. People forget quickly, too quickly. I discover that their energy has just been.. drained out of them, and this is the result. Their spiritual energy, or their "soul". People try to prevent me from learning more, things turn violent.
I am forced to kill someone attacking me in self-defense, and upon death they scream and vaporize, then respawn way back in their own home. Just like if we were playing a game. There's no boundary between our real lives and the games. It's all the same thing, I discover. The game is on, always. Why?
The ship is using our spiritual energy to power itself. The games are its way of harvesting us. Death, excitement, charges our energy, allows it to be harvested. Dying when you have energy left just lets the ship respawn you. But sometimes you have no energy left.
They're everywhere. Corpses, walking. Empty eye sockets. People ignore them. They're guided to ignore them. What happens, then, when you run out of energy, but you're not killed? When you just keep on living without your soul anymore?
You become an empty, cold shell. An investigator.
I pull the trigger on myself.
I am an investigator, cold and aloof, investigating the death of a citizen on our small little worldship. Their eyes have sunken into black sockets, and their expression is cold and miserable. It was just another game in the daily list of games the whole ship participated in. First person shooters, random physical activities. Everyone does them, every day. The person was "Shot" during a game and died for real and in a most unusual manner.
I am the only investigator on the ship. I ask questions. I discover that there are others who have died like this in the past. People forget quickly, too quickly. I discover that their energy has just been.. drained out of them, and this is the result. Their spiritual energy, or their "soul". People try to prevent me from learning more, things turn violent.
I am forced to kill someone attacking me in self-defense, and upon death they scream and vaporize, then respawn way back in their own home. Just like if we were playing a game. There's no boundary between our real lives and the games. It's all the same thing, I discover. The game is on, always. Why?
The ship is using our spiritual energy to power itself. The games are its way of harvesting us. Death, excitement, charges our energy, allows it to be harvested. Dying when you have energy left just lets the ship respawn you. But sometimes you have no energy left.
They're everywhere. Corpses, walking. Empty eye sockets. People ignore them. They're guided to ignore them. What happens, then, when you run out of energy, but you're not killed? When you just keep on living without your soul anymore?
You become an empty, cold shell. An investigator.
I pull the trigger on myself.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
On the Run (Dream Blog)
There is a pale queen, and she is feasting on the heart of a horse. There is an army about her, and she means to use it to invade my homeland. My homeland is a land of modern times, urban houses and small parks. Her land is the land of fantasy and medieval, of wild men and magic. I am spying on her, but I am caught. She has a daughter, a queer girl who has a strange power. She leads me away from a spot just before a rock crashes into it. The power of slight presciency, or ability to see the future.
She is silent and does not speak, but her facial and body language say that she likes me. Her favor wins my survival, and she begifts me with small kisses. War comes. She is taken with an army of men to invade the modern world, and I go with her. We attack a fortress-prison to make a beachhead. I do not fight, but in the middle of combat. She turns, seeing what will happen just a moment before it does. I am cast off a wall and fall to my death below.
The queer girl screams, and casts powerful blood magic. She sacrifices her entire army. I awaken in a powerful rush of water, in the flooded debris of what was once a fortress. Blood, everywhere. I find the girl, who is near death, and I revive her with a kiss- giving up my life for hers. She refuses to allow it, and so we are both just alive, and weakened. She is the weaker, however, and a living soldier of my homeworld comes upon us. He recognizes her for what she is.
I am forced to kill him.
I am now a traitor to my own people, on the run in my homeland, carrying the girl and hiding within a suburban area. I gather supplies while I can, but a news bulletin gives my face, and I am forced to flee from police and military men, investigators with high-powered technology. The girl finds me, turns us invisible, and we hide, cuddled in a corner, as they pass. We hide in unlived houses, parks, and escape into the city. She protects me, and I protect her. We share blood now.
I find shelter in an old friend's home, who is torn between his friendship with me and the fact I am harboring a powerful enemy. I need to get her back to her homeland, and avoid the searching. The girl does not trust him. She wants me to kill him. War is coming, in the shape of horses and fires. The queen searches, too, for her daughter, and the man who took her.
I must do my best to keep them both alive as I search for a way to return her home. Being found by either army would mean the death of one of them- and me.
She is silent and does not speak, but her facial and body language say that she likes me. Her favor wins my survival, and she begifts me with small kisses. War comes. She is taken with an army of men to invade the modern world, and I go with her. We attack a fortress-prison to make a beachhead. I do not fight, but in the middle of combat. She turns, seeing what will happen just a moment before it does. I am cast off a wall and fall to my death below.
The queer girl screams, and casts powerful blood magic. She sacrifices her entire army. I awaken in a powerful rush of water, in the flooded debris of what was once a fortress. Blood, everywhere. I find the girl, who is near death, and I revive her with a kiss- giving up my life for hers. She refuses to allow it, and so we are both just alive, and weakened. She is the weaker, however, and a living soldier of my homeworld comes upon us. He recognizes her for what she is.
I am forced to kill him.
I am now a traitor to my own people, on the run in my homeland, carrying the girl and hiding within a suburban area. I gather supplies while I can, but a news bulletin gives my face, and I am forced to flee from police and military men, investigators with high-powered technology. The girl finds me, turns us invisible, and we hide, cuddled in a corner, as they pass. We hide in unlived houses, parks, and escape into the city. She protects me, and I protect her. We share blood now.
I find shelter in an old friend's home, who is torn between his friendship with me and the fact I am harboring a powerful enemy. I need to get her back to her homeland, and avoid the searching. The girl does not trust him. She wants me to kill him. War is coming, in the shape of horses and fires. The queen searches, too, for her daughter, and the man who took her.
I must do my best to keep them both alive as I search for a way to return her home. Being found by either army would mean the death of one of them- and me.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Stormsidi (Chapter ?)
The girl sat in the windowsill, gazing out to sea as she did each morning. Fog rolled over the blue waves, and waves sprayed mist. There was a gentle silence as the light danced beams around the water and walls. She pulled her nightgown tight around her ankles and rested her arms on her knees.
The smooth, deep voice of King snuck in through the silence. She knew what he was going to ask as soon as she heard him. "Do you remember what happened the night we found you?" He asked. The girl turned her head to look at him with a reluctant expression and blew some hair out of her face, shaking her head with downward, insincere eyes. "Try. It's important." Her eyes focused on a distant point, and then flicked to his. A slight shake of her head. ".. I see. You know, maybe your memory would be stirred if I told you what we knew." The girl looked apprehensive.
"We were moving the Princess to a new safecastle. Our old one was compromised after our former head of security was killed." The girl's eyes narrowed slightly and she quickly looked out to the sea as King watched her. She bit her lower lip and looked back to him. His eyes felt piercing. "We heard gunfire on the path.. there was an explosion. We found you there. Our men saw several rebels fleeing the scene. Do you remember any of this?"
The girl sighed, and nodded slightly, looking up into King's eyes. "Do you remember what happened before we arrived?" She shook her head before he was even finished asking the question. "I see." This would not be the last time he asked this question, it was clear.
She spent the day padding barefoot around the section of the castle she was confined to, creeping about quietly pressed to walls and listening to people and sounds. The castle was pristine in the parts that had been cleaned, but many parts of it, especially those not in use, were full of dust and a strange musty smell that permeated the air with age.
Many of the doors available to her were locked, but she could see through the keyholes dark rooms of shapes. The door four doors down from her room was locked, but the lock fell apart after a few strong jiggles and led into what must have once been a royal pantry. The crates and boxes remained, but the food was long gone. The girl toed around stains on the floor and pushed aside boxes, climbed on top of tables and peeked on top shelves, blowing dust off.
There was a hole in wall behind one of the boxes. When she leaned down to inspect it, she could feel a cold wind blow through it, chilling her. There was a passageway.
She could just barely fit into the hole, and it took some scraping and bending. Her nightgown bunched up at the shoulders and she stopped, halfway through the hole, because she did not wish to tear it, and carefully adjusted herself until she could push through. The secret passageway was as wide as a man and remarkably clean.
There were small sources of light peeking in through the sides of the passageway, from the outside. Bricks that were glowing. The girl walked up to one and inspected it, and discovered that the brick was actually see-through and glass. She followed the wall and the bricks along, until she came to an old grating in the floor. There was some sort of duct in the floor. The air was cold and blowing fast in it. Some kind of air conditioning system? She wondered. She pulled the grating off and decided to chance exploring, sliding easily into the duct-space. It was big enough to comfortable crawl in, although it was quite cold.
She crawled until she came to an opening that peeked into a room below. It was a very small opening, not enough for even a child to crawl through, but she could still see into the room. It was an office, with plans and maps laid out on the wall. It seemed vaguely familiar to her. Inside the room was a strange man she hadn't seen before, but his voice she recognized from somewhere.
"I don't agree." The strange man said. He was dressed in dark blue, practical clothing, with buttons up his arms and short brown hair. "It's a big security risk."
"Everything is, these days." The voice belonged to King, though she could not see him. "It's your job to prevent anything disastrous from happening. If you think it needs a greater security detail than the guards assigned to the Princess.."
"I'm not saying that they're not up to the task. It's just.." The man ran his hand through his hair. "We don't know anything about her. And we can't find anything out about her. There's nothing on her. It feels obvious to me there's more going on here."
"I agree." King rumbled. "But until we know more, I don't see a problem with keeping her in the safecastle."
"I do!" The man exclaimed. "She could be a spy. She could be an assassin. If you'd just let me interrogate her-"
"The Princess has deemed that unnecessary. I agree."
"I don't agree with your trust." The man replied with a deep sigh. The girl studied his features carefully. His eyes were deep and heavy. He'd not gotten much sleep. He looked stressed out, the girl recognized.
"It's not within your authority to deny the will of the throne." King said.
"It IS within my authority to decide measures to protect the throne." The man said. "As your new chief of security, that is well within my purview. And this girl is an obvious risk. Adoral was killed because he trusted someone he thought he could trust, even when all evidence pointed against it. As his replacement, I'm not going to see the same trick played twice." He stood up straight, and looked firmly in the direction of King.
"...very well. What do you want to do?" King said.
"I want to interrogate her. Myself. How I please." The man said.
"No." King said, with a level of grit in his voice the girl had no heard before. She shuddered, and rubbed her hands together hard. It was so cold in the vent. "I do not allow that."
"You don't have the power to deny me." The man replied. "I am acting in the interest of the throne. You may be the Princess' servant, but it is not you who is chief of security."
"Perhaps. But we are both charged with protecting the Princess. You cannot do your duty long if you focus overly much on your own will. She has given you her will. The girl is not. to. be. harmed." King said.
The man was silent for a long while, looking at the wall. The girl adjusted herself slowly, looking into the vent until she could see King, who looked.. harried. Angry. There were lines in his face she had never seen until now. His eyes flicked up for a brief moment, and she pulled back, unsure if he had seen her. If he had, he did not express it in his body or words.
"Interrogate her if you must. But her recovery will not be interrupted." King said.
"Her recovery." The man said with an air of mocking. "How convenient, her silence. How arbitrary, her timing." He sighed. "Very well. Take me to her. I will ask her my questions, if she can answer them." He gestured to the door. They were coming to see her! If she was not in her room, or at the very least the hallway she was supposed to be confined to.. she squirmed in the vent and backed up slowly as the cold wind blew against her backside.
It took her precious minutes to scoot herself up to the grate that she had entered into, and she quickly pulled herself out, forgetting the grating and rushing towards the hole. She quickly pulled off the nightgown and tossed it through the hole, and threw herself through it, struggling mightily to slide through, scraping and slicing. Quickly, she blew off the nightgown and pulled it back on, and slid out of the room with all the quietness of a very quiet mouse.
The hallway was silent yet judging. She could hear voices coming from near her room. She calmed her heart as best as she could, smoothed out her dress, and stepped forward on bare feet around the bend of the hallway until the man and King came into sight.
"..not here! Who gave her permission to..?" The man paused, seeing the girl. She looked fearful and nervous, but slowly stepped forward. Her posture was that of someone who had known they had down wrong; shoulders slumped, movements slight, head slightly bowed. "There she is."
King walked in tall strides to her and quickly grasped her shoulder. He squinted slightly. "Cold. You're very cold.. and bleeding." He was looking at her shoulder. There was dirt and a small amount of bruised bleeding. "What were you up to? Come." He pulled her past the man into her room, and the man followed. King pulled out a fresh set of bandages as she sat down on the edge of the bed. As she waited, the man walked up to her, with a strange, cold look in his eyes, yet awkward nervousness in his posture, she noticed.
King dabbed ointment and disinfectant against her shoulder, and she cringed, but he pressed the disinfectant harder against her. Silently expressing his disapproval of whatever she had been up to, to obtain such injuries. He began to wrap the bandages around her as the man began to speak.
"My name is Michael." He said. "I'm the Chief of Security here. I've like to ask you some questions." It was clear from his tone the girl had no choice.
"What is your name?" He asked. She shook her head. "You can't give it, or you don't have one?" She squinted one eye at him and made an annoyed face. King looked at the man. "Alright, fine. Do you HAVE a name?" She shook her head.
"Okay. The night you were encountered, there was an intense firefight, that sparked off REMARKABLY close to us. Do you remember that?" She nodded, but slightly. "I bet. You got injured in that. Do you remember how?" She hesitated. She.. could she? Was it there? Or would it hurt too much to know? She looked to the side. "You do." The man replied. He leaned forward. "YOur throat. It was.. I'm told the healers had never seen such an injury. Someone didn't want you talking." She shrunk from his presence as much as she could. King tied tight the last bandage on her shoulder. "Why were you there?"
She looked at Michael with a hopeless expression. He pressed forward. "WHY were you there? It was late at night. In the middle of a firefight. You had plenty of time to escape. The rebels are careful to maintain perfect PR. WHY were you hurt?" He demanded, grabbing her shoulder forcefully. King looked at the man with alarm. "ANSWER ME!" She said nothing, biting her teeth and staring at the floor with wide eyes. Michael rose his hand and backhanded her, and in return King slid inbetween her and Michael with a sense of presence she had only guessed he had.
"That's enough." King said, holding his arms open. Michael looked at his hand, and sighed.
"I'm sorry. I lost my patience there." He said quietly. "You must understand the position you've put me in. You're an unknown person, with an unknown identity, and you cannot speak.. It is all so convenient." He stared at her intensely with those cold eyes of his, and then turned and left. She watched him go with King.
King turned to look at her with a sad expression on his face, but it sublty reverted to his normal, expressionless face. "You've made an enemy of him, I fear. I'm not sure he'll ever accept your presence. Not as the Princess has begun to.. you should rest. You are cold, and injured. You should refrain from exploring the castle so intently in the future. It will lead you to harm." He warned. King left the room, leaving her alone.
She slid to her pillows and rest her head on them, and stared, imagining terrible things.
The smooth, deep voice of King snuck in through the silence. She knew what he was going to ask as soon as she heard him. "Do you remember what happened the night we found you?" He asked. The girl turned her head to look at him with a reluctant expression and blew some hair out of her face, shaking her head with downward, insincere eyes. "Try. It's important." Her eyes focused on a distant point, and then flicked to his. A slight shake of her head. ".. I see. You know, maybe your memory would be stirred if I told you what we knew." The girl looked apprehensive.
"We were moving the Princess to a new safecastle. Our old one was compromised after our former head of security was killed." The girl's eyes narrowed slightly and she quickly looked out to the sea as King watched her. She bit her lower lip and looked back to him. His eyes felt piercing. "We heard gunfire on the path.. there was an explosion. We found you there. Our men saw several rebels fleeing the scene. Do you remember any of this?"
The girl sighed, and nodded slightly, looking up into King's eyes. "Do you remember what happened before we arrived?" She shook her head before he was even finished asking the question. "I see." This would not be the last time he asked this question, it was clear.
She spent the day padding barefoot around the section of the castle she was confined to, creeping about quietly pressed to walls and listening to people and sounds. The castle was pristine in the parts that had been cleaned, but many parts of it, especially those not in use, were full of dust and a strange musty smell that permeated the air with age.
Many of the doors available to her were locked, but she could see through the keyholes dark rooms of shapes. The door four doors down from her room was locked, but the lock fell apart after a few strong jiggles and led into what must have once been a royal pantry. The crates and boxes remained, but the food was long gone. The girl toed around stains on the floor and pushed aside boxes, climbed on top of tables and peeked on top shelves, blowing dust off.
There was a hole in wall behind one of the boxes. When she leaned down to inspect it, she could feel a cold wind blow through it, chilling her. There was a passageway.
She could just barely fit into the hole, and it took some scraping and bending. Her nightgown bunched up at the shoulders and she stopped, halfway through the hole, because she did not wish to tear it, and carefully adjusted herself until she could push through. The secret passageway was as wide as a man and remarkably clean.
There were small sources of light peeking in through the sides of the passageway, from the outside. Bricks that were glowing. The girl walked up to one and inspected it, and discovered that the brick was actually see-through and glass. She followed the wall and the bricks along, until she came to an old grating in the floor. There was some sort of duct in the floor. The air was cold and blowing fast in it. Some kind of air conditioning system? She wondered. She pulled the grating off and decided to chance exploring, sliding easily into the duct-space. It was big enough to comfortable crawl in, although it was quite cold.
She crawled until she came to an opening that peeked into a room below. It was a very small opening, not enough for even a child to crawl through, but she could still see into the room. It was an office, with plans and maps laid out on the wall. It seemed vaguely familiar to her. Inside the room was a strange man she hadn't seen before, but his voice she recognized from somewhere.
"I don't agree." The strange man said. He was dressed in dark blue, practical clothing, with buttons up his arms and short brown hair. "It's a big security risk."
"Everything is, these days." The voice belonged to King, though she could not see him. "It's your job to prevent anything disastrous from happening. If you think it needs a greater security detail than the guards assigned to the Princess.."
"I'm not saying that they're not up to the task. It's just.." The man ran his hand through his hair. "We don't know anything about her. And we can't find anything out about her. There's nothing on her. It feels obvious to me there's more going on here."
"I agree." King rumbled. "But until we know more, I don't see a problem with keeping her in the safecastle."
"I do!" The man exclaimed. "She could be a spy. She could be an assassin. If you'd just let me interrogate her-"
"The Princess has deemed that unnecessary. I agree."
"I don't agree with your trust." The man replied with a deep sigh. The girl studied his features carefully. His eyes were deep and heavy. He'd not gotten much sleep. He looked stressed out, the girl recognized.
"It's not within your authority to deny the will of the throne." King said.
"It IS within my authority to decide measures to protect the throne." The man said. "As your new chief of security, that is well within my purview. And this girl is an obvious risk. Adoral was killed because he trusted someone he thought he could trust, even when all evidence pointed against it. As his replacement, I'm not going to see the same trick played twice." He stood up straight, and looked firmly in the direction of King.
"...very well. What do you want to do?" King said.
"I want to interrogate her. Myself. How I please." The man said.
"No." King said, with a level of grit in his voice the girl had no heard before. She shuddered, and rubbed her hands together hard. It was so cold in the vent. "I do not allow that."
"You don't have the power to deny me." The man replied. "I am acting in the interest of the throne. You may be the Princess' servant, but it is not you who is chief of security."
"Perhaps. But we are both charged with protecting the Princess. You cannot do your duty long if you focus overly much on your own will. She has given you her will. The girl is not. to. be. harmed." King said.
The man was silent for a long while, looking at the wall. The girl adjusted herself slowly, looking into the vent until she could see King, who looked.. harried. Angry. There were lines in his face she had never seen until now. His eyes flicked up for a brief moment, and she pulled back, unsure if he had seen her. If he had, he did not express it in his body or words.
"Interrogate her if you must. But her recovery will not be interrupted." King said.
"Her recovery." The man said with an air of mocking. "How convenient, her silence. How arbitrary, her timing." He sighed. "Very well. Take me to her. I will ask her my questions, if she can answer them." He gestured to the door. They were coming to see her! If she was not in her room, or at the very least the hallway she was supposed to be confined to.. she squirmed in the vent and backed up slowly as the cold wind blew against her backside.
It took her precious minutes to scoot herself up to the grate that she had entered into, and she quickly pulled herself out, forgetting the grating and rushing towards the hole. She quickly pulled off the nightgown and tossed it through the hole, and threw herself through it, struggling mightily to slide through, scraping and slicing. Quickly, she blew off the nightgown and pulled it back on, and slid out of the room with all the quietness of a very quiet mouse.
The hallway was silent yet judging. She could hear voices coming from near her room. She calmed her heart as best as she could, smoothed out her dress, and stepped forward on bare feet around the bend of the hallway until the man and King came into sight.
"..not here! Who gave her permission to..?" The man paused, seeing the girl. She looked fearful and nervous, but slowly stepped forward. Her posture was that of someone who had known they had down wrong; shoulders slumped, movements slight, head slightly bowed. "There she is."
King walked in tall strides to her and quickly grasped her shoulder. He squinted slightly. "Cold. You're very cold.. and bleeding." He was looking at her shoulder. There was dirt and a small amount of bruised bleeding. "What were you up to? Come." He pulled her past the man into her room, and the man followed. King pulled out a fresh set of bandages as she sat down on the edge of the bed. As she waited, the man walked up to her, with a strange, cold look in his eyes, yet awkward nervousness in his posture, she noticed.
King dabbed ointment and disinfectant against her shoulder, and she cringed, but he pressed the disinfectant harder against her. Silently expressing his disapproval of whatever she had been up to, to obtain such injuries. He began to wrap the bandages around her as the man began to speak.
"My name is Michael." He said. "I'm the Chief of Security here. I've like to ask you some questions." It was clear from his tone the girl had no choice.
"What is your name?" He asked. She shook her head. "You can't give it, or you don't have one?" She squinted one eye at him and made an annoyed face. King looked at the man. "Alright, fine. Do you HAVE a name?" She shook her head.
"Okay. The night you were encountered, there was an intense firefight, that sparked off REMARKABLY close to us. Do you remember that?" She nodded, but slightly. "I bet. You got injured in that. Do you remember how?" She hesitated. She.. could she? Was it there? Or would it hurt too much to know? She looked to the side. "You do." The man replied. He leaned forward. "YOur throat. It was.. I'm told the healers had never seen such an injury. Someone didn't want you talking." She shrunk from his presence as much as she could. King tied tight the last bandage on her shoulder. "Why were you there?"
She looked at Michael with a hopeless expression. He pressed forward. "WHY were you there? It was late at night. In the middle of a firefight. You had plenty of time to escape. The rebels are careful to maintain perfect PR. WHY were you hurt?" He demanded, grabbing her shoulder forcefully. King looked at the man with alarm. "ANSWER ME!" She said nothing, biting her teeth and staring at the floor with wide eyes. Michael rose his hand and backhanded her, and in return King slid inbetween her and Michael with a sense of presence she had only guessed he had.
"That's enough." King said, holding his arms open. Michael looked at his hand, and sighed.
"I'm sorry. I lost my patience there." He said quietly. "You must understand the position you've put me in. You're an unknown person, with an unknown identity, and you cannot speak.. It is all so convenient." He stared at her intensely with those cold eyes of his, and then turned and left. She watched him go with King.
King turned to look at her with a sad expression on his face, but it sublty reverted to his normal, expressionless face. "You've made an enemy of him, I fear. I'm not sure he'll ever accept your presence. Not as the Princess has begun to.. you should rest. You are cold, and injured. You should refrain from exploring the castle so intently in the future. It will lead you to harm." He warned. King left the room, leaving her alone.
She slid to her pillows and rest her head on them, and stared, imagining terrible things.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Stormsidi Character Sheets (Ariel/Aerika)
"Ariel"
1. Key Facts
She is curious and searching for something to call her own.
She is lonely and looking for somewhere to belong.
She is a trickster, energetic on her own and shy when confronted.
She does not speak, and it is unclear if she can't or is choosing not to.
She is potentially a spy, and behaves very much in a manner as a spy would, sneaking around, creeping around, watching people, listening in.
She remembers details from another life; an empty apartment, a hard world without friends. An empty world.
What happened?
The Dark Man was part of a group of of young intellectuals who decided they wanted to support the rebellion and made a stand in the city, foolishly, because they had no contacts with the rebellion. Their insurgency was put down and the Dark Man watched his friends executed or jailed. He was pardoned because he accidentally misfired and shot a friend in the back, saving an officer of the city, and this was taken to be a gesture of turning back to the city instead of the accident it was.
He was contacted by members of the rebellion and told the knowledge his friends' deaths weren't going to waste, if he worked for them. He agreed, and began a career of spying, reporting important information, and funding the rebellion.
2. Goals
Ariel wants to become recognized as a protector and defender.
I want her to go from a shy sneaker to a strong warrior.
3. Secrets
As the Dark Man, they knew who really killed their best friend (themselves) and didn't tell anyone.
As the Dark Man, his double-agent status was well-known by the loyalists and his most recent contact in the Rebellion was actually working for the other side, keeping tabs on him.
Ariel knows a tremendous amount of information regarding the Rebellion that she is hiding from everyone.
King knows she is a Doll, which even she doesn't know. Others (The SEcurity Chief, Aerika) suspect.
4. People in their Life
Aerika (Friend and Possible Romantic Interest. CLosest companion)
The Captain (Former commanding officer, has an interest in saving her from what he sees as a gruesome fate, but an enemy of the loyalists)
King (Servant to Aerika, a mentor and friend)
5. Mannerisms or Quirks
Prefers going barefoot.
Extremely physical to make up for her lack of vocal language.
Strongly dislikes the sound of chewing and hums a quiet song while eating.
"Aerika"
1. Facts
Aerika is the Princess (technically Princess-in-waiting) of the Stormsidi.
Aerika has blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
Aerika lost her father a few years ago, forcing her to take the responsibilities of managing the Stormsidi.
Aerika has chosen to become a mature, hard woman and give up her childhood to ensure the Stormsidi is well-cared for.
Aerika is tired and weary and looking for something bright in her life.
2. Goals
Aerika wants to secure the city from her brother's rebellion.
I want to see Aerika torn between her responsibilities and the enjoyment that Ariel brings into her life.
3. Secrets
Aerika knows the Stormsidi's Secret, and who the real ruler of the city is.
King knows Aerika's mother was not her father's wife, a fact well-hidden.
4. People
King, Aerika's supposed manservant who knows way too much.
Wolfholme, Aerika's brother who seeks the throne on the basis that as the elder, it should have gone to him.
Ariel, the strange girl who brightens her days and might be spying on her.
5. Mannerisms/Quirks
Rarely smiles in public.
Is easily moved, but tries to hide it.
Always keeps her cool.
Aerika was born out of a tryst between her father and a handmaiden, but said to be his. This caused her mother to kill herself, which imprinted on Wolf from an early age that Aerika was Bad. They grew up as good siblings, however, until their father's death. Aerika's father was always ashamed of her, and her brother blamed her for his mother's death, so she never truly felt closely loved. Their father's death tore the siblings apart.
1. Key Facts
She is curious and searching for something to call her own.
She is lonely and looking for somewhere to belong.
She is a trickster, energetic on her own and shy when confronted.
She does not speak, and it is unclear if she can't or is choosing not to.
She is potentially a spy, and behaves very much in a manner as a spy would, sneaking around, creeping around, watching people, listening in.
She remembers details from another life; an empty apartment, a hard world without friends. An empty world.
What happened?
The Dark Man was part of a group of of young intellectuals who decided they wanted to support the rebellion and made a stand in the city, foolishly, because they had no contacts with the rebellion. Their insurgency was put down and the Dark Man watched his friends executed or jailed. He was pardoned because he accidentally misfired and shot a friend in the back, saving an officer of the city, and this was taken to be a gesture of turning back to the city instead of the accident it was.
He was contacted by members of the rebellion and told the knowledge his friends' deaths weren't going to waste, if he worked for them. He agreed, and began a career of spying, reporting important information, and funding the rebellion.
2. Goals
Ariel wants to become recognized as a protector and defender.
I want her to go from a shy sneaker to a strong warrior.
3. Secrets
As the Dark Man, they knew who really killed their best friend (themselves) and didn't tell anyone.
As the Dark Man, his double-agent status was well-known by the loyalists and his most recent contact in the Rebellion was actually working for the other side, keeping tabs on him.
Ariel knows a tremendous amount of information regarding the Rebellion that she is hiding from everyone.
King knows she is a Doll, which even she doesn't know. Others (The SEcurity Chief, Aerika) suspect.
4. People in their Life
Aerika (Friend and Possible Romantic Interest. CLosest companion)
The Captain (Former commanding officer, has an interest in saving her from what he sees as a gruesome fate, but an enemy of the loyalists)
King (Servant to Aerika, a mentor and friend)
5. Mannerisms or Quirks
Prefers going barefoot.
Extremely physical to make up for her lack of vocal language.
Strongly dislikes the sound of chewing and hums a quiet song while eating.
"Aerika"
1. Facts
Aerika is the Princess (technically Princess-in-waiting) of the Stormsidi.
Aerika has blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
Aerika lost her father a few years ago, forcing her to take the responsibilities of managing the Stormsidi.
Aerika has chosen to become a mature, hard woman and give up her childhood to ensure the Stormsidi is well-cared for.
Aerika is tired and weary and looking for something bright in her life.
2. Goals
Aerika wants to secure the city from her brother's rebellion.
I want to see Aerika torn between her responsibilities and the enjoyment that Ariel brings into her life.
3. Secrets
Aerika knows the Stormsidi's Secret, and who the real ruler of the city is.
King knows Aerika's mother was not her father's wife, a fact well-hidden.
4. People
King, Aerika's supposed manservant who knows way too much.
Wolfholme, Aerika's brother who seeks the throne on the basis that as the elder, it should have gone to him.
Ariel, the strange girl who brightens her days and might be spying on her.
5. Mannerisms/Quirks
Rarely smiles in public.
Is easily moved, but tries to hide it.
Always keeps her cool.
Aerika was born out of a tryst between her father and a handmaiden, but said to be his. This caused her mother to kill herself, which imprinted on Wolf from an early age that Aerika was Bad. They grew up as good siblings, however, until their father's death. Aerika's father was always ashamed of her, and her brother blamed her for his mother's death, so she never truly felt closely loved. Their father's death tore the siblings apart.
Stormsidi, Chapter Three (?)
The next day, the girl got out of bed on her own and walked to the window. There, she pulled the window open and closed her eyes, letting the morning dew air rush into the room, chilling it. Her fingers rolled and tapped along the windowsill, squeezing the rough stone. The air smelled salty. She pulled herself into the windowsill, barely large enough for her to sit in, and took the chance to have a look around while no one was watching.
There wasn't much to see- a small, grassy yard below, walled in. Beyond the walls was the ocean, rolling off into the distance. Other windows on the wall. A mossy patch covered the whole wall next to her. She gripped it and tugged it gently. It was very firm. She struggled to pull off a small portion of it, and held the grassy patch in her hand.
"Thinking of climbing out? I wouldn't do that." Her hand clutched the grass tightly and she pressed herself into the wall to make herself as small as possible in response to being startled. King was in the room, but she hadn't heard him open the door or walk in. "The lesser reason being that that courtyard doesn't go anywhere free. You're in the most heavily secured portion of this safecastle."
The girl looked to confirm with her own eyes. There were no doors leading out. Into the castle, yes. A small pool that didn't go anywhere.
"The greater reason being you'd fall and hurt yourself. You're still weak. You might always be weak." King walked up to the girl and took her arm, rubbing the skin. The girl's eyes followed his carefully, curiously, allowing him to touch her. "They're soft. Untrained. It's as if you've never used them, but still they grew. Just there for appearances. Very strange." The King's eyes met hers, and she felt studied. He was searching for answers in her face, a kindling of recognition of what he was saying. She had none to give.
He turned away, looking out the window. The girl could feel an air of unsatisfaction from him. "We're going to start you on exercises. Light ones. See if we can't build you up a little. Do you feel like you can handle it?"
The girl looked thoughtful, and looked at her arms. He was right, that she felt like a stick. She hadn't thought to question it. In her mind, she was still a ghost, just moving out of the fog into the world. So what he was really asking, she thought, was would she like to be real? Solid? Her fingers tingled, and she wiggled them, opening and closing her hands. She turned to King's face and nodded with a firm, sincere expression.
"Good." He gestured towards the bed, where new clothes were folded and waiting for her. "I knew you'd say so. Put those on." The girl clasped her hands together and opened her mouth wide in pleased surprised, and hopped off the windowsill, tumbling to the floor. The King moved to help her up, but before he could reach her, the girl was back on her feet and limping to the outfit, folding it out.
It was white, with royal purple trim, snug and short. "This will be your training outfit. It should fit you qui-" King coughed and turned away as the girl peeled off her nightgown and began to try out the outfit. "fit you quite nicely." He finished, looking out the window as if there was something fascinating on the horizon. A hand gently touched his elbow, and he turned to look at the girl. "Ah.. it does. Treat this uniform well. It's the official training uniform of.. well, it's important." He looked at the bed, then at the girl's bare feet. "Why didn't you put the shoes on?"
The girl wiggled her toes, and shrugged with a smile, looking at King's face.
"Well, okay. They'll hurt. If you still don't want to.. well, you'll learn." King said. "Now.. come with me." He walked to the door, and opened it. The girl followed him, and at his gesture peeked her head outside. The hallway outside was curved, such that she couldn't see it's end. A hand on her back pushed her out and she waved her arms wildly, trying to keep her balance. There were guards outside her door, looking at her with amused, curious expressions. She quickly straightened up and pretended nothing was going on.
"At the end of the hallway is a wooden door. Run to it, touch it, and run back here." King said, leaning on the door. "Go."
She ran. Her bare feet hurt as they hit the stone but she didn't care that much. She'd spent the last few days hurting much worse. There were doors all along the hallway, and she wondered in her head what was behind them. There was a burning sensation creeping into her shins and thighs. Her chest felt thin and the air was hard to suck in. It only took a minute to reach the end of the hallway, but she already needed to stop at the door and rest her head against it. The two guards nearby looked at her curiously.
"Ey, you the prisoner?" One of them asked. He was wearing a pointy hat but he had nice brown eyes, she noticed.
"Frederick!" The other guard said, making a cutting motion across his throat. "She's the GUEST. Of the Princess."
"Er, right. Sorry. You're not a prisoner. Can't let you past this door though." Frederick said, tapping the door with the bottom of the polearm he was holding.
She shook her head and stuck a thumb in the athletic shorts she was wearing, pulling them out and letting them make an audible snap sound as they slapped back against her skin.
"Oh." Frederick said. "You're training. Right." He looked to his companion, who shrugged. "You know, I remember that outfit. I think the Princess wore it when she was being trained."
She widened her eyes and looked down at the outfit, checking it out again.
"Didn't know that, huh? Eh.. maybe I should shut up."
"Yeah, maybe." His partner grumbled.
"Well, you should start running back. Her mentor's pretty hard on her, I doubt he'll go easy on you." She nodded and began to run back, turning to wave at them. Frederick waved an arm back. "Good luck!" He shouted.
"You shouldn't encourage her like that." His partner said.
"Why not? She seems nice."
"Yeah. Seems."
Frederick rolled his eyes.
She had to walk back for the final few meters, as her legs simply hurt too much. She flopped against the wall near King.
"Done already? That's.. well, that's to be expected. I thought you might be capable of more, considering.. well, it's fine. A good warm-up."
The girl looked up at him with a nervous, somewhat horrified expression as he grinned back down at her.
He made her do fifty push-ups in sets of ten. Inbetween, he had her do crunches, jumping jacks, and run the door again. It only took an hour, but by the time he was finished she practically collapsed into his arms and let him drag her to the bed to lay her down. He called for the maid, who then helped her out of her clothes and into the bath- giving her privacy, of course, until the girl walked out covered in suds and pointed to her back and then to the maid, who was cleaning up the bed. The maid, flustered and embarassed, agreed to help her wash up.
"Well, my name is Rose." The young maid said as she scrubbed the girl's back as she sat at the edge of the bath. "Guess you don't have a name yet, but I'm sure we'll figure something out with that. I guess you only know me from my cleaning stuff up, but that's really not all I do. I've actually gone through all the training the Princess' servant has to offer already.. well, the basics, at least. Supposedly she's getting even more intense training. At one point I was doing 12-hour training. Can't imagine how much worse it has to be for her. She still has time for her duties, though, you know? Anyways, I went through it because I'm in line to become a handmaiden. My mother was one, and everyone thinks I will be one too. It'd be a good life, I think?"
Rose was very, very talkative. From her, the girl learned that the Princess enjoyed swimming, her manservant was rumored to have been a former General of the former King, and that the King had died two years hence. When Rose found out from the girl's clueless reactions that the girl didn't know anything about the Stormsidi or its history, she clammed up and muttered to herself that someone else would have to explain THOSE basics to her.
She replaced the bandages when the girl was dried off. It was still a painful process, and the girl almost didn't want to see what was underneath. There were scars. She had been pretty badly hurt. Her upper right arm had been burned. Her abdomen had a nasty scar on the left side. There was still blood visible on both thighs. And she almost blacked out when the maid touched the neck bandages. She ended up quietly whimpering as the maid gingerly peeled them off and replaced them. The maid whispered softly to her. "It'll be okay, just close your eyes and think happy thoughts. Good, warm food. You can go back to bed after this. It'll be comfortable and soft. Won't that be nice?" It didn't help. She thought of eggs.
She thought of warm beds. She could only imagine the bed waiting for in the next room. When she tried to think harder, she could only feel a deep, cold fog, embracing her, and she shivered. Rose asked her if something was wrong, but how could she respond? She stared at the water in the tub. It looked murky and foggy. She thought of beds, and she could feel a cold bed against her. A rainy day, the rain blowing in through the window. A sense of loss. A feeling of quiet rage. She could see something in the water. A face. Was it hers? It was silent. Rose was speaking, but she heard nothing. It was a cold face, with grey eyes and a sad expression. Her face. She toppled into the water facefirst, staring at the bottom of the tub. Her eyes burned.
She could feel herself being dragged out of the tub. She was breathing, and after a minute, she was being dried off and pulled into the bed. Instinctively, she closed her eyes and waited. A cold fog. Someone talking. Pushed too hard. Had to be done. Need to be strong. She pushed through the fog and opened her eyes. King was beside her bed. He gently touched her shoulder. She nodded at him, and did her best to smile. She wished she could tell him what she saw in her head. It felt like he could fix it, if she told him. He had that kind of presence.
But she couldn't. So she just laid in bed, and slept.
There wasn't much to see- a small, grassy yard below, walled in. Beyond the walls was the ocean, rolling off into the distance. Other windows on the wall. A mossy patch covered the whole wall next to her. She gripped it and tugged it gently. It was very firm. She struggled to pull off a small portion of it, and held the grassy patch in her hand.
"Thinking of climbing out? I wouldn't do that." Her hand clutched the grass tightly and she pressed herself into the wall to make herself as small as possible in response to being startled. King was in the room, but she hadn't heard him open the door or walk in. "The lesser reason being that that courtyard doesn't go anywhere free. You're in the most heavily secured portion of this safecastle."
The girl looked to confirm with her own eyes. There were no doors leading out. Into the castle, yes. A small pool that didn't go anywhere.
"The greater reason being you'd fall and hurt yourself. You're still weak. You might always be weak." King walked up to the girl and took her arm, rubbing the skin. The girl's eyes followed his carefully, curiously, allowing him to touch her. "They're soft. Untrained. It's as if you've never used them, but still they grew. Just there for appearances. Very strange." The King's eyes met hers, and she felt studied. He was searching for answers in her face, a kindling of recognition of what he was saying. She had none to give.
He turned away, looking out the window. The girl could feel an air of unsatisfaction from him. "We're going to start you on exercises. Light ones. See if we can't build you up a little. Do you feel like you can handle it?"
The girl looked thoughtful, and looked at her arms. He was right, that she felt like a stick. She hadn't thought to question it. In her mind, she was still a ghost, just moving out of the fog into the world. So what he was really asking, she thought, was would she like to be real? Solid? Her fingers tingled, and she wiggled them, opening and closing her hands. She turned to King's face and nodded with a firm, sincere expression.
"Good." He gestured towards the bed, where new clothes were folded and waiting for her. "I knew you'd say so. Put those on." The girl clasped her hands together and opened her mouth wide in pleased surprised, and hopped off the windowsill, tumbling to the floor. The King moved to help her up, but before he could reach her, the girl was back on her feet and limping to the outfit, folding it out.
It was white, with royal purple trim, snug and short. "This will be your training outfit. It should fit you qui-" King coughed and turned away as the girl peeled off her nightgown and began to try out the outfit. "fit you quite nicely." He finished, looking out the window as if there was something fascinating on the horizon. A hand gently touched his elbow, and he turned to look at the girl. "Ah.. it does. Treat this uniform well. It's the official training uniform of.. well, it's important." He looked at the bed, then at the girl's bare feet. "Why didn't you put the shoes on?"
The girl wiggled her toes, and shrugged with a smile, looking at King's face.
"Well, okay. They'll hurt. If you still don't want to.. well, you'll learn." King said. "Now.. come with me." He walked to the door, and opened it. The girl followed him, and at his gesture peeked her head outside. The hallway outside was curved, such that she couldn't see it's end. A hand on her back pushed her out and she waved her arms wildly, trying to keep her balance. There were guards outside her door, looking at her with amused, curious expressions. She quickly straightened up and pretended nothing was going on.
"At the end of the hallway is a wooden door. Run to it, touch it, and run back here." King said, leaning on the door. "Go."
She ran. Her bare feet hurt as they hit the stone but she didn't care that much. She'd spent the last few days hurting much worse. There were doors all along the hallway, and she wondered in her head what was behind them. There was a burning sensation creeping into her shins and thighs. Her chest felt thin and the air was hard to suck in. It only took a minute to reach the end of the hallway, but she already needed to stop at the door and rest her head against it. The two guards nearby looked at her curiously.
"Ey, you the prisoner?" One of them asked. He was wearing a pointy hat but he had nice brown eyes, she noticed.
"Frederick!" The other guard said, making a cutting motion across his throat. "She's the GUEST. Of the Princess."
"Er, right. Sorry. You're not a prisoner. Can't let you past this door though." Frederick said, tapping the door with the bottom of the polearm he was holding.
She shook her head and stuck a thumb in the athletic shorts she was wearing, pulling them out and letting them make an audible snap sound as they slapped back against her skin.
"Oh." Frederick said. "You're training. Right." He looked to his companion, who shrugged. "You know, I remember that outfit. I think the Princess wore it when she was being trained."
She widened her eyes and looked down at the outfit, checking it out again.
"Didn't know that, huh? Eh.. maybe I should shut up."
"Yeah, maybe." His partner grumbled.
"Well, you should start running back. Her mentor's pretty hard on her, I doubt he'll go easy on you." She nodded and began to run back, turning to wave at them. Frederick waved an arm back. "Good luck!" He shouted.
"You shouldn't encourage her like that." His partner said.
"Why not? She seems nice."
"Yeah. Seems."
Frederick rolled his eyes.
She had to walk back for the final few meters, as her legs simply hurt too much. She flopped against the wall near King.
"Done already? That's.. well, that's to be expected. I thought you might be capable of more, considering.. well, it's fine. A good warm-up."
The girl looked up at him with a nervous, somewhat horrified expression as he grinned back down at her.
He made her do fifty push-ups in sets of ten. Inbetween, he had her do crunches, jumping jacks, and run the door again. It only took an hour, but by the time he was finished she practically collapsed into his arms and let him drag her to the bed to lay her down. He called for the maid, who then helped her out of her clothes and into the bath- giving her privacy, of course, until the girl walked out covered in suds and pointed to her back and then to the maid, who was cleaning up the bed. The maid, flustered and embarassed, agreed to help her wash up.
"Well, my name is Rose." The young maid said as she scrubbed the girl's back as she sat at the edge of the bath. "Guess you don't have a name yet, but I'm sure we'll figure something out with that. I guess you only know me from my cleaning stuff up, but that's really not all I do. I've actually gone through all the training the Princess' servant has to offer already.. well, the basics, at least. Supposedly she's getting even more intense training. At one point I was doing 12-hour training. Can't imagine how much worse it has to be for her. She still has time for her duties, though, you know? Anyways, I went through it because I'm in line to become a handmaiden. My mother was one, and everyone thinks I will be one too. It'd be a good life, I think?"
Rose was very, very talkative. From her, the girl learned that the Princess enjoyed swimming, her manservant was rumored to have been a former General of the former King, and that the King had died two years hence. When Rose found out from the girl's clueless reactions that the girl didn't know anything about the Stormsidi or its history, she clammed up and muttered to herself that someone else would have to explain THOSE basics to her.
She replaced the bandages when the girl was dried off. It was still a painful process, and the girl almost didn't want to see what was underneath. There were scars. She had been pretty badly hurt. Her upper right arm had been burned. Her abdomen had a nasty scar on the left side. There was still blood visible on both thighs. And she almost blacked out when the maid touched the neck bandages. She ended up quietly whimpering as the maid gingerly peeled them off and replaced them. The maid whispered softly to her. "It'll be okay, just close your eyes and think happy thoughts. Good, warm food. You can go back to bed after this. It'll be comfortable and soft. Won't that be nice?" It didn't help. She thought of eggs.
She thought of warm beds. She could only imagine the bed waiting for in the next room. When she tried to think harder, she could only feel a deep, cold fog, embracing her, and she shivered. Rose asked her if something was wrong, but how could she respond? She stared at the water in the tub. It looked murky and foggy. She thought of beds, and she could feel a cold bed against her. A rainy day, the rain blowing in through the window. A sense of loss. A feeling of quiet rage. She could see something in the water. A face. Was it hers? It was silent. Rose was speaking, but she heard nothing. It was a cold face, with grey eyes and a sad expression. Her face. She toppled into the water facefirst, staring at the bottom of the tub. Her eyes burned.
She could feel herself being dragged out of the tub. She was breathing, and after a minute, she was being dried off and pulled into the bed. Instinctively, she closed her eyes and waited. A cold fog. Someone talking. Pushed too hard. Had to be done. Need to be strong. She pushed through the fog and opened her eyes. King was beside her bed. He gently touched her shoulder. She nodded at him, and did her best to smile. She wished she could tell him what she saw in her head. It felt like he could fix it, if she told him. He had that kind of presence.
But she couldn't. So she just laid in bed, and slept.
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