Chapter/Part 6
Hidden Loves, Losses and Gains.
Clan Training.
I watched the Clan below. Smiling I thought to myself, I'm lucky to have
grandchildren like these. I shifted on my tree branch. To bad Merlin couldn't
see them... Once more I did a half smile. Then looked at the Clan below.
Calling up my magic, I formed a sort of bowl in front of me. She, my daughter,
sat at the window, her black wings ruffling in the breeze. Her hair still
loose and in waves flowed past her face. Covering her mouth and nose. I could
only see her profile, but I still saw the caged creatures behind her.
A demon, man beast, a ghost and a vampire paced up and down the cage. I smiled,
They grow more and more inhuman day by day. I banished the spell and looked
down at my untried great grandchildren.
Suzi smiled and shook her blond hair free of it's tight bun. "Good practice
Matt. I actually broke out into a sweat." Matt scowled and hit her playfully
in the butt. Then gave her a kiss. Kitty, Derrick, Jim and I all looked away.
"Love birds are at it again." said Kitty looking at Derrick.
"Love birds? Are they really the only ones?" said Jim quirking a eye brow
over at Derrick and Kitty. Who in turn both blushed a bright red. I watched
them fade back into the forest for the evenings stuff. Perfect. now I trail
them for a bit and pow. I chuckled and Followed the Clan for the perfect
moment.
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I watched the clan move into the forest clearing. Their voices heard before
I even saw the first signs of them coming. Suzi, the ÒleaderÓ
of the group, came first with a hand full of fire wood, kitty was behind
her with a few roots, berries and herbs. Matt and Jim where carrying a large
log for a bench and Derrick followed them, screaming not to do this and do
that. Basically being a pain in the rear.
I wanted to laugh. This was to easy, they were still to green to know even
in the supposed friendly forest, danger lurked everywhere. A wild boar, for
instance, was on the lose. He and his mate had already killed a few villagers
from the village 5 miles from here.
Derrick was the loudest, his booming voice carried over the birds songs and
only his weapon competed for the loudest sound. Kitty, his girlfriend, was
the quietest, she walked on mouse feet.
Holding my sword lightly in my right hand I looked of my tall tree branch.
They hadnÕt noticed me yet. Time to attack. I told myself. I swung
down on a vine like Tarzan, and hit Derrick dead in the chest.
The Clan was on their feet in a instant Matt dropped the log and his spear
was in hand. (It had been strapped to his back.) Jim was cursing, Ôcause
the heavy log fell on his foot. He pulled out his sword, as he rolled the
log off his foot.
I knew IÕd have to heal it later with magic, but that was later I
swing my sword at DerrickÕs head. He dodged and I met KittyÕs
magic sword head on. She had come to DerrickÕs rescue as he got his
breath back.
Unfortunately, KittyÕs talent is in magic and in assassin craft, and
not head on anything. So her attack without Derrick help, failed and she
was injured, a cut cut across the arm, took her out and I sliced Derrick
across the chest, taking him out.
As I got up and looked around, whipping the blood from my sword, I saw the
other three clan members had disappeared into the forest, and now with them
being the better some for quietness I was in trouble. I sheathed my sword
to my back and moved silently toward the forest path.
Suzi lay waiting for Caro, as she did she gathered her magic. She didnÕt
trust Caro one bit and it seemed she was the only one to truly KNOW she did.
Forming it into a deadly lighting ball, she waited for Caro to show her face.
Matt waited on the other side of the bushes, he to waited to ambush Caro,
except he didnÕt know about Suzi. He might have, if
he had been looking at the bush, and not the path.
Caro appeared walking down the path, her feet silently crunching the dirt
and small rocks under foot. Her green gold eyes looking about the path with
cool gaze. Her mouth played a slight smile as she neared Suzi and Matt.
Suzi sent her lighting ball speeding like a express train toward Caro. Who
had just walked into her line of sight. The ball crackled with energy and
light. Suzi smiled as Caro didnÕt move.
Matt saw Caro walk into his line of sight. He gathered his feet below him
and attacked. He flew though the air. Caro was below him one moment and the
next... ÒLighting Ball! OH Shit!Ó he said as Caro flipped out
of both Matt and the lighting ballÕs way.
Matt hit the lighting ball head on. giving him the ability to light light
bulbs, like Uncle Fester in Adams Family. Suzi jumped form her hiding place
and started to do a interesting mix of laughing and screaming at Matt. ÒYou
JERK! You should of known to watch for magic. You should of...Ó Suzi
was cut off by a even louder cursing.
ÒDamn it Jim! ThatÕs smarts!!! DidnÕt you think to put
you sword guard6 on?" came Caro's voice from a bend in the forest. She came
out rubbing her butt and with a grim look on her puckered face. Jim came
after her a moment later, a lopsided grin played on his face. And in his
hand a naked sword. "Fortune slapped me with her left hand when I trained
you five to well." said Caro, with a smile playing on the corners of her
mouth.
"So my students, how does it feel to best your teacher?" asked Caro looking
at Matt. Matt, who's face was splotched from the poison Chcara bush he had
been hiding behind. His tunic was burned away or falling to pieces of ash
at his feet. Suzi was in better sharp but for a few scratch marks and a flushed
face from laughing to hard. Jim was the best off seeing all he had was a
bright red hand on the side of his arm.
"Rotten,"stated Derrick's voice as he limped into their eye sight. Kitty
walked beside him, like his smaller shadow. "I got more bruises and scratches
in more places then I knew even existed!" he continued as he, and kitty came
to a stop next to the others.
Kitty went up on her tip toes and kissed a beautiful looking green bruise
on the side Derrick's face. Derrick yelp and scowled at Kitty. "Kitten, my
love, I thank you for you affection. However, please watch the bruises."
Derrick muttered in a stern voice. When kitty and the rest heard they tried
to keep a straight face, unfortunately they all failed.
As his friends slowly died of laughter Derrick pulled a grinning kitty behind
some bushes. Where to kitty's surprise he kissed her. And they both were
started to find Caro, Suzi and Matt looking at them. Who all looked away
and whistled innocently. Kitty looked up into Derrick's red face and muttered
under her breath "Ha! they thought that was something." At which she pulled
Derrick closer and kissed him.
It was Caro, suzi and matt's turn to blush. And of course Suzi and Matt had
to show off, and kissed each other. Caro's stomach turned and she decided
she should go back to the castle.
6 Sword guard: A wooden strip that in cases a sword or other sharp weapon
for practice.
"Well if you four are done making out..." Caro chuckled as the
four accused grinned and turned pink. "I need to go find some herbs. So I'll
leave you five to set up camp."
Matt, Jim and Derrick all groaned. they knew who really would be setting
up camp and finding dinner. Kitty grinned at Suzi. Caro smiled at her great
great great grandchildren and walked off toward the castle of heaven. When
she was sure they won't sense her magic she called upon her dragon and flew
off to the Castle.
Magic, The Cursed Reborn.
I watched the boys grow more feral everyday. I braced my back against a pillar,
looking out into the afternoon light. Soaking the sunlight, I hummed a tune
quietly. The boys stepped forward the cage bars the only thing between them
and me.
Humming, the boys calmed down a lot. They even looked a bit more human and
not animal. I watched Scott, the shrouds of his wraith side blow in the light
breeze. Danny's face white as the shrouds and his fangs glittered menacingly
in the light. Robert, who was at this time in the shape of a wolf man, sat
near Mike. Mike rubbed is face with a mangled hand.
A tear slipped down my face, it was my fault they were here, and not back
in California. Caroline's servants, some stout demons, walked in and looked
at me. I sighed and followed one of them though the double doors of my prison.
I could of broken out, but ever since my mother had captured me and the boys,
I hadn't raised a finger against her. Every night I would sing for her and
her guests. But first i would be dressed up like a doll and paraded before
old mages and their apprentices.
I was lead down a three stair cases, and went down a long hall. Where I came
to a room, filled with dresses and make up. A wraith maid grabbed my hand
and dragged me into the room. At this time, I dare say, I never had seen
one woman, dead or alive, work so fast. I was dressed in a long black dress,
golden clasped belt, time pendant and my hair put up in a fashionable way.
My wings fluttered delicately behind me. The dress had two slits in the sides,
gold embroidery laced up the sides and down the cuffs of the wide sleeves.
My silk slippers made no sound as I walked down the last set of stairs and
hallway.
At a set of beautiful double doors, that towered way above my head, me and
my escort stopped and waited for the other guards to push the huge doors
open. It took fifteen goblins, but it finally creaked open. The escort of
two demons stayed behind with the goblins as I moved into the hall.
My "mother" sat, high on a throne. I sighed and walked though the maze of
black wizards. Gasps came from some of them, but I gave them no heed. As
I reached the platform where my mother sat above everyone else I sat.
I looked past the black mages and past the double doors. I thought I saw
a figure, shaking my head and looking again. "Nothing." I said under my breath
as I sat up straighter. Caroline, my "mother", put her wicked nailed hand
on my shoulder. But before I could start to sing...
Taysta and Randell looked at each other as they watched their friend, Joy,
enter the grand hall. Taysta nodded at Randell and scrambled down the balcony.
Randell smiled at his mate. Climbing the castle tower to where the boys were
kept, he entered.
"Danny? Scott? Robert? Mike?" he said as he looked though the waning light
of the setting sun. Red eyes glowed from a cage near the wall. Randell sucked
in his breath. "Fortune be cursed!" he cried as he looked over the boys.
"What did that witch do to you my friends?"
Randell ducked behind a pillar at the creaking of a door. A woman entered
a key hanging from her belt. Randell muttered a curse under his breath. She
lit a candle and walked to the boys cage. Randell muttered a string of curses
when he saw the boys, and what had happened to them.
"Come my children." she said as she put the key in the lock. Scott drifted
out followed by Danny, the vampire, Robert the current wolf man and Mike
the hideous demon. "There's my good children. Now go find the couple who
came to my castle and bring them to me."
Randell cursed and the woman whirled to meet him. Randell smiled shakily.
"ummm Hi! I just looking for the bathroom..." he said and dashed out the
window. Scott drifted toward him, as Danny flew speedily out after him, both
dragged him back, as Robert and Mike dashed out the door to find Taysta.
The woman shook her dark hair and her blue eyes sparkled evilly in the light.
Randell winced as Scott and Danny pulled him toward the door and the stair
cases below. "Well it was harder coming up." said Randell looking at Danny
and Scott.
He thought he saw some of Danny's old self in there, but he wasn't sure.
Scott's humor was there, no curse could take it away, for on his face, at
Randell's last phrase, held a smirk. Which disappeared quickly when the woman
looked at him.
Randell didn't know what they boys were up to. And by Joy's looks she too
didn't know. Taysta had been right for them to steak into the castle. Whisper,
Mayra and Liz were somewhere about the castle as well. But none of them had
known where to start. Taysta and Randell had just gotten lucky upon seeing
Joy.
Randell muttered "By fortune" as he was lead though the double doors to the
evil mages and Caroline. Joy sat on the platform, showing her first emotion
in weeks. Horror was written in every muscle and line of her body. Caroline
looked like a queen on her throne.
A few minutes later Mike and Robert brother back Taysta and Mayra. Mayra
was visibly scared, no terrified. But not of the boys, of the Nameless one.
Or Caroline. Randell looked at his soon to be bride. Taysta looked back and
motioned Liz and Whisper were still not caught. Then Randell looked up at
Joy. Joy had frozen in terror and horror at the sight of her friends walking
in.
Caroline smiled and Whisper and Liz walked in held by two elves and Simon.
Liz was injured, bleed form a deep cut in her arm and a cut across the crest.
Randell winced in sympathy. Then he became horrified.
Caroline stood, her long blood red dress flowing to the floor, like spilt
blood of all those who defied her. Sightless eyes looked at Randell and his
friends. It was then that Randell almost lost his skill at showing no horror
or terror. She looked at him, watching his face as if she knew he was terrorifide
at the sight of her eyes.
It was then that Joy stood up and defied her mother. She was Joyce incarnate
and she was not going to watch her friends die at Caroline's hands. "No.
Not them to. I will not allow it." came Joy's hallow voice, as she faced
her mother.
"Little song bird, you should not have done that. You will now have to share
their curses." Caroline replied tonelessly. "And, you will carry them out
yourself, and take my place as the Evil One. I will control you my Puppet."
Caroline smiled as her biggest wish came true.
"Now, little puppet. The man, he has entered the castle uninvited. He will
become a guard, a Unicorn Guardian. His new name shall be Eve. His only powers
shall be of Shadows. His bride to be shall also become a guard, her name
shall be Dawn, powers shall be of light. They will not be allowed to see
each other. For one will serve at night, the other at Day." stated Caroline.
"As for the other warrior maid. She shall become Justice." Caroline smiled
evilly, remembering the story she told her oldest set of grandchildren. "The
humans shall call her Liz. She shall go though every land space there is.
Know some things and not others."
"Mayra, my dear little angel." spat Caroline. "You shall become a wraith
and haunt anyone who tries to leave my service. She shall rise at night or
at Day. put the humans against any other strange cursed being again." (Humans
got trust worthy again after the five youngest. Mayra stirs them up after
this so they are once more afraid.)
"Ah, the girl child... you are called Whisper? Ah of course, you shall be
thrown into a world of terror, the two elves which brought you are now your
parents, but something will always tug at your mind that you are missing
something. You will slowly go crazy, little dove. Unless you find my eldest
and help them here. And defeat your precious adopted father." As Caroline
said this she went over and patted Danny's cheek. He didn't flinch but from
Randell's view he saw the hatred grow in his eyes.
ÒOh and yes, the little triator.. Simon love...Ó Caroline smiled
and laughed. ÒAfter all the pain you put your clan though you try.
Fine, I will let you go to the people you hurt. But mind, you interfere once
more and I will tack your hide upon my wall to warn others againest my good
will!Ó
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"Well My daughter? What be you waiting for? Dawn?" chuckled Caroline. "Oh
yes, I forgot, in addition to you being the Evil One, you shall not be able
to act by yourself, you will do only what I command."
Joy stood and her hands fell loosely to her sides as she cursed her friends,
and adopted niece. Danny had a pained look in his eyes, as did the other
boys. But none of them raised a hand to stop Joy, or Caroline.
A crystal tear slipped unheeded down Joy's cheek. The Evil One was a puppet.
Now and forever. The Nameless One, the blond haired, blue eyed old woman
who acted as Caro sometimes for Caroline, watched not showing any emotions.
She too was a puppet, though she was made of Magic and Clay, not flesh and
blood.
Ten Children Born and Raised
Caro reached the elder children just as they finished putting the camp together.
Kitty and Suzi looked up at her as she entered. At the same time all three
men whipped their sweat soaked brows. Caro tried to calm her blood lust.
It wasn't time for that yet.
A few lessons and hours later, Jim and Matt sat drunkenly over a bottle of
ale. Derrick and Kitty sat on the other side of the fire talking quietly.
Suzi lay asleep and Caro sat in a tree at the edge of the clearing. The night
was foggy and dim. Only the light of the camp fire penetrated the night sky.
Caro grinned as the younger of her children descendants stalked closer to
the camp. Even dear little Joy was doing her part. Caro could see her figure
walking closer. The Nameless one had put on Blood red lipstick on her naturally
pale face. Black powder highlighted her cheek bones and eyes. And Caro could
picture the elder childrens horror.
A stick cracked, Derrick, Jim and Matt were on their feet in a heart beat.
A heart beat to slow as Robert, Mike and Scott grabbed them from behind.
Danny held Kitty in a tight embrace. Suzi lay right at the feet of Joy.
§§§§§§§§§§§ Kitty
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I watched as a monster stopped at Suzi's prone body. The man who held me
didn't hold me to tight, as if he wanted me to get away. I conceded and slipped
out of his grasp. The woman, standing over Suzi, started to chant. The man
who had held me leapt after me. I threw a dagger, trapping him to the ground,
blood started to flow from the wound in his leg.
I flipped away as Derrick started fighting with his person who held him at
Battle axe point. Soon sparks were fling between the two huge axes. Derrick
wielded one while his mirror held the other. I realized that was exactly
what they were a mirror. The woman looked up from Suzi, she saw the man that
had grabbed me and started cursing and chanting my direction.
The man mean while started for awaking Suzi,, who muttered a couple of good
things herself and had started a chant for a fireball. As she threw it the
man dispelled it, lighting up the sky with sparks. The mans fangs glittered
in the light.
I realized a few seconds to late what they where. But what shocked me to
the soles of my feet was who they were. The woman's hands glowed, but I couldn't
move, I knew who she was. "Joy!" I cried dodging the lighting bolt, my teeth
chattered in my head, as I rolled to my feet.
Caro dropped from her tree and freed Matt and Jim from their doubles. Then
Caro disappeared from my view. My eyes blurred as I dodged a few more fireballs.
I suddenly wished I had keep Danny the wigged out Vampire attacking me. At
least then I could use my weapons. As it was my magic was pretty bad compared
to the things Joy was throwing at me. I thought quickly. This was were they
had gone after they had disappeared. And for some reason they were now attacking
them.
Joy's face held no emotion as she attacked. But mine held plenty, fear, horror
at whatever made my friends like this, terror that it could happen to Derrick.
My face lost it's fear as it grew to anger, Mike, a friend of Joy's I knew
from pictures of hers, was starting to win against Derrick. My heart leapt
into my throat as Derrick barely dodged the last blow.
"They aren't HUMAN!" shouted Matt as he fought with Robert, who looked part
man part wolf. Jim fought next to him against Scott, who fazed in and out
of Jim's grasp. I shook my head as I threw some sneezing powder into Joy's
face, she didn't even flinch. I started to agree with Matt.
My heart thumped in my chest as I rounded a dagger at Joy's arm. It missed
with a wind spells intervention. Sweat beaded down my face as I whirled around.
Just in time to see Suzi go down at Danny's feet. I cried out a warning to
late. Danny bent over and started to drink her blood.
That was the last look I got as I watched Matt go down and get bitten by
Roberts wolven fangs. Jim looked just a bit terrified as Scott envloped him
in a cloak of mists. I lost sight of all of them as a lighting bolt stuck
right in front of me.
Spots danced in front of my eyes as I watched a dragon rear up on it's hind
legs. Wings spread. My heart stopped, Derrick had been standing there. I
saw a werewolf man standing where Matt had stood, Robert stood there a weird
look on his face. Mike too was looking up at Derrick as if he had taken pleasure
and horror at it.
Suzi stood up shakily, and I saw fangs glitter in the light. I was hit by
a ball of weird colored light. And couldn't move my arms or legs. Joy stepped
closer and closer, my mind screamed, but I stayed silent as she loomed over
me.
Time froze as it kissed my forehead leaving a star mark. Then time unfroze
leaving me with pain. My forehead where Joy had left her mark burned like
fire as it reached out my mouth and nose also stretched out. My ears grew
and before I knew it I was a unicorn.
Ten Children Cursed All Their Days.
Danny looked down at his hands. Suzi's blood was splattered in droplets on
his hands like dew on a rose in the morning. He wanted to vomit, bad. But
he looked up to find Caroline watching him and the others with strange smile
on her face.
And suddenly he realized everything that had happened that night at the castle.
Whisper's curse hit Danny hard in the gut as he kept his face straight from
Caroline. Acting happy at cursing Suzi.
Scott looked at Jim with strange emotions brewing in his gut. Jim was pale
and his eyes sparkled red in the fire light. Scott swayed in place, just
a bit, as the memories of the last two months flooded back into his mind.
At Liz's memory a tear slipped down his cheek. But he to struggled to keep
his face from Caroline's gaze.
Mike looked at the dragon man in front of him, and drew in a sharp breath.
Derrick looked at him with slitted eyes, scales up and down his whole body.
But somewhere deep underneath it all, he was still Derrick. A very angry
Derrick. Mike fought his fear to draw his battle axe. For he too remembered
what happened to Mayra and Randell. So he stayed perfectly still.
Robert looked straight ahead as he's memories came back to him. Matt watched
his every move and he planned to give Matt no excuse to kill him. He flicked
his gaze over at the others and smiled a bit.
Caroline smiled at her children. Not realizing the curse, for the moment
had been broken. But she soon noticed the youngest of her children starting
to look human again.
Joy smiled evilly as she once more took control of Her body. She looked at
her elder friends and murmured under her breath. Slowly, ever so slowly everyone
turned back into themselves. Suzi, Matt, Jim, Kitty and Derrick all looked
at their younger counter parts.
Caroline flew into the sky, her laughter ringing though the sky in dark horror.
All of us looked to her and shuddered. Joy smiled over at her friends, who
in turn smiled back, and found weapons like the younger, in their hands.
Wyverns swooped down and captured the younger boys. Joy glared up to the
sky, but all ready she felt the mists on her mind coming back. So she cast
a quick spell. A spell that would let the elder children have more control
over their curses.
Then she too was lifted into the sky and turned into the mindless Evil one
once more. Suzi and the others watched the boys slowly return to their horrified
states. As if coming alive once more Matt cursed under his breath. Jim and
Derrick both echoed it and watched the Wyverns until they were dots in the
sky.
"What do we do now?" Asked Kitty looking around at her friends. She rubbed
the star mark on her forehead. "We can't just let that witch keep them. And
we can't go home... Not like this..."
The five friends looked at each other and smiled. They looked at their stuff
lying on the ground and bent over to pick it up. Fears and horror at what
they could be come kept hidden beneath masks of happiness for the adventure.
Suzi straighten and looked at the others carefully.
Jim was being his usual quiet self, moving his tall well built body though
the camp, helping kitty with the cooking equipment. His face a careful mask
of serenity. She watched him change into all Black. Meaning his was mourning
or he was out for revenge. Suzi though it was a bit of both.
Kitty was humming under her breath trying to be cheerful. Her clothes were
of a deep blue and almost black. Her short black hair tied into two ponytails,
keeping it out of her face. her dark skin turned olive as she faced the firelight
and kissed Derrick.
Derrick leaned back after he kissed Kitty and stepped behind some bushes
to change into his black tunic and leggings. Kitty and Suzi whistled playfully.
The sound seemed to be sucked into the growing mists. Derrick blushed a bit
and towel slapped Matt, who was pinching kitty's arm as he stroll past them.
Matt chuckled and kicked his shin. Before they could go any farther Suzi
stepped in between and shut Matt up with a kiss. Kitty did the same and Jim
felt as always the fifth person in a weird love triangle. So he stepped away
and shouldered his pack. He started walking into the direction that the wyvern
had flown off.
Suzi and Matt smiled at each other and once more started off after Jim. Kitty
and Derrick blushed as the looked around the now empty Clearing. They grinned
impishly at each other and climbed a tree. Literally, soon they had caught
up with the others and swung to the ground on some vines. Derrick even yelled
like Tarzan.
And so they were left alone. Without knowing anything that was happening,
to find some people they barely knew, and Joy, who was like a daughter to
Suzi and Matt, and a sister to the rest. So they journeyed well into the
night...
A Cry into the Night.
Kitty cursed as another branch came back, hitting her in the face. They had
been walking for what seemed like hours, and kitty was beginning to wish
she had scouted with Caro before. One hand reached up to touch her star mark
on the middle of her forehead.
Kitty, still rubbing her forehead, ran into Derrick's back. Landing on her
butt she cursed in many different languages. "What was that for you big oaf?"
she spat at Derricks black clothed back. She and Derrick had been at each
others throats for the past few miles.
Before Derrick could snap back a reply, he heard a low groan. Kitty heard
it as well and both called the others over quietly. Kitty looked around and
saw a trail of blood leading into the forest. They looked at each other and
pale a bit. Suzi pale as well, but for a different reason. The sight of blood
was calling out her vampric side.
Matt saw and motioned for Kitty and Jim to go first. Jim pulled out his sword
and Kitty drew back her bow. Then they both walked into the blood soaked
clearing. Kitty gaged at the sight of the two mangled and partly eaten bodies.
Jim swallowed hard, as he stepped next to the man, lying face down in the
forest floor.
Matt side stepped the woman lying five feet away. Then he jumped and sent
everyone else darting for cover. Matt tried to do the same but the woman,
he had thought to be dead, held his leg by a grip of steel. Suzi licked her
lips, but everyone was to startled by the woman being alive, they didn't
notice.
She held up a bloody hand and gave Matt a doll. It's head hanging almost
all the way off, and stuffing falling out. Matt gulped at the thought for
the child to had grasped it before. "Please M'lord." came the woman's raspy
voice. "Please, find our child. Give her this doll and our..."
Her voice, raspy and horse turned into laughter. Suzi lost control and pounced
on the woman with a wild savage crazing. Sucking her blood from the woman's
maddened state, the woman died, and Suzi licked her lips. Turning once more
her usual state of mind. Her face turning a bit green at the thought of drinking
the woman's blood.
Kitty clung to Derricks side, but Derrick didn't notice. Kitty's nails dug
into his forearm and left crescent marks. He noticed then and lifted his
arm around her neck. Jim noticed and put a warning hand on his friend's shoulder.
Derrick looked at kitty and let her lick the blood away. Then she turned
back to normal and kisses Derrick passionately for understanding. Jim turned
away and knelt down by the man's body, his heart fluttering in anger and
pain.
All the sudden a pair of little hands and arms are around his neck and pulling.
It wasn't really a threat but Jim was startled anyway. His hands pried the
little one's hands off his neck. Suzi and Matt looked over at the little
girl dangling from Jim's large hands. She was wearing a tunic a few sizes
to large and her feet were stained green from the forest.
Kitty and Derrick quickly covered the bodies. But the girl was to busy kicking
Jim's stomach to care. Derrick's face started turning red as a kick landed
on his face, when he went to help Jim. No one really noticed because the
little girl was hitting everything in sight. Kitty stepped back into some
tree's and changed in to her unicorn form.
Suzi took the struggling child in her arms. Her embrace calmed the child,
who soon was looking around the blood soaked clearing. Matt brought the doll
over to her and the child started to cry. But when Derrick came over the
child cried harder, fighting in Suzi's grip to flee. He turned, drawing up
his cloak's hood walked over toward the man and picked him up with claws,
not hands.
Kitty, as a unicorn stepped lightly into the clearing. She tossed her head
and the child gazed upon her. She whispered something and Kitty came forward,
her black coat and mane almost blending her into the forest. The child lifted
her arms up to Matt. Who picked her up into his arms and placed her on Kitty's
back. Derrick and the body disappeared into the forest.
Suzi and Jim lifted the woman's body up behind the child on Kitty's back.
Matt lowered the kid onto the ground. She clung to his side, but he handed
her to Suzi. He, Jim, Derrick and Kitty all left to the forest to bury the
mother and father of the strange girl they had found.
When Suzi bent down to build up the fire the child disappeared after the
men and Kitty. Suzi looked around and sighed, muttering to herself, "And
I want munchkins like her?" I'm sure that if anyone had been there they would
have laughed. As it was the wind wound around the trees as itÕs own
sort of laughter echoed lightly.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
Derrick muttered curses as his skin burned like fire, as it went scaly, though
he didn't change all the away. His feet sunk into the not hot mud of the
forest floor. Matt and Jim followed holding their noses. Kitty slipped in
and out of the trees ways, making her look like a shadow.
Derrick plopped the dead man's body on the ground, dodging the blood and
guts, cursing. Anger dripped from him. Kitty stepped forward and touched
his scaly forearm with her wet nose. He looked at her and growled. She shed
away and looked at him with wide black, brown eyes. Matt, took the woman's
body off of Kitty and piled it on top of the dead man.
Depression had settled over the friends. Derrick slowly gain control and
turned back into a human. As did Kitty, the both looked exhausted afterwards
but smiled at each other. Matt and Jim grinned at each other as they both
looked around for something to make a pyre with.
"Derrick." began Matt, looking up at Derrick, who had his arm draped over
Kitty's thin shoulders. Kitty looked at Matt with a smile. "I was wondering
if you knew how you changed back? Or the basis of your curse... We have to
think of a cure? or at least a solution on how to control it. Joy, and her
friends don't look like they have as much control as we do. Let's hope it
stays that way."
Derrick nodded grimly. Jim's face a mask of calm, though his eyes showed
otherwise. Matt was brushing blood onto his jeans and tee shirt. Kitty was
molded into Derrick's side. Derrick's face grew serious as he thought, which
he rarely did, before he spoke. He was a jock in every sense of the word.
(No offense out there!!!)
"All I can think of is I got mad, really mad at the people who did this to
the kid's parents and left the kid to die. Then I got mad when the kid shrank
away from me." Derrick answered after a few moments. "When I lost control
of my anger..." His grip tightened on Kitty's shoulder. But when the small
girl winced he lighted it considerably.
"I changed after Derrick, I had felt a great... I don't know, sadness at
the thought of the kid losing her parents. But then seeing it as well. And
then thought of losing my own parents and little sisters..." Kitty's voice
trailed off as she struggled to regain control of her depression.
Matt was deep in thought when the bushes to Jim's right shook. And if it
hadn't been for his good thinking he would be a Jim kabob For that moment,
the boar, that had been plaguing the villagers, decided to make a appearance.
Jim lunged out of the way, and pulled out a few throwing knifes, in one fluid
motion. Kitty and Derrick, pulling themselves together, drew their weapons
as one.
With a solid thunk, a dagger and one of Kitty's arrows found there targets
on the boar's hide. Derrick's halberd left slash marks up and down it's back
and sides. Matt's bastard sword engraving it's own marks. Then two screams
hurled up into the night and the boar ran into the bushes, where the friends
had just exited from not ten minutes before.
Pawns No Longer.
Laughter echoed though Heaven's Castle. Joy's heart sang full force as the
day dawned a new. Dawn, formality known as Taysta, laughed and sang out the
cry for the dawn's light. The boy's voices tenors and baritones evened out
the joyful song. Thanks to Joy's spell everyone had a few minutes of freedom.
And by the great beyond they used it and hoped to grew stronger every eve
and dawn.
Even though it was only a few hours past for the elder children, time in
heaven's castle pasted differently. Caroline had done it to keep everyone
on their toes, now it was their advantage. As I said laughter and song burst
forth, seeing Whisper had awakened form the guards and was now starting to
awaken form her curse as well.
Freedom sought,
Freedom lost,
Freedom gained though time
Freedom, Freedom, FREEDOM!
Sang out Dawn, Eve, the younger boys and Joy. Their voices echoed though
out Harpea by Whisper, Liz and Mayra.
Kiss the skies
Kiss Thyne brother
Kiss Thyme sister
For free we be for a moment few
Sang Whisper in her young contralto, Liz in her deep Alto and Mayra in her
sweet Soprano
Freedom sought,
Freedom lost,
Freedom gained though time
Freedom, Freedom, FREEDOM!
They sang as one clapping and tapping out the beat. Caroline writhing and
spiting curses, literally. (And you wondered WHY she hated her youngest set
of grandchildren...)
Brother's of mine own,
Sister of the sun
Brother of the moon
Free we be for a moment few.
Sang Joys light, happy voice, a man's voice, that of a bass lowly echoed
it. Everyone to caught up in the moment didn't notice the unfamiliar voice.
Thank be to the God in heaven,
Thank be we live this day,
May we survive to Freedom once more.
The song ended and the cursed became cursed once more and Caroline sighed
audibly in relief. And started her long day, dreading the sun's last few
moments in the sky when the song would repeat it's self.
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