Chapter 2: 2. A Girl Who Wants A Crown
NAZ
I feel my blood running slowly down my back. My face is down on my luscious bed. After I had to move all the pillows of different shades of red off it, it doesn't feel as comforting as usual. But, alas, they had to be moved as to not disturb the man currently with his hand pressed upon my open and bleeding back.
I take a deep breath of the incense burning to try and cool my burning blood and mood. Probably, analyzing, not smart to turn the man currently healing me into ash. The red silk drapes casting a bloody glow across my neatly organized bedroom distracts me from his slow and inexperienced youthful hands.
I clench as he presses hard, and my patience draws closer to an end. I would think that Generals get the privilege of getting the best healers, but this inept healer is proving me wrong. A good healer doesn't cause pain, great healers even manage to pull together the skin in such a way that they leave no scar.
Needless to say, this one was definitely going to scar.
Not that I minded. It wasn't until a couple years ago that I earned the privilege to be healed with magic. Another scar to the ones that cover my rich onyx skin isn't going to make much of a difference at this point.
What I did mind was that someone was able to get that close to me, to injure me. That hadn't happened in a long time. I had become arrogant in my position. This served as a painful reminder of how fragile everything I built truly was.
I hiss at the healer as he presses hard against the cut again, "Either pick up the pace or get me a thread and needle. Your usefulness is quite underwhelming, and my bad mood might find a new target."
I feel his hand pause at my back with slight tremble, "Y...yes...General."
I hadn't become one of the youngest generals in the army by being friends with everyone. That seemed to be Dyon's personal mission. I used my powers for intimation, while Dyon used them to play tricks on our superiors and gain friends wherever we went.
I felt no need to make friends. I had a bigger purpose.
I got to where I am by using my brain and strength to my favor, but especially by not playing by the rules. Where most might hesitate to kill, I relish in it. And in this army the more blood thirty you are, and the more ruthless...the more powerful you become. It's a brutal system, where only the strongest survive, and the cruelest of them all get to rule it.
His fear eases my pain, and I smirk in content as he continues with a quicker, albeit not any less painful, pace.
Someone knocks on the door, "We are not to be disturbed while I attend the general." The healer says, trying to give a commanding voice, but utterly failing when his voice cracks with fear.
"Oh, I think I'm the exception." A familiar voice says behind the door.
"You really aren't." I call back.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Dyon says as he stumbles in with a bruise swelling his right eye closed, and a bloody nose. His usually strong and symmetrical facial features look disgruntled and misshapen, and his long chestnut curls, which he usually has braided neatly on the back of his head, look as if a baby dragon chewed on it.
I glance from my bed at him, knowing I won't like the reason behind his appearance. Yet another part where me and him differ, where he acts first thinks second, and I make sure I have thought of all possible outcomes when I make a decisive action.
"What did you do?"
He glides in, wiping the blood from his nose, trying to push the hair out of his face, and sits on the chair at my side, "I heard what happened during your meeting this morning. I can't believe Kimba would try to stab you while your back was turned during the meeting, that snake. After hearing about it, I went to the gallows to have a nice long conversation with him about it. Turns out the stupid bloke was expecting me." He says as he rubs his jaw, sporting a gleaming soft yellow bruise against his light cinnamon skin.
I stare at him, unable to believe this stupidity. Anger starts to boil my blood.
"What. Did. You. Do?" I ask trying to reign in my anger.
He must notice my eyes have started to glow red, betraying the depth of my anger, "Naz, you seriously can't be mad at me. I was helping you." He says in shock.
"By making me look weak!"
He clenches his jaw, "I did not make you look weak. I made it clear that you are more than just you, that if someone tries to hurt you, I will be there to hurt them. Relying on people doesn't make you weak. On the other hand, I made you look strong."
I smell the sheets burning beneath my clenched hands, turning them to ash, "By telling everyone that I need you to fight for me. I don't need you, I took care of it myself, or I was going tonight, with a crowd to show everyone what happens when you betray me. Going to beat him up like you did. In the dark. Without witnesses, THAT just makes me look weak, and you stupid."
My veins feel on fire as I continue, "Unless I ask you, as your general, to take care of something for me, do not take that action without my consent. You think because we grew up together that gives you certain liberties. Let me tell you...it doesn't. Kimba did nothing I haven't done before, and you know it! Remember how I got here, how you helped me get here. I actually respect him more, and you less after today."
I see his normally green eyes glow bright yellow. "You don't mean that."
The healer whispers, terrified. "All done General Nazareth."
"Get out." I growl at him, feeling the beast inside dying break out. To wreak havoc.
The useless healer leaves with a soft pitter patter and a click of the door.
I grab my dragon skin vest and turn my back to Dyon as I put it on. "I mean it Dyon. Do not test your boundaries with me. Try what you did again, and you will find yourself in contempt, maybe even banished. Now leave." I itch for a fight, and I will not fight him. Not after everything.
A storm of wind blows, as Dyon answers coldly, "As you wish...my general." He slams the door and takes the storm with him.
As soon as I am by myself I yell in anger and feel as fire leaves from my hands to my already halfway burnt bed, lighting it as bright as the sun. I hear my heart pounding as loud as a mega-elephant's stomps. THOMP. THOMP. THOMP.
With the frustration building, I pull at my hair, ripping it loose of its tie, and a mane of black tight curls fall around my face, temporarily blocking my view.
I know I must look deranged. Standing in the midst of fire, with wild hair and crazy red eyes.
I can't believe him. Acting as if we were still children, as if I still needed his protection. As if I was still weak little girl.
I see the smoke come out my nose, and push the curtain of curls from my face, as I yell at whichever servant is behind the door, "Take care of this mess, and make sure there isn't a trace of it when I get back!"
They must be used to this by now. I have done this more times than I can count. I don't know, whether it's by magic or skill, but they always manage to make it seem like nothing ever happens.
I head towards my window and climb to the roof. I always find the higher from the ground I am, the calmer I become. As if the legends about fire-witches were actually true, that we are the descendants of dragons. I'd like myself to imagine that were true, but I'm too much of a pragmatic to allow it to be more than a fleeting thought.
I sit crossed legged and take deep breaths, trying to cool my fire, as I stare at the camp around me. The sun reflecting the gleam of my soldiers' golden armor. The wind carrying the sound of their laughter and fighting.
This was ALL mine. I am no longer afraid of the golden monsters, I control them now. I find my fire cooling at the thought. My frustration wasn't solely about the events from today. I was starting to feel desperate in the lack of advancement to my plan.
I needed it to work.
But, I had present and very important matters to attend to at the moment.
I rub my hands across my face as I stand up, and jump off the off, landing on the balcony, climbing my way down to the ground. This morning's wound feeling as it had happened weeks ago instead of hours.
With a plan in mind as to how to deal with the gossip from today, I head towards the training ground, loose hair and all, to show these bastards, exactly what I am made of.
When I get there, I see everyone stop to salute me, and proceed to whisper amongst themselves. I catch Dyon in the corner, anger in his eyes.
"Attention." I call.
Everyone stands tall, and quiets down. "As you all know by now, Kimba was foolish and cowardly enough that he tried to kill me when my back was turned to him during today's meeting. He now rests in the gallows while I come up with," I take a pause and smile, "a creative punishment for his insolence. Everyone will be questioned by Hoku, and if anyone else is found to have corroborated, or thinks similarly to Kimbe, will join him with his punishment. "
Hoku was one of my three most trusted companions. Well, trust is a very strong word, I trusted no one. But, throughout our lives she has proven to be as loyal to me as she is vicious.
I inhale and continue, "Everyone also knows that Dyon took it upon himself to try to relieve me of the pleasure of indicting the sentence. That will also not go unpunished." I hear groans of disapproval, since everyone was basically Dyon's best friend. "Let this be a lesson to all, do not test me. If you are going to try to kill me make sure you are successful. And do not ever take it upon yourself to act without my direct command. Understood."
In unison they all replied, "Yes, General."
From the corner of my eye, I could see Dyon clench his fists, his eyes glowing yellow once more, while everyone around him patted him kindly on the shoulder as they exited.
"Dyon, walk with me."
"Yes, General." He growled.
I walk with my hands clasped behind my back, my light brown vest a lighter color than my skin, as my curls dance with the wind, "I must give out a punishment for what you did. I hope you understand. I...I can't look weak amongst these wolves. I am so close...We...are so close to our goal. I can't lose it all now." A dark memory fights to resurface, and I stop and look at the ground. Losing a battle with a memory.
A moment passes, in complete silence, both trapped in the same nightmare. I feel a hand on my shoulder, and look up to see Dyon smiling softly, "You are the strongest here. The most fearless leader we have ever encountered. Do what you must. You know I will always follow you."
I take a deep breath, refocusing on the present, and shrug out of his grasp, "You will be given 15 lashes to the back, and will not be allowed to use magic to heal the wounds. As a reminder of your actions."
"As you wish, my general." I see a hint of a frown, but he just bowes respectfully and walks towards where his punishment awaits.
I stand there fighting for control of my traitorous emotions.
• • •
That night the nightmare resurfaces, and my unconscious mind willingly lets it enter.
.
I grew up in a small tribe, in the middle of the Azuz jungle, the largest jungle in the world.
I was the last of six siblings. The surprise baby. My parents had longed assumed that they could no longer bare children, their last before myself being 7 years older when I came into the world. I was born small and frail.
My mom would sing to me her strength every night, a different type of magic, that willed me to stay and grow.
As I got older, my mom was overprotective of my weak disposition, and wouldn't let me interact outside without her supervision. This made my older siblings feel resentment towards the extra attention my mom gave me. So, I grew up isolated, and without friends. I was an outsider in my own family, in my own tribe.
The only people that made me feel like I was the center of the universe was my mother and father.
She was a healer, with a soft voice and caring hands, creatures from all over the jungle would flock to her. I would follow her through the jungle as we visited different tribes, or creatures. I would watch the joy she brought into their lives.
My dad was the leader of our tribe. He wasn't very present, but when he was he would always pick me up, and tickle me until I cried from laughter. He was wise and strong, with the burden of a tribe on his shoulders.
While we knew there was a war raging just outside our jungle, it never seemed to make it in. My dad, like his dad before him, and his dad before him all decided to stay in the jungle and out of the war. We had peace. And after years of no sign of war bleeding into our jungle, we assumed they just didn't care about us.
We were wrong.
I was laying on the comfortable straw roof of my house staring at the night sky, thinking about the trip my mother and I had just come back from. The magic of the underground city. When I heard soft whispering, echoing all around me. Silencing even the smallest of animals.
I sat up and glanced towards the darkened trees, squinting my eyes to see if it was my siblings playing another trick on me.
I heard a cry of terror.
Then nothing. A silence so quiet, so terminal.
My dad ran out the door, followed by my oldest brothers, heading towards the scream with weapons in hand.
I hug my knees to my chest in horror. Feeling my weak lungs struggle to breath.
An explosion rattles my teeth, followed by the sound of fighting, and screaming.
It was coming closer.
I squeeze my eyes shut as the fear plagues my body. The noise of death and smell of blood overtaking my senses.
My mother calls from below, trying to sound as if the world wasn't crumbling around us, "Liliath, my lioness, come down will you?"
I peak my eyes open, and see that chaos rains all around my once peaceful home. Large creatures in with golden skin strike down men and women alike. Carrying small children to cages on wheels, being pulled by menacing bulls.
Kids I had never seen before already occupied some of the cages. These kids had terror in their eyes, unlike anything I had ever seen before.
"Liliath, come down to me." Her smile, full of anguish and her gray eyes, the same color as mine, reflecting a weariness of the soul.
I shook my head. The roof was safe.
"Please, baby. We need to go." Her voice cracks.
As I am making up my mind whether to jump towards her or stay in my safe harbor, one of those monsters covered in gold puts a sword against my mother's neck from behind. "Now, now...what do we have here?"
I freeze, as my mom shakes her head at me, telling me to stay put. "What do you want?" She answers him.
The guy bends his horned head towards my mom, and whispers something that turns my mom's beautiful chocolate skin, pale and lifeless. She whispers loudly at me, "I love you my lioness. Run away as fast as you can when you get the chance."
The creature chuckles as he pushes my mom back into my house. I wonder what he whispered to her.
I jumped off the roof, frightened, regretting my decision not to do it sooner. Wanting nothing more than to run into my mom's arms. When my feet hit the ground, the largest golden monsters I had seen with pointy teeth and a missing eye was waiting for me. I screamed, and turned to run in the opposite direction, but he grasped my arm chuckling, "I was wondering when the little bird was going to get down from her nest." He said in a strange accent.
I could feel my heart thundering in my chest, and I screamed. Hoping my mom, my family...anyone would come to my rescue.
But,
No one came. I sobbed as the man lifted me up and started hauling me into one of those cages. I kicked, scratched, with all my strength, because I knew from the other kid's eyes that nothing good lay within.
I heard my mom's cry of pain, and my world stopped.
I had to get to her.
I struggled harder against the man, feeling my weak heart pump harder than ever. And gasped as I felt something stir within me, and felt the heat coming from within me so strong that I could feel as my blood starts to boil.
I screamed in pain, and to my surprise my captor did as well, dropping me to the ground. "Bloody hell, she's a fire-witch." He said as he put pressure on his shoulder, were I had been resting, where his skin was now red, and swollen...burned. He squatted and inspected my eyes as they watered from the pain. "Look at that boys, Mistress Regna will be extremely pleased. Not only did we get an air-wilder, but also a fire-witch. These powers have been next to extinct since the stone went missing, and now we have two."
He smiles, "You are something, aren't you little bird." He called for someone to bring him his dragon skin gloves, and as I writhed in pain, he picked me up, no longer bothered by my burning skin, and dumped me in an empty cage...save one boy who had a strange collar on his neck.
"Stay still, you filith," Another monster says to me as he puts on a similar collar on my neck, and as soon as the clasp clicks shut, I feel the burning within me cool off.
I lay in relief and shock, and stare blankly at the floor in front of me.
My eight year old mind unable to comprehend what happened.
Frozen.
Until, a small hand pats me on the back.
I jump, and crawl to the opposite side, hugging my knees hard to my chest. Feeling the tears roll down my cheek.
The small boy with lighter skin than mine, and wilder hair stayed at the spot I had been a moment prior, with his hand still stretched out. "Hey it's ok." He whispers at me.
When I don't respond, he scoots a little closer, "My name is Dyon. What's your name?"
No words form on my lips.
"I am ten years old. I come from the edge of the jungle, from a town called Varo…" He stayed like that talking about his whole life to me while I just sat there and listened. For hours. As night gave way to day.
"My sister is the best hunter in our town, but I am by far the fastest...well for my age…"
"...my name is Nazareth." I whisper at him, interrupting him from his never ending monologue.
He stops talking, and stares at me, a wide smile breaking his dirty face, "I like it."
We talk to each other as the weeks pass by in that dirty small cage. Well, mostly Dyon talked and I listened. But, it was a distraction from both of us as we left everything we knew behind. As the jungle we had both grown up in, got smaller and smaller in the background, until it vanished from sight.
I had fallen asleep, when the golden men start yelling for us to wake up.
The heat of the desert hits me all over again, unused to a dry heat, my mouth feels like sandpaper. There is a strange camp all around me, with children being wiped and learning to fight, to use swords.
"Welcome to your new home," The disfigured monster who took me says from behind me.
I turn to look at him in terror as I feel a hand close upon mine...Dyon's hand. He looks at my captor with hatred.
"Look at that little bird! You made a new friend." He chuckles as he walks away.
The never ending nightmare truly began that day.
• • •
I wake up, feeling as if I had just arrived at the desert again, with my mouth dry. I swallow the water on my nightstand and sigh. I wiped the sweat off my face and give a small blessing that I woke up before the worst part of my nightmare.
Splashing water on my face, I decide that working out will help erase those memories tattooed on my brain. I dress quickly putting on my dragon skin clothing.
Invaluable pieces of clothing for a fire-witch, especially since dragons had become extinct. I had managed to take these off a fire-witch I killed a couple years ago. A great reward especially since I always suffered from indecency, my clothes hanging on by a thread, after every time I used my ability.
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. My dragon skin clothes, sharp and menacing, my hair pulled back to show my strong facial features, and the scar that ran along my left temple to the corner of my mouth. You are not weak, the reflection whispered.
When I arrive at the training area I find Dyon, shirtless, covered in sweat practicing his sword skills. I stand in the darkness, as I watch his precise movements, and seeing the bloody marks on his back where he was whipped. I glance down at the results from my decision.
Seems like we both were drawn here by our nightmares tonight.
"I know you love to watch me sweat, but would you mind being my sparring partner?" He says as he continues to work.
That's how we worked. Our balanced was off lately, but we always forgave each other without words. Our past a tether too strong to break.
I smile as I head towards him, "How do you always know when I'm watching?"
He stops practicing and smiles at me, "You aren't as quiet as you think."
"Pshhh, I know I am. No one else can hear me." I start stretching my muscles.
"Maybe they're just afraid to tell you."
I laugh, "Maybe...I like that thought."
He grabs a towel and wipes the sweat of his face, "I knew you would. Ready? First drop?"
I smirk, and roll my head side to side, "Bring it."
When we say First Drop in our sparring matches it means that the first one whose sweat touches the ground must fight the reminder of the spar without either their weapon or their powers... and it was the opponent's choice as to which.
I feel my blood start to boil, once an unbearable pain now feels like home, and watch as my left-hand lights up with glowing fire. I grab my long sword with the right.
Since Dyon and I are the only elementals in our ranks, we can only get to practice like this with each other, and there is no greater feeling than letting the power within me loose.
I laugh as I catch Dyon staring at me in awe, "What? You want to give me the win already?"
That shakes him out of his trance, he winks as his eyes start to glow, and wind whips all around us, "Not a chance."
I throw a ball of fire, and he dodges it easily as he sends a blast of air so strong it sends me flying.
I use his wind and add my fire to land in a crouch. I feel a drop of sweat glide down my cheek. I stick my tongue out and lick it off before it touches the ground.
"I saw that." Dyon laughs, as he whips another blast of air at me.
I roll out of the way while creating a whip of fire and slashing at him with it, "It didn't fall, therefore it doesn't count."
He blocks my whip with a shield made of wind. I throw a blast of fire at his shield, but he continues to press forward.
I am vaguely aware that there are people beginning to gather around us, as we continue to spar. I raise my sword to meet his. I see the sweat on his forehead, and I feel the sweat on mine. It is only a matter of time before a drop falls on either of us. I push and twirl to get some space, but as I do I bead of sweat hit the ground.
I hear the soldiers around us, either grumble in anger or clap with excitement.
"Looks like you've been slacking off," He chuckles, and then rubs his chin pensavily, "I think I want to fight with you without your powers, but don't worry... I won't use mine."
I growl at him and run to meet his sword. We both knew that unlike me his strength lay on the sword more than his powers.
We fight like that until we are soaking with sweat, and Dyon has me pinned to a wall. "What do you say General." He smiles at me.
I squint my eyes trying to look for an escape. I smile as I see one, "Kiss my ass."
I kick him where the sun don't shine, and roll to my sword. He falls to his knees, and I come up being him, pressing it lightly against his neck.
The soldiers are all shouting in solidarity pain, clapping , or whistling.
"What do you say?" I whisper in his ear.
He groans in pain as he clutches his middle, and whispers, "You win."
I smile in contentment as I help him to his feet. "You evil woman. There are just something that we don't do. This is one of them."
"There isn't such thing as fair when you fight me. You should know that by now." I pat him on the back laughing.
As we walk towards the towels and water, I feel someone pat me on my shoulder. I turn to find Zey behind me. He nods his head towards were my office is, and I eagerly shake my head in agreement.
If he is back that means he found something. I glance at Hoku who is on the other side, and motion for her to join us.
When Zey, Dyon, Hoku and I enter my office I lock the door, and place the enchanted lace on the handle that will prevent anyone from overhearing our conversation. Well mine, Hoku's and Dyon's conversation.
Zey took a vow of silence when he saw his family butchered in front of him. Vowing to never speak again until the murderer of his family was coating his swords. We all dealt with the trauma of becoming blood-thirsty killers in different ways.
When we first arrived, I saw how the other children bullied him because he is a Lira. Lira were, as far as we know Zey is the last one, some of the most ancient species. A brutal species, with an ancient type of power.
They were the leaders of a war that almost destroyed the world decades ago. After they were defeated in the war most were killed. The rest butchered as the King hunted for them.
I asked Dyon to defend him, and has been incredibly and unweavenly loyal to me since.
He is the assassin of my army, deadly silent, which is surprising given his 6'4 muscular stature. The one I send when I want to feed terror to my opponents before even setting foot in their camp. He is also the one I sent to investigate the whispers that the stone had returned.
I have been making moves to take over the throne since I was 16, not to mention it would be priceless to see the look on the king's face when he realizes his Deathly Children, as he calls those he stole from families, who he thinks are at his beck and call, were the ones to take everything from him. With the sudden signs the stone had reappeared, the possibility of sitting on a throne and my revenge came closer to reality than any other plans.
I sat at my desk and motioned my team to sit. Zey's light blue skin is covered in dust, and his clean face has grown a beard well over two weeks old. Rough travels they seemed to say.
The easy question would be: What did you find? But not with Zey, we had our own special way of communicating.
"Did you find anything?" I ask impatiently.
He nods once, fangs gleaming.
I smile, "did you find the stone?"
He shakes his head.
I rub my temples speaking my thoughts out loud, "So you found something, but not the stone.... did you find a reliable clue that could take us to it?"
He shrugs his shoulders, nodding and shaking his head at once... in other words...maybe.
"Is it worth checking it out?"
He nods his head. I know he thinks anything that will get him closer to his goal is worth it...even a crumb. I happen to agree.
I smile at the plan forming in my head.
Dyon must see my face and read my thoughts because clears his throat, "So we are going to gods know where to see if a clue could potentially lead us to a hypothetical magical stone? Did I get that right?"
I smirk, "Yes. That's right. Just us you, Zey, and I… I will leave Hoku in charge until we get back."
Hoku, who recently shaved her long straight black hair, because it got in the way, smiled, her gorgeous almond brown eyes gleaming, "I will keep your men in shape while you're gone."
I had no doubt. Those men were going to be in the shape of their lives when I got back.
"What are you going to tell the king?" Dyon asks.
"Absolutely nothing. There's no coming back from this. If all goes as planned, it's his head on a spike and crown on my head at the end of all this."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone