False Child of Shinku
Book one
Chapter two:
One spark starts it all
The sky glowed brilliantly orange as the yellow sun rose above the golden tree tops of the great forest.
The village of Star usually busy by now was eerily quiet. No carts threw the dirt on the streets up into the air. No shops were open in the market and the streets were deserted of life.
The only movement of life was inside the houses and inside the tavern. The tradition in Star to honor the dead is the day after the death, a day of grievance. On that day no one works; unless it’s serving beverages at the tavern and everyone is required to wear black.
X X X
Orient stood behind the counter of the bar hugging her waitress tray tightly to her chest as she stared out at the grief stricken costumers. She couldn’t blame them.
Hisken Lucifer was the best and most kindhearted leader the town had ever seen. Hisken had taken in Orient nine years ago even though the town and government had labeled her a Shinku.
Suddenly a voice calling out her name broke through her thoughts. Orient blinked and saw a young man with shoulder length messy black hair and icy eyes staring at her.
He reached over and brushed away a tear gently from under her eye. “The new leader is here. He wants you to serve him right now. Table thirteen.” He said to her tensely. “Save the tears for later Solo. You have to impress him.”
Orient nodded. She was used to getting ordered around by Len, but something didn’t feel right. Len seemed too tense.
“Good. He ordered a glass of wine. Hold the ice. Prepare the drink and then go over to him and please be polite no matter what things he may say.” Len instructed her, staring intently into her light violet eyes.
“I got it. Only polite and not to loose my temper at anything he says.” Orient replied as she poured some wine into a glass. “Why the warning? I do this everyday and keep my temper ninety nine percent of the time.”
Len shrugged. “Just warning you because he knows you’re a Child of Shinku.”
“I’m not surprised. Everyone here knows what I am.” Orient put the glass on her tray, straightened out her black dress and then held her tray high above her head. “Table thirteen?”
Len nodded. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” Orient made her through the crowded tavern to the corner table. The noble was surprisingly young looking to Orient. She had assumed that the noble would be a toothless old geezer. The noble wore an elegant black silk traveling cloak with embroidery around the edges. His short hair was a bright silver color while his eyes were a charcoal black standing out against his translucent pale skin. He locked his charcoal eyes on Orient as she set his glass down in front of him.
“Here is your wine sir.” Orient said as she bowed to him after putting the glass gently down on the table. “Is there anything else you need me for sir?”
He picked up the glass in his hands and smiled at her before taking a drink and setting it back down on the table. As he did all of this the noble never took his eyes off of Orient.
“What’s your name Child of Shinku?” his voice was as smooth as silk.
“My name is Orient Solo sir.” Orient replied without hesitation. She pulled at her hair with her right hand, uncomfortable with his intense gaze upon her. She almost felt as if she was drowning in his black eyes.
“Orient Solo,” He said her name slowly as if each syllable was a word by itself. He then took a sip of wine and put the cup down gently. “What an interesting name.”
“Is there anything else sir?” Orient asked hopping he would let her go now.
“Tell me, dear Child of Shinku, are you the only one in Star?” the noble asked casually.
“Yes, I am sir.” Orient replied automatically, used to being asked that.
The noble cocked an eye brow. “Really? Why is that?”
“The others were killed.” Orient was telling a small half lie. The whole truth was that there was one other, but he wasn’t allowed in Star anymore.
“I see. Who killed them?”
“The guards have that duty.”
“Why were only two Children of Shinku spared?” the noble asked raising his voice. The tavern grew quiet around them and all eyes were on them.
“Two?” Orient asked trying to sound confused.
The noble stood up and grabbed Orient by her hair. “Don’t ever lie to me cursed Child of Death.” He hissed. Orient winced in pain as his grip on her hair grew tighter and tighter to the point where he was close to pulling it out of her head. “Now, tell me cursed Child of Suffering: why were two Children of Destruction spared!?” the noble yelled at her.
“Hisken Lucifer. He saved us. From the massacre.” Orient told him, her voice dripping with pain and fear.
“Let go of her.” A male voice sounded with anger from behind Orient.
The noble looked over to see a young boy with short messy light brown hair and dark amethyst eyes. With his free hand the noble back handed the boy. “Don’t ever talk to me like that peasant.”
“Go to Hell, Yue Leo.” The boy glared with great malice in his eyes at the noble Yue Leo. “Let go of Orient.”
“So the Shinkus protect each other and stick together, I see.” Yue said. “I’ll come for both Shinkus tomorrow at dawn.” With that said he threw Orient into the boy(that had stood up to him) and walked out of the tavern.
As soon as Yue was out the tavern door Len was beside her. “So much for impressing him Orient,” Len lectured. “You just had to go and lie to him.”
“Lay off her Len!” the boy shouted at him, holding Orient in his arms so she could calm down.
“Get out of here Shinku scum.” Len ordered. “I didn’t give you permission to be in my tavern Daisuke.”
Daisuke scoffed at the order. “I thought it was a day of grievance? Don’t I have the right to come pay my respects to the person who saved my life and Orients?”
“Pay your respects and then get out,” Len reluctantly told him, only then going back to serving the customers.
Orient took a step back from Daisuke. “How did he know what you were?”
“That noble can read minds,” he sighed grimly. “That’s how he knew you were protecting me.” After a moment of silence Daisuke said “Well, I should go.” Daisuke turned to leave and walked towards the door.
Orient stared after him watching him leave Star for only the second time in her life. “Good-bye.” her voice was barley a whisper.
“Orient?” Kar’s voice came from behind her. “Are you alright? You’re shaking.”
Orient didn’t turn around, but looked at her hand to find Kar was telling the truth. She was shaking. A hand on her shoulder made her turn around to look Kar in the face. “Kar, Would you mind if I took the rest of the day off?”
“Maybe that would be a good idea. Get some sleep or something.” Kar told her worriedly. Orient half smiled and walked quickly to the back stair well.
