Young Writers Society

Jasmine

He fell into a silence, leaning back against the far wall and occasionally sneaking guilty looks at the bruises forming across my neck. "I'm sorry," he murmured again after several minutes of the silence, and I glanced back at him for an instant, shifting uncomfortably. He did actually look sorry, guilt twisting his mouth into a downward curve and pulling his eyebrows together in a sorrowful expression. I felt a twinge of sympathy, my expression softening, then frowned internally at myself, pushing my features back into a scowl.

"No you aren't." I replied, less forcefully than I had meant to sound. "We're on different sides. This is hardly going to be the worst thing you do to me whilst I'm here, is it?" Great, now my tone sounded practically sympathetic. What was I, his counsellor? I looked at the bruises starting to blossom on his features, unable to stop myself from remembering how much more attractive he had been before I'd tried to break his face. At least it made it marginally easier for me to tear my gaze away as I returned my attentions to the grimy wall straight ahead of me.

The Captain sighed again, running a hand over his face, then shook his head. "I don't want to hurt you," he said petulantly, looking at the floor. "I don't even understand ... I protect the people. Why would you want to.." He broke off, his expression glum, then peered at me slyly as if trying to elicit a response.

"Why would I want to kill you?" I asked, a scathing tone re-entering my voice. "You honestly think what you do protects people? You don't protect anyone except yourselves and the King. You have no idea what we go through."

Merry's pet, Anubis, stayed outside the tent. Merry wanted some privacy. He knew why. She was thinking of her late husband.

Years ago
Merry moved into a house with her newlywed husband, George. His parents lived in the house and owned the farm. Since George was an only child, he was to take care of the place. They were planning on extenting their family when the soldiers came. Blood everywhere. She didn't want to remember that day. It was months after their marriage. They lived a peaceful life.

Merry closed her eyes. She didn't want to think about any of it.

Leopold Thaertus

I walked with my cousin through the castle hallways listening as our shoes hit the cold stone, maybe it's just me but warm stone sounds different than cold stone. He had wished to speak with me on the matter of my becoming, a spy I was quite unsure about it myself but as my father had been I was loyal to the crown. Suddenly Fenezari broke the silence, " I saw Kali for the first time, it was when Pellentesque and I combined. She looks dangerous. I trust Morgan though and I could feel it she's a good companion."
Dumbfounded I nodded in agreement. I responded the best way I knew how, " I imagine they are truly great partners. You know as well as I that no spirit chooses its companion for no reason. A spirit can sense the potential of people and binds accordingly."
We walked in silence for a little while longer before he spoke, " You know you're important to Morgan as well. He's practically family you know that." I looked at Fenezari and shook my head in disagreement. He continued on anyway, " Look maybe you don't think so but you're the most powerful wind sorcerer on the Crown's side you and Ventus are perfect for this job though because you stayed hidden when you helped overthrow the former king."
I looked at my cousin stifling a laugh due to seeing Pellentesque hanging upside down from the brim of Fenezari's hat, " My dearest friend and cousin I shall do this we must find out who leads the Resistance." He looked at me face ecstatic before giving me a hug and squeezing me tight to him.
After we parted from our bear hug he pulled me close by my shoulder, " well cousin this calls for a night of revelry. I'll have a bottle of spiced wine brought to us in my tower and we shall sing and make merry before you must be off to join the Resistance." He grabbed me pulling me along to his tower mere moments after we arrived dancers and wine arrived for us as well. Eventually some of the guard arrived and in Fenezari's grand tower he I and the dancers performed for all I played upon my flute as Fenezari strummed on his lute singing merry songs and telling great tales. The party went into the wee hours before Fenezari placed me in bed before going off to his morning ritual. I often wondered to myself if he ever truly slept.

King Morgan Darkrai
Age: 27
Near the Aradian Castle

I stood on one knee and waited paitently for Uncle to come. When he came at last, I said calmly, "My training has been over for a year, old friend. Resources have told me that you know something about spirits. I wish to bond with one."
Uncle said, "That's not simple, Darkrai. You have to see the spirit and call it by name or it will reveal itself to you and come once you've tell it to come. The former was how I bonded with my spirit-owl."
A familiar voice said, We meet again, my friend. It's been six years since I last saw you.
I got on my feet and turned around. There was the pitch-black dragon that saved my life six years ago. The beautiful dragon hasn't changed since I last saw it. I asked it, "Can I be your sorceror?"
The dragon answered, You have to guess my name to stake a claim upon me. Only then shall I submit myself to you and call you my Master.
Uncle told me, "Don't waste your breath, Darkrai. She has no name. Go look for a spirit that has a name."
"She?" I looked at the dragon again. This time, I looked deep into those golden eyes. There I found myself in her. I knew she already staked a claim upon me, so to seal our bond I was to name her. I got down on one knee and commanded, "Come to me, Kali."
She shrunk three times her size and perched herself on my shoulder. I serve you until death shall we part, Master, she said happily.
Uncle protested, "You can't name a nameless spirit, Darkrai. That's against the rules."
I got on my feet slowly, turned to Uncle to face him, and said slyly, "I guess I just broke a rule that doesn't really apply to a Dark sorceror. Let us leave, Kali. We have some business to plan about."
Kali said in equal slyness, Indeed, Master. Let us take our leave.


The present...

Looking through the window, I spotted Deliah from above her head. I knew I've done so much good in her life, only twice she called me Daddy. I decided to make the ultimate decision I ever made. Getting out of bed, I donned myself as a guard and snuck out to the courtyard where Deliah was standing guard. I said, "I have something to tell you, my dear Deliah."

Dalilah:
I went back to my Barracks. My fellow abnormals were sleeping soundly. I climbed into my bunk. I slept for a while, it had been a long day. When I woke up the sun was on the other side of the sky. I got out of bed and began to get ready for night patrol. I ran for a bit. Then went for a walk in the courtyard. It was a nice evening, not to warm or cold. I thought about night patrols and how long I'd been leading them. I realized that I'd been doing it so long I had lost all feelings about it. I felt robotic. I had never been a normal kid and before today it hadn't really bothered me.

I thought for a long time on what could be the catalyst to this feeling. I couldn't determin a cause, so I pushed it into the back of my mind and began to get mentally ready for patrols. I was about to go start waking the Abnormals when King Morgan called me, "I have something to tell you, my dear Deliah."
"What is it, My King? Has something happened?"

Kasis

Intermediaries.
It has taken a disgracefully long time for the idea to occur to me. I wasn't allowed in the dungeon - not many people were - but the guards were. And some of the guard weren't the brightest or most moral folks, easily influenced by a promise of money or power.
Of course, power isn't mine to give, I told myself. Yet.
I knew I'd have to go to the right person though. One wrong move, I mused, and I could end up in the dungeons myself. And then the King would get his abnormal, that "Diah" or whatever, to leech my powers and then I'd be in proper trouble.
But what did I, a lowly technician with ideas above his station, have to offer the well-paid guards?
That was the clever part of my plan. I'd use some of the connections I already had in high places to "influence" them. The connections were trusted friends of the king at that time, see, and if any guard tried to accuse them of something I was pretty certain the king would dismiss them.
Yes, a great plan, I thought as I left my room.
Little did I know what I was getting myself into.

King Morgan Darkrai

I could tell Deliah assumed something was wrong. Not just because I heard her ask so, but because it was written on her face. I held her close. Despite the armor I was wearing, I knew she was in my arms and against my chest. I couldn't let myself hold back my ultimate decision. I said without any furthur ado, "My dear Deliah, I've treated you like you were my own child. Not once have I asked you to do anything that would put the both of us in harm's way, but now I have made a decision that I want you to keep between us."
Deliah stared into my eyes, curious.
I kissed her forhead and said calmly, "Since your family disowned you before I found you, I want to be your new family. Be my daughter, like I've been your father. My dear Deliah, I have so much room in my heart for you. I ask of you to become my child."

Kasis

I walked down the dungeon corridor importantly, feeling all made up in my guards gear. How I go the guards gear is slightly complicated. I will say only this; my disguise was secured through foul play and bribes. But none of that is important. What was important is that I'd abandoned my previous plan in favour of this newer, shinier and more personal one. Instead of talking to the prisoner through messangers I would talk to her myself.
As I strode towards her cell, I heard voices coming from it. Knowing that my disguise wouldn't hold under any kind of prolonged observation. And if it was somebody important talking to her in that cell, or somebody who knew the guard I was disguised at, I would be totally done for.
I stepped back and melted into the shadows in a poorly lit arch, waiting for the prisoner to be alone again.

Masakka

"You don't protect anyone except yourselves and the King. You have no idea what we go through," she snarled.
"I don't want to know what you go through," I said slowly, as if speaking to a small child. "I suppress you maniacs for the sake of the Kingdom. I'm not a psychologist, and I'm not your friend. I don't care about you dirty little mice."
Her face flushed in anger and she bolted to her feet. "If you really knew what we could do, you would pay a lot more attention."
"I know what you can do," I said, bored. "And I do pay attention. But I don't care what you go through. Because you're my enemy and I hate the ground you walk. That's the way it usually goes, my lady."
"Your lady?" she sneered. "Last I heard, your lady left you because you split her face open with that iron fist of yours, Captain. What noble people the King picks for his high ranks."
My stomach twisted inside of me, and I nearly staggered out the door, slamming it behind me.
I leaned against the wall, glad of the heavy partition that separated me from her. My head throbbed in mental agony from the memory she had brought up. That had been ten years ago. I had told myself it hadn't happened so many times, I had almost believed it.
I ran my hands through my tied-back hair and longed to die.

Dalilah:
The King seemed...different. Something in his eyes told me so, but, I couldn't tell what it was. It seemed that he was both happy and nervous, scared. He pulled me into his arms.
"My dear Deliah, I've treated you like you were my own child. Not once have I asked you to do anything that would put the both of us in harm's way, but now I have made a decision that I want you to keep between us."
Endangering him? How could he suggest something so impossible? I could never put him, the man who took me in as family when I had nothing, in harms way. I was confused and curious. I looked up at him but said nothing. He kissed my forehead and said, "Since your family disowned you before I found you, I want to be your new family. Be my daughter, like I've been your father. My dear Deliah, I have so much room in my heart for you. I ask of you to become my child."
I was taken aback. He wanted me to become his daughter. I wanted to belong somewhere so badly, I wanted a father for so long. I stood silenced for a long time. I worked out my words in my head, slowly as not to mess up. Finally I looked up at him again.
"I...My King, I am honoured and I have wanted to have a family for so long-" I hesitated, and began to cry, "But, if someone finds out...how can I endanger you like that when you are all I have?" Then, I broke down, fell to my knees and sobbed.

Spoiler

Sorry I haven't replied yet, I was on vacation without internet.

Charlotte Noble
Resistance
News spread quickly through the resistance. It hit me hard. "What are we going to do?" I asked aloud, sitting back against a wall. With one of our greatest allies, Queen Amy, dead, Jasmine captured, a fire on one of our bases, and our healers out, things were falling apart. Luckily, Merry was holding things together, but even with her great help, Morgan continued to gain power.
I sighed aloud. We need Jasmine back. I thought to myself. She had been not only one of my close friends, but also one of our best fighters. The image of Jasmine in a dark and damp cell flashed in my mind, giving me energy. We needed her back, not to mention the fact that Morgan wouldn’t hesitate to torture her to get the information he needed. Jasmine’s strong, and she would probably die before she told anything.
I stood up, beginning to walk away from Merry’s office. I would go alone. At night, I would be less likely to be seen, but that only gave me a few hours to reach the castle. Fortunately, we had stolen maps from the palace only a few days earlier, and after I had studied them, I knew the paths and passageways through the castle. I turned into my room and began packing food and previsions into a small bag; I would travel light, and pray to be back in a day or two. I strapped knifes onto my boots for extra protection and turned to leave my room. I turned the corner and practically ran into Chaos…

Fenezari Thaertus

I sat at the top of my tower thinking about everything and recovering from last night. Morgan was sending off one of the last two surviving members of my family to spy on the resistance. The worst part for me was that without Leopold here my last two reliable friends in the castle would be Pellentesque and Morgan. With Morgan's duties as King though he could seldom spare the time to for us to talk and Pellentesque and I could practically predict what we were going to say to each other.

I began to consider my lack of friends and who would make a suitable new one then it dawned on me an abnormal can't steal my magic. I would befriend an abnormal but which one. I looked out at the castle grounds and saw Morgan talking to one of the abnormals that if memory served was known as Delilah. An abnormal that was obviously a trusted adviser to my dear friend? It was perfect I would befriend Delilah then I wouldn't be so alone maybe she wouldn't enjoy a good party as much as I do but that was all well and good for now I needed a friend. I placed on my most comfortable clothes leaving behind my halberd and instead grabbing my sword, a gift from Morgan both a work of art and deadly, I set off to greet my new friend as well as to see Morgan.

King Morgan Darkrai

Deliah was hesitant, but she accepted what I offered. She started to fall on her knees and sobbed like the child she was when I took her in. Her tears tugged my heartstrings.
I wrapped my arms around her gently and allowed her to cry on my shoulder. Suddenly I realized what danger I was putting myself into. If someone were to spread a rumor about my relation with Deliah, word might come to Them and my weakness would be exposed. I already sent Leopold as my eyes and ears in Them, but it might mean that I've led him to his death. I planted another kiss on Deliah's forehead and whispered in her ear, "No one must know of this, not even your troops. I'll confess it to the land when I have less stress on my hands. If They find out about your adoption to me, then it will be the death of us both." I hugged her and began to take my leave to the outside when Fenezari put his hand on my shoulder. I decided to stay put and to talk, since duty hasn't called yet for King Morgan or Morgan Darkrai. "What is it, my old friend?"

Sorry about not posting anything. I've been working the past few days. I'll catch up and post by tomorrow hopefully.

Delilah:
I cried like a child and The King...My father, held me in his arms and let me. When I calmed down a bit he kissed my forehead,
"No one must know of this, not even your troops. I'll confess it to the land when I have less stress on my hands. If They find out about your adoption to me, then it will be the death of us both."
I nodded. He hugged me and left. I pulled myself together and walked to the barracks. One by one I woke the troops allowing them to stay in bed for a bit longer the calling them all to stand up and get ready for patrols.
I brought them outside and, like every day we rand around the castle then split up to monitor the kingdom. I lead the middle and largest group. We walked through the streets as a large group. Nothing had changed, everything seemed normal, but it wasn't, my life was in danger and so was...fathers. We walked through the quiet kingdom. It was, yet again, too quiet.