The Soldier Queen

Chapter Two - Taking Flight

We head home so I can pack my bags and get ready to head off first thing in the morning. I bet you are all wondering what happened after that, right? Well, let’s recall. Shall we?

“The team… They were ambushed.” I said

“Mommy? Does that mean uncle is in trouble and needs help?” Pearla asked as tears started welling up in her eyes. I could visibly see her little heart break at the thought that her uncle might be hurt.

“Yes Princess, that is exactly what that means” Dad said.

Turning to me, this little angel says something that shocks all of us. “Then you go!” she yells pointing her small finger at me. “You go and you save him and you kick those bad guys’ asses Mommy. And… and you tell that uncle of mine that this had better never happen again or… or… or… or I’ll… cry!” Her voice trailing off and becoming so small we could barely hear her. “But, this time… this time I will only cry just for a minute Mom. Just give me a minute okay?” she finished, walking off leaving us all so shocked we could barely comprehend she had just said a bad word that she shouldn’t have.

“Damn, she is definitely your daughter T,” Jim said chuckling. “But it seems I better go, you have a lot to deal with. Here this is my card, cell numbers on the back. When you bring that i***t brother of yours home let’s all get a drink okay?” he said holding his arms open for a hug, knowing that was exactly what I would need after the news, considering how much I care for my big brother.

“Yeah, thanks Jim. I’ll talk to you soon” I reply while hugging his tall frame and praying I don’t break. ‘Not just yet,’ I said to myself.

‘We will be fine.’ I heard ever so faintly in my mind.

‘Great! I’m going crazy now’ I thought.

Looking to Dad, I could see his eyes glistening with tears as he turned to me and engulfed me in a huge hug and whispered, “C’mon baby girl. We gotta get home so you can get you packed up. You have some bad guy asses to kick”. He chuckled, trying to keep the mood light for my sake, but I could hear the hoarseness in his voice.

After she stopped her “minute” of crying we grabbed Pearla’s hands and started the walk home.

 “Time to go home. You got calls to make.” she stated simply, knowing full well I am about to call 3 men that I haven’t talked to in 4 years.

We head home, in a somber mood, so I can pack my bags and get ready to head off first thing in the morning. I pause from packing to sit on the edge of my bed and contemplate what I am supposed to say to the 3 men that are like family to us.

“Just get it over with,” I tell myself with a huff and pull out my cell. I scroll to the first person I figure I should tell with a sigh.

* RIIIING RIIIIING *

“Hello?” Answers the voice of my brother’s closest friend.

“Privet (Hey), Darrel, it’s Thola.” I say back.

Darrel is a handsome man with head full of dark locks and the most mesmerizing green eyes. He is 6 feet tall and towers over my 5 foot frame. We have known him since childhood and he has always been like another brother to me. However, nobody beats Malechai. He’s my favourite, SHHHHH don’t tell anyone.

“Der’mo, Printsessa, is that really you?” He asks. After hearing my small voice he adds, “What’s wrong? Why do you sound like that?”

You see I was always a strong person. Held my head high unless something happened to my family, so hearing my voice like this has him immediately wondering what’s happened.

“It’s Malechai. He’s been ambushed! He took Mystic Dawn on a mission. That’s all the information Miles could give me over the phone. I guess it’s a pretty secret mission. I need you.”

“When do we fly out?” is all the reply I got

“I will be at Libran Airport tomorrow at 4am.” I explained.

“I’ll be there Printsessa! Be safe.” and the line went dead,

‘Well, that went well.’ I thought and scrolled to David’s name. This call went much the same as the one with Darrel. After all, we’ve known all the boys on the Gunwise team since childhood. We played together, grew up together and eventually they joined the army together. I varied and took a different path at 15 but eventually ended up right where I belonged. With my brothers.

Now Christian, on the other hand, I couldn’t see him like a brother. When I enlisted at age 19 I had seen how he grew and, boy oh boy! After only having been with one man and seeing Christian grown into this handsome man, well, let me tell you, there were no brotherly feelings. He is 6 foot 2 inches tall, black hair with these crazy obsidian eyes that I just got lost in. He also realized I was not the 15 year old girl he remembered either. I most certainly was not a child. I had also grown up into a woman.

We had tried dating but it never felt right for me. I abruptly left 4 years ago to search for my cousins that were missing. They had not been home and were never found so I left to find them, leaving Christian with only a note saying ‘I am sorry but I cannot do this. I am sorry’. I know that it was cruel but I was hurting. My family had been slaughtered and I may have cousins that survived. That was all that was important at the time.

I was so lost in thought trying to figure out what to say while I was waiting for Christian to answer that I had no clue what to finally say when I heard “Hello, Who is this?” on the line.

“Privet, Christian” I answered and heard his sharp intake of air when he recognized my voice.

“Thola” I heard him whisper.

“Look Christian I know that I am the last person you want to hear from but I need you. He… Needs you” was all I could muster up to say in a broken voice.

“I will see what I can do T.” And with that he hung up.

It was now 7pm and suppertime. Dad had ordered Chinese food that arrived just as I was bringing my bags down.

“You all ready to go baby girl?” Dad questioned sadly as he walked to the front door to get the food.

“Yeah pops. Though I don’t think he will come” I sighed.

“Don’t worry honey,” he said. “That boy knows that you’ll go with or without him. He also knows that if its without, well… ” he trailed off, chuckling at what Malè would do to him if he didn’t. You see, since I have no friends I talk to Dad about everything. I mean, like, EVERYTHING so he knows about Christian and I.

“Yeah. that’s true, but I don’t want to force him you know?” I replied.

“I get it...” he started but got cut off by a high pitched scream coming from the kitchen. We looked at each other and bolted towards her.

“YOU GOT MY FAVOURITE!” screamed Pearla as we reached the door. Sighing in relief we started laughing at her.

“Never a dull moment with her, eh? Always keeps you on your toes.” Dad laughed grabbing the plates as I unloaded the food and chopsticks.

While I was eating Pearla suddenly stopped and started staring at me.

“What are doing baby cakes?” I asked

“Just memorizing your face mama. I am going to miss you a lot,” she replied.

“Oh lyubov’ (love) come here.” I said opening my arms, welcoming her into an embrace that let her know just how much I would miss her as well.

It was 10 o’clock and I had to put Pearla to bed for the last time for who knows how long so I read her story. Which, right now, was Harry Potter cause my babes cool like that. She’s reading The Prisoner of Azkaban right now. After that I sung her a lullaby that my granny sang to me when she used to leave after a visit....

“I’ll let you know

I’ll come home,

So sleep my child, sleep

Dream sweet dreams and know

I’ll be home

Go to the place where the Fairies play

Dance to the song all around and know

I’m with you every day

I hold you every night

I sing for you when you’re not around

But know I’ll be coming home

I’ll be coming back home”

“Good night mama,” she said sleepily. “Be safe. And please bring my uncle home to me okay?” she finished.

“Alright lyubov’. I will, I promise. Ya tak sil'no tebya lyublyu (I love you so much),” I replied.

“I love you too mama,” she said, quietly falling asleep as I place a lingering kiss on her forehead.

Leaving her room, I quietly shut the door and turned to find Dad standing there, waiting with a sad look on his face.

 “It won’t be the same without you babygirl.” he said hugging me. “No more swearing, no more mixing my creamer with yours, and, you know, no more having tobuy a new phone every week. That kind of thing.” He teased. But, I knew that this man was hiding his sadness with a joke. Like he always does… Just like me.

“Gee, thanks pops! I’m feeling the love right now mudak (asshole).” I chuckled.

“You know I love you princess. Always have, always will. Now please, bring that i***t son of mine home would you?” he said.

“You got it Dad. And trust me when I say I will be giving that tupitsa (dumb ass) a piece of my mind. Ya lyublyu tebya, Papochka (I love you, Daddy),” I say.

“Now, now. Since when have you called me Daddy huh? Enough of that corny crap, yeah?”

“Yeah sure Pops,” I said, knowing full well that he loved it by the little sparkle in his eyes. “Now let’s have a drink before I gotta go, okay?”

“You got it baby girl,” he said as he pulled out the vodka. Several drinks and about 4 or so hours later it is 2am and Pops was getting tired. You see, I have a high alcohol tolerance so pops sips while I chug.

“Night Baby Girl. I love you. Be safe. I want both of you to come home to me you hear?” He said heading up the stairs. He never says goodbye. He believes that if he does he will never see you again, so he simply leaves it at that.

“Alright Dad. I got it. Good night. I love you too.” I replied, watching his retreating figure.

Turning around and gathering my bags I open the door to the cool silent night to find my taxi already here waiting for me. ‘Wonder how long he’s been waiting,’ I thought to myself.

“Hello Miss. Where are you headed tonight?” The driver said without a single ounce of annoyance, letting me know that he couldn’t have waited too long.

‘Thank goodness,’ that little voice said frightening me again.

“Hello, I am heading to the Libran Airport, Sir. Please and thank you,” I reply, ignoring the fact that I am literally answering myself now.

After checking in and going through security I am now waiting inside the gate for my plane. Deep in thought and just staring out the giant window thinking back to the day that my life had changed.

* FLASHBACK * (TRIGGER WARNING)

“You b***h!! I told you not to talk to them! Why can’t you just ever listen? How do I even know this is my child huh? I don’t. I might as well get rid of this stinking brat right now!” He yells grabbing the huge machete knife from its place beside his desk. He stalks closer to my baby.

“STOP! Please don’t! I swear she is yours. I promise I’ve only ever been with you. PLEASE!” I scream as he inches closer and closer to Pearla.

I am finally able to stumble my way over, just in time to get to her before the blade does. In the process he slices through my back. Suddenly we hear the sirens.

‘Thank goodness’ I thought to myself as black spots start to take over my vision. I fight to stay awake until they get here. I move my daughter behind me using myself as a shield between him and her.

“You b***h! You called the police, you good for nothing....” He trailed off as he backhands me, causing me to fall to the side and my nose starts to bleed.

Suddenly the door bursts open. I see officers putting him in cuffs and hauling him away. In my clouded vision I see a man crouch down to grab my baby. In my hazy state I don’t realize he’s one of the good guys and I try to fight him away.

“Shhhh,” he coos. “I am here to help. I promise I am not going to hurt her.”

Reluctantly I move, allowing him to take my baby while others surround me and I finally allow the darkness to engulf me.

* FLASHBACK OVER *

I am so deep in thought that I don’t even notice the two new presences until I hear “What? No greeting for your favourite brother?”

Coming back to reality and hearing the familiar voice of Darrel, my tears start to fall knowing that I am no longer there. I am now with family, I am NOT alone. He notices my tears and his expression softens even more, knowing that I am not one to cry all that often. They bring me into a tight hug calming me down.

“It’s so good to see you guys!” I say wiping my tears.

“Who knew we would find a pretty Printessa crying her all alone at 4 am?” asked David.

“Oh, shut up!” I retorted as we all laughed.

Soon we hear our flight being called over the loud speaker and start to make our way to the plane.

“You know, we should arrive right around breakfast time.” said Darrel.

“Dude is that all you think about?” David chuckled back.

All this time, all I could do was smile at these two goofballs. Oh how I have missed them.