Ace of Blades

“Good night honey,” they whispered in her ear. They were terrified, their lips trembled as they spoke the words, and their eyes bulged out of their heads.“What's wrong mommy? What's wrong daddy?” the little girl asked. Her mother was able to force a shaky smile. “Nothing, sweetheart,” the mother took a deep breath that seemed to hurt her lungs. She got off the bed and walked toward the door, trying not to look down or look back. The father did the same. The little girl seemed to hear their pounding heartbeat as they walked on the wood floor. They smiled again before turning off the lights with trembling smiles. The girl looked at them, confused, staring at their terrified faces. They closed the door leaving, her in the dark. Her parents are the bravest people she knew, they were never scared. She shook her head and turned to look at the window. Her pink drapes brushed the empty floor. And, even though it was night, the lamp post was enough to see the crippling shadow hiding in her drapes. She turned back toward the door, closing her eyes as hard as she could. Monsters are not real, she thought, but now she was doubting herself. She heard a creak on the floor then another. She took a deep breath ready to scream. A long scale hand reached for her mouth. Before she noticed it was covering her mouth shut. She whimpered. Tears streamed down her face. She could feel the monster’s breath against her neck. She clawed at his hand trying to pull it off. “I’m going to tell you a story, child,” His voice was dry and hoarse, like it hadn’t been used for a hundred years. The monster cleared his throat. “I promise I won’t hurt you, but you must promise you will not scream.” She nodded and the monster gently pulled his hand away. She didn’t make a sound except her occasional whimpers, after all, she was too terrified to even speak. “It all began when there was magic,” he said lost in his thoughts. “It was beautiful, I had a family and I lived in the trees, not afraid to be seen. Until these monsters appeared. Born of flesh and as sinned as they can be. They hunted us and skinned us merciless.” He took a deep breath, and so did the girl. “The worst of all they never died, so we had to hunt them, but we could not. You see, we were gentle creatures, nothing more to be said.” She felt a tear drop on her neck. She shivered, goosebumps appearing on her pale skin. My brother was the first to turn, I tried to tell him to stop. For even though the monsters were terrible they had children, but he didn’t listen. He set out to hunt them, but before he took the first shot he heard something terrible. Worse than death. He heard them laugh as they ate. But that was not the worst, it was what he saw. He saw them cutting into a child, devouring it raw. The monster shook his head. He shot his bow, hitting one of the men, killing him. My brothers’ beautiful colors turned brown, and black. He died inside. When he returned no one, recognized him.” “I’m s-s-sorry,” the little girl stuttered. “For what? You didn’t do it, your parents did. You shouldn’t say sorry for their crime,” The creature continued, "The sinful creatures tried to force us out of our homes, killing my mother and father with it." His eyes teared up. "I fought, I fought for so long and I couldn't protect all the children that I fought for. They all died, as you will too if you don't listen." She stared into his blue reptilian eyes. "There is one forest left that has magic, it's hidden far away. If you decide to listen, good for you, for you will live more freely there.” His paws were on her shoulders. “For I beg, I can't fail again. If I do, I will hate myself." He closed his eyes. “There is a place. A place where there are only three stars in the sky, and a man pointing up. If you look closely you will see the sun in his eyes and once you do, pull the lever. Don't be scared because the floor will disappear and you will have to fall into the mouth of heaven before you will be shown the world of magic in its purest form.” Then he leaped off her, and back in the curtains, but there was no shadow, just her curtains. She dashed out of her room and ran up to the attic, the only place she was not aloud. And there she saw five men with daggers for teeth and five women that were boiling in a pot of hot, hot water. "Hi sweetheart," Her mother said, but not in her gentle loving motherly voice. The room was full of pictures of monsters dying in battle. Spears were hung on the walls. And jars full of the blood of all the children they had killed. The little girl stared as everyone approached her. She remembered the words of the creature. She ran. "Come back, sweetheart." her mother hissed. "Come back!" The little girl awoke in a hospital bed, her parents hanging anxiously around her. She saw them breathe a sigh of relief. She momentarily forgot about the monsters’ words as she squealed in delight. “Mommy! Daddy!” she yelled happily. Her mothers’ face twisted into something resembling a smile, but something was really wrong with it. “Mommy?” The little girl said, shrinking back. Her mother jerked forward. “Don'tttttttt worrrryyyyy swweeettiiiieee,” she said, her words slurring. A long, forked tongue came out of her mouth, brushing the girls’ nose slightly. She laid back on her pillows, frozen in horror. Her mother reached for her, her hands changing, changing into a furry, harry mess. She tilted the little girls face towards her, looking her directly in the eyes. “Time for you to die!” She said in a cheerful voice. She hadn’t noticed her father advancing towards them, an axe in hand. “Daddy!” she screamed in horror. She yanked the tubes off her, bolting out the hospital rooms door. She heard them coming after her, but she didn’t look back, only clutched her teddy bear closer to her chest as she ran out the exit into the cool, starless night. I awoke with a start. At first, I remembered nothing from last night, and then it suddenly came back in a flood of memories. I looked down to see a blanket wrapped tightly around me, so I looked like a swaddled baby. I tugged my arms out, loosening the wrap.I remembered the fight from last night. A couple of Fallen had attacked a human, and we had to fight him. It was really a pain, actually. I never liked having to look up from my book long enough to pay attention to something that someone said, let alone kill creatures of Seth. I let the blanket fall, grabbing the clothes someone had generously left out for me. They looked like Cades; black jeans, black t-shirt with black ankle boots. Anubis, her father, really showed through her wardrobe, considering he’s the god of death. My father (or mother) hasn’t been determined yet, so I’m currently under the impression that I’m daughter of Isis the creator goddess, who created Seekers, like me. I remember the day I was told. The day when my life changed. The day I was also almost killed by a Fallen. I shuddered, silently thanking the gods Cades had been there. If it wasn’t for her, I would’ve been dead. But, I guess that the point of having a Protector. I glanced in the mirror, trying to fix my messy hair. It always seemed to escape the ponytail I tried to keep it in. I sighed, tugging the rubber band out. My jet-black hair tumbled down my back, framing my round face. My eyes, emerald green, looked startling against my pale face, almost as if they’re supposed to be a darker, more subtle color. I averted my eyes from the mirror, hunger overcoming my desire to stare at myself. *** I walked into the kitchen, musing over how I would greet everyone, or if I should just grab a book and read while I ate. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty, who kissed you awake?” a familiar voice said behind me as I leaned over the refrigerator door. “Hey, Cadence!” I said, ignoring her comment. Cadence, also known as Cades, has been my best friend since I became a Seeker. She was the shoulder I cried on when my parents died, and my all-around favorite person of all the inhabitants of the Hotel. She grinned, coming beside me to get some food. “What do you want to eat?” she asked. I shrugged. “I don’t know.” I said, rummaging through something that resembled cheese. I frowned. “When was the last time we cleaned this thing out?” I asked, wrinkling my nose in disgust. Cades stood up, thinking for a moment. “I think a couple months ago,” she said finally. I shuddered and shut the door. She grinned at my expression. I reached in my back pocket for my phone to call for some pizza. It wasn’t in by back pocket, where I usually kept it. Then I realized these weren’t my clothes. “Where’s my phone?” I asked Cades. Her smile dropped. “Ya, ummmm, about that, it was kinda….” She stuttered, not giving me a clear answer. “It was what?” I asked impatiently. “It was burned,” she said flatly, a nervous look on her face. “Burned?” I shrieked. She grimaced. “Cades, do you know how long it took me to buy that? Years. 2 freaking years and it got burned in a fight?” I yelled. “I had to work at the stupid Santa Barbara Shack for 2 YEARS to buy that, and I haven’t even had it for a month when you guys come along, telling me I’m part of this freaking cult, and I’m supposed to believe you, while creepy stalker guys called—what were they called? Fallen or whatever? —trying to get my blood, and—and,” I stopped, realizing I was just ranting now. “I’m sorry, Cades,” I apologized. “I-I’m just so—” She pulled me in for a hug, and I felt hot tears fall from my eyes as I squeezed her. “It’s okay,” she said in a soothing, motherly voice. “Everything’s going to be okay.” I didn’t hear or know that Jay was in the kitchen, too, watching us. “I see I have just walked in on something,” he observed in a playful tone. Cades and I sprang apart, as if we’d been caught doing something wrong. “What do you want?” I snapped, and had the satisfaction of seeing him flinch. “Sheesh, Frost, what is the issue?” he asked. “Man problems?” he added, wiggling his eyebrows. My cheeks reddened. “I am NOT dating anyone!” I said hotly. He grinned. “Ya sure? Sometimes even I don’t remember who I’m dating,” he said, still prying. “Shut up, Jay,” I mumbled. “Jay?” he asked, confused. Crap. “I meant Jackson,” I said hastily, but he didn’t seem to notice. I shot Cades a worried look. Only she knew I had a nickname for everyone at the Hotel, mainly because I forgot everyone’s name. She just shrugged uselessly. “Jay,” he mused. “I like that.” He stood on top of the stool he was sitting on. Cadence stared at him curiously. “I shall now be summoned by the name Jay,” he said dramatically. I tried to stifle my laugh, but a giggle escaped. His eyes golden eyes flashed with pleasure. “Now say it!” he said in a booming voice. “Say it for all to here!” “Jay!” We said between laughs. I leaned against Cadence, who was snickering along with me. “Louder!” he pronounced. “JAY!” we screamed at him. “What the heck?” a voice said. My eyes tore from Jay. I heard the sound of someone slipping, followed by an: “Ow, dang it!” Jay stood up, rubbing his knee while scowling at Margo Farewell, Leader of the Hotel. I erupted in a fit of laughter, unable to contain myself. I saw Cades shaking silently, her face red from trying not to laugh. Wiping a tear from my eye, I answered Margo’s bewildered expression. “Um, nothing Ms. Farewell, we were just—” She looked at me and I stopped, seeing her grinning face. “Please, call me Margo,” she requested, turning to Jackson. “And Jay is a good nickname for you.” She mused. Jay grinned and I beamed. Our eyes locked for a minute, and I felt blood rush to my cheeks. His grin widened and I averted my eyes.