Regents and Skirts

The journey

10 years ago

"It's a deal then. 10 years from now, both Maria and Von will get married to seal the alliance between two sides" Diablo laughed heartily

"A deal it is"

I smiled so big. Von didn't look interested, however, I was.

He was my crush. He had always been my crush since I was 10, now at 12, hearing that we will be married in the future, it was something that brought joy to my heart.

Von threw a brief glance at me then looked away. I don't know why he was looking so sad today.

When the elders left, I ran to meet him.

"Are you this upset by the arrangement? Sir Von?" He didn't answer me.

Just then Mila walked by and I saw him turn to her with such speed, I felt for his neck. He immediately rushed to her side without a second thought for me.

It hurt a lot. But she was a Regent just like him. And we were just different. Besides, she was prettier and older. Yet I still felt he didn't have to look so mad.

I also saw Stephan passing by and he turned to me.

"Sir Stephan? Why are you looking so sad? Why is everyone looking so sad?" I ask worried.

I can see tears in his eyes.

"I'm not a monster okay?" He tells me.

I look confused.

"Who called you a monster?" I ask, my hands holding his as a way of comfort. Since I was 6, I always did this.

He recollected himself fast.

"By 2pm, lock yourself in a cabinet and don't come out Maria, don't."

****************************

Back to present....

My breath hitched. I froze

we were surrounded. Nobody moved, the security had already run to protect Stephan and his dad and led them out without anyone noticing.

They had abandoned us. They brought us here and abandoned us.

"Look who they called leader." Someone said mockingly.

I knew that voice.

I turned to see Mila. Looking as radiant as ever in her luxury gown. She had that same smile as I had seen 10 years ago. A smile she threw at little me on that day.

I always imagined us seeing each other again. Being reconciled again.

Heavens, please. Not like this. Not like this.

I heard my childhood crush is a monster. But I didn't want to believe it. I hoped there was hope.

But as I stare at him now, I see it. He had been through pain. The kind that breaks a man and turns him into a beast.

I could see everyone getting anxious. Someone sprinted for the exit but was shot down. Everyone gasped. The crowd was brought to order again.

We were so much. Every elite was here. Every elite. Servants were here as well. The servants were triple the elites. If we all die, the land will never recover. At least not for a long time. If another war is waged, without the elites to support Romano, he was as good as dead.

While Romano thought this as a pride booster, this was a strategy to Von. The killings had already weakened the town, this was a massive blow.

"Nobody move" another man warned. It was a male I didn't recognize.

Von stepped on the podium.

"There are two stages before you die tonight, yet some of you will survive. Killing you all is useless" he says in a deep voice.

"This is the first. You all shall now choose. Shall you fine, fancy people ride with us to the Regent? Or does your loyalty lie here?"

My breathe hitched. I turned to my mom. I could see the fear in her eyes but the defiance in dad's. He wouldn't.

And because he wouldn't, she wouldn't.

So I didn't. I turned around to see people raise their hands while some refused to.

They had all heard the tales.

If they came for you and asked you. Join us or remain here lifeless, take the bullet through your head. You can't survive there.

We were always asked this. After he raided, he took some of us as hostages. We never knew our fate, they never came back.

Just then, my head snapped. I turned to see Odette raise her hand and scold me with her eyes.

I raise my own hands.

"Maria!!" I hear my father shout. I turn shocked. From the corner of my eyes, I can see Mila smirk.

My dad is furious. This is the first time I've heard him shout.

The noise catches Von's attention.

I turn to see him stare at me lazily. Uninterested.

"Next time he speaks. Blow off his head"

Fear hits me. Isn't it better to die than go with this monster? I slowly drop my hands down. But raise it back up

"Very well. Since you have all decided, open fire. Sect two, take our 'captives'"

"No!" I hear people shout as they are dragged. Taken away from their families.

I scream as well. Calling for my mom. Calling for my dad. Begging them through the screams.

The man holding me hits my head with his gun and blood drips from my head from the force.

"Quiet"

I obey but shake vigorously. I hear the bullets. I hear the scream as they throw us into huge vans.

**************

We're packed like sardines. I see that almost everyone here is young. The older generation decided to stay back. They were the rooted, loyal ones.

I suck in my breath. My mother was not. My mother was forced. She always did whatever my dad did. The pain clouds my chest.

Were they dead? Should I have died with them?

He trapped us there and ran.

He and Stephan were cowards

Von? I couldn't recognize him. His eyes were dead. As dead as I feel inside.

I'm going to survive. I better survive.

I can't find Odette in this crowded room. I notice that I was surrounded by maids.

I didn't take to notice earlier, but the elites who are here are few compared to servants, though many of us are still here. Maybe the rest decided to take the bullet. Too afraid of the legends and tales I suppose.

My head spins back and forth but I don't dare faint.

The man from before passes by me. The hair on my neck stands as he locks eyes with me .

I don't look away though. After a while he smiles and then turns away.

It was then I realize I had taken off my contacts earlier on to cry properly. Maybe my eyes disgusted him.

I was a freak after all.

We are still on the road when the Van stops. everyone in the room is confused. Then I remember

'there are two stages before you die tonight'

God. Were we now at the second stage?

My mind begins racing as they order us down in a straight file. Then they line us up.

There is total silence. The silence is so deafening it's scary.

I see Mila walk up. She's as dangerously gorgeous as I remember. I also see the man from before walk beside her and right then, it clicks.

Lucas. Mila's brother.

They are standing there staring at us like we are their entertainment.

It makes me wonder. For 6 years they've done this ritual. How many survived.

But all the more, How many elites were killed? They were the main ones who planned the war yet the commoners suffered.

Me? I didn't even realize how bad it was. Heck? I was sheltered. We were all sheltered.

Now, we will feel his revenge first hand.

I swallow.

I have to focus, there is a task ahead.

"This little climb up this hill, will save your life. Beyond is the Land if the Regents. You can't climb, you can't live." Mila said.

I could hear gasps. Little? I've never climbed anything higher than a stool before. And they were calling a hill climb little.

I could see small boulders sticking out where you can place your foot. But how? The servants might not have a problem but we elites will.

I can hear them sigh, some with resignation to their poor fates.

But I won't die here. I vow that I won't.

"Oh and you've got only three chances. Now, who would like to go first?" Lucas asks.

At first nobody moves, then someone walks forward.

It's Odette. I see the defiance as she turns back to the que. She's not scared of this. She's accepting this.

My blood boils. How is she accepting this?

She climbs over with little struggle, she keeps climbing without stopping.

10 minutes later, she's up.

I sigh in relief. Then an elite walks forward trembling.

I see the joy on the faces of the Regents who are now behind Mila, Lucas and Von. it radiates as the Lady trembles.

I knew right away that this was the true feeling of revenge.

As expected, she fails after three trials and Lucas blows her head off, causing us to shriek in terror.

"Alright who's next?" Mila asks calmly, clearly entertained.

Head high, I've taken off my jewelry and I walk forward, trying to climb.