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I stayed at the encampment for a week, and while relations between me and Darren remained stiff, I got to know many of the weres living there. The mothers of the young boys that followed Darren around were surprisingly welcome to me and soon most of my day was spent discussing their life and beliefs while doing various camp chores. Once I looked out to the clearing next to the encampment and saw the boys practicing fighting techniques with Darren.. I turned Marta, the mother of George, and asked, "Don't you ever send your daughters out to practice these techniques?"
She looked at me as if I had grown a third arm and shook her head, "No Sakir. I don't know where you were brought up, but in most communities us women do not engage in any type of fighting.. except to eat."
I looked at her, "But what about self defense, the pride of being a strong, independent person, the--"
She broke me off and looked at me sharply, "Now is not the time or place... You should ask Darren tonight... in absolute private."
Her eyes drifted over to a group of men close to us. I felt horrible for these kind women to be oppressed by their husbands in such a way... but I also felt bad that I intervened... after all they may like living that way; unlike me.
I cornered Darren that night in the tent and asked, "Why don't women learn fighting techniques?"
Darren looked at me, "Wow... you really didn't grow up with a were community did you?"
I glared and shook my head, "Yeah, I'm an outcast. Now tell me why not."
Darren sighed and looked at the tent opening, quickly closing it, "It's not like I think they shouldn't be taught Sakir.. it's mostly the older men that feel that way."
I threw my hands up, "Men and their stupid prejudices against women.."
He caught my hands and looked at me sternly, "They feel that if men are defeated in battle, and the enemies attack the camps, the women will never be taught enough to defend themselves... and most importantly.." He breathed shallowly as if with pain, "They feel that if they die... their wives will want to as well."
I was silent and drew back to my side of the tent, "Partners love each other that much?"
He nodded, "I know that you want to train these women to defend themselves... but most won't want to know, or will be scared of their husband's reaction."
I looked away, "If vampires get to this camp Darren... the women will not die quickly. I know their training methods, and they preach through the agony with the promise of the kill... the pleasure... and the ecstasy of the prolonged screaming."
I felt hot tears running down my cheeks, "That kind of training turns vampires... who are naturally merciful to their prey by killing quickly, who are innately and deeply loving to all their friends, and not quick to attack... into beastly monsters."
I could feel the brusque stubble under my fingers as I took his face in my hands, "No being deserves the fate of being tragically altered and killed.... especially two perfectly capable co-existing races."
He removed his face from my hands and spoke softly, "You really think that peace can come so easily?"
I smiled, "I have sources in high places."
He raised an eyebrow, "You always talk like you know more than you let on.."
I shrugged, "I can't help it... for my "talent" it's necessary."
He crossed his arms, "Speaking of which.. you never told me what that was."
I laughed, "And I don't plan on it anytime soon."
He sighed angrily and I turned over in my bedding, "I'll tell you if you take me to the people who reign over all of the werewolves."
He sort of grunted and I smiled to myself, "I take that as a yes."
He mumbled, "Think what you wish."
I felt my eyelids droop and decided that further arguing would be saved for the next morning... I would get my way.. or he would never hear the end of my displeasure.
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Jade
I stared at the place in the forest where she had disappeared and I felt the warm trickle of blood coming down my cheek. I was cursing everyone and everything at that moment. My best friend was gone.... gone to throw herself right into the enemy's arms.
I stormed into the tent that Darius and I shared and he jumped slightly at my brusque entrance. He continued to ground up various plants and pour the concoctions into jars. I was slightly irked by his apparent absorbance in his job, but he was required to create the herbal remedies for the vampires that needed it on the battlefield. I paced behind him and when he was finished he grabbed my hands and held me still. His voice was darker than usual and I could feel the strain eminating from his body, "Please don't make this harder on any of us."
I wrenched free of his hands and snarled, "THAT ******** JASPER NEEDS TO GO TO HELL!"
He cupped his granite hands over my mouth and after screaming fruitlessly into his hands for a minute or so I stopped and started to cry again. I felt his tongue lick my cheeks and I opened my eyes to see his expression turned down into a frown.. although his face usually gave away little to nothing.
I smelled Jasper coming before I heard him open the tent. I wanted to strangle him but Darius stepped half in front of me as he came in. Well... 'came in' is a nice term.. he almost fell inside the tent. His clothes were ripped and I could smell the blood trickling from wounds on his chest. I was picking him up before Darius could and shook him, "Jasper! Jasper what happened?"
No matter what he did to my friend... I couldn't let him die... not there... not while there was still hope their love would mend. He pointed out of the tent, and I left him Darius's arms as I raced out of the tent. My eyes surveyed the grasslands and I saw smoke rising in the distance. My feet flew over the tall grasses in leaps and bounds. As I got closer to the smoke I smelled werewolves and that only made me pick up pace. The counsel's tent was roaring in flames and I could see the retreating weres swiftly moving north.
I was about to skip the campsite and go after them but I saw a body laying on the ground. Long silk hair was spilled around a peaceful face... but while the face was peaceful.. the body was torn into peaces.. and bloody gashes laced the body. Queen Delahra was dead.
I shouted for the rest of the council and they emerged from the forest... somewhat bloody but it wasn't their blood... and they weren't dead. I was somewhat at a loss for words but choked out, "She's dead?"
Truigen looked at her body, "She was attacked from behind...."
Kourne gave a slightly disdainful glance, "She shouldn't sing so loud.... it attracts attention and doesn't allow her to hear anything."
I nodded and looked at the two men, "What now, my lords?"
Kourne shuffled about in a business like manner and the attendants came from the trees like ghosts, "We need a new queen... Delahra never had any children."
I sighed, "Of course...." I looked up at them, "You are welcome to stay with us... all of you. We have plenty of room."
Truigen and Kourne bowed to me in thanks and the attendants curtsied. They followed me back to the encampment and I set up extra tents for them to stay in. Jasper was laying on a mat inside Darius and I's tent, wrapped up in bandages. When I walked in he sat up too fast and winced, speaking hoarsely, "Sakir!" His eyes were foggy with fever and Darius rushed to his side, pouring liquid of an unknown color down his throat.
Jasper's breathing slowly eased and he fell asleep as I told Darius what had happened. He got up and went outside to talk with Truigen and Kourne as I took over post next to Jasper.
I whispered, "I should kill you Jasper. You know that."
He mumbled incoherently for extended periods of time and only one clear word was repeated; Sakir.
I shook my head and went outside again as Darius came in to watch over Jasper.
Truigen and Kourne were sitting across from each other in front of a fire and looked up at me as I took a seat perpendicular to them. Kourne gave me a brief nod and Truigen simply turned his wise gaze in my direction.
Truigen spoke first as I stared deep into the flames, "Kourne and I have been thinking about the new queen. She needs to be different from Delahra... strong, intelligent, and not full of herself."
I nodded and Kourne picked up the conversation, "She needs to be powerful and quick to decide.."
Truigen spoke again, "Noble and respectful to every person."
Kourne turned his head towards me, "You."
His statement caught me off guard and I stood up in a flash, "What?! Me?! Are you joking?!"
They shook their heads and I sunk back into my place, "I don't think I want to be a queen. I'm more of a fighter."
Kourne kept his eyes on me, "It will only be temporary."
Truigen chipped in, "It's your duty as a vampire to accept this."
I nodded slowly, "I know. I just feel like you're making a horrible mistake."
They both shook their heads, "No."
They stood up and walked back to their tents. Kourne turned his head to the side, "Meet us tomorrow. We will be traveling to the front lines. Take your partner and friend along if you like."
I nodded and walked back, speechless, to the tent.
Darius was also lost for words when I explained the proceedings, but our reverie was interrupted by a groan from Jasper and a thud as he fell out of the elevated mat. He sat up, rubbing his head, "Where is she?"
A slow realization came to his eyes and he raced out of the tent, "I have to find her." I gripped the back of his shirt, "Oh no you're not. She will come back when she ******** pleases."
He looked back at me, "Would you prevent Darius from looking for you?"
I shook my head, "No, but I would have no reason to run."
His face was drawn and he could barely walk back into the tent. He collapsed on the mat as the fever returned in a dull throb. I sat next to him, "By the way. Delahra is dead... and I'm the new queen. We move to the front lines tomorrow."
He gasped, "Oh," as a fiery haze attacked his body again.
 ThaliaSimon · Sat May 09, 2009 @ 05:21am · 0 Comments |
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