Part Three

 Part Three

It was dark when Shard opened her eyes. The fire was completely out and there was no light in the room. Shard sat up with a wince, thick blankets still holding her down. She shoved the heavy fabrics off only to be met with a wave of cold air. She shivered and rubbed her arms. A fresh set of clothes was laid out on the chair beside the couch. Shard quickly changed into the new clothes and stuffed her black, ragged tunic into the empty fireplace. While the cotton long sleeve shirt and pants didn't fit perfectly, they were better than what she had previously. Pulling on wool socks and leather boots, Shard stood and looked for anything else lying around the room she could use. The door to the adjacent room was closed and Nathalia was nowhere to be seen. Shard rummaged through a few boxes and containers sitting on the shelves and benches. In the end, she found a loaf of bread and a few old apples. She shoved them in a wicker basket and snatched a heavy cloak from a peg by the door. Stopping to think about it, Shard also grabbed one of the lighter blankets from the couch and shoved it over the food in her basket. The little music box on the couch caught her eye. Debating about it for a moment, Shard decided to take it with her. She moved quickly and quietly, assuming Nathalia to be asleep in the room behind the closed door. When Shard thought herself sufficiently prepared, she moved to the outside door and pressed her hand against it. The door was cold. Leaning her ear to it, she could hear the wind howling outside. 

Shard frowned. Storm or not, I’m not staying here, Shard thought, opening the door. A blast of icy, cold wind and snow hit her. She grabbed the door and pulled it shut behind her as she left the little house. Pulling her cloak tight, Shard trudged forward into the storm. It didn’t matter what direction she went as long as she kept moving. The wind stung and the snow pulled at her feet, but she had to keep moving. Clumps of snow stuck to the bottom of her cloak. Her nose and ears started to go numb, but she had to keep moving. Shard pulled the cloak as tight as she could and gripped the basket as though her life depended on it. She kept moving. Each breath of cold air hurt her throat and lungs. Each step forward was met with resistance. Still, she moved forward. She didn’t see the dark forest in front of her until she was nearly under its shelter. It wasn’t much, but it was better than being out in the open. 

Shard moved from one tree to the next, still moving forward. The wool socks helped, but it wasn’t long before Shard’s feet started to feel cold and numb. She didn’t dare stop, even when the wind screamed in her ears and whipped against her face. Even when the cold seeped into her bones. Even when she had no idea where she was going. She had to keep going. Shard stumbled over an object buried in the ice and fell. Bare hands full of snow, Shard lifted herself from the ground, grabbed the basket and kept moving. As tightly as she wrapped the cloak, she could not stop shaking. The trees thinned, but Shard still could not see anything in the storm raging all around her. Had she gone straight through the forest? Was it another clearing? Had she accidentally doubled back? She couldn’t tell. She pressed forward into the open storm. 

Shard fell again. Her clothes were wet and frozen. She couldn’t feel her hands, arms, feet, legs, or face. She clenched her jaw shut to keep her teeth from chattering. She tried to grab the fallen basket again, but her hands didn’t work as she wanted them to. She slammed both fists into the frozen ground. “NO!” Shard screamed, though her voice disappeared in the storm. “I’m not dying here!” Shard struggled to her feet and left the basket behind. She didn’t make it two steps before falling again. She curled into a ball in the snow and started crying. “No. Please,” she begged to no one in particular. “Please, I can’t die here… Please...” For all the willpower she had, she could not make her limbs move. Yet, she could not stop shaking either. The wind howled. The snow swallowed her. Was there ever going to be an end to this storm? What she wouldn’t give for a wall between her and the elements. “PLEASE JUST STOP!” Shard screamed. She felt a surge of energy leave her. Instantly, the howling and the snow stopped. All was quiet. Shard opened her eyes and sat up. She found herself sitting inside an icy dome, a shelter that sprang up from the ground to cover and protect her. A shield from the elements. Shard blinked at the icy wall in confusion. Where did it come from? The swirls and frosty pattern on the ice held a strange beauty. Shard reached out to touch the ice, but faltered. Her head felt light and her ears rang. Shard collapsed into unconsciousness inside the globe. Outside the ball of ice, the storm raged on. An old, gray wolf watched from the tree line. 

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

Nathalia threw a log into the fire before sitting on a wooden chair. The lump on the couch under a bundle of blankets did not move. Taking a whetstone from her pocket, Nathalia started sharpening one of the many daggers she kept on her person. Scrape. Scrape. Scrape. The bundle wiggled a little, but Nathalia didn’t see it. Instead, she heard a muffled groan as Shard woke up. Shard’s bleary eyes opened slowly, her vision returning. She stared at the mountain of blankets covering her with hazy incomprehension. Shard was back in Nathalia’s house, back on the couch. Scrape. Scrape. Scrape. The sound helped Shard out of the fog she was in. “What happened? How did you find me?” Shard asked. 

“You didn’t make it very far,” Nathalia answered. “You’re going to have problems if you continue to run headlong into danger like that.” Nathalia set the tools down and turned in Shard’s direction. “If you want to survive this world, you need to start using your head. Ambition and stubbornness won’t save you.” Shard glanced away. Nathalia resumed sharpening her dagger. “That’s twice now I rescued you,” Nathalia said with a smirk. “But who’s counting?” 

“Apparently, you are,” Shard muttered with an eye roll. 

“That was a nice trick you pulled with the ice dome,” Nathalia said. Shard looked back with wide eyes as Nathalia continued. “It took me a while to chisel you out. I thought you might suffocate before I got to you. Had you used a little forethought, you could have made a nice setup in the woods.” 

“That was real? You mean, I…” Shard stared at the woman, not quite convinced. “I made the ice wall appear?” 

“Of course. I did say you have a gift.” Nathalia smiled at her. “And that was without study or training. Must be nice, being naturally tuned to the elements from the get go. Maybe Thorae likes you.” 

Shard frowned. “The blizzard didn’t seem to care.” 

Nathalia shrugged. “Once you learn how to control your ability, maybe you’ll be the one making blizzards.” Nathalia put away the tools and stood up. “You’ve got a nasty rebellious streak though. I hope you grow out of it. Where were you planning to go anyway?” Nathalia asked. 

“Anywhere,” Shard said quietly. 

In truth, Shard had nowhere to go. Outside the storm, she didn’t know what was beyond the house and the trees. Were there towns or cities close by? Were there other people who could help her? What creatures should she expect along the way? Were they dangerous? She didn’t know. She didn’t care. She only knew that she had to get away. Something about Nathalia screamed at Shard to run, to escape, though she did not know why. Aside from the incident with the knife, which could be chalked up to paranoia and extreme safety measures, Nathalia hadn’t really done anything. Sure, she was mean and harsh, but Shard was free to leave at any point. Right? Nathalia provided shelter, food, clothes, and safety. Nathalia provided information, something Shard was desperately lacking. How much of the information was true could not be determined. Maybe she was still on Earth. Then Shard thought about her Original. No. This was real. Wherever she was, it was far, far, away from the land she grew up knowing. Still, Nathalia provided for Shard and saved Shard’s life. Twice. She wasn’t exactly nice, but she wasn’t unkind either. She couldn’t be all bad, right? She was blind, after all. How much of a threat could she really be? The only reason Nathalia got the jump on Shard in the first place was because her hands were tied. If it came down to a real fight, Shard was sure she could overpower the blind woman. So the narrative in Shard’s head started. Shard pushed aside the instinctive warning in her gut. Nathalia helped her. Nathalia was spiteful, but she wasn’t a threat. Shard owed her, right? At least stay long enough to repay your debt, then you can leave, Shard thought. 

“You won’t be going anywhere for a while,” Nathalia said, interrupting her thoughts. “Not with that storm outside, anyway. When it clears, we can see about getting you some proper winter clothes and restocking our food supply. You are free to leave, but at least try not to get yourself lost in the blizzard until we get you settled, okay?”

Shard suddenly thought about the basket she took. She sat up and looked around the room. She was surprised to see the basket sitting on the floor beside the couch. Strange. Maybe I held on to it after all. Shard dug into the basket and pulled out the wooden box. “This music box belongs to you,” Shard said while handing it out toward the woman. “I’m sorry for taking it. That was wrong and selfish of me. I wasn’t thinking clearly.” 

“Keep it.” Nathalia smiled and stood up. “Let the music remind you of what does and doesn’t belong to you.” Shard blinked at the woman, suddenly feeling threatened again without concrete reason. Nathalia continued, “Get some rest. Eat if you need to. You’ve spent a lot of unnecessary energy and your body needs time to recover. We can talk again when you feel better.” Nathalia walked into the other room and closed the door behind her. 

Part Two

 Part Two

Shard watched the dark liquid stream down the strange woman’s cheeks from her blindfold. 

Nathalia sighed. “It’s the price I pay for my gift,” she said. Nathalia wiped her cheek and rubbed the liquid between her fingertips. “My curse…” Nathalia suddenly turned to Shard with a smile. “You have a gift too. Did you notice?” 

“What do you mean?” Shard leaned back against the couch, watching Nathalia with wide-eyed suspicion. 

“Ah, forgive me, you probably don’t have the strength for it yet,” Nathalia said pleasantly. “Are you hungry?” 

Shard nodded her head. It took a moment for her to realize Nathalia was still waiting on a verbal answer. “Oh, yes… sorry, I-” 

“Good,” Nathalia interrupted while going into the other room for a moment. When she returned, her face was clean and the cloth over her eyes was replaced with a fresh one. 

Nathalia stirred a pot hanging over the fire. Shard remained on the couch, mouth watering as she sniffed the air. Whether Nathalia’s cooking was decent or not had yet to be seen, but Shard was famished. Shard watched the woman spoon the food from the pot into smaller bowls. She wasn’t sure how Nathalia accomplished the task while her eyes were covered. In truth, Shard couldn’t tell if the woman was actually blind or not. She didn’t stumble or jolt around her environment. Then again, who knew how long she lived here. She probably had the layout memorized to perfection. Shard watched in silence all the same. Nathalia placed the bowls on the table close to the couch along with wooden spoons. As hungry as she was, Shard didn’t touch the bowl in front of her. Nathalia sat, picked up a bowl and spoon, and stirred the contents. She raised a spoonful of food and paused, as if frozen in time. She sat like this for a moment, listening. “Aren’t you going to eat?” Nathalia asked finally. 

“No,” Shard answered. 

Nathalia huffed then shoved her own spoon of food toward the young girl. “Eat.” Shard pulled away, keeping her mouth shut. Nathalia frowned. “You sure are a handful,” Nathalia muttered.  

“I don’t trust you,” Shard finally admitted. “You did hold a knife to my throat, after all.”

“You were being rude.” Nathatlia returned her spoon back to its bowl and set the food on the table. “How long will you question me?” Nathalia asked. “I found you in the snow, alone, unloved, cold, hungry. You would have died had I not intervened.”

Shard glared at her. “I didn’t ask you to save me.” 

“Of course not, you were incapable of it,” Nathalia’s tone was sharp, but she appeared calm. 

“Then why did you?” Shard asked, still glaring. 

Nathalia took a breath, let it out slowly, then smiled. “Would you like to hear a story, Shard?” Whether or not Shard was in the mood for a story didn’t matter. Nathalia started one anyway. 

“A bee once fell into a stream of water and would have drowned had a duck not seen it. The duck plucked a leaf from a branch and held it out for the bee to climb out of the water. The bee was saved. The next day, a hunter came to the forest. He saw the duck and prepared to shoot it. When the bee saw him, it flew to the hunter and stung his hand, saving the duck.” 

“Ooooh,” Shard said in comprehension. “So I owe you now? Is that it?” Shard crossed her arms. 

Nathalia shrugged with a smile. “I simply ask that you repay kindness with kindness.” 

Shard wondered if it truly was kindness that saved her. It didn’t feel like it. Something about the analogy bothered her. Don’t bees die after they sting? Shard thought. Am I expected to one day save her life at the cost of my own? Maybe I’m reading too much into it. It’s just a story. Just a stupid kid’s story.

“Besides,” Nathalia interrupted Shard’s thoughts with a cheery voice. “I’m a weak, frail, blind woman living alone in the middle of the woods. I have every right to be cautious until I’ve gotten to know my company.” She smiled again. “I promise I’m not trying to poison you.” With that, Nathalia picked up her own bowl and resumed eating. 

Shard waited for any sign of deception before finally giving in and taking the second bowl. It was a red stew with chicken and vegetables. Once Shard tasted the first spoonful, she devoured the bowl as quickly as the wooden spoon would let her. When Shard was finished, she didn’t set the bowl down. She held onto it, wondering if she could help herself to seconds without appearing rude. She wasn’t keen on getting threatened again. 

“Would you like more?” Nathalia asked, refilling her own bowl first. 

“Yes,” Shard answered. 

Nathalia held out her open hand. “Yesssss….?” 

“Yes, please,” Shad answered, handing her the bowl. 

“Good girl.” Nathalia smiled. She refilled Shard’s bowl and handed the food to her. 

Shard ate the second bowl a little slower. Between bites, she took the time to look around the room they were in. There was the couch she sat on, shabby and covered in blankets. Dried herbs and plants hung from the log beams holding up the roof. The walls were white and smooth, reminding Shard of chalk. Wooden shelves, benches, and chairs lined the walls, but the only table to be seen was the short one in front of her. The sole window in the whole room was covered with a lace curtain. There was a doorway to a second room, but Shard couldn’t see into it from her current position. “Do you really live here alone?” Shard asked. 

“I do,” Nathalia answered. 

“Don’t you have any family?” Shard asked, ignoring the fact that now she too was alone without family. 

Nathalia smiled. “I did. Two sisters.” Her smile faded. “The first died shortly after this world was created. The second remained on Earth.”

Shard ate another spoonful before asking, “Why are you here in…?” 

“Thorae,” Nathalia answered. “I came to find my sister. Unfortunately, I was too late.” 

“Wait.” Shard tilted her head. “You said when this world was created? When was that?”

Nathalia turned her face to the fire. “Over two thousand years ago,” she whispered. 

“What?! There’s no way!” Shard put her empty bowl down. “You don’t look much older than me and I’m only sixteen. There’s no way you’re over two thousand years old!” 

Nathalia turned back to Shard, smirking. “Oh, I’m much older than I look.” She laughed then leaned back in her seat. “Tell me something,” Nathalia said softly. “Did your Original have a good life? Before you woke up here?” 

Shard crossed her arms, tightly hugging her ribs, and looked away. “I… er… she did,” Shard corrected herself. “I could complain, but honestly…” Shard shook her head, not finishing the sentence. “Maybe if I hadn’t… maybe if I…” 

Nathalia stood up. “There’s no reason to blame yourself for something that wasn’t yours to control,” she said with a shrug. “You’re in this world now. Time to make the best of it.”

Shard nodded. “Thank you for helping me.” She went to stand only for her legs to buckle. “Yikes!” Shard was on the floor staring blankly at the wood pattern on the floorboards in front of her. She was lucky she missed hitting the table on the way down. 

“Seems you’ve not quite recovered yet,” Nathalia said, helping Shard up and back onto the couch. “Take it easy. Even if you could walk on your own, a storm is coming. You’re better off staying here for now.” 

“Thanks again,” Shard muttered, still not sure why her body felt so weak. Nathalia helped Shard lie down and put a blanket over her. 

“Don’t worry,” Nathalia said with a smile. She softly patted the top of Shard’s head. “With as much spirit as you have, you’ll be on your feet in no time. For now,” she picked up the little wooden box and placed it in Shard’s hand. “Rest.” 

Perhaps there was something in the stew. Perhaps it was the socialization. Perhaps just the energy it took to sit up and eat was too much. Whatever it was, Shard was drained. She turned the key on the music box and listened to the metallic notes play as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. 

Part One

 Part One

Cedars of Northreach, Thorae; December 20, 2005

Silver moonlight fell upon the fresh snow in patches. Crooked tree branches swaying little in the wind. Silence clung to the bitter air. Between the dark tree trunks, a pair of yellow beast-like eyes watched the empty forest clearing. Snow deceptively hid the surface of a frozen lake in the center. An old wolf stood in the shadows waiting. Watching. This place had never been tied to a rift before, still the wolf waited. Others were known to show up in the strangest of places upon creation. And an Other was sure to show up here, the wolf could sense it. The wind picked up, whipping away some of the snow from the lake’s glassy surface. 

The surface of the lake shattered, the sound swallowing the silence of the night. A figure broke through the black waters, coughing, gasping, flailing, clawing at the ice. Finally pulling itself up, the shape crawled to the bank and on to solid ground. The figure collapsed under one of the trees, shaking violently and dripping with black water. The creature’s breathing shifted from gasping to sobbing. “WHY?!” the figure screeched. The wolf watched. “...why…?” The creature’s sobbing slowed and eventually stopped as it slipped into unconsciousness. The wolf finally emerged from the shadows and approached the figure. A young girl, not a child and not an adult. The age did not matter to the wolf. The prone figure lying in the snow was still prey. 

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

Nathalia could hear shuffling in the other room. She set down the mortar full of dried herbs and stood up. She gently stepped across the worn, wooden floor, hands reaching for familiar guides. The table. The chair. The doorpost. Nathalia stopped in the doorway and listened. Pops and cracks came from the fire to the right, but on the left she could hear someone struggling and mumbling. “About time you woke up,” Nathalia said, stepping closer. She reached for the chair already located next to a worn couch and sat down.

“Do you always tie up your guests?” an annoyed female voice responded. 

Nathalia smirked. “Only if they have as much spirit as you. What’s your name?” she asked.

“Irritated! Now let me up before I melt under this thing!” the voice snapped back. 

Nathalia could tell the girl was wriggling under the heavy, fur blanket. Nathalia drew the blade on her belt and held it next to the girl’s throat. “Name,” she repeated. 

The girl froze in place before she muttered her answer through gritted teeth. “Savannah.” 

Nathalia frowned, but put the blade away. “You would lie to me?” She shook her head. “Not a good start.” 

“It’s not a lie!” Anger seeped into the girl’s voice. “That’s my-”

“That’s your Original’s name,” Nathalia interrupted. “I asked for yours.”

The girl was silent for a while. “I don’t… I don’t know what you mean…” 

“Oh, but you do.” Nathalia reached over and grabbed the heavy blanket covering the girl. With one pull, she yanked the heavy thing off and set it aside. Nathalia grabbed the girl’s bound hands and cut through the rope. 

The stranger let out a breath and sat up, rubbing her wrists. The girl looked down at her black clothes. She pulled her long hair over her shoulder and stared at it. The honey brown color in her hair disappeared as it finished shifting to black. “Why is my…” Her eyes went wide and she turned to Nathalia. “What did you do to me?!”

Sitting still, Nathalia shook her head. “Nothing. Your body is adjusting to its new form on its own.” Nathalia shrugged. “It happens sometimes after creation. It’s normal.” 

“...creation?” the girl asked. She looked down at her hands and began to cry. “But… it was a dream… a nightmare… I didn’t really… How could she just…” She put her face in her hands and continued to cry. 

“It’s odd you remember.” Nathalia moved to sit on the couch next to the lost child. “Most Others don’t remember their Original at all. You must have had a strong connection. Intriguing.”

Nathalia reached out a hand only for the girl to flinch and lean away, tears still flowing. “Who are you?! What happened to me?! Where am I?!” 

“It’s all right, child,” Nathalia said softly. “You’re in a world called Thorae. It’s a mirror dimension to Earth and what you experienced is what happens when a human decides they don’t want you any more. It seems you had a particularly rough trip.” Nathalia smiled at the end.

The girl turned away. “So I’m just… garbage…?” 

“One world’s trash is another world’s treasure.” Nathalia patted the spot on the couch next to her. “Come closer, child.” The girl frowned at Nathalia, but she stopped pressing into the corner of the couch as much and relaxed a little. Nathalia stood up and stepped toward the fire. Lifting a hand to the mantle, she ran her fingers along the length of the shelf until she reached the corner. Nathalia pulled something down from the shelf and went back to the couch. She sat and patted the spot beside her again. Nathalia opened her hand to reveal a little wooden box. Reluctantly, the girl scooted closer. Nathalia offered the box to the girl and continued speaking. “You’ll find Thorae’s full of rejects and outcasts. I wouldn’t put much stock in what the Originals on Earth decide. Most of them don’t even know we exist.” 

The girl took the box and inspected it. As Nathalia anticipated, the girl found a metal key on the side of the box and began to turn it. Nathalia smiled when she heard the metallic notes playing. The girl continued turning the key, letting the music play. When the metallic notes stopped, Nathalia spoke again. “Now then, everyone has a name and everyone knows their name. Yet, you sit before me nameless.” Nathalia smiled. “We can’t have that, now, can we?” 

“If what you say is true,” the girl said somberly. “That I’m just the embodiment of everything my Original rejected…. What’s it matter what you call me?”

“It matters,” Nathalia reassured. “Names are important. Though I suppose it doesn’t really matter what I call you so long as you answer. Would you like me to give you one?” The girl shrugged. Nathalia held out her palm. “Give me your hand.” The girl placed her hand in Nathalia’s. In an instant, Nathalia saw visions of the power this child held. Magic. Strength. Suffering. Pain. Death. Nathalia jerked back her hand with a gasp and held it close to her chest. She let out a ragged breath and her hands trembled. 

“What’s wrong?” the girl asked. Nathalia stood up, ignoring her. She stepped closer to the fire and held her hands toward the flame, trying to warm them. Nathalia had seen hundreds of lives. Perhaps thousands. Many live were happy. Many lives were sad. Many ordinary. Many spectacular. But there was something in this child Nathalia had never seen before. Something was different. There was a darkness about the girl even Nathalia could not see through. Nathalia considered herself all too familiar with fate, even friends with it. Fate could be fickle. Fate could be cruel. But never had Nathalia been so utterly terrified of it. Something in this child’s future shook Nathalia to the core, but she could not see what it was. “Are you the one?” Nathalia whispered. 

“What?” the girl asked, not clearly hearing the whisper. 

“Shard,” Nathalia finally said and turned back to the girl. “I name you Shard. I leave it to you to decide if that is because you are broken or because you are part of something bigger than yourself.” Nathalia turned back to the fire. “The sands of time are shifting in Thorae. Change is coming. Great change. You are part of it, but I do not see the whole picture.” 

“...Shard…” the girl repeated softly, mulling it over. “I guess that works. Sharp and to the point.” The girl was silent for a moment before she looked up at Nathalia. “You didn’t tell me your name.” 

“Nathalia,” she responded. “My name is Nathalia. You should know the name you fear.” 

“I don’t fear you.” Shard said, trying to sound tough.

“You will,” Nathalia said as she turned back to the girl and smiled.

“The cloth over your eyes,” Shard said softly, eyes wide. “...it’s…bleeding.” 

Prologue

Prologue

South Eastern coast of Thorae; December 19, 2020 

Hanna stood still as the prison gate opened. Tiny flakes of snow drifted from the dark clouds above. Though she wore several layers and even had her wings tucked close to her spine, she shivered. Hanna held a little white box of cardboard in her gloved hands. Once the gate was open, a guard motioned for her to follow him. The box was confiscated at the first checkpoint. Three security screens later, the guard leading her through the complex handed her off to another guard with a glare. The receiving guard tilted his head as he looked at her. 

“The warden wants to speak with you,” the guard said with boredom.

“The warden?” Hanna asked with narrow eyes. “Why? I have clearance.” 

“Didn’t say.” The guard spoke with even less enthusiasm than before. “But we can’t let you go in until you see him.”

Hanna frowned, but nodded. “Lead the way,” she said, motioning forward. The guards led her through wired gates, down barred passageways, and beyond electric doors before she was finally led into an office. The man sitting behind the desk stood up as she entered. 

“Warden…?” Hanna started, reaching out a hand to shake. 

“Payne,” the man responded, ignoring her outstretched hand, but gesturing to a chair instead.

Hanna accepted the seat. “You wanted to see me?” 

“I did. Thank you for coming.” The warden sat behind his desk and looked over an open folder in front of him. “I’ve been reviewing your file in preparation for this visit. I have a few questions I’d like to go over, if you have a moment.”

“Okay.” Hanna’s suspicion kicked in, but she nodded and waited for him to continue. 

The warden looked over his file again. “Can you state your relation to the incarcerated?” 

“Immediate family,” Hanna answered. 

“More specifically?” he questioned. 

“Other,” Hanna said. “It’s… complicated.” 

“I see.” Warden Payne nodded. “According to the logs, you visit every year.” 

“I try to, yes.” Hanna twisted the ring on her left hand. “My clearance hasn’t been revoked, has it?” she asked. 

“No,” Payne answered. “But as the new warden, I don’t take my position lightly.”

“Nor should you,” Hanna agreed. “You have a lot of responsibility to both the public and the inmates.” 

“You work with the Hero’s Guild on Earth?” he continued, looking at the documents again. 

“When they have missions in Thorae, yes,” Hanna answered. “I have a preferred fireteam I work with.” 

“And you live in La’Esk?” he asked. Hanna nodded. “That’s quite the drive,” Payne muttered before looking up at her. “December 20th. That’s what you put down on the form, right? Same as the incarcerated?” The warden flicked his wrist out and glanced at his watch. “That’s to-”

“I’m sorry, but why are you asking me all this?” Hanna interrupted, eyes narrow. “All the information is already in the file in front of you. Are you going to let me see her or not?” 

The warden took a breath and closed the folder before responding. “I wouldn’t recommend it.” 

Hanna could feel the anger rising, but bit it back and took a different approach. “Please,” she said softly. “Please let me see her. I’m the only one she can really talk to. I’m the only one who knows what she’s been through.” 

Payne stared at her. “Do you know what happened to the last warden?” he asked slowly. 

Hanna glanced away. “Yes.” 

“Then you know how much of a threat she is.” He leaned back in his chair. “You understand the risks we take and why we have to implement such rigorous safety measures.”

“I do.” Hanna paused. “But I also know why she does the things she does.”

The warden sat straight, clasping his hands together and resting them on the desk. “Knowing the motive doesn’t erase the actions or absolve their natural consequences. She has to stay isolated. I don’t have to tell you she doesn’t play well with others.” 

Hanna frowned. “Isolation will kill her.”

The warden raised an eyebrow. “Isolation is the only thing keeping her alive.”

Hanna took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “She can be reasoned with. She just needs someone to talk to. Someone who understands her.” Hanna looked at the warden, eyes pleading. “Please let me see her. I’m the only one she’ll listen to. Please.” 

Warden Payne stared at Hanna with critical eyes. The clock on the wall ticked by, the only sound in the room as the warden contemplated the choices. 

“Fine,” he said, finally breaking the silence. “But you’ll be monitored at all times.” 

“I understand,” Hanna said with a nod and a smile, not hiding her relief. 

“You’ll be searched again,” he added, standing up. “Any personal effects must be surrendered, but they will be returned to you when you leave.”

“That’s okay.” Hanna also stood up. “Thank you.” She stuck her hand out, but the warden ignored it and motioned to the door. 

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

An armed guard stood on either side of the prison door. Hanna heard a buzz before the door slid open. She took a deep breath then stepped into the room. The first thing she noticed was the wave of heat that hit her face as she entered. It was normal for the heat to be on during winter months, but this was excessive. Bearable, but excessive. The room was partitioned down the middle with a thick, clear, ballistic glass wall. A single, metal door with slots and a window indicated that was the only way in or out of the other side of the glass prison. Hanna always thought this cell was odd, but she reminded herself that prisons in Thorae had to account for every ability imaginable. The door behind Hanna slid shut with another buzz. She was alone. Mostly. There was no chair for her to sit on. Hanna stepped closer to the exhibit, for that’s what it felt like, looking for its occupant. The other half of the room appeared empty, aside from a bed and hygiene station, both of which were in a darkened corner. Black feathers were scattered over the ground. The light directly above the bed had gone out and no one had replaced it. Or perhaps it had been broken on purpose for a meager sense of privacy. Either way, that dark corner was where Hanna found who she was looking for. “Shard?” Hanna called, tentatively. 

The dark form on the bed rose and crept out of the shadows. A pale woman with raven hair and blood-red eyes. She came up to the glass and stood in front of Hanna. Her hair, long and uncut, draped over the sleeves of her red jumpsuit. The black band around her neck was embedded with three rows of Danu River pearls, a thorean gem known to repress elemental magic.

“Hi Shard,” Hanna said quietly. 

Shard glared back. “Hello, darling.” 

*Under Construction*

Yes, very much under construction indeed.

I've had to rearrange sections in my story.

As I'm rewriting, feel free to look over the "Characters" section.

Also, the part titled "Castle of Glass and the Unknown Soldier" is a short story about one of the side characters in Hanna's prequel. You haven't met him yet, but he's a funny guy. One of my favorite side characters.

Anyway, I'm also in the process of writing that, so be patient.

Thank ye kindly! ^_^

Part Nine

I looked over my shoulder in despairing hope that the door wasn’t really closed. It was. I turned back to the man and tried to figure out what strategy to take. Two doors on opposite ends of the arena opened. Two warriors walked out of each one of the doors and joined their companion in the center of the arena. I heaved a heavy sigh and wondered yet again how I got into this mess. Here I am in the arena with screaming people and five warriors staring me down. To top it off, I had a headache the size of Antarctica. I felt like collapsing into a feathered bed with fuzzy blankets and fluffy pillows. But alas, I couldn’t let myself get carried away with such things. There were a few weapons lying around the ground, probably left behind by some unfortunate loser of the last battle. I slowly picked up a sword and glared at the competition. Of the five, the original warrior was the largest. My situation looked pretty dim. There is no way I’m winning this. There isn’t really any way out except to fight either. I gripped the sword a little tighter and started walking toward the enemy. Any fear I had ebbed away in apathy. I already knew the outcome of this match. I stopped just a few feet from the five and stood before them. The leader looked me in the eyes and grinned.

“Afraid of death?” he asked.

I simply tilted my head with an unwavering stare and replied, “What’s the point in worrying about the inevitable?”

The man’s grin turned into a scowl. A warrior to his right dashed at me with his sword. I spun and let the sword slip harmlessly behind me. Meanwhile, I brought my sword up and swung it into the guy’s side. Hearing something behind me, I swiftly pulled my sword out and flipped it under my arm. I jabbed the sword behind me. I turned and saw that my sword was embedded in a warrior who tried to attack from behind. I yanked it out and slashed his neck. Someone came at me from the left side. I ducked and swept my sword low to the ground to get their feet. That one jumped out of the way, but something hit my right side so hard that I fell back and lost the hold I had on my sword. I pulled out two daggers with my left hand and threw them at an oncoming warrior. He dodged one by turning in time. The other dagger flew by the wayside harmlessly. This warrior came at me with an axe, probably intending to lop me in half. I rolled to the side and hopped to my feet. I winced as pain seared through my right side. The warrior pressed forward and swung his axe at me from all different angles. It took all my skill and concentration to keep dodging the fatal instrument. I dove for a stray dagger, picked it up, and dodged another axe swing. After his next swing, I jumped forward and dug the dagger into his neck before he had time to maneuver the axe for protection. As he collapsed, I took the axe and swung it at another warrior’s feet. When this one jumped over the axe, I moved toward another sword lying on the ground. Keeping the enemy at bay with the axe was hard, but I managed to make it to the sword. I picked up the sword with my free hand and attempted to wield both the axe and sword. I didn’t care if I knew what I was doing or not. As long as I’m still alive, I’m ok. I actually managed to bat this warrior’s sword away. I chucked the axe into his body and attacked the warrior coming up behind him. Our swords met in midair, but he shoved my sword back. This warrior had an open gash in his side and was bleeding profusely, but didn’t seem to be letting it bother him. Granted, he swayed a little when he stood in place. He lunged for me with his sword. With a twirl, I batted his sword away and drove my sword into his gut. I turned to face the last warrior standing. Not surprisingly, it was the same one that had faced me before. The big one.

The roar of the crowd grew louder. I hadn’t noticed how loud the crowd was while I was fighting. I could only recall a loud hum every time one of my opponents fell. I brushed away these thoughts and focused on the warrior. There was a certain kind of fire in his eyes. Under normal circumstances, I would have been too terrified to keep eye contact. But these were not normal circumstances. I was not afraid. Before, I had been fighting for survival. Now that this is that last one standing, it seemed like something so much more than that, though the element of survival was still there. I stared him down. I knew that if I looked away, if I let my guard slip in the slightest, he would jump at the opportunity and hack me down in a moment. I wasn’t about to let that happen. Apparently impatient with the delayed flow of action, he lunged at me. In an instant, I rolled out of the way. I threw a dagger at him and watched it graze his leg. He glanced down at the wound and kept his glare on me, seemingly unharmed. He picked up a fallen spear and swept it low. I hopped over the spear and reached for a dagger to embed in his neck as I did one of the other warriors. The situation became very real when I realized I was out of daggers, but it was too late. I was already too close. The enemy abruptly jabbed his elbow into my face, knocking me to the ground. Before I could react, I found the spear implanted through my shoulder armor and into the ground. I struggled to get free, thrashing my legs wildly. I saw a sword not far from me so I reached for it with all my might. I managed to pull away from the spear just as he dove at me. I grabbed the handle of the blade and thrust it forward with my eyes shut.

Part Eight

I glared at him. Expecting me? Why would he have any reason to expect me? I licked my lips while mentally reaching for some kind of smart aleck reply.
Smirking, I said, “Sorry I’m late. Next time, can you sic your puppies on someone else?”
“Is that your attempt at being funny?” Tyrone asked.
“Actually, it was my attempt at insulting.” I admitted, putting my hand to my chin thoughtfully. “Would it work if I called you a pig?”
Tyrone closed his eyes and pursed his lips for a few moments before finally saying, “Dungeon.”
The guards grabbed both of my arms and pulled backward. I squirmed and pulled, trying to get away. “Let me go, you heard of swine!”
“Tisk, tisk, listen to that bitter tongue. Certainly, you were taught better. Then again, you wouldn’t have been lurking through my castle otherwise, now would you?” Tyrone said following the guards.
“What’s the matter, prince? Too high and mighty to be seen with the common folk?” I shot back.
“Commoners I can handle,” Tyrone replied. “It’s the lowlife I detest.”
At that point, I caught a glimpse of metallic blue by Tyrone’s side. The sword! I struggled against the guards’ grip and managed to grab a dagger from behind my back. I swung my arm out and hit one of the guards. I’m not even sure where it hit. I just know that he let go and Tyrone shouted for more guards. I swung around the other guard and, whipping out another dagger with my free hand, slashed at the hands holding my arm. Once the second guard let go, I was free! I spun around and saw the glint of blue again as Tyrone reached for the sword. I dove for the sword and knocked Tyrone to the ground. I lucked out in that I grabbed the hilt before Tyrone had fully unsheathed the sword. Once my eyes locked on the blade, I couldn’t pull away. I was lost in the glassy surface. It was as if the smooth surface rippled with power. I could tell the edge was supremely sharp just by looking at it. The twin dragonheads sprouting from the hilt looked ready to come alive. Power emanated from this sword, I could feel it. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the sword. Unfortunately, my lack of action resulted in someone else breaking my eye contact by putting a cloth sack over my head. The next thing I know, I’m being dragged from behind in total darkness. Of course, I’m kicking and screaming “let me go” as loudly as I can. They finally took the sack off my head and shoved me backward. I fell and the back of my head hit the cold stone floor. I rubbed my head and curled up in pain. I fought back tears of anguish as Tyrone crouched beside me. He tilted his head again and brushed aside the hair in my face.
“That could have gone a lot better, you know,” he said softly.
“I don’t care!” I said between ragged breaths, trying not to sound pitifully weak.
“A little girl like you shouldn’t be in this business. I suppose we can’t help our fate.”
“You don’t know me,” I muttered while trying not to lose my already slipping consciousness.
“You’re different,” he continued. “Some times that’s the only thing that matters.”
He stood up and walked away. I struggled to keep my eyes open, but gave in to the overwhelming darkness.

~ * ~

I woke up to the scratching sound of metal against stone. I opened my eyes to find a tray nearby. I ever so slowly sat up with pain pulsing through my head. On the tray was a bowl of water, a bowl of mush and an apple. I drank the water, but didn’t bother with the food. I looked around the small cell. It wasn’t much. Iron bars for walls, cobblestone floors, a rickety and probably termite infested wooden bench in the corner. I watched several guards come up to the cell door and unlock it. One of them opened the door and said, “Come on, lass. Tyrone wants a word with you before he sends you to your death.”
I slowly stood up and answered, “A lovely invitation, but I’m afraid I’ll have to pass.”
“Too bad, you might not get another chance for pleasant conversation before your likely demise.” A voice spoke up from another side of the cell.
I looked around for Tyrone, but couldn’t find the source. In that split second, a guard had managed to get the sack over my head again and lock my wrists in place behind my back. I was unable to break free before they bound my hands. Smart move, I thought to myself, very smart. They yanked me forward. Since I couldn’t see where I was going, my hands were tied, and my headache kept me from thinking clearly anyway, I really had no choice except to follow. How in the world do I keep getting myself into these horrid situations? Really, I thought I was better than that. Did I miss the chance to have a normal, happy life somewhere? Isn’t there some turn I was supposed to take at Albuquerque or something? How do things always get so rotten for me? Ever since...
It was at that moment that the sack was yanked off and the ropes were cut off my hands. I was shoved forward and fell to my knees. Over the roar of some noise, I heard a door slam shut behind me. Blinding light kept me from focusing on where I was, but the familiar noise gave me a murky idea. My eyes adjusted to the light and I took in the scene before me. Dusty ground lay before me. The high walls on either side of me held thousands of screaming people. I was in the arena again. About ten yards away stood a tall man clad in random pieces of bloody armor.
My heart sank.