Chapter 6

22-year-old me

Dear, 22-year-old me well, here I am! About to embark on a new profound future for many generations to come. Nervous, anxious, eager. Are all the emotions to describe me at this very moment I know tons of people are going to hate me for when I say this. There are times I hope my sister disappears and never comes back or...

An army of ten thousand different creatures stood behind her. Dragons, gnomes, unicorns, and many different beasts. You may be wondering why she was leading an army of monsters and magic. She was trying to save the world of Spirana, from a beast much larger than a dragon. Her name was Ashley, she was dragging a sword that radiated fire. A boy with liquid hair was beside her with a determined look....

If I’d said no. If I’d just said no….

-

**“So, do you go to school around here?” He pried.**

**“No,” I lie, pulling my jacket over my chest.**

**He was chipper. “You must go to school. You’re so young. You’re probably very mature for your age.”**

**I’d heard that phrase before. The last man to tell me I was mature for my age was more than twice my age and wanted me for inappropriate things.*...

* = Flashback.

It was dark. My mind fogy with the constant rocking of whatever vessel I was within. I tried to feel around and move my body to learn about my space. I tried my arms first. I pulled and twitched, hardly feeling my own movements.

'Have they drugged me,' I thought to myself.

In a panic, I twist and move my whole body. I could hardly feel anything though, I knew I was moving. 'Shit...

“Ms. Banta. I am here to ask you about father’s murder.”

“Murder?” I ask.

“Yes. The department believes that your father was murdered.”

I stare at her.

Mom isn’t looking at me.

“Why do you think that?”

~6 YEARS AGO~

“Why do you think that?” Dad would ask when I was about 11 years old.

“Well, if you take away the bear then you only have the elephant!” I said expecting him to agree.

“But you st...

“Bright boy that’s what my teachers always called me. When I graduated high school Principal Miller made a point of shaking my parents’ hands. Miller said I was a bright boy and really going places. I’ve always been a go getter, a visionary.

“At Mountain State when my frat brothers were doing keggers and chasing skanks, I launched a carpet cleaning business my sophomore year. I was never young. ...

The high school reunion is today. God I’ve been dreading it. I’m only going because one of my old friends will be there. And then I’m out. Alright time to leave.

Well I’m here. At my old high school. And I’m already dreading it. I just want to leave. But I do want to talk to Tom.

I walk in and I see Tom right away, without looking at anyone else who’s here I walk up to him. He was married but th...

Staring at these pictures on the wall

The ones where time stood in place

Where we were happy. But that was a long time ago

The memories we had were so vivid it was my escape when I worried about you being so far away,I loved when we were together

But you shattered things I didn’t realize how blind I was you used to say you love me and that was the biggest lie next to I’ll be back

I had to ...

What I remember

Is time in September

When you lived

And gived

With your entire self

Not considering wealth

But what it was worth

For us on this Earth

But now you live apart

No more restarts

With your plans

And your forgiving fans

But no longer for us

Love is a must...

(Set during the ballroom scene in More Than Blood. This perspective occurs right before Spade’s first POV which hasn’t been released yet.)

———

Queen Nerva observed the gala with such pride and warmth. All her children were doing a splendid effort in socializing like they were taught.

“We did well,” King Redfal surprised his wife who was so focused on her children, she had not noticed another pre...