Learn your place (book 1)

The grab of the shoulders

When Bierce gave Diana her new teleportation power, she jumped the holes, and continued to the next realm. The next place had a symbol of a tricorn hat. Colonial? The American revolution? She hoped not. Dodging cannon fire was not on her bucket list. Maybe it would be more tame. Agatha and those monkeys were frightening, but she knew common men had their brutality as well.

She walked in, and was greeted by a big fountain. "Hmm fancy." Bierce chimed in. Things were quiet. So far so good. No soul shards yet, but she took a chance to admire the entrance. The trees were trimmed up properly. The path was done with precision. She walked over to the front. A large golden statue sat between two staircases saluting the guests. There was a shiny gold plaque that sat in front of it.

She ignored the writing on the plaque. Wouldn't do her much good anyway. She walked around up the staircase, and got to the gate. It was bigger than she expected. Then a noise chilled her to the bone. A howl. A wolf's howl! "Wolves?!" Her breathing hitched as she pushed the door. "A bad case of cynophobia?" Bierce sounded intrigued. That wolf howl did not help. Diana opened the gate, barging right through the entrance, and then through the second. When she looked back, the gate closed. No turning back now.

Inside the gate there were two more fountains, and a smaller version of the statue near the stairs. This one was also gold, but his clothes were more modest. It also stared down the straight path she walked along. He also saluted. She snickered. "Whoever this guy is, he sure wants me to know what he looks like." She gave a mirroring salute to the statue with a grin. "See ya inside." When she passed the statue, she heard a mocking snicker. It made her freeze. Laughter? It sounded like it came from the statue. When turned around it was facing her. She bolted back. That thing moved! Was it a trick? It didn't make any grinding sound. How did it move like that? She wanted to get away from it, and left toward the maze. "Open up, please. Please, somebody!" The iron gate opened, and when she took one final look behind herself the statue was gone. Oh, so this was the game. Let the games begin.

She started off slow, and grabbed a few shards here and there. Upon grabbing a few, she heard the psychotic laughter. This was crazy. There were footsteps, and upon turning around there was the statue. It was in a black 18th century uniform, brandishing an axe! Still it stood still as she stared at it. "It's you..." Diana said backing away. "You're the monster of this world." There was no time to wait for an answer, since more footsteps were coming. "Jeez, how many are there in this place?!" She kept gathering. So these things froze when she looked at them. Understood. "So just keep them in your sight and everything should be fine." She told herself.

The maze was endless and the young lady couldn't hold still for a minute. Her device and Bierce were her only friends in these sick twisted worlds. Every time she found a soul shard, two more would show up on her screen. At least she wasn't having trouble finding them. But she couldn't turn her back for one second. The glistening men that she realized were alive, were following her without any mercy. Did they ever stop? The only constant sounds were their snickering, and the wolves howling outside the maze. Keeping her eye on the statues was her only defense. She had to stop. Just for a second. Oh good, a water fountain. She didn't care what might have been swimming in it. Bugs, insects, whatever. Her brain can't remember when she last had water. She climbed the vase shaped fountain to wet her throat. Her hands were cupped dipping into the small sized fountain. When she slurped it, it was cold and felt like heaven against her throat. Another handful splashed against her face, and neck. She slicked her hair back to keep it out of her face.

The bliss was short lived as she felt them stalking her once more. On the ground their shadows approached on her sides. Those damn giggles, and breaths in her ears, if they got too close. They weren't hunting her. They were toying with her. It was like a game of cat and mouse. Did they get a kick out of it? Well why would they be laughing if they didn't? Of course they did. She jumped down, but didn't get far as she felt the one behind her grab her ankles with a nearly crushing grip. Diana kicked her legs and felt her shoe make contact with it's face.

"Ow! That hurt, missy!" He snarled. When she looked back there was one in gray.She noticed it was holding its face. So these things could talk. "Well, you were trying to snap my ankles so call it even." She responded making a run for it.

She then came up to one that was leaning over in a beckoning pose. Yeah right. Diana wasn't that stupid. Still since it couldn't move she might as well take it's features in. "Hmm, a tricorn hat. Ponytail with a ribbon, blue coat uniform, cravat with a jabot, and matching cuffs. Well I must say. You might be trying to kill me, but you do have style." It seemed everything that was part of his body was gold down to the hair, everything except for the coat stockings shoes and sash. Those were blue. Even those had gold decorations on them. As she studied him, she noticed his expression changed. Instead he looked genuinely curious about her. Did he do it when she was behind him, unable to see his face? These gold statues probably had more movement than they let on. Best not to stick around.

She kept up her sprint, hearing their feet grinding into the path. The sooner she could get this nightmare of a task over the better. It was no task before. Keeping out of trouble was easy, and with the powers Bierce gave her she should be able to do this no problem. As she worked hard not to get caught she circled around a blind corner and saw another once again. The one in black. He was stuck in a pose that looked like he was about to fumble back. Probably not expecting her. He had a serious look, so it was likely the case. She took a few extra seconds to look at him. She didn't hear the unsettling laugh from him. Wait, what was she doing?! She had to get moving!

One shard after the other. Endless collecting. Then it was down to one final shard! Yes! She was almost done. "Don't be so relieved, love. There's plenty more inside." Bierce warned. It felt like a light at the end of the tunnel. The altar was in the manor; that much she knew. She just had to get to it. Bierce said not to be relieved, but at least she could get away from the wolves. Their howling was like a constant reminder that they were here. The sharp spikes were so aggravating slowing her down, and giving her stalkers time to chase her down, and caress her shoulders.

SHOULDERS?!

"At last." One of them whispered in her ear. Oh, God! They're catching up! She ran toward the large behemoth of a house, noticing his palms slipping off her bony shoulders.
She climbed up the stairs, not bothering to look back. She burst through the doors, and saw more writing on the walls. Probably saying something that was unwelcoming. She ignored those signs too. The last thing she heard was them talking.

~~~~~

One that was in gray was speaking among the others. "You had your chance James. You let her get away!" He said taking off his glove smacking the one in blue across the face. "Did you see her Benjamin? When was the last time we had somebody of the softer persuasion enter our realm?" James said defending his stroking of the girl's shoulders. "Indeed." The one in red nodded. "I want her." He said staring at the manor taking a few steps toward it. The one in blue grabbed him spinning him around. "I beg your pardon, Thomas. I said she's mine." James sneered. In no time, the pair were scuffling with one another.

"What the Hell is going on?!" The one in black said finding them in front of the manor. "Did she get inside?" He said looking past them. "Of course she did, Alexander. No thanks to Thomas and James." Benjamin said angrily. He snarled in their direction. The two separated from their fight. "It's not my fault. The girl you see. I figured we could keep her in the house." Thomas explained. James agreed. "Yes, it could be fun, you know. Having a human around could help us."

Alexander rubbed his chin. He turned back to the house. "I suppose... I'll discuss it with Malak."

~~~~~