Arcane ~ Short Stories ~ QUEENDOM

XV ~ The Lanes

~ NO SPOILERS ~

Hiedra's outward appearance was that of a regular, however stunning and appealing, teenager. With both her hands shoved into the wide pockets of an oversized and damaged khaki green jacket, she was confidently striding down the ominous streets of the Lanes, heading for Vander's house. Her friends had agreed that is where they would meet. Her luscious brown curls were pulled back in a high ponytail, a hairstyle she favored from a young age. The afternoon sun shone only barely through the thick wafts of polluted smog that drifted above the rooftops.

Of course, the relatively young immortal had outgrown this stage of life - teenhood - at least a millennium ago. If her body seemed so new, it was thanks to her sisters' help. They possessed knowledge about enchantments to do just about anything. Roughly six years back, the temptress had sought a manner to revert back to the physical enveloppe she displayed when she looked approximately nine years old. If she had done this, it was to grow up at Vander and Silco's sides. They had the potential to change Zaun's fate forever, and the future prostitute intended to be part of whatever events they were bound to trigger. The only way to rule the Undercity would be to slither to the top of the food chain from the inside.

Sheltered and watched over, trapped inside laboratories and a royal palace for the duration of her real teenage centuries, Hiedra was fully embracing this second chance at a childhood. After all, it seemed fast-paced and exciting to a near-endless being like herself.

She deftly hopped off the elevated platform she had been walking upon, landing onto her folded legs. Straightening back up, she sped up until she reached a fork in the road. Turning right, the female caught sight of Vander's crooked home, squeezed between two other buildings that were equally as run-down and filth-ridden.

The teenage boy who lived there was standing outside, his impressive frame leaning casually against a streetlight that never had a lightbulb atop it in the past years. She wished to jog up to him, but restrained her surge of giddy happiness and strolled calmly to join her friend. He was busy speaking with Silco, and the two were laughing together at something the latter had said when she arrived. Silco was lean, concurrently also shorter and less muscular than Vander. Then again, pretty much every kid in the Underground was shorter or less muscular than Vander. He was naturally buff and had an advantageous height difference with most. Despite this, Silco was agile and a skilled fighter, even if he could never have beaten his best friend. The immortal admired them both, she was aware that their alliance was powerful and that, soon, they would lead every trencher on the vicinity thanks to their combined strengths. At their youthful age, they already inspired the respect of slightly older adolescents and of any younger child.

The slimmest of the two turned to Hiedra, greeting her:

   "Hello, Hiedra. How are you today?"

He was playful, apparently eager to get down to business and self-assured that things would go over smoothly.

   "Hey, Hiedra." Vander's voice was somewhat pleased, and he slowly pivoted his head to glance at her.

The newcomer's stomach lurched violently. She ordered herself to get a hold of her desires, distractedly replying:

   "Hey, guys." She added, naughtily, "I'm ready to paint the biggest c0ck you've ever seen on a Piltie's storefront."

Silco laughed maliciously, while Vander limited himself to an appreciative chuckle. Her smirk was formidably mischievous, and she gently slapped Silco's right shoulder with the back of her hand to inquire, "What about you?"

   "I hope I get to break a window or two, but I guess I can always hold your paint bucket."

His tone was slightly nervous, however, her enthusiastic giggle reassured him.