After Vengeance (I)
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"Ryot, please, no!"
"Beg me more, Steel," she cackled as she dangled a lit extra-large match to the woman tied to a pyre.
Ada ran in slow-motion towards them, but with every step, she was further away.
"Ada, please, stop!" Her team begged her as she held a small flame in her palm and threatened the faceless woman tied down before her.
No, this is all wrong!
Wake up!
I woke in the dream and things were much clearer.
'Rule number seven: if you don't control your mind, you can't control anything else'.
I dropped the flame and it disappeared. I willed the images to convert.
We're watching something. I can't see it, but we're enjoying it.
We're laughing. I didn't hear a joke, but I knew one was told and I knew it was funny.
So, I laughed. Hard.
Ada woke up laughing. She sighed, satisfied with her success in trying to lucidly dream.
Refreshed, she headed to the morning team exercise, ready for whatever today's training would bring.
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The team came back from the simulation disgruntled to say the least.
Enzo looked at them coldly.
"What happened out there, Boo?" He asked sternly.
"Reporting, sir! My failure to command my team resulted in the loss of the two charges, sir!".
"Why did you fail to lead?".
"Because I treated my team as friends, sir, lines got crossed and insubordination was the result, sir!".
"Oh, do you think this is Rupaul's Best Friends' Race"?
"No, sir!".
"It sure doesn't look like it!" Enzo raged.
"Get out of my face and go punish yourself!" He spat.
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!". Boo ran to the suicide pit and began the course, already bleeding from the spikestrips that swung at him.
Ada felt guilty. She knew she had a better plan. It was a better plan. However, it only worked if everyone was on board...
"Aura, step forward," Enzo instructed.
She stepped out of the ranks.
"What happened out there?"
"Reporting, sir! The Second-in-Command not only failed to adhere to her superior's instructions, she also chose to follow a subordinate's instructions. The result was a collision, which caused the loss of our two charges and failure to succeed in the mission, sir".
"Oh, so, you think my judgement is wrong? That the person I chose to lead is unfit so you have to make your own decisions, correct?" Enzo asked deceptively calm.
"No, sir!".
"No? But that's exactly what you've said! Now you're lying?!" Enzo accused.
Aura fidgeted and couldn't think of how to answer. So, Enzo kicked her knee and she dropped heavily.
"Get out of my face and go do suicides until you contemplate it!!!".
"Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!".
"Step forward, Elfie," Enzo seethed.
YOU ARE READING
The Empire's Descent (First Draft)
FantasyExcerpt: "Luca, it's a male Vampyr in the Green Grotto!", she burst into his office to inform. Luca rolled his eyes and clutched the desk before him, where he gripped splintered under the force. "Does it still hurt that much? Ari said you'll be able...
