The Wicked War

Chapter 2

“What are you doing here, Taryn?”

I stare at her still in disbelief, after everything that happened, I never thought I’d see her again. I never thought she would come here but she is here standing in front of me.

Her eyes searching my face for any sign of- what exactly I don’t know because all I want is to wrap my hands around her throat and squeeze the life out of her.

“You are not welcome here,” I say instead while she continues to stare at me not saying a word.

“I told her to go but she wouldn’t listen, she claims it is important.”
Vivi says walking through the front door, followed by heather then they both stand at my side.

“Can we talk for a while please?” Taryn finally speaks.

At the sound of her voice a wave of nostalgia hits me.
Even though we are twins and look exactly the same, it doesn’t feel like it at this moment.
In so many ways Taryn resembled our mother, in the way she walks and talks.
But I don’t care about that now I still have an overwhelming feeling of anger that makes want to grab a knife and stab her until she is nothing but holes.

“You” I say instead “Get out”.
“No” she took a step forward, “Jude, please you need to listen to me.” She says with a pleading face. But I’m not falling for it.

Oh, Taryn you need more than an innocent face to get through me this time.

“There is nothing I want to hear from you,” I take a deep breath “GET OUT”
I didn’t even realize that I’m shouting until I feel Vivi’s hand on my shoulder. “Or do you want me to throw you out.” I add.

“This is Vivi’s apartment.” She counters.
“No. this is my apartment.” Heather interrupts “And Jude is my friend and you hurt her.”

She doesn’t answer but she doesn’t move either.
So, I do. “Fine, stay here I’ll leave.” I say walking out of the front door.
I hear her footsteps behind me, she isn’t giving up.

“Wait, Jude, please.”
I stop but I don’t face her “I don’t care about what you have to say, I just want you to go away from here.”
I feel her hand on my shoulder, I cringe at her touch and pull away, I’ve no intention in talking to her; or giving her the satisfaction of us having a normal conversation again. 
“Please, just listen Jude, I’m begging you,” she says in a desperate voice “I need your help.”

“no. I’m not helping you, never in a million year, never. Absolutely no. If this is really why you are here then I guess you got your answer. Now, go.”
“Hear me out please” she says touching me again.

“Just stop doing that! You are so pathetic begging like that. Do you not understand what no means. I’m not helping you nor listening to you, you have to-“

“Locke is dead!” that made me stop talking and turn to face her.
“You can’t be serious.” No she can’t be serious, this must be one of her tricks.
“I’m serious, Jude, he is dead and..
It’s-…I don’t know how to explain it to you…but I swear I didn’t mean to, I felt compelled to do it.”

“Do what?” I stare at her; it seems like right now I’m interested in what she wants to say.
“I killed him.”

I don’t answer, I don’t know what to say I don’t even know how to react to the news if anything I should be happy about his death, this guy who tore me and my sister apart. But I’m surprised with a feeling of grief instead. I shove it down quickly and look back up at Taryn.

“Something is wrong Jude; father is plotting something and I don’t know what is happening there.”

“so you call him father now.”
“Don’t change the topic Jude, I’m scared what they’ll do to me there. I think Locke’s death was plotted. I ask of you to pretend to be me. You can’t be compelled jude you will be safe but I won’t.”

“Why should I help you?”
“do this for me, this one time, and you will never see me again in your life.” She says looking at me with hope in her eyes, I think she can see that I like the idea. Yes. I do.

I want to go back there I want my feet to touch elfhame ground again. I want it all again. Even if I have to play Taryn to get it, and I also want to know what is Madoc plotting.

“What if this is a plan to lure me there, so I could be captured?”
“There is no such a thing, please Jude you have to go before they notice that I’m gone.”

It seems like I’m going back there after all. I don’t even have to work in that crappy bakery again. I don’t have to sit around and do nothing.
I’ve been a spy for a whole year for Dain before he died, so I still got the skills to not get caught.

I look at Taryn and says: “Tell me everything.”

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A month ago

Madoc spent his time learning about weapons and tools mortal used in wars.

He learned that in the past they used daggers and swords just like them. But now they seemed to have developed a lot of new weapons. Guns of many types: revolvers, pistols…, Depth charge, bombs that can turn an army to ashes very and many others he couldn’t even recall the names of it. The mortals continued to come into elfhame doing their rebellious moves.

Also, a lot of them are stealing and destroying everything and if he keeps killing them without a plan, they won’t stop coming and they each time they become angrier.

For the first time in his life he felt powerless.

So he took the “know your enemy” at heart and started learning more about them. 
While he was helplessly searching for anything that could help him in this soon-coming war he came across an article:

Supreme commander of the north:
Parish Anderson

The rest of the article was talking about all his biography and accomplishments and how he has the biggest army, under that there is picture of Anderson with a blond young man not older than twenty.
The look on the man face says : I’m your guy. He wouldn’t know for sure but he felt. Anderson seemed like the type of guy who would do anything for power. They are so different and yet the same.

He sat back on his chair thinking of everything he could offer to this man

Madoc could make him on his side but would compelling him would really be enough.

He would not let these mortals destroy his world so he gathered himself and took the next step on his plan: keep your enemy who doesn’t know that you are the enemy close.

Parish Anderson is a powerful dangerous man, but Madoc will not rest until he has Anderson and his army under his control.