The Lady Mage

The Underground Kingdom

A fierce cry of victory sounded above the pot hole. Everyone in the kingdom was in Times Square. Everyone but me. I was the only person still at home, or at least the dump I call home. Footsteps echoed as the drainage pipes dripped water. Even all the Underground Residents had left for the ceremony. The glass tubes I held in my hand sizzled, and melted into water again. Another failed result. I put down the acid water and sat down, exhausted.

The manhole above my section opened, and Chad's dirty and smelly boots appeared, soon followed by his ragged pants and chewed up shirt. Finally, his angelic, blond hair and sky blue eyes appeared. I snapped two times and the tell-tale mechanical "click" of the secret entrance slid shut. "Chad! What did I tell you about using my secret entrance when it's daytime?" I stomped across the room and smacked him soundly but playfully on the head.

"What secret entrance? You do know almost every Undergrounder knows about the entrance right? The only reason their not coming in is because of the complex design going into the codes. Honestly, I'd say you were a bit too paranoid. Changing the passcode every two days... That's got to be some record." Chad slipped down from the ladder and landed in the puddle of rose-water I placed as the entrance mat. "Ugh! I smell absolutely horrid. Any new clothes for me? I had to run from the guards once they noticed me in the ballroom last night looking for some new girls to play with. But girl, your parents won't find you. They'll never think to look here!"

I shuddered, and tossed him a new set of clothes. He disappeared behind the Privy-Curtains and came out moments later, looking like another Lord you'd find in the NobleHood. I beckoned him forward, and wiped a bit of soot of his cheek. "We can never take enough precautions. Anyway, I'll be leaving here next week, for good. The Queen's Test is starting, and I'll be required to take part," sighing, I take off my apron and hung it on the wall, smoothening out my dress. "Come on. Today is Tax Day, and I need to get home before supper."

Chad chuckled, "It's like you're some kind of good, respectful Lady. If only your parents knew what their beloved daughter was doing everyday instead of school." I ignored him, and walked out of the lab, pulling up my leather jacket and black gloves. Chad ran to catch up, shrugging into his black uniform as well. We entered into the true Underground Kingdom, and caught up with Charlotte. She was still a grey coat, a new recruit into the System. A bunch of greys ran ahead of us, with their red-coated mentors followed them in their long, flowing robes. They all turned and saw Chad and I, and knelt. We nodded to them and they returned to their normal activities.

Matthew, Chad's apprentice, emerged from the back of the group of greys, and waited for Chad to catch up.

Huh, funny how I describe it as a nobel, and highly legal kingdom. But no. The Underground Kingdom was ranked not on age, or on blood. It was ranked on ability. The ability to break laws and get away with it. Black Coats were the best of the best, the Fifty. The Red Coats were the Mentors, unless a Black Coat chooses to mentor a Grey. And Greys were novices, the learning level. Each Grey wore a coloured belt, much like karate, that showed their levels within the Grey's ranking system.

We walked town the water lanes of Underground, and finally came to the Ground Square. The place used to be a moldy, average and old water way intersection. Legend has it some kind of Lord had it clogged up eventually since it became a huge problem to the farmers in his land. And the legend stays that way. No one will know the truth. The newly painted black walls were decorated with colors of the Greys, and of Red and Black flowers. The middle of the huge field was a large castle-like building (well, the most castle-like building you can build underground) and the guards, wearing Sky Blue coats, were lined up upon the walls.

The four of us, Charlotte, Matthew, Chad and I, entered the main gate as the guards parted for us. We walked into the main throne room, the only purely white place in the whole Underground. A sickly sweet scent of lilies and jasmine slowly entered into our presence, and the center stage in the throne room disappeared to reveal a throne of molten, golden and iron flowers. The dark figure rose from the throne, her dark silhouette shadowing the area beneath her feet.

"Welcome Chad. And Matthew. You both have done well. Bring the citizens in. Charlotte, go help them." The lady's powerful, long voice rolled across the room like silk. The others nodded and walked out.

I stayed. She turned to me and nodded to the meeting room on the far side of the court. I followed her there, her long, crimson robe trailing in the ground after her. Welcome back, Queen Rosemary. I Echoed to her, and she smiled under her secretive hood. She sat down, closing the curtains.

It's nice to be back. Are you ready for the test? I nodded hesitantly. Was I truly ready? She inclined her head and smirked evilly. Her next words sent a jolt of nerves down my spine.

You'd better be, Lady Cynthia.