Dark Paradise

Chapter 18: Backed in That Metaphorical Corner~

Chapter 18: Backed in That Metaphorical Corner~

“Damn right you’re sorry, Leah.” a man’s gruff voice said behind us. We both looked up in horror as a hearts and diamonds guard stood above us. “What do you have to say for yourself, helping the enemy, this wanted fugitive, this-”

My reflex would have, now, been to clench my fist around my mace and bash the man’s head in. Or take my whip and lash at him until the body stopped moving. But my body was weaponless, so I sat there, analyzing my target. He was holding one of Leah’s guns at us, but you could tell that his grip was shaky and he had sweaty palms. His stance was off balance, leaning more to the right side of his body than the left, and I was seated to the right.

“Go ahead, shoot.” I suddenly blurted. The man faced the gun at me, aiming for my face, “What good would it do you anyways?” His finger slowly inched back on the trigger, and I felt Leah’s eyes on me the whole time. “What are you-”

I kicked the assassin away mid-sentence and ducked, the guard firing bullet after bullet, fearfully. I swung my legs out, making his right leg buckle, sending him to his knees just as my right leg shot out and cracked him in the stomach. He flew back and I jumped on top of him, strattling the man’s chest. I stole the gun from him and landed a bullet in his brain.

“I had a feeling this was something I had to see for myself.” A sickly-sweet voice cackled behind me. “And my, oh my- my feelings were not mistaken.” I turned to face my mother. She had her arms folded over her chest. “My little girl is a ruthless killing machine.” She smiled sadly.

“I am not your daughter.” I seethed with rage. Maybe if I said it enough times, I could convince myself of that. This woman took me under her wing and called me her own in the blink of an eye. I growled as I said, “There was never any real proof that it’s true.”

“Oh, but you are.” She said. “You took after your father, like most daughters do.” She smiled a comfortable smile, trying to convince me. “You wouldn’t remember him. He died when you were three.”

“I thought I went missing when I was born?” I asked her.

“You did.” She informed me. “You didn’t go missing until now until you were five.”

Something hit me right then; it was as if I had just slammed headfirst into a brick wall. I couldn’t remember anything dating back to before I was five. I stared at the woman I’ve considered my mother for a month now. “How did I get to my world?” I asked her.

“Why would I tell you that?” she retorted. “So you can leave again?” she smiled sadistically. “Who do you take me for?”

Damn it.

“I’m not about to let my daughter leave me again.” The queen rambled on. “You just came home.”

“And now, I have to leave.” I said, looking away slowly.

“No!” the Queen of Hearts bellowed. It caused the crows around us to sound, flitting through the bare trees around us evilly and ominously. “Leah!” the queen cried, making her long curled hair bounce. She pointed angrily at me. “This is an order!” I stared at the assassin, who I have come to love. Her eyes glinted with an unholy look, as if she was possessed.

She’s mindless. I thought. She won’t be able to hear the voice of reason until the order is fulfilled.

“Make my daughter suffer until she crawls back to me.” The queen ordered. “If she won’t come home easily, I’ll make her beg and plead to be let in.”

I stared at the woman. ‘Make my daughter suffer.’ she said. I blinked a hot tear out of my eye, and it rolled down my cheek, making the cold air nip at my warm skin.