Blood and Steam: Shattered

Chapter 1

Carnelian dashed through the alley, a deep gash on her right arm leaving a trail of blood that she knew they could scent her by. She clambered up the side of a building, her long red furry tail sweeping behind her, basically flagging them down the her exact position.

"Augh! Curse these skirts!" She muttered, as her foot caught on the lace trim of her dress and slipped. Her claws dug into the brick wall, grasping for anything to hold onto as she continued her climb. It was then that she remembered something about her pursuers. They couldn't see the color red. And naturally, she was covered in it, from her fiery hair to her scarlet dress, and her russet red bushy tail. Once she was at the very top of the building, its pistons pumping indignantly as a standard mechanism stoked the fires below, she pulled back her scarlet hood and let her long ruby tresses free to catch the breeze. She flattened her furry catlike ears to the sides of her head and gestured at the beasts below with a threatening fist. She then turned around, lifted her skirts, and shook her rear in a taunting gesture, her silken white bloomers winking in the lights of the sleeping city. Carnelian then turned back around, crouched low, and sprang off of the rooftop, landing on top of another building nearby. As she ran along the roof of the building, her frilly skirt snagged on a protruding metal rod.

"That's it!" She declared, unfastening her skirt and dramatically throwing it off the top of the building, standing there in her lacy top, her brown corset, and her silken white knee length knickers, her tail waving behind her more freely as it was no longer confined under that heavy skirt. After that, she jumped down onto a nearby lamp post and slid down it like it was a fireman's pole, effortlessly landing on her feet. A lamplight turned on in a nearby window, and she was suddenly dragged backwards by her hood like a kitten being pulled by its scruff.

"How many times have I told you not to lead gen-one's into the city, and just look at you! You're standing outside in public in your bloomers, and you've got blood all down your arm! When will you ever learn, you stupid girl!" A boy's voice boomed at her, as he slammed the door after dragging her inside.

"You're not my mother, Axel!"Carnelian retorted, her freckled face contorting into a rebelliously indignant scowl.

He glared down at her through pale pinkish-purple eyes and shook his head, his short icy blonde hair moving along with his face as if he were in one of the ancient advertisements trying to convince a person to buy some sort of hair product or cologne. "Well, Carney, I'm sure your mother wouldn't approve of you chasing down gen-ones in your underwear! Honestly, what are we here at the orphan's society supposed to do with you?"

"You could start by giving me my independence from this bloody hell hole for once." Carnelian replied with a stubborn glare.

"Even though you are of age, I doubt you're mature enough to be considered a citizen, and with that tongue you'll land yourself in jail. This institution is protecting you if anything. The Mistress gives you clothes and food and shelter, even though you are such a delinquent. Honestly why can't you act your age?" Axel replied coolly in a condescending tone.

"I'm bloody sixteen, you cur. Stuff a cog in it." Carnelian spat back with a malicious smirk.

"Oh please. You know I only lecture you because it's in your best interest. Now why don't you go to bed and consider getting in before curfew so that for once Mistress Albane doesn't have to worry about you." Axel replied, raising an eyebrow and giving her a smug grin.

"Must you torture me with your never ending useless chatter?" Carnelian growled as he handed her a fresh skirt and some bandages for her arm, pointing towards the girls dormitories.

"Maybe after you work on getting in by curfew you can start working on your language." Axel called after her

"Can it!" Carnelian yelled back, throwing her shoe at him from around the corner.