The Jem

~2~

"What do you mean, I belong to you? And why haven't you killed all your guards for being so crap at their jobs?" Suddenly Crimson found some strength in her voice, but her knees still felt like noodles.

"The people who took you knew of your special magic and who you were going to become. As soon as I found you, they took you so they could have your powers. And I didn't kill my guards...because I found them all already dead the night you were taken." She said.

"Wait, you found me?"

"Your not my real daughter either but I found you in the sea's of Nejma, the capital of Rhijaline."

Nejma was where this castle was located, the magical city of enchanted fairies and mystical beings. Just like most of the other neighboring realms, although her heart warmed at the thought, Crimson didn't know her real parents, didn't know if they were even still alive. Maybe they didn't want her or maybe they were forced to give her up.

"Why didn't you tell me or at least give me decent food?" She asked

"Because I wasn't allowed to tell you until you were 18 or the thing that helped me would take you away. Your more powerful then you'd ever think, you have to let me train you Crimson." The Queen said.

"I'm too weak." Crimson admitted.

"I have nurses and healers, please my dear promise me that you will let me train you."

"Why? What will happen after this year ends?"

"I'm not sure, I was just told to make you strong and...deadly." Cordelia almost looked ashamed of herself as she said that last word.

"My final question. Why should I trust you? My parents-or whoever they were-told me that you were a demon and that if I ever even so much as looked at you, I'd be a pile of cinders and ashes."

Something like amusement danced around thequeen's perfectly sculpted features. "Well your looking at me and talking to me, are you a pile of cinders?"

Crimson thought for a minute, "Fine, but please don't make me stay in that dungeon."

"Your rooms are already prepared and waiting for you." The Queen smiled, a smile that reached her eyes.

Rooms, plural. Crimson felt her heart warm a bit but she had to be very wary, The Queen could be lying for all she knew. Maybe the Queen was the one who wanted to have her power, whatever that power was.
~
The nurses and healers helped her stitch up any wounds and cleaned her up. The chefs fed her and gave her lots of water. Cordelia said she could rest for the rest of the day then tomorrow she would begin to train.

Crimson thought long and hard about why this was happening, what could she possibly do that was so amazing that people had stolen her to get it. And why 18 not 17 or 16 or even 15. Questions began overflowing in her head. So she told herself she would think about them when things were beginning to be more clear.

As she began walking to her room she saw a girl that looked about her age but she had many cat features like a long tail that was covered in short golden fur. Her ears were on her head and they were cat like and a little furry. Her eyes green and feral and her skin golden brown with three white streaks on either side of her cheeks going down to her jaw. Finally Crimson took in her hair it was so long it reached below her back and it was very red but it complimented her features well.

She smiled and her fangs were now visible, "Hello, I'm Deeja" her voice was so sly and illusive.
"I'm Crim-

"I know who you are." She grinned

"Really?"

"Yes everyone knows who you are."

"They do? How?"

"Because your the mystical being we immortals have been waiting for, your in the prophecy."

"Propha what?"

"It's a prediction of what is going to happen in the near future." She explained, her golden pointy ears twitching a little. She smiled broadly, slinging an arm around Crimson's shoulders.           

"Yes! As a matter of fact, everyone in this castle and most people in this realm know who you are."

"They do? How?"                                                                                                                          

"Well not you personally, but who you are representing." She clarified. Queen Cordelia never mentioned a Prophecy to Crimson, suddenly she felt a little nauseous but she didn't let it show-that much.

"I have to go to my rooms it was nice meeting you Deeja hope to see you again some other time." She waved at her and was now heading to her rooms.