The Jem

~15~

Shoving all the clothes she had into a little bag, Crimson had already began to pack, until the door flung open. She shrieked backing away, then stood up properly because she saw Cassava.

"You know you could have just knocked instead of taking the door off its hinges." Joked Crimson but Cassava wasn't laughing or even smiling. In fact she looked like she was gonna rip out Crimsons throat.

"I came to tell you that I want to re-

She paused then looked at her bed with a bag a and a few clothes thrown messily on to it. Cassava turned to a new shade of red.

"Are you trying to leave?" Her tone was sharper than a dagger, as she slammed the door shut so no one could hear.

Crimson gulped down her fear, "No I was reorganising" she smiled nervously.

"I'm not stupid." Her stare pinned Crimson to the ground. And before Crimson could say anything else, Cassava walked over-more like flew-to her then slapped her so hard the sound echoed throughout the room.

Crimson held her ruby red cheek and glared at Cassava. "I never liked you from the beginning!" She spat then attacked her. Crimson threw a mighty punch but Cassava returned it with a kick to her shins making Crimson lose all balance. But she scrabbled back on to her feet and was now raging.

They matched each other quite well but Cassava was still winning by a mile. Of course she was beating Crimson, she was very skilled and she had been training for most of her life. Crimson knew whatever she did it was going to be useless.Then an idea bloomed into her head.

She pointed her palms towards the Captain of the guard and out came her magic. Before Cassava could even react the plants had tied them selves around her. "Mmh Mmh!" She moaned.

Crimson only grinned but her teeth were full of blood, her cheek had a long but shallow cut and her left ankle ached so badly, she was limping towards her enemy.

As she met Cassava's gaze, she could've sworn her blue eyes had turned red. But Crimson was still smiling at her victory. Until the Captain grew razor sharp teeth and ripped away the thick root. Crimson gasped with shock. "What are you?" She backed away.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Her voice had gone more masculine and rough. A long silence.

"So like where do we go from here?" Crimson said awkwardly, but was backing up a step at each word.

"You're to tell no one what you saw!" Her voice returned normal but still had an edge to it.

"People think your...a human!?" Crimson asked. Cassava gave a slight nod.

"You fight better then I ever expected. I came to tell you that I wanted to recruit you for the war because of your abilities but I guess you have other plans. Which by the way are never going to happen."

"Why?" Dread filled her inside and out.

"Because you belong to the Queen now and until her 'imaginary contract' ends, you will remain hers."

"But I am free now!" Crimson's voice became strangled with sadness. But Cassava snorted.

"In this world...no one is ever free!" Crimson hadn't even thought of her reply yet but the Captain was already gone.

~
Deeja hadn't seen Crimson for a while now after what happened to Keelah everything was becoming messed up. The rumours of the upcoming war sent shivers down Deeja's spine. The realms have been at peace for so many decades and yes she's been to all sorts of wars and fights but this war felt horribly wrong.

She was walking down the castle halls, trying to clear her head until she saw Crimson looking angrier then she'd ever seen her before and her face had a long, bleeding cut and she was limping. She threw an arm out to stop her.

"What's wrong?" Asked Deeja softly.

"I don't really want to talk about it." She admitted.

"Ok let's head down to the training rooms and then you can tell me what happened to your face."

They got to the training areas outside where many creatures were fighting against each other with their magic and words from different languages were shouted. People making shields, warpers meditating. It was very active but also incredibly enchanting.

"So what happened?" Deeja Asked again. Crimson stepped closer to her and began explaining in a quiet whisper, the story about her trying to leave, what happened with Cassava and what she told her.

Deeja didn't look surprised, "I think you think this is easier then it actually is." She smiled but Crimson didn't.

"But I wanted to find the other element holders so we could fight together. Won't that save us? Won't that help end the war?" Her crimson eyes were full of hope and anger.

"It most definitely will but we don't have time to find them."

"Then I'll go alone! And I will find them."

"By the time you return with even just one of them, the war would have killed billions of creatures and people!" Deeja's tone became more stern.

"Deeja I thought if anyone would agree with me it would be you."

"I'm sorry but I can't let you go on a suicide mission."