The Earth's End

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Niko

Niko wanted to stay with Lacey and talk to her more. Perhaps adventuring wasn’t the worst profession after all. And she knew very well that a life in the Azure Military was an incredibly dangerous path, and required years of training at that. She would have to leave Merrowcliffe, the only place she could truly call home, behind.

  She would have stayed, were her stomach not roaring.

 She would have stayed, were a certain merchant not selling perfectly cooked roast pigeon back in the town square.

 As she grew closer to his tent, the aroma grew stronger, almost knocking her to the ground. She could see the tiny, browned bodies impaled on a weathered spit, and felt her mouth water.

 “Excuse me, miss?”

Niko turned. A statuesque young woman, maybe twenty or twenty-five, stood in her way. Beautifully glossy silver hair (was that its natural color?) cascaded down to her waist, and her mahogany eyes were flecked with gold. A summer dress of the finest lavender silk reached her ankles. She looked bewildered by her surroundings, almost frightened. Suddenly guilty, Niko approached her. “Do you have business in Merrowcliffe?”

 “My name is Princess Demeter, and I hail from the Mockingbird Kingdom,” the woman began. “I came here to meet with the king to discuss the dire consequences of this terrible war. However, my carriage was struck down in your kingdom’s fire, and now I have lost my way.” She dipped her head. “Do you know the path to take to the City of Azure? I will guide myself if you would be so kind as to show me in the right direction.”

“Ah…of course.” Niko looked away. “Come with me, Your Grace.”

“Child, there’s no reason to address me so formally,” the woman chided playfully. “Show me the way and I will reward you with great sums of gold.”

The royal’s white shoes, lined with brightly glittering diamonds, didn’t make a sound against the fragile wooden bridge that the two walked upon, and the air around her seemed unnaturally cold. Odd. Niko feigned tripping over her own feet, lightly brushing her hand with one finger as she “steadied” herself, and jumped back at the impact. Her hand is freezing. It’s like she’s not even alive…

“Are you all right back there, darling?” Princess Demeter looked over her shoulder, smiling goodheartedly.

 “I-I’m sorry, Your Grace, I tripped over a rock.”

“There’s no need to apologize.” She sighed. “Outside of battle, this kingdom of yours is a wonderful one.”

And they were silent. For what seemed to be ages of walking, all was quiet but for the chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves. Butterflies fluttered in their path. The last shafts of amber sunlight filtered through the dark leaves above their heads. Somewhere, the gentle murmurs of the river they had passed echoed in the trees. This forest, the one she and Lacey had discovered together and knew so well…Niko vowed to never forget this place, the natural palace where so many memories and emotions were born.

But despite this, if she had realized the true intentions of the woman walking quietly, swiftly ahead of her, she would have turned back.

 As they escaped the beautiful nirvana, as they faced the very beginning of the stone path that led to the City of Azure, the lady spun around, caught her by the shoulders, and yanked her behind a tree.

 “What a pretty young girl you are,” she hissed. Something inhuman blazed in her eyes, like the darkness of a foreboding cavern. “No, ‘pretty’ doesn’t describe that silken black hair, or that icy fire that flickers within you. You are beautiful. Such a perfect female specimen…”

Niko’s breath came in little gulps. She always took caution when conversing with strangers, did she not? But this stranger had been so kind, so generous, and she was offering her gold.

 But was this stranger really a noblewoman?

“Wh…who are you…?” she managed, her voice crescendoing.

“Do not speak, child. It will only cause you more pain.” Suddenly there was a dagger pressed against her throat, the polished silver blade drawing a tiny, crimson trickle of blood. Niko winced.

 “This is the only time I’ve ever been allowed to leave my prison…and now I must watch over you as you take my place.”

There was a wrenching sensation in her gut, and then everything was gone.