Living In Limbo

Queen Lucinda II

"I really don't see why I must meet these imbiciles... these... living," A bitter voice spits in my head and I take an instant disliking to this new visitor.

"Because, Lucinda, they will help us," Seb's soft voice replies as the figures begin to move. "Stupid boy, don't call me that. Besides, the last humans didn't help at all," The woman's voice sounds like acid, spilling from her mouth.

The new arrival looks around for a second and tilts her nose into the air. "It is I, Queen Lucinda Nicola May the Second of Scandinadia," Emmett's mouth falls open again at these words spoken in the snottiest voice possible.

This woman, this queen, looks in her mid 20's with deep red hair pinned up in an extravagant mess of curls and braids. Her deep blue-gray eyes are misted over and her red lips pulled into a tight scowl.

A blood red corset pulls her slim waist in extremely tight, adding to her perfect posture. Below the corset, her many skirts and petticoats made from what could only be the finest silks and velvets sweep around her legs and over the floor.

A large pink and red collar frames the queen's pale face and I notice blue and purple marks all over her neck, scratches over her cheeks and chest, like something tried to claw it's way out.

The Queen notices me taking in her appearance and scowls. " Don't look at me, peasants," she grinds through perfectly white teeth.

"What happened..." Emmett starts but is stopped by the warning glances shot his way from both pairs if lifeless eyes infront of them.

"That doesn't matter," the Queen says in a snotty voice.  "What does matter is the fact that you can see us," she spits out the word 'you' as if we were the most disgusting creatures she has ever seen.

I think about this and gulp as realization dawns on me. "E-Emmett," I choke.  "Could this have something to do with,  you know, The Cave," I whisper and Emmett stares at me for what seems like forever,  a look if dread on his tan face.

"Y-yea I thought that too," he says slowly. Seb narrows his eyes. "Which cave?" he demands. 

I gulp and suddenly feel nervous.  "Just a cave," I start. "With an old lady,"

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I let out a sigh and wring my hands nervously.  "And now we're here," I conclude the story of the cave and the old lady.

"Hmm," Seb seemed to be thinking something over. "The only thing that sounds familiar is the owl," he concludes and her highness nods slowly.

"Yes I noticed that too," Emmett agrees, confirming my thoughts. The owl Seb saw just before he died was identical to the one Ms Murdock had.

"If these kids can't help, no one can," Queen Lucinda finally says and Seb disappears abruptly.

"Boys! They never stick around for long! Where has he gone now?" The scratchy voice hurts.

I blink and Emmett's arm rests on my shoulder as the queen fades before our eyes.

"So that happened," Emmett smiles slightly,  forcing a laugh. I turn to face my friend. He looks tired. Very tired.

"Yeah... I'm gonna go home. You should get some sleep," I say softly and walk out of the boathouse, swinging my leg over the cracked seat of my old bike.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Regahn!" I answer my cell phone. "Hey Ash," she replies. "What did you do today?" Reeg asks and I sense suspicion in her voice.

"Oh, uh, I just went to see Em," I say "What about you?" I add quickly,  not wanting to seem rude. I don't really feeling like sharing what happened and I just want time to think.

"Oh," Reeg sounds disappointed. "I just sat at home," she sounds like she's been left out... she HAS been left out. "I thought you had work today," I cringe at my lie.

The line goes dead. She hung up.

"That didn't go so well," I jump at the voice in my head and then gag when I smell Seb's now familiar odor of gunpowder. 

"You shouldn't sneak up on people like that!" I sit on the edge of my four poster bed. "Oh,  sorry," Seb doesn't sound sorry at all.

"Hey, um, Astrid right?" How does he know my name? "Uh, yeah,  call me Ash," I smile through my shock.

"Right, Ash, can I introduce you to someone?" Seb suddenly looks very nervous. 

"Sure," I reply, a bit excited.  Just like that, Seb is gone from his place on my plush pink rug.