What A Monster

Chapter 1. Slave

A small child with silver hair and eyes, along with the palest skin, clutched an old tan teddy bear close as she walking along the streets of Star City late into the night. With a black dress that reached her knees, white stockings, and black flats, she would resemble a doll if not for her movement.

Behind her, a young woman trailed. Unlike the girl, the woman was dressed far more modern attire. With sneakers, blue jeans, and a button-up, they contrasted quite a bit. The girl wore a small smile, while the woman was expressionless. Her green eyes vacant and far away, as though she wasn't at all present in her own body.

And in some ways, that was true.

Still, the two wandered along the dark streets, every so often stopping before a shop or cafe and glancing around. She never went inside though, merely surveying what was happening before moving on.

"Sarah, " she spoke, accented Swedish before delving into the language, "We've been out and about for a while now. I feel it's best to stop somewhere and get something." She faced the taller female, "What would you suggest?"

"Let's stop at a cafe near here, your excellency. They have exquisite coffee and sweets fit for your pallet." The woman said, her head bowed slightly to gain eye contact. The child searched for something before she held out a hand to 'Sarah' who easily took a gentle grip.

Britta allowed herself to be led around, glancing at passerby every so often. Startling those who took to staring at her. And quite a few people did. Openly staring as she and Sarah walked two blocks to find a quaint looking cafe.

The bell rung as the two entered, and Sarah released Britta's hand to hold open the door, rounding behind her once she was several steps inside.

Britta took her time glancing around the fairly large coffee shop. With six small tables for two and three booths off to the side, it was moderately large. Also fairly full with how late it was. Three of the tables were in use and a single booth in use of a small group of teens. Britta ignored them in favor of walking to the counter, where a large display case of various sweets was kept safe.

Britta noticed immediately what kind of pastries were made here. Though the middle-aged woman standing in front of the cash register should have given her a clue. Britta smirked a bit, she knew she made the right call when she employed Sarah. This was a Swedish cafe, filled with popular dishes one would find in a moderately popular Swedish cafe or house, and as she took a glance at the coffee's suggested with each pastry, true coffee.

It seemed she found a place where she could lay back and enjoy. Somewhere Fika was sincerely upheld. Britta was quick to order a black coffee with several cinnamon buns, and two vanilla hearts. She positioned herself at a booth in the far back, skipping the booth the small group of teens was seated in, and adding another between them before she sat down.

Britta had spoken English when ordering, but Sarah spoke Swedish as she was accustomed to. The child was reminded of her reason for 'hiring' Sarah. The woman at least knew how to be discreet even in her altered state of consciousness.

Sarah continued speaking to the older woman after ordering, and Britta kept her ear out for anything mildly suspicious. One could never be too careful, that was true no matter where you are. In the end, Sarah hadn't said anything that was outside of impartial small talk before paying for the food and taking it to the booth that Britta had claimed for herself.

The two enjoyed the peace and quiet as they ate and drank. Britta looked to her teddy bear that seemed to rumble, smiling slightly, and reached into its empty eye. Pulling out a cell phone that belonged to Sarah, she handed the electronic over to the elder female as the item buzzed.

"Answer it." She ordered in flawless Swedish, allowing Sarah to remove the phone and speak to the other person. "Your mother must be protective of you, " she murmured into her coffee as she sipped the warm liquid, "calling so often... My mother is much the same."

She shared, smirking when Sarah appeared to have ignored her words in favor of answering her mother every question. From the young woman's whereabouts, work, visiting anytime soon, to if she was eating, etc, etc. Questions that any protective parent would ask the child they hold so close to there hearts. But Britta could hear something else, in the older woman's tone, past all of the worries and seemingly natural scolding tone she had. A warning of sorts, the kind that she was far more familiar with than the supposed worry that caked over most parents in this era.

'If you don't get back soon, something bad will happen. I'm only worried for you because something will happen to me. The money that you promised hasn't come in yet, are you only lazing about or are you seeking trouble. Whore.'

The games that humans played nowadays we're more entertaining than the aristocracy from so long ago. Insults could be so direct and indirect at the same time, taking one's life was the social norm now. It was enough to make her laugh, in growing more powerful the weak became more pathetic it seemed. Of course, that wasn't the best part. Oh no.

The greatest thing that came with the age of humanity was the heroes who fought for 'Justice'. That joke couldn't stop being funny, at least not yet with news about the idiots everywhere every day at the least. Take Britta for example, given her actions in the past thirty years and the fact that Sarah wasn't the only 'caretaker' she commissioned since her wake up, which was a blood-filled endeavor on its own. She should be in jail until the end of time, or better yet, publicly executed.

Yet, here she was today, drinking coffee and eating pastries like a regular child and not an arguable sociopath. Except there wasn't much to argue, as she was completely fine killing others if it meant that she could live longer. Or because she felt like it. There was that too.

In any case, the failure was prominent and she wouldn't think of the Justice League, as any sort of threat to herself. They didn't even kill the evil people in the world, so what's the point if said people can escape their confines to wreak havoc another day.

To her, it seemed like bad planning, but she understood if the people in the League were too weak for that. Life and death were generally important to humans after all, with them living so short. Yet in war, they justified the death and pandemonium they caused, the destruction, the disconnects, the excessive violence.

Honestly, her kind didn't see the point in waring with one another, the weak may get stronger in time, but those who were naturally born strong hardly needed to try fighting against those born weak. Yet humans went around to gain status and enough power to topple anyone who defies them. Which, had been interesting for a while, the use of tabloids and various ways to communicate made the destruction of others slightly amusing until it wasn't anymore. Britta found herself losing interest in this new world with every comical discovery.

Noticing that Sarah was doing far less talking, she ordered the girl to hang up. From what she could tell, nothing but hardly veiled insults were being spoken, and Sarah was used to all of them. Which was the main reason that Britta had chosen Sarah to be her caretaker. The woman was a sorry excuse for an adult, who hardly had any freedom or anyone, in general, to turn to. She lived with her parents until several months ago when she gathered enough money to run away, but even then she had given the couple who 'raised' her, money whenever they requested. Which was often.

They had mentally abused the girl for years, and still did so today, which was perfect for Britta. Who chose a caretaker that would be missed quickly, who had a plethora of people who cared for them, who couldn't be controlled as easily as those without a purpose. Britta smirked as she thought about it, before humming to herself, she wouldn't need the girl for much longer though. She had a strange feeling, and she wouldn't want to be interrupted yet, where would the fun in that be..?