Marked: Part 2; The Wronged

Chapter 35

After school on Wednesday she went down to the Market to see what the council wanted. Oglm had left her text saying they wanted to speak with her. So she scurried herself on down to the council building. On the way to the building her mom stopped her.

"Hey, how are you?"

"I'm good." Amilia said to her. "Anything on Hix yet?"

"No, afraid not. But I was wondering if we could have dinner tonight."

"I'm not sure if it'll be dinner but I'll definitely stop by."

"Busy again?"

"I don't yet. Oglm said the council wanted to speak to me."

"Is he still busy?"

"No, not anymore. His meetings, if any, were moved to when I am in school."

"Oh good. Alright well, I shouldn't keep you then." Amilia shook her head, gave her a quick hug and waved as she walked away. She was kinda stomping as she was walking. She was walking so fast that is. She went to the dressing room and changed her clothes and then found her way to Jkdek. He told her where to go and Amilia went inside the door. He was already up on the stand. Yet, this time was different. There were two other people on the balcony. When she stopped in the middle of the floor she stood up tall with her hands folded together behind her back. Jkdek seemed to be the speaker of the council. He was the one who usually talked at hearings. He stood up and came to the middle of the balcony. You know, she often wondered why Jkdek doesn't just find her and tell her. I mean he is the one who usually gives the declaration to her. He looked down to Amilia.

"Miss. Hmeqqfk." He started. "We, on the high council, have decided that you shall continue your training. Rather than reinstating Akxfo, because of incidents past, we are issuing a new trainer. His name is Vkmdndbg (Vik-m-dn-da-b-ig). He is very nice and thorough background tests have been done. He is a Sok Arc like Leonardo." Jkdek tipped his head to her and then sat down. Amilia wasn't quite sure if she was dismissed yet. Usually they all left first before the person on the floor did. She stood at attention until they got up and left the room. At that point she left the room as well. Jkdek caught her before she left the building as well.

"You need to report to the arena immediately. We also issued an hour for you two to get to know each other, to connect. So please go there now."

"Alright." Amilia said with a thumbs up. She headed straight to the arena like she was told. She wasn't quite sure who he was. The Sok Arc species had many different colors of skin. Her father has green skin while Leo has brown skin. She's even seen one with yellow skin. A fun fact about them is that they don't actually tan. But if they are half Marked it will show up on their human form. And Amilia's dad does have a tan. She has no clue how, but he has one. She looked around for anyone in the arena, but didn't see anyone. He actually came up behind her. She turned around and jumped, she couldn't even hear him.

"Oh, sorry for startling you. My name is Vkmdndbg." He extended his hand to her. She shook it and laughed.

"My name is Amilia Cripple, but, of course you already knew that."

"Yeah, sorry, I have a tendency to be extremely quiet." He stopped to laugh. "Come with me." he said, waving her on. They walked into what looked like the alcoves of the arena. As it turned out, there was a whole system in the back. It was full of rooms. They reached a room where Vkmdndbg opened the door for her. She went in and he followed her. He sat behind the desk and had Amilia sit in front of him. "So the council has ordered us a meet and greet." he stopped. "Tell me a bit about yourself."

"Oh, um, well... I don't really know what to say. I mean, I like to keep busy with things. I've got a good grade in school. I like to sing and dance, I can play the piano. I'm almost fluent in Catonin." She laughed. "I don't know what else to say."

"That's alright. First of all let me introduce myself. My name is Vkmdndbg Oksnm. But please call me Vick. It's way easier to pronounce. I like to go on walks and see what's going on above the surface there. I am not Marked, but I am registered to work. I've lived in the Market for fifty years now. I used to live over in Mixed Valley. They actually elect people there. It's sort of like the presidency that you have." He said, finishing with a smile. "So I want to know what you have covered with Commander Yxeyhfkx and Sir Akxfo Vlminff."

"Akxfo's a knight?"

"Yes, he was knighted after the battle with what was the ruling kingdom of the valley."

"We covered the basics. We did ferries and stuff like that. I mean Akxfo and I did just random event training. He'd turn on the arena and would see how I'd do."

"Ok, I think I have a good idea. Thank you. Well, our hour is up, so I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for training." They shook hands one last time and then Vkmdndbg showed her out. After she walked to her mother's house. It was just about dinner time. As she walked she felt weird. It felt like someone was breathing down her neck. She was walking through the marketplace so that wasn't uncommon. But this just felt weird and off. She looked around to see if she could see anyone, but she couldn't see anything. When she got to the less populated area it got worse. Her parents lived in a small town. It was quite deserted. No one was really out when she was walking through. But all of the sudden something grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth. Next thing she knew she was passed out and when she came to she was tied to a chair way outside of the Market.

"Am I under Jersey?" She whispered to herself. And somehow she had a mighty bruise on her forehead.

"Why no dear. You're in California." Amilia didn't need to see the figure to know who it was. It was the witch with the multi colored hair.

"I have a little man here with me. I think you know his name." She snapped her fingers and Yxeyhfkx came out of the darkness. His eyes were glowing purple just like Unora's magic did. "Say hello my dear."

"Hello Amilia."

"What did you do to him?!" Unora laughed.

"I'm his little puppet master. He was mad when you refused to join him for a night. He wants his little Nsefen back. Well, he did want her back anyway. Now he is my little play toy." Amilia struggled to get free of her confindes. "Oh, no dear, don't struggle, it doesn't make you look good. Now either tell me the name of the vampire or go to him tomorrow and tell him to take off that lovely bite mark."

"Never."

"Then your daddy is all mine." She laughed. "You realize that he has a whole army at his command, right? I can do horrors with that kind of power."

"You won't get away with this."

"Oh, that. Don't worry darling I've thought of everything. Your daddy here has a motive for attacking the Market. They locked him away in Cotalose without his love and his daughter, you know the second time. You see his armor? It has rebellion stars and the flag of Cotalose on it. Do you honestly think for a single second that anyone would doubt his motives?"

"I will, I'll tell them all! About you and this whole thing. I'll find a way to free him!"

"Ah ha haha ha! You honestly think I'm going to let you remember this encounter? The second you're free all you will remember is being attack by two trolls by the name of Shelly and Hardcore. Two trolls in your father's army. I can still distort your memory with a stupid snap of my finger. You're not that far out of my hands, my dear."

"I will find a way."

"Gash her." Unora held up a knife and Yxeyhfkx took it. Amilia shook as he came towards her. She struggled like there was no tomorrow, but she couldn't get free. When she woke up she was in her parents' house.

"Ugh! Amilia, you're awake!" Cristel screamed. "What happened."

"Ugh," Amilia said coming to. "I don't know, I can't remember."