Mystery Noir

Gates and Trials Part 3

The room was similar, circular and made of stone. But there was nothing on the ground by an opulent red and purple area rug. Paintings of court scenes hung along the walls, though the nobles depicted were an array of animals and other supernatural beings. In fact, the closest things to human had long pointed ears and almost predatory features.

"Nina!" Penny stood up off of the ornate couch she had been sitting on, looking none the worse for wear. "There's not a lot of time, I'm supposed to give you a message. You're going to be given a choice in a couple minutes. Nothing bad is going to happen, the people here aren't... malicious... and your mom, she's here."

When I turned to look toward the two doors that were to my left and right, like North and South had been, Penny sighed. "You must decide first."

I raised my hands to my temples, rubbing them in frustration. "It sounds like a mind game to me. Why?"

"I don't know." Penny shook her head.

"You're ok?" I looked to my friend, though when I moved to take a step toward her she gave a quick shake of her head.

When I opened my mouth to ask her what was going on, both doors opened, admitting two well-built forms. Both men were garbed in an armour that appeared to be a dark metal, though it seemed to move with them like scales, allowing for smooth, natural movements. One had a pair of massive swords on his back, the other had a pair of battle axes.

They both had wings. Their skin pure black, hair a shimmering, silky mass that changed colour between white, platinum, gold and several colours as they moved. They had those long ears from the humanoids in the pictures, their features more refined and predatory.

But they were very clearly Ver and Enzo.

Ver had a pair of black bat-like wings that wrapped around his shoulders like a cloak, and Enzo had a golden pair, though he left them hanging open. Ver's expression was stoic, almost angry, but Enzo cast me an apologetic look.

Out of the door behind Enzo came a slightly smaller individual, this one also with the pointed ears, though he didn't have wings, and his skin was a lighter brown colour, his eyes a bright orange. "You have half an hour to choose. Here or Earth. The choice is irreversible. You have met Enzaliean and Verancian. They represent the two interests and can answer any questions you may have."

Then the man bowed, turned and left through Ver's door. Just like that. No proper introduction or lead up he had just told me to choose, then leave?

"What in the actual fuck." I blurted out, glancing between the two of them. "What did he mean, Earth or here? Where the fuck is here?"

Penny, oddly, had sat down, and was beginning to look ready to pass out, staring at the point on the floor.

"What's wrong with Penny?" I took a couple steps toward her, only to find Ver stepping in my way.

"She's fine. This world just... has odd effects on humans if they remain in it for too long." Ver offered. "She'll be sent home either way, they just needed a way to motivate you to come here. You had to prove that you could make it here."

"This is stupid. Why." I shook my head, but glared at him, then and Enzo. "Why the smoke and mirrors, why... my mother is here, why can't I see her?"

Enzo offered a hopeful smile. "There are very specific tests for the Heir of the Lord of the West. It's a ritual that spans back several millennia. Your parents are waiting for you. But your trial is to choose between your two homes. You can live only on one. Here, with your family and everything you could ever want. Me, Ver. No more danger. Nothing more on your own. You've earned it, you can come home."

Penny was asleep on the couch. I frowned as I watched her for a minute, before glancing to Enzo, then back to Ver. "I don't even have the time to be angry at you two lying, manipulative... you're not even shapeshifters?!?!"

"We are." Ver offered in a low rumble. "We're Kamkar. We have several forms. These ones, the human ones, and our animal forms. What Enzo isn't telling you is that you'll have to leave Earth behind. Everyone there, Penny, Mawaska, all the people you've been helping. The group that wants you to stay thinks that your presence can allow your father to not be solely responsible for protecting the realm. He's been strained excessively by the Nareyan, who's plaguing Earth and trying to get here. With you gone, it'll be free to do what it wants on and with Earth."

"My father is the Lord of the West?" I shook my head, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. "And to prove myself to you... all of you... I had to figure out this dumb ass puzzle, come rescue Penny, then choose... choose what?"

"The Nareyan might possibly just return to hibernation without your presence agitating it. Ver's group believe, like that friend of yours, that you're protecting the people and places you value. But there's also a chance that it was you that woke it up, as you delved into the supernatural world. You could be protecting everyone by remaining here." Enzo offered, shooting the other man a stubborn look. "And besides... wasn't it you who said you felt like you just wanted a break? That you wished that you could just let someone else save the world? Come home. You were a child when you left here. Your memories will return, you will remember your father, be with your mother. And you will learn... so much... about this half of who you are."

"You're a warrior, Nina." Ver countered stubbornly, his eyes a stormy grey that I swear I could see lightning flashes in. "You aren't made to sit idly by and let other people suffer. And you're half human. You've spent most of your life on Earth. Do you really consider yourself the Heir of the West?"

He didn't make it sound like I was lesser for it. He made it sound just like I thought of the title. That it was gaudy and pretentious and that this whole thing was absolutely ridiculous.

"Tell me why I had to do it this way? Why was I alone? Why the tests, why can't I see my allegedly alive and well mother and the father who abandoned me." I shook my head as I spoke, fighting back an exhausted frustration.

Even beyond the fact that I wanted to see my mother again, I felt the tiredness in me. I could feel Enzo's words, our discussion from earlier. Why was this Nareyan my responsibility? Why did it fall on me to protect people I barely knew, in a world that I had barely considered my home?

"Because this world is filled with a bunch of pretentious and ambitious idiots that control a lot of the court." Ver smirked at me.

Enzo scowled, though I could recognize that he agreed with Ver's statement and was struggling to move past it. "They have strained your father, keeping the realm safe on his own. Traditionally there's always been an Heir, and without you at his side, there have been power moves that he has had to allow, in order to focus on protecting the realm. But with you here, he would be more capable of reining in control."

"There's a bunch of old, crotchety purists that don't want me here, because I'm a half-breed. And my father is too much of a pushover to fight for his daughter." I frowned at Enzo, then scowled at Ver, who was nodding. "And you, asshole. You're their representative. You're trying to convince me to leave. Not because you give two shits about Earth, but because you're one of those assholes who don't think I belong."

Ver flinched backwards, looking pained, before shaking his head. "Nina..."

A gong rang out from somewhere beyond the room.

Enzo sighed. "Nina. You have five minutes."

I could feel the hurt and anger boiling within me.

Why should I let people tell me if I belonged somewhere? I had never let that stop me before. Whatever else, I would be with my mother again and if I could prove these people wrong, while not having to worry about being some saviour against a terrifyingly powerful being, why shouldn't I? I did not know how to fight the Nareyan, why should I lose everything to try?

I shook my head. "I don't need any more time. I've decided."

Because it was a simple decision when it came down to it.