The Legend of Lady Death

“I heard her hair is the color of blood” says the younger man.

“That’s her eyes you idiot,” whispers the older brother, hitting the back of the youngest‘s head. The old man sits back watching them, a smirk creeping on his lips.

“Well, her eyes may be blood red, but her hair is the color of night, pitch black,” says the next youngest.

I snicker, it’s fun to hear the tales of Lady Death.

“Something to add girl?” says the old man.

“No, just listening.” I go back to cleaning the glass on the counter.

“Lady Death. The most wanted thief and murderer in Treslan. No one has ever survived an attack.” The old man takes a out his pipe and lights it.

“She takes your life in different ways , but the most common is her kiss of death. Her kiss sucks the life from your lips. But she also has a sacred dagger. The blade is the color of blood and the hilt is as black as night.”

I flinch, my dagger is not the color of blood, it’s blade is pitch black. As for the hilt, that is a dull gold. I reach up and scratch my head. This wig is killing me. I jump when the door of the bar slams open and four men walk in. It’s Enro and The Brothers of Matsa. They spend all their time trying to find Lady Death and kill her. Or me. Same thing. Enro walks up to the counter and leans on one arm.

“Hey Amara. How bout a Zilz?” He grins and flips a copper coin onto the counter. I grab it and slide it into my apron pocket. A Zilz is a light beer with a splash of fizzy water. I grab a glass and fill it up with Zilz. I set it on the counter and lean on my elbows. Enro and his gang plus everyone in town is under the impression that I am Amara, the sixteen year old girl with straight elbow length muddy brown hair and brown eyes. The hair is really a wig made from the tail of Enro’s horse. I stole it. And my eyes I colored with Magik. I flip my hair behind my shoulder and smile.

“Amara! Come here!” yells a booming voice. Enro looks at me and I roll my eyes. My boss, Waytel Naydorn, is summoning me. I walk from behind the counter and hitch up my skirt to walk down the steps. I walk around the tables and stand next to Master Naydorn’s table. Waytel Naydorn is a big man with grey hair and glasses.

“Yes, Master Naydorn?”

“Ah, Amara. This is Nalfar Oceloth. He was just saying how he needs a new maid. I suggested that you be his new maid.”

“But I work here,” I protest. I am not anyone’s maid.

“Yes, but a young man offered to do your job for free.” Ugh. The free card.

“Fine. Master Oceloth. Meet your new maid.” I had to force the words out. A. Maid. I walk back to the counter and say:

“Sorry Enro, I just got replaced by a young man and became a-” I choke on the word.

“A what?” He presses.

“A maid” I spit through my teeth.

“Ouch. Sorry Amara. I’ll visit. Who’s your new Master?”

“Nalfar Oceloth”

“He just moved here from Gryni,” comments Yeta. One of The Brothers of Matsa.
Matsa means “The Slayer of Death” in Breen. The ancient language. So technically they are The Brothers of the Slayer of Death. That’s a weird name.

They don’t make faces or look too sorry for me so I shrug and walk into the back. I grab my shawl off it’s hook and my bag with what little I own in it. I wrap the shawl around my shoulders and walk back into the bar.

“Are you ready to go Amara?” Master Oceloth asks. Well, yeah. I think to myself. Not that I really want to or anything, but I can make the best of any situation. So let’s see what this one brings me.

“Yes, Master Oceloth.”

Nalfar Oceloth is a tall, skinny man with black slicked back hair and gray eyes.

We walk out of the bar and around to the back to the stables.

“Amara, do you have a horse?” Nalfar asks me as we walk. I wonder what he would do if I didn’t, make me walk or try to ride double with me?

“I do actually.” Of course, like me, she is in disguise.

My horse is a black Modric. A Modric is a pegasus and unicorn mix. They are usually purple, pink, light blue or green. So a black one is really rare. But she is also the last of her kind, that I know of, so that makes her priceless. She is as black as death, her mane, wings and tail are the same color, but in her true form they are like flowing shadows. It looks amazing.

I walk into the last stall on the left and pat her neck. Her name is Lynessa. Right now she looks like a rust colored horse with a brown mane. I lead her out of the stall to saddle and mount her. We walk out of the stable to find Master Oceloth on his brown horse. He walks up to us and says:

“Thats a fine horse you have there Amara. What’s his name?”

“Her, name is Sennetta.” It was the first thing I thought of.

“Oh, sorry. Hello Sennetta.” He smiles at her. We start off to his house without another word.

New Employee at Naydorn’s

Derik's POV

After a long day of riding, I ride to the back of Naydorn’s bar and dismount Xander, my gray warhorse. My legs are sore and I feel like I’m still riding him. I lock him in the stable, the last one on the left. It ’s the one they told me to use. I unsaddle him and pat his back.

“I’ll be back in a while Xander.” I grab my bag from the saddle and sling it over my shoulder. I walk around to the front of the big stone building and push the door open. I immediately notice the four guys at the counter. I slowly walk to the bar and up the stairs at the back of it. The biggest guy glares at me, then set down his glass. Pushing the glass toward me he nods at it, like I’m supposed to know what he’s drinking and fill it .

“What’s your name?” He growls.

“Derik” I snap back. I set my bag on the floor under the counter and head toward the other end of the bar to the man you gave me this job.

“Mr. Naydorn, I’m here” I say.

“Oh Devin, Good good” He walks toward me.

“Derik” I say quickly.

“What?”

“My name is Derik”

He squints his eyes at me.“Well Derik, I'm so glad you decided to work here, the old bartender was an ungrateful girl”

“That’s nice” What is wrong with this guy? I’d be ungrateful to if he spoke about me like that.

“Well, I, um, will leave you to it” He claps his hands together and waddles off. I snort and walk back behind the bar.

I pick up the guys glass and turn around. I lift the glass to my nose and smell the inside of the glass. I turn back around and look and the different faucets. Choosing the one labeled “Zilz” I fill the glass and slid it to the guy. He just glares at me then raises the glass to his lips.

“What my comrade means to say is thank you” I look at the young, slender man who spoke. His hair is a darker brown and he has brown eyes. His hair is genuinely messy and he has a smaller nose that average.

“I’m Yeta” He says, putting his hand out.

“Derik” I grin and grab his hand. We shake and let go.

“This is Enro, Mezo and Ikar” He explains, pointing to each man as he says their name. Actually their more boyish than manly.  

“So,” I ask while cleaning a glass “Who was the old bartender?”

“A girl named Amara, She was really nice and funny” Enro says with a dreamy look in his eyes. Then he glares at me.

“Excuse my brother, he was smitten with her, but she barely noticed him” Yeta chuckled.

“Not true Yeta, shut your mouth” Enro snarls. Mezo pats Enro’s back.

“It’s okay Enro. I know the truth hurts” He says grinning. Enro tackles him out of his chair and onto the floor. Me, Yeta and Ikar just laugh as they wrestle on the floor like little boys fighting over a sweet rock. While they wrestle Yeta asks me some questions about where I’m from, why I’m here, who I am. I answer as truthfully as to be expected.

“Are you all actually brothers?” I ask, because, well, they look nothing alike. Enro is as muscular as Yeta is slender. Enro is also blonde. Ikar has darker skin and dark brown eyes. Mezo is pale with raven hair and dark green eyes.

“Yes, we are actually brothers, but Ikar, Mezo and I were adopted by Enro’s father”

“Ohhh I see” It makes sense. I realize that Mezo and Enro aren't wrestling anymore. I looked at them and saw they are back on their stools and talking.

“Enro, tell me more about Amara” I said while cleaning a dirty glass with a rag.

“She has long brown hair and brown eyes and a perfect smile. She is really funny too. And she always knows how to make everyone happy.”

“She sounds great” I say honestly. She does.

“She is, but then she got fired because you came" I look up in shock.

"Me? She was fired because of me? I told Naydorn that I would work here if no one was"  

“Well Naydorn never really liked her anyway” Ikar points out quietly.

“I think we should go visit her” Enro says.

“Why not? I don’t officially start working here until tomorrow” I point out as I set the cup down.

“Let’s go” Enro stands up, followed by Mezo, Yeta, Ikar and me.

 

 

 

Last Day

I tug on my new uniform to try and get it to hang right on my strangely muscular body. I’m not so muscular its gross, but I’m muscular enough to have it not be normal. I mean, everyone here thinks the only job I’ve ever had is as a bartender and you don’t build up muscles as a bartender. But you do build up muscles training to be an assassin so...

“Amara! Come here!” A strong female voice commands. I rush down the the hallway and into the maids chambers.

“What is it Synestra?” I grumble at the older housekeeper.

“Just as I thought, your hair is a mess! Come here.” I walk over and stand in front of her  She uses her fingers to force the knots out of my hair without mercy.

“Ow! Slow down!” I screech. It doesn’t actually hurt because my hair is a wig, but it would be weird if I didn’t react so I put up a fuss.

“Hush” She shushes me as she twists my “hair” into a knot. I look around when she’s done to see all the other girls perfect hair. Then I look in the mirror at my floppy lopsided hair and grin. I spin around when I hear a thump on the door.

“I’ll get it” I proclame. Running to the door I stop to fix my skirt. Just as I'm about to open the door a booming voice yells:

“Amara! Come here now!” Ugh.

“Coming!” I trudge up the stairs and into Master Oceloth’s study.

“What do you want?” I groan.

“Amara, how many times do I have to tell you, this is not Naydorn’s. You have to address me with respect, not like another customer”  

“Sorry” I mumble.

"What I am about to tell you is very important. This isn't real. None of this world is real. It's-" he gets cut off when Mylene opens the door and quietly says:

"Excuse me Master Oceloth. Amara, there are people here to see you." Mylene is a small blond girl with bright green eyes and a small nose. Her top lip is slightly fuller than her bottom and her cheeks are always slightly pink. I really like her. She's pretty shy, so I could see that she was embarrassed to interrupt Nalfar. Her cheeks flush and she quickly walks out of the room, closing the door behind her. Nalfar looks at me.

“What? I didn’t invite anyone over” He gives me a “I don’t believe you” look, but dismissed me anyway. I quickly walk out the door and down the stairs. Mylene gives me a small smile while Synestra frowns upon my unladylike ness. I skip to the door and throw it open. In front of me is Enro, Yeta, Mezo and Ikar. Standing next to Yeta is a tall guy with dirty blond hair. He has bright green eyes. I squint at him.

“Amara, this is Derik.” Yeta explains while running his hand through his hair. I turn my head to the side but keep my eyes on Derik.

“Mylene, can you come here a sec?” Mylene comes up behind me and I look at her. Just as I thought. Somehow, these two are related. I watch as Derik’s face lights up.

“Mylene!”

“Derik!” He picks her up in a bear hug and swings her around. When he sets her down again they look at me.

“Derik is my older brother. When our father left for work, I came here to be a maid and Derik traveled. I didn’t think I would see him again until the winter festival.” She explained while hugging him. I just smiled for her. I don’t have any siblings, but my parents are not the best people. I would rather massacre a whole village than see them. Which I have had to do. I watch as they hug again and Mylene walks back into the house. I look at Yeta.

“Why did you guys come here?”

“We meet Derik at Naydorn’s, he’s your replacement.” I glare at Derik. “We were talking when you came up as a topic and we decided to visit.” Yeta finishes by running his hand through his hair. I scowl at him. I’m just about to glare at Derik when the entire house shakes. I grab the door frame in an attempt to stay upright. I watch all the boys fall to the ground and hear all the maids scream and run around the house. I remember that I’m not supposed to be this strong, so I fall to the floor. I turn around and watch Nalfar stumble down the stairs and towards me.

“Amara, run! They're here!” I don’t have to ask to know who’s here. My parents. I quickly stand up on the shaking ground and stumble away from the house. I turn around to see my friends run from the house. I turn back around and run at full speed. I enter the forest. As I’m running Amara slowly disappears. I rip my wig off and my platinum blonde hair falls down to my shoulders. Yes, that’s right. I’m an assassin called Lady Death and I have platinum blonde hair. I use my magik to make my eyes ice blue again, then my dress burst’s into ash’s and I have a black shirt, black pants and black boots. I’m still running as this all happens. I watch as the world around me starts to shimmer and wobble and disappear. I keep running, hoping I can outrun my parents. The ground vanishes and I fall. And I just keep falling.

 

The Real World

 "Beep! Beep! Beep... WAKE UP!" My alarm clock screams at me. Yes, it actually says wake up.

"Just shut up already!" I scream back. I groggily lift my arm and slam my hand down on my alarm clock, trying to shut it up. It stops mid-beep. I can remember having a dream, but I can't remember what I dreamed about. I stand up and walk over to my dresser grabbing the first things my fingers touch for my outfit. I grab my toothbrush and brush my teeth while I search my desk for homework I didn't do. I grab my found homework and shove it in the Sack. Also known as my backpack. I spit in the sink and grab my hair brush. I walk downstairs as I pull the brush through my hair. I walk into the kitchen and sit at the counter.

"Pick your poison." my Mom says as she puts eggs, toast and a smoothie in front of me. I grab the smoothie.

"Good choice." She twirls her finger once in the air. I spin around on the spinney stool and drink my smoothie as she puts my platinum blonde hair up in a ponytail. I spin back around and watch my brother walk into the kitchen with his eyes half shut.

"Good morning Tyler." my Mom says to him. He sits down on the stool next to me. He grabs the toast and shoves a whole piece in his mouth. I reach over and mess up his light brown hair. He just grunts and walks back towards his room. My Mom sighs.

"I guess your father will be having eggs this morning." I shrug and slid off the stool. I walk towards the front door when my Dad almost knocks me over.

"Oh, sorry Lea, I didn't see you." He smiles and plants a kiss on my forehead. I roll my eyes and walk out the door, waving to my parents. I finish my smoothie and put the cup in Tyler's car. He always brings it back inside. I walk down the sidewalk and towards my school. Sure, Tyler could give me a ride but I don't think he wants to be seen with me. I mean, he is the second most popular guy in my school and being the big brother of the school freak would ruin that. I don't mind. Being the freak means people leave me alone. I take out my IPhone and plug in my earphones. I go to my songs and play Rockstar by Nickleback. I keep walking with my head down. I look at my outfit, since I didn't really notice it this morning. I have a black tank top over some dark gray sweat pants and black Bearclaws. I shrug and look up. I look next to me when I hear a car pull up. I roll my eyes and look back down. The car honks and I just ignore it. If you don't want to be stung, don't mess with the bee. So I take out my phone and pretend like I got a text. I watch the car drive away out of the corner of my eye. 

I walk into my school and strait to my locker. I open it and shove the Sack inside. I call it the Sack because it is a sack. With two belts glued to the back as straps. I made it in art class because I didn't have a good backpack. Just the light purple one my Mom bought me. So I made my own and turned the old one into a birdfeeder for my Mom's birthday. She had found it strange, but sweet. I close my locker and shuffle towrds my homeroom.

 

 

Impressum

Texte: Lora C
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 24.10.2012

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Widmung:
I was inspired by Tamora Peirce. Thank you.