"When they came back around, the Earl approached us. Two men were in juxtaposition of the Earl; the Earl carried a single blade sheathed in a case strapped on his right leg. He wore that smug grin as he enjoyed my suffering.
"'How does it feel to be around animals, Yalen?' he gloated.
"'More than you know,' I said dryly, a hint of anger spilling from my shattered soul.
"'I have been thinking about something Yalen. Since you were the General of this army and that you have won countless battles against these man-animals, I have decided to make you an indentured servant. If you obey my every command without any hesitation, i will grant you your freedom and my word on your behavior to Mungfalme will be hushed. That I swear to you is a promise that I can keep,' he said with a smile.
"'I got a deal for you,' I began, 'How about if you set Samantha and these humans around me free, I will obey your command. Every word, just let them go and I will be your puppet for you to now.'
"The devil snickered, 'And I got a deal for you,' he began, 'If you do not become my servant, your brilliant girl behind you and every one of your pets in this cage will die and you will be forced into a slave labor for the rest of your life, and your friends, family, and anyone who is an associate with you will face capital charges against the Rule of Mungfalme thus will be sentenced to death - right in front of you. Is that clear?' he smiled.
"I glared at him, 'Fuck you,' I groaned in anger and hatred. My breathing became erratic and heavy. I wanted to bust down this cage and rip his fucking head off of that garbage can he called a torso. He is cancer. A cancer that needed to be eradicated. And if I do get free, I will welcome my knife hand to his throat. I will await the day where my knife quickly slides through it spilling red gush of blood, staining my blade. I wouldn't wash it for years, it would be my most accomplished thing I have done in my life. My king, forgive my language, but my anger cannot be measured nor controlled. I should have encouraged Samantha to kill him. He is a bastard, a fucking asshole who needed to be plugged up. Fuck him. How dare he threaten the life of my close loved ones? They have nothing to do with this? NOTHING! And if he dares put his filthy hands on Samantha, I swear to everything that is holier-to-thou, I will sever his head and sell it as a trophy for these soldiers to piss on his skull - and I know that you will do much worse to him if he ever did that to you, my liege. What can I do? He has me on checkmate. If I attacked him, he'll kill me and Samantha, as well as exterminate the humans in the cage with no remorse. I held my ground - until...
"'Looks like our General wants a demonstration,' he said, 'Get the girl.'
"'What?' And just like that, the soldiers opened the cage, pushed me aside and grabbed her. Samantha struggled to get out of their grip. At this point she should have transformed...why didn't she?
"I hurriedly crawled over to the door only for the soldiers to slam the door at my face. My nose cracked, blood flowed out from my left nostril, but I could care less. I tried my hardest to open the cage but with no avail. All the humans backed up to the back of the cage fearful and afraid; however unknown to me, there were a few that watched with intrigue.
"They pushed her down, held her in place, one of the men pulled her head back as the Earl unsheathed his sword and smoothly, slowly sliding the blade on her bare skin. Samantha tried to breath, she felt the thin, cold blade sliding on her skin, eagerly awaiting to dig inside to dig up blood, and open flesh. Tears drew, she was shaking like crazy. Fear overwhelmed her.
"I drew all of my raw strength to pull the doors from its hinges. My skin tore trying to pry the door open. I roared and scream unaware that the more I resisted, the more inclined the Earl was to cut deep inside her.
"'Leave her alone!' I declared.
"'I can only...' he slipped a blade across her chest. Blood slowly flowed across her chest, 'Oops. Did I do that? We don't want another accident do we?'
"'Earl?'
"'If you comply, we will give her medical care and a bandage. All you have to do is submit.'
"The Earl was a tricky bastard. He had me at checkmate. What else should I do, my Lord? Please forgive me for what I am about to do.
"'Y-You win,' I said, 'You win. I will obey your every command, just let her go and my service will forever be yours.'
"The Earl smiled.
TWENTY-ONE
I WAS HELPING Nya get dressed for her friend's birthday party that evening. We were limited on formal wear since well we hardly shop for fancy clothing. Only the essentials. To us, we view clothes as a need...a need for us to keep warm. We didn't care what brand it was, as long it was clean and that it could keep us warm and covered, we were good.
I managed to find my mom's old, pink church dress from way back when. It was hard to imagine her wearing such a thing. I mean – she was more of a warrior-adventurer type than a girly-girl. So was Nya – minus the warrior part. She was unsure about this, one minute she was happy to go, but now...she's just unsure. Thames' death sure put a mark on her. It has not been the same without him. The house was quiet, and every night, she would look out in the window praying for Death to omit his soul, to bring him back from Darkness. She would have sleepless nights, unhealthy for a child her age. If Mom were here, she would no what to do.
I tightened the bow a final knot on her back; Nya was gray in the face, "Here we are," I said. I turned around.
"Thank you, Michael," she shone a small smile in her innocent face before it faded.
"Is something wrong, baby girl?" I asked.
Nya nodded. I placed a hand over her cheeks to omit her mood. I wanted to end her sorrow; she was hurt pretty bad from the loss of her friend. She had no time to grieve, but I figured that well, why not take her to an area that can put a smile on her face. She was too young to feel this way, but in a way, I couldn't say that I don't blame her. I felt the same way when my parents died right before my eyes, and at the young age of 13, it was traumatizing. Hell, it still hurts me even to this day.
"Nya?" I said.
Nya looked into my eyes.
"I'm so sorry for what happened to Thames, I really am, but sweetie, sometimes life has a way of saying...well...look, I feel the same way when I was your age when our parents died in front of my eyes. I wish I was there but...I'm so sorry that you lost your only friend," I continued with a mix of tears; I wiped them from my face, "But whatever happens, I'll always be there no matter what. Do you understand?" I wiped the tears slowly flowing on her cheeks.
"Will Thames ever come back? Will Mom and Dad ever come back?" she asked.
I smiled and nodded, "Mom and Dad are the toughest fighters I know that ever lived on this planet, and I highly doubt that Thames would leave this adventurer alone, now would we?"
Nya smiled and jumped on my shoulder with a bone-crushing hug. She almost made me fall back! Luckily, I rocked forward and enclosed my arms around her – it was not until she began choking me.
"GAK! NYA...NYA...AIR! AIR!" I tried to breath, Nya immediately let go. I caught my breath soon afterwards. Damn! Just how strong was she? She didn't show that level strength before! I mean damn!
"Sorry,Michael!" Nya apologized, "Sorry, sorry, sorry..."
"Nah, it's cool," I said, "Damn, somebody's been eatin' their vegetables!"
Nya giggled.
"Well, you better get on to the the Living Room, I gotta change out of these rags, okay?"
"Right," Nya said. She got off the bed and walked out of the door, before she completely removed herself from the room, she took one last look before she closed the door. She closed the door allowing me to change into my fancy tuxedo.
…
We were ready to go; well dressed, well groomed, we were simply delicious for the upper class men. We looked like as if we lived in a palace somewhere in Europe. As Nya sat and waited, I was in my parents room looking for my watch. Damn, I know I put it in here somewhere! I looked high and low for it, trying hard not to mess up my parent's master bedroom. Finally, I got it. It was looming around the win
dow sill freezing right by the glass.
I left the room, after I did a quick clean up. I headed back to the living room to wait for our ride until my mind snapped back to the day when Nya found that strange orb. I was not too far from the bathroom, so when I went in, I opened the mirror-cabinet door and saw the case, just like I left it.
"Michael?" Nya called.
"Yeah sweetie?" I answered.
"There is a limo out in the yard," she said. That must be Mr. Dalton and his men waiting outside.
"Go in the car baby, here I come," I said. I took the case from the cabinet, opened it and saw the badge lying there untouched, marveling at its mysterious beauty as it shone at the light above me. I had no idea who this was. It looked majestic enough sure, but it wasn't ours. Probably I might bump into someone who might be the owner of this badge; however in my mind, it was a bad idea. This badge is so technologically advanced that anyone would kill for it, and the last thing I want is for me is to draw unwanted attention, or worse have the same thugs come to our house. Either way, disaster will always follow.
…
Mr. Dalton's men led me to the black limousine parked out front; they opened the door for me, something that I could easily do myself and closed the door. Inside, Nya was eating chocolate pieces issued by Mr. Dalton himself. It was a damn shame that Nya couldn't meet The Duke of Washington. He was an interesting person for her. Sadly though, she does not share the annoyance that Washington and I had to endure with him. Nya saw him as this grandfather figure, telling her all kinds of stories, stories to which I can say are completely made up though. No surprise there.
"You know, Nya," I said, "If you eat too much of those you can get sick. So slow down on the sweets okay?"
Nya nodded.
"Aww come on," Mr. Dalton began, "Kids eat sweets, it's part of their nature! You see, Nya's not in any harm," Mr. Dalton illustrated.
"You are aware that chocolate..."
"Bahh humbug!" Mr. Dalton said, "Kids will be kids. Sometimes you have to have kids be kids...not adults or they won't be kids! Isn't it the key factor for having a childhood? It's a magical time to be alive as a kid – until we grow old and die."
I scoffed.
Mr. Dalton sighed, "What I mean to say is that it's nothing troubling to give your kid something they can remember when they grow up. Plus she likes it," he said.
I smiled.
"And I suspect that she will enjoy the hub more when we get there, eh?" he said.
Before I could answer him, I looked back and I hadn't realized that we were moving up until now. We were riding in the dirt road heading to the village, "I bet."
TWENTY-TWO
"THAT NIGHT AFTER that bastard son of yours, my liege granted our freedom from those cages, I was called upon to service his basic needs – needs to which he can do himself like fetching water or feeding him. The Earl's like a spoiled prince in a high chair. All the humans were lined and equipped with tools for them to work and dig up your minerals...gold to be exact. They were clothed in colorless garb.
"This quiet night sir I will be gazing at the stars often dreaming of coming home to the family you promised you kept protected in your care to which I can trust. The stars glittered the skies, moving around like little tiny lights in a lake as our two moons enlighten the night with their eerie glow. I wished that I could go back to your haven rather than sit here in this camp. I don't get why these Badges are so important to you – especially this Alpha Badge. Based on my observation, Samantha's badge had transformed her into some sort of beast; and if they say in legends are true, and that this badge to what you always preach is as powerful as Yamba's mighty fist, then would that mean that the badge is a great danger? Are you planning to destroy it or use it for the benefit of your people? Or are you thinking about on using it on some other means?
"While I was in there serving the Earl, listening to one of his racist views on humans lied the badge up yonder by the cabinet. 'Why do you look up to these humans?' he asked, 'Yamba knows that these humans are a bunch of savaged sheep that must be put in their place. They are much more like the canines that roam around here on this planet. Out in the wild they are just wild beasts hunting with their claws and teeth. Why? Do you want one as a pet?'
"I nodded, 'Humans are living organisms that deserve to live how they choose, like us. They are not extraterrestrials or a virus that we can just exterminate. They are sentient being just like us, why categorize them as animals?'
"'It's just who they are,' The Earl finished, 'Say, would you be a lad and hand me a piece of bread yonder at the cabinet. It's behind you,' I got up and fetched the Earl his bread. His small, sugary bread, 'And that girl? Who was she that started all of this trouble?' he asked, I was at the cabinet picking up random stuff looking for the 'bread'. Finally I came across the open case housing Samantha's badge, 'You mean the woman who slaughtered those men at the ship?' I asked, I had to keep the conversation going just a bit for me to take the badge. I replaced it with a simple coin and stuffed the badge underneath my shirt, painfully having to slide the needle underneath my chest. The pain was unbearable. I took deep breaths, absorbing as much of the pain as I could, sir. '...we can find in some use for her. She's no ordinary human.'
"'What do you mean?' I asked.
"'What I mean is that King Mungfalme might want to use her. All human females who are powerful get to see and receive benefits in the Royal Chambers of our majesty. She's rather beautiful for a human.'
"'I've heard rumors of human females going into the chambers.'
"'And...?'
"'They are taken to die after they are fucked by a not-King Mungfalme. Samantha is not cattle nor is she some whore, Earl,' I spoke, 'Her life is what she chooses to do with it,' there was no strand of emotion lighting up from the Earl. He scoffed and sneered nodding his head as I prepared to leave, though I could be surprised that he did not threaten me to stay unless given the permission from him or not, but at the time my liege I cared not. Justice for a race I once spat on deluged like a tidal wave 'quietly' smashing through an empty beach. I dismissed myself from his tent, not without the Earl saying, 'If you try anything drastic, I'll know.'
"I closed the Earl's curtains and went on my way; I stopped behind a Soldier's' tent opened my shirt to find a leaking mess flowing from my chest to my legs. Hopefully the Earl have not seen them. I slowly pulled the pin from my skin with a long, soft groan. I sighed in absolute relief to find that I no longer felt the piercing metal point dangling above my beating heart I went on looking for Samantha that night to keep her from the children – your guards my liege. I was quiet; I was trying hard not to sound or look suspicious. The only thing I wanted right now is to be right by her. All around me, I saw humans chained or beaten to one of these barbarians...these warriors you sadly called them. Before I joined your imperial army, I have heard stories, horrific stories on the treatment of humans these Neomen would put humans through. As though if you see this, I believe that you would put a stop to this. I just know that you would.
"I saw somebody enter a red tent not too far from me. I advanced forward, looking back to see if anyone would follow me. I slowed down once I got near; whence I got near to the tent, I saw this big, hulking soldier growling at something hungry like. I quietly entered inside without making a sound. There was a small knife near me, lying on the floor. I picked it up and gripped it tightly around my hands. It didn't take long for Samantha to open her eyes to see the horror in front of her. Samantha scurried to the back and grabbed a pin. The monster was about to launch forward until I covered his mouth and stabbed him in the back. I used all of my strength to pull him back, preventing him from screaming as I embedded the blade deeper in his body. He slowly fell with my hand hooked inside his back. Once down I slowly dragged him to the corner; I approached the bedside to where Samantha wrapped her arms around me, lovingly. It was...it was familiar, Mungfalme. Her warm affection was as of my wife before she went away with Yamba, 'I will get you out of
here. I promise,' I said. I reached over to my pocket for the badge, 'Here,' I handed it over to her, 'I think you might need this.'
…
"King Mungfalme, I have made a daring decision to disrupt your laws and wishes. Peace will never exist if prejudice still reigns. Our people will be enslaved to our own ignorance rather than see the truth...the truth about humility...humility and freedom. I clothed her all around, cloaking her from other soldiers. I had a feeling of hope that it would work, so far no one expected a thing until we passed by the cages. Samantha halted and pulled me back, 'What is it?'
"Samantha pointed my attention to the cages by us, guarded by the soldiers yonder. It was suicide of a Neoman to free a slave, but freeing a whole bunch with tons of guards was suicide. There were humans here that would be beaten and lashed for almost nothing – just for the sick joy and pleasure. There were regulations in these camps, but how often would we see that? Not that much. Some of these 'officials' are of high rank acting like mere animals fresh from a zoo, but yet they call humans animals unaware that they are the animals my liege. Samantha begged me to set a few of these humans free. I wished that I could, Mungfalme, but I couldn't. It was too risky.
"'Samantha, I know you want these humans to be free, and I promise, we will return to them, but for now...' A low whistle disturbed my thoughts. I looked around and saw a missile heading straight towards us. It exploded at a tent. Then another, and another! We were under attacked. Standing there on top of the cages was an elderly human, quite agile for his age holding a rocket launcher.
"'Did I catch you fuckers at a bad time?' he laughed. Samantha and I hurried and ran from the chaos as our camp quickly became a war zone. The Earl came out to see to what I have seen. An elderly human slaughtering our people like cattle, a green, humanoid falcon, and elephant.
"War has just begun.
TWENTY-THREE
The Son of Alpha (The Legend of the Sky-Titans Book 1) Page 14
