#laurance-mcd

“Old Scars”

Laurence stared down at the empty space in his bed, next to him. He had spent the majority of the past week looking for Artemis. No one had seen her. He got as far as the woods, following a blood trail until it vanished along with any tracks in the dirt.

His heart ached as he laid down in bed. He kept his window open as some sort of welcoming sign for Artemis to come home. It was stupid of him to do that but it made him feel a little bit better. Maybe it wasn’t the Shadow Knights that had her. Maybe she just left him to drown in his sorrows.

The fluttering of wings was heard along with a thud on his window sill. Laurance sat up, reaching for his sword at the edge of his bed.

“Wait.” A quiet, male voice cautioned him, as the winged figure held his hand up, gripping the window frame with the other.

Laurence stared at the shadowy figure, his gilded horns catching the moon light. One of them was snapped off halfway.

“May I come in?” The figure asked politely, “I mean no harm. I promise.”

Laurence paused, his thoughts racing before asking, “Who are you?”

“My name is Nellus Aquellae. I am Lumi’s older brother and heir to the Village of Heavens Gate." He paused before asking, "You wouldn't happen to know a friend of mine, would you? Her name is Artemis.” The figure stepped inside.

Laurence stood up, "Heavens Gate? I've never heard of a village like that." Laurence gave a questioning glare.

"N-Nell?" Lumi's voice shook as she opened Laurence's door.

Nellus' gaze softened as the sight of his little sister. Lumi sprinted towards him, tackling and hugging him, tears in her eyes.

Nell gave a sad look towards Laurence who stood in front of them, sheathed sword in hand.

"How do you know Arty?" Lumi looked up at him.

"We're both soldiers from the Phoenix Rebellion. We've spent a lot of time together back home." Nell softly smiled to his little sister. His face twisted into a frown as he realized something was missing, "Lumi, your wings…" His voice shook.

Lumi looked a bit sad for a moment, "The Shadow Knights took them and a bunch of my memories- but don't worry! I got away before I forgot everything! I'm strong! Just like you!" She smiled.

Nell stood up, turning his gaze to Laurence, "Where's Artemis? There are traces of her aura in this home."

Tears rolled down Laurence's cheeks, as his feelings overwhelmed him, "She was taken…"

"Tell me everything." Nell growled.

I stood up for the first time in two weeks. My legs wobbled under me but I felt a bit stronger than before. 

I cursed myself for even slightly acclimating to this hell. Perhaps I slowly was becoming one of the demons that resided in this fiery pit.

The watcher, Corro, smirked under his helm, his gray eyes twinkling, "You're getting stronger." 

I leaned my side against the netherrack wall. I stared tiredly at him. The air didn't burn my lungs like fire so much as it was like a hot summer's day. 

"It's not a good thing." I sighed.

The other Shadow Knights had found out I wasn't a Daeconic, yet still decided to keep me prisoner and not execute me. It was odd.

"See, but it is a good thing." Corro hummed, "You'll make a fine Shadow Knight."

There was a twinge of pain on Corro's voice during the second comment. It confused me that he'd feel pain from a weak person like me becoming a Shadow Knight.

Perhaps it was because I wasn't worthy enough.

Corro took his helmet off, letting it hang loosely from his fingertips. 

His white hair was tied back in a red string, with black locks mixed in. His gray eyes stared down at me as he rested his head back against the dark brick wall. He looked quite pale, more so than I expected.  The upper part of his ears were pierced with black bands. He had a scar running across the ridge of his nose.

He smiled at me, the first time I've ever seen him smile. 

"You look cute when you're in shock." He chuckled. 

I turned my cheek to him as he put his helmet back on as two Shadow Knights marched into the room It was the duo I first woke up to. Great.

"Corro," The crimson eyed man growled, "get her bound and ready for transport. Lord Zane is here. It's time."

Corro simply nodded in response.

"You know he doesn't like to wait." Zenix chuckled,  "He's worse than Gene, here."

"Hopefully we won't have to erase her memories either." Gene grumbled.

My heart rate picked up as the duo left the room. I slammed my fist against the scalding bars in frustration. The burning feeling was numbing.

Corro rested his hand on the blood red hilt of his sword, "Don't make this harder than it needs to be." He looked over his shoulder as he unlocked the cell. 

He stepped inside.

"Put your hands forward." He sighed. 

I did what I was told, regrettably, my wrists being shackled with steel cuffs. Corro clicked them, yet never locked them.

“So I get to meet the False King...again.” I grumbled.

“Hm? Again?” Corro peered down at me as he nudged me out of the cell.

“It doesn’t matter. I suppose the roles will be reversed this time.” I laughed quietly to myself.

Corro hummed we walked down a red brick path. I looked about to see a surprisingly small population of Shadow Knights. 

Corro’s humming broke out into whistling.

It was dull and annoying.

It was oddly familiar.

“Where did you learn that song?” I mumbled, musing over the possible origin of the tune.

“Hm? Oh! It’s just some random tune.” Corro laughed quietly, before pushing me forward resuming his tough guy demeanor, “Doesn’t matter. Keep moving.”

Soon I found myself entering a large room through double doors. On a marble and obsidian throne sat the Lord Zane. He looked bored as his gaze fell on me.

Corro forced me to my knees as Zenix walked over, his smug expression bearing down on me.

“So. What Village are you from? Seeing as obviously you aren’t local to Phoenix Drop, you must originate from somewhere.” Zane hummed.

I spat at the ground in front of the throne. Zenix grabbed my chin, nearly lifting me by it before Zane called him off.

“Let her speak before she loses her tongue.” Zane leaned forward. He seemed intrigued by my very existence. It made me sick.

“I killed you before…” I hissed, “I’ll kill you again!”

“See but this time you won’t live to tell the tale, little Rebel Songbird.” A chillingly calm, mechanical voice spoke up. 

My blood grew icy cold. I recognized that voice.

That voice. How-

I gasped, doubling over as a mass deep in my bad shoulder burned painfully.

Wraith hummed, walking in front of me, his rifle bouncing on his back as it hung by it’s sling. His armor was covered in an old, ragged coyote brown cloak.

“Lord Zane.” Wraith addressed the Lord, “I will gladly dispose of this undesirable filth.”

Zane sighed, thinking for a moment.

“Or, “Gene spoke up, “We could turn her against the people of Phoenix Drop.”

A sudden shout of pain was heard as a figure blurred past me, colliding with Wraith. Corro held Wraith to the wall of the throne room, his once blood red sword now a gilded scimitar, digging into Wraith’s shoulder.

Corro had a single raven wing, now, his white hair still tied back. A shadowy crest of feathers were raised in anger on his head, his ears flattened as he growled. His white scaled tail swished in anger, the black fan of feathers at the end shimmering in the glowstone’s light.

I took my chance as the respective chaos ensued. I booked it out of the room, realizing the shackles were never locked. I found Corro sprinting next to me.

“This way!” He shouted, directing me down a skinny, netherrack path overlooking a pool of lava.

Wraith took aim, yet by the time he got a good sight line we were out of range. He lowered his rifle with an irritated robotic sigh.

Corro led me to an obsidian ring, a purple bubbling miasma flowing from it.

“Are you sure?” I look at him.

“In the Night”

I blinked awake to Laurance snoring. I was laying on the edge of his bed, opposite from him. 

I yawned, remembering the conversation we had before falling asleep. He had struggled to sleep before I ended up dozing off, so talking was a good distraction from our personal demons. 

We sat across from each other in the moonlit room, recounting our stories.

“I had told Lady Aphmau to run on without me.” He confessed, “We were in the Nether... I forget what we were even doing there.” He laughed sorely, pressing his palm to his head.

I gazed into his eyes, now seeing a small portion of the scars on his soul. Scars that were so similar to the ones littering my back.

“I was eventually captured,” He choked up. “A-and…” 

I sighed, “They hurt you.”

He snapped his gaze up to meet mine, his eyes welling with tears. He silently nodded.

“Lemme tell you my story…” I took his hand, tracing the creases in his palm.

“You don’t have to. I’ll understand if you wouldn’t want to.” He wiped his face with his free hand.

“I want to.” I took a deep breath before following up with, “I grew up in the outskirts of an extremely large Village, O’kassis. It was the pride and joy of the King Zane, who ran the place and many other villages. Many of the buildings in the outskirts were falling apart from lack of maintenance because people couldn’t afford to repair them, or there weren’t any people at all. I spent a long time stealing to survive.”

“Did you have a family? Parents? Siblings?” Laurence spoke up.

“No. My father was executed due to being accused of conspiring against the King before I was born. My mother was imprisoned while I was little. I haven’t seen her since. To be honest, I’m pretty sure she died of some sickness while in prison.” I sighed.

“I suppose that’s another thing we have in common.” Laurence joked softly.

“Hm?” I gave him a questioning look.

“I was an orphan growing up as well.” He gave a small smile.

I nodded.

We spent the rest of the time recounting stories of our pasts. I told him about the rebellion. I told him about how we stood for freedom and equality among all races. I did, however, keep out the reason I was imprisoned. I had said I was caught while going behind enemy lines to rescue some Meif’was. It might be a half lie, but still a lie all the same.

I gazed at his now sleeping body, a smile on my lips.

I heard footsteps in the hallway. My gaze darted towards the doorway only to see a pair of  crimson eyes, hanging in the doorway. I heard a creak from the windowsill and a thud of feet landing onto the floor.

I started to get up from the bed, until I heard Laurence’s snoring stop. I turned my back on the doorway to see a dagger inches from Laurence’s throat, a silver haired girl holding a finger to her lips.

My heart raced as she pointed out the doorway following up with a cutting motion at her throat. I could only assume that it translated to ‘leave the room quietly or he dies’.

I stared down at Laurence’s peaceful expression as I got up out of the bed silently. Laurence resumed snoring as the girl sheathed her dagger, following me out of the room. As soon as I followed my captors down the stairs, I was pinned against the wall, my chin clacking into the wooden framing. I took deep breaths as they bound my wrists tightly with coarse rope. I stuffed the memories and the mental sound of the crack of a whip down into my stomach.

“You sure she’s the one, Gene?” The silver haired girl whispered.

“She’s the only other person in the house. She has to be the Daeconic. Maybe she’s using some sort of illusion magick.” The other crimson eyes stranger hissed.

Daeconic? They weren’t talking about Lumi, were they? If so, where was she if she wasn’t in the house?

I felt a heavy strike to the back of my head before I could even fathom where she went.

I guess dresses do suit me, huh?

“Freakouts and Festivals"

“Arty! Arty get up!” Lumi called to me in my sleep. I could see her face, all smiling and excited. She was so pure.

Her face began to shift, melting and fusing like putty. It turned into the False King’s face. His face was twisted and bloodied but it laughed. It laughed at how much of a fool I was, thinking I could live happily.

I screamed at it, telling him that he was wrong, that he was the fool.

I found myself falling into a pit of bodies. Meif’wa bodies. Screaming rang out as I saw Aero Squad being torn to bloody ribbons by some large shadowy thing. I saw the young field medic, Lila, being grabbed by the face as she faded to ash.

I was alone. I may have killed the king, but I killed the rebellion as well.

“Artemis! Artemis, wake up!” Laurence voice rang out from nowhere.

The landscape around me began to shatter and crumble into darkness.

I jolted, sitting up, slamming my head into someone’s forehead. I gripped my head, my ears ringing. My vision flickered in as I looked around the room in a panic. 

My heart rate slowed as I saw a terrified Lumi hiding under her blankets, peering out at me. I was in my sports bra and torn up pants in my makeshift bed in Lumi’s room.

“Wha-...Why are you hiding, Lumi?” I softly asked.

“You were screaming in your sleep.” Laurence hissed, gripping his forehead.

“I...I was…?” I peered up at him.

He sighed, standing up straight. He stared out of Lumi’s window watching the first beams of sunlight shine in.

“I’ll stay in the guest room from now on. I’m really sorry.” I got up, starting to put Lumi’s comforter away.

“Then you’d be screaming all night.” Laurence interjected as he snapped his gaze towards me.

“Maybe she can stay in your room, Lauru…” Lumi moused.

“Lumi, it’s fine, really.” I protested.

“No. We can’t have you screaming in your sleep all night. You’d keep us all awake.” Laurence sighed.

“Alright...different floor, same set up.” I sighed.

“No.” Laurence corrected me.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

He stretched his arms above his head, yawning, letting the comment hang in the air.

Lumi poked her head out of her blanket barrier, shouting, “What day is it today?!”

“Hm?” I looked at her, shrugging.

“It’s August 20th, Lumi.” Laurence raised an eyebrow.

“The Summer’s End festival is coming up!” Lumi screeched with excitement as she jumped from her bed.

“Festival?” I echoed.

“Yeah. It’s got dancing, food and music. Nothing too out of the ordinary.” Laurence shrugged, before following up with, “It’s a pity that Lady Aphmau will be dancing with Lord Aaron.”

I raised an eyebrow at him which made his cheeks flush red for a moment as he realized what he said.

I sighed, throwing on my shirt, walking down to the kitchen. I started cooking some basic scrambled eggs for Lumi and Laurence.

My mind was lingering on my dream, so I wasn’t very hungry. I sighed as I set the duo of wooden plates on the table, setting the scrambled eggs on them. I set the table with a pair of forks and walked out into the foyer.

Laurence was walking down the stairs as I moved towards the door. I suppose he took notice of the shadow looming over me. He stepped between me and the door.

“What was your dream about?” He looked sternly into my eyes. It didn’t faze me as I stared past him tiredly.

“War.” I sighed, “You should know by now that the Rebellion isn’t going so well back in the cities…”

“Rebellion?” He raised an eyebrow, “What rebellion?”

I stared at him wide eyed. “You mean...you don’t know?” I breathed.

“No. I’ve never heard of a city, either.” he gave me a questioning look, “Only villages.”

What did he mean by ‘he’s never heard of the Rebellion’?

There’s no way that he wouldn’t of known of the cities, either.

My mind drifted back to the escape. It was only two days ago, so it was still relatively fresh in my mind.

Nellus took me into a pond. Then the earth shattered from under our feet. 

Was I dead? 

No.

That’s stupid.

What was around the pond?

Stones. Large boulders.

Think, Artemis.

My face lit up as the epiphany hit me. Those weren’t boulders.

They were Daeconic Rune Stones! Nellus took me to his-

“Home Realm…” I breathed. I shook my head and pushed past Laurence, sprinting out the door.

My eyes darted about as I ran back to the beach I was dragged onto before.

“This is ridiculous! I couldn’t have-” I shouted before colliding with someone.

I tumbled forward, over the person, my world flipping over and over.

“Artemis!” Laurence came running.

“Hey! What’s wrong with you?!” The blue eyed guard from before picked me up by my shirt. 

“Lila! are you okay?” A light pink haired Meif’wa tended to the Blonde werewolf from the day I was pulled to shore.

“Yeah. I’m fine, Luna...” The werewolf sighed.

I stared at the werewolf, my face paling.

It was Lila. It was the eighteen year old medic that was peppered with bullets the day I killed Zane Ro’meave!

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t catch my breath.

I was soon dropped by the guard, falling onto my bottom. I curled up, covering my head.

“Garroth what did you do?!” Laurence shouted at the other guard.

“I didn’t do anything!” Garroth shouted back.

It didn’t make sense.

Was I dead?

How else would a dead girl be here? Where was I?

I need to get back. I need to go home.

My thoughts swirled around me like a hurricane, blotting out the sun. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. Everything was going so fast.

I felt two hands rest on my cheeks as I looked up seeing Laurence’s face mere inches from mine.

“Artemis you need to breathe. You’re going to pass out.” He talked gently.

“I-I’m so lost.” I panted. “How am I here? How is-”

“Artemis, please just calm down…” He sighed, “You’re here because you’re a survivor. Don’t think I haven’t seen those scars on your back.”

“But you don’t understand…” Tears started welling in my eyes.

“She’s not from here.” I heard Lumi’s voice come from behind Laurence.

“What?” Laurence stood up turning to Lumi.

“She’s not from this realm. Her Aura is different.” Lumi smiled, “I thought you knew, Lauru.”

So it was true. I had jumped realms with Nellus.

My breathing began to go back to a steady pace as I had an answer.

"I apologize." I mumbled as I stood up. I refused to look at anyone’s face.

My expression was deadpan. It was the same expression I carried while in prison.

"Are you okay?" Garroth asked, his voice soaked in worry.

I nodded silently. It was a slight lie.

My feelings were bearable right now, but not completely ‘okay’.

Laurence sighed, walking up to me. He wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tightly. I tensed up at the sudden closeness but I soon melted into him, resting my forehead on his chest. I choked back tears, taking a deep, shaky breath.

“You’re going to be okay, alright? Besides, Lumi wanted to go to the Festival with you.” Laurence masked a smile as he released me.

“R-Right.” My cheeks were rosy.

Garroth cleared his throat after picking up Lila. I approached her, causing her to tense up.

“I’m really sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused, Lila.” I held my hand out to her, “I’m Artemis, it’s nice to formally meet you.”

She looked at me strangely for a moment before shaking my hand, “I’m Lila Ro’meave. I’m Garroth’s daughter.”

The corner of my mouth twitched. 

Ro’meave. She must be the False King’s Niece in this realm. Wasn’t Garroth the disgraced brother back home? Now that I thought about it, The False King did make propaganda against him, claiming he was the reason their father died. Nevertheless, it was a false claim.

Perhaps that’s why my Lila was always so reserved.

I shook my head, turning to Laurence, “Is there a place for me to work here? I’d like to help around town instead of being idle, is all.”

“I know that Logan, the owner of the inn, is looking for some free hands.” Garroth spoke up.

Art. Yes. Enjoy.