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Jezebel

Prologue

Moon Kitty 2005

May 23rd, 2006

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Once, long ago, China and Japan were on friendly terms. Their trade was fair, their people happy in their environment, and marriages between families were often arranged for the benefit of both the family and the kingdoms.

Everything and everyone was happy, and no one had any qualms. That is, until a very dictatorial and overbearing man was brought to power in China. He was greedy, and desired more land than what he already had.

And so, in his greed, he betrayed the peace treaty that Japan and China had forged so many years ago and waged war on the people of Japan.

For years, the two lands had been engaged in fierce battle, and many troops had died at the hands of the ruler of China. But he refused to give in. He knew that with perseverance and determination that he would eventually gain most of the land Japan had to offer.

Unfortunately, the war that the man had begun had thrown some towns and villages into heavy poverty, and now not only were the troops suffering, so were the inhabitants of the two countries.

The king of Japan tried repeatedly over and over to engage in another peace treaty, but the king of China was adamant. Every messenger sent to begin a new treaty was either imprisoned for trespassing or beheaded on the spot.

Overall, the citizens of China and Japan were miserable. People who were once in high class were now forced to jingle coins in a cup in front of the grungiest bars, high-class women forced to sell their fancy kimonos and jewelry to pawn shops in order to feed their children or husbands.

Everyone felt extreme pity for the Li family, who were well-known for their lavish parties, fancy dress, and jeweled fans. Even when they were in such high standing, they were always kind to the lesser people and had even invited them to join in the parties.

'Just because you may not have the same amount of wealth as us doesn't mean that you should be excluded from the festivities,' one of them had once told a weary, poor man.

But it was one Li in particular that everyone felt sorry for. Li Meiling, a beautiful girl of seventeen with eyes like rubies and hair like shimmering black silk, once walking around the kingdom in a gold and ruby dress, now walked around in a dress resembling a potato sack.

Yet, despite all the horror and poverty surrounding her, the smile was still bright on her face, and when people were feeling down, she would comfort them by resting a small hand on their shoulder and whispering, "Soon we will win this war... or soon our King shall be killed. And then, only then, shall we be free. Just don't give up hope."

The inhabitants of the town admired her tenacity and determination to stay happy and hopeful. She was everyone's friend, and her mother was terribly proud of her.

Things continued in much the same way. The king of China still refused to back down, and messengers were being slaughtered right and left. Armies of well-armored soldiers marched down the now filthy streets of the city, shouting insults at the lesser ones or singing old Chinese songs.

Everyone tried their best to ignore them, but it seemed like the soldiers went out of their way to start trouble with the citizens. They laughed at them and looked down on them because the soldiers were well-paid and the people in the city were forced to live like this for the King's dream of finally getting possession of Japan's land.

Meiling tried her best to keep her hopes up, but as the war continued and the city's citizens were dying more every day, things were looking dismal.

Especially when she came home one day and found her mother ailing... and her little sister starving. A plague was crossing the city. It was either cholera or scarlet fever, and no one could find out for sure because all the doctors were busy tending to the wounds retrieved from war.

There were medicines, but only the people in the city who had at least a little money left had them, and they were extremely pricey.

Meiling did odd jobs now and then to keep them fed, but as her mother grew worse and worse, she found that she had to buy medicine, and quick.

So Li Meiling was forced to stoop to the lowest profession available.

The men from the war were deprived of their wives, making the brothels extremely popular during wars such as these. Meiling never thought she would have to...

... but it was for her mother's and little sister's sake.

So with that, her mind made up, Meiling became... a jezebel.

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Authoress Notes

Kitty: (stares) What... a... long... prologue.

Moon: (blinks) That's about as long as your chapters are... WAIT! I know why. It was because I was standing behind you with a whip in my hand. That's right. What were you saying now? 'Please spare me, Your Highness?'

Kitty: (glares at Moon) BULLSH-

Moon: (covers her mouth) WOW, such foul language. Um, while I attempt to subdue her, we'll see you guys at the next chapter.