Bubbles~
I'm hungry, so hungry. The kind of hungry where it twists your stomach into knots and you almost forget you're hungry until you draw in a breath. I've been staring up at this clear blue sky for a while now, crushed by the weight of irony. A couple of nights ago I woke to the ground shaking and with that the same concrete slab I called home shattered my legs. I don't need to lift my head to know that the vultures perched on the broken street light are silently discussing when I will go. I could have just lifted the concrete slab and waited the what, hour or so for the Chemical X to heal me but…but that wasn't an option anymore. No, now, now I have to stare at the sky and pretend I'm flying one last time while I draw my dying breaths. It wasn't easy to adjust to having no powers, to have to survive on my own, but not having super strength or the ability to fly wasn't the hardest part for me. The hardest part was not being able to talk to the animals. To get the same edge on natural events that animals had. To have a friend. A lot of them recognized me, wanted to know what was happening but I couldn't tell them anymore and everything they tried to convey was muted. I only recognized their body language. Eventually they treated me like I was, just another human.
I know the end is nearing because I'm starting to see and hear things that I know aren't there. I'm starting to see Blossom leaning over me, smiling, telling me I look nice today. When I know, when I know that my lips are drier than the dirt below me, that my cheeks are sunken from having to eat scraps from trash cans long forgotten for almost a year. I'm starting to hear Buttercup's laughter, her rough voice becoming soft like it does when I cry. Telling me I'll be okay, that I just need to come and find her. I feel the ground beneath me shake as it did a few nights ago, once, twice, three times before the vultures settle back down on their perches. It isn't long before I hear voices, male, three distinctive tones echoing throughout the corroding city. I'm hoping, praying that this is a hallucination too. I remember what happened the last time I heard a band of male voices, it cost me my only friend.
"A girl?" His voice comes out pained as he spots me from far away. I know this voice, the same voice I would hope to hear until the day I die. I open my mouth to try say his name but only a half breath rasps out. My breathing becomes even shallower, my eye lids are becoming too heavy to keep open so I let them stay closed.
"She's already at Death's door." His brother scoffs, tone harsh, "I wouldn't bother."
"But she's still breathing, I still hear her heart beat, she can't be." I feel him hover over me and joy causes my body to buzz. He's found me, Boomer has finally found me and he's going to save me.
"Booms, I would listen to Butch on this one." Brick comments.
"She already reeks of death." Butch's tone is cold and I hear his foot falls get farther away.
"No!" He yells, "She can still be saved. She looks….."
I feel another shadow fall over me and I force my eyes open. Brick is standing behind Boomer's squatted form with narrowed eyes. Boomer looks me over, his eye lingering on my legs before they find mine. He smiles softly but there's something missing in his eyes and that's when it hits me. That Brick doesn't recognize me, that Boomer, Boomer has forgotten me. I wish he would have just left me there, to stare at the sky and just let me die whole.
"She looks familiar." Boomer finishes his sentence from earlier, "She would make a lovely doll."
I felt like the weather, drab and dull. The clouds loomed low over Center City choking out the sun and leaving the sky a reddish black hue. The very same clouds that have been choking me out for the past year now, choking out my dreams, my sanity, my hope. The other cities still have beautiful clear blue skies, skies I used to fly. I had hope once, hope that I would see my sisters again. That Boomer would recognize who I really was but instead he kept true to his word and made me his doll.
For the first four months I wouldn't speak to or even look at him. I was angry because he had no idea who or what I was. I was just "so familiar" he had to have me. A doll that needed to be perfect again, oh no my pulpy legs weren't right, they didn't fit the "image" in his head. So Dr. Caldwell injected me with just enough Chemical X for it to be a tease, the same chemical my body used to be able to produce on its own, before the "New Beginning."
It wasn't until I was introduced to Brick's "pet" did I begin to speak. My poor, poor sister but at least she was in a better place than before. A soft knock at the door pulled me back to reality.
"Mistress, are you ready to start the day?" Hecate asked peeking from behind the door. I nuzzled myself deeper in the navy blue comforter, reluctant to move.
"Master Boomer asked me to get you ready for a late lunch party today." She said as she pulled open the heavy drapes to let the clouds in. All I wanted was to stay in between the thousand thread count sheets but instead I had to be perfect arm candy for the King of Communications. Somehow Boomer convinced the King of War to take me back, to 'help me.'
Hecate gently pulled the covers away from me and offered her hand. Butch had picked Hecate as a head maid for his estate and to care for Blossom and myself, mostly to keep a close eye on us. Butch thought Blossom and I were too familiar to be coincidence he thought us witches who were charming their way with his brothers to bring down the kingdom inside out. At one point he even thought us sisters but we couldn't answer as if our mouths were sewn shut.
I stared at my reflection as Hecate brushed my sunshine gold hair. Hair that used to fall out in clumps while I was living in the Outer City ruins. I've come a long way since that time, my cheeks were no longer sunken or my lips cracked. My ribs no longer threatened to rip through my skin and my breathing was no longer labored. I now had some pudge on my stomach and I gained my breasts again. A year of eating right and doing nothing was a good regimen unlike digging around for scraps in empty trashcans. Hecate gently braided my hair to the side and set it over my shoulder. She smiled at my reflection and I gave a small smile back. I liked Hecate, she was kind, thoughtful, and surprisingly rebellious in her own way. She spun me around and painted my lips a light pink.
"I am so happy you have your natural color back bijou." Her thick accent filled the room, I smiled at the pet name she gave me, a joke in its own way. She precisely placed a blue jeweled clip in my hair to push back the strays that were too short to be braided.
"I thought you'd wear a short dress today as it's gonna be hotter than the steam from the bayou." She shook her head as she pulled out a dark blue knee length dress that I got last week. Hecate would take us shopping on Butch's dime as odd as it was in the beginning but now it feels like it always should have been between us. He acting like an older brother, protecting Blossom and I after he realized we were just two poor girls with a nasty curse placed on us.
"Who will be at lunch today?" I asked as she slipped the dress over my head, her hand waivered on the zipper, her hesitation was never a good sign.
"Well bijou, Master Brick and his cher, and Master Butch will be attending, Master Boomer of course, Sedusa and her new pet. Princess." She paused and let out a sigh, "And His Greatness."
I froze, it's not often we have an intimate gathering with His Greatness. Usually that's all handled at Court when I am expecting to see HIM. I bite my lip thinking about his beady black eyes on Blossom and me. The eyes that know who we are and what we were. HIM will be dressed in black, red, and purple like a fresh bruise but what will stand out over and over again will be his necklace. Three gems, one green, one pink and one blue taunting my entire existence.
"Could you tell Boomer I'm felling unwell?" I ask feeling my knees buckle underneath me. I can't even stand being in the same room as him, let alone the same table. Hecate catches me easily enough and sits me down at my vanity.
"No I cannot." She frowned, "This excuse was used last time. His Greatness wants the whole court there. Wants you there. No exceptions."
"But I'm not even important!" I howl, I want to scream that he just wants to tease me. Hecate gives me the same frown and places her strong hand on my shoulder.
"You are important bijou." She says, her dark chocolate eyes locking with mine, "Very important."
She lets go and returns to the closet for my shoes. I stare down at my lap as I mull over her words. Would anyone recognize me as Bubbles, the Joy and laughter? All I was being was Bubble's the sloth and depression.
Boomer meets me just before the courtyard, his smile is wider than a cat's. His deep blue eyes light up as he gives me a once over. I can't help but smile back at him, he's dressed in his usual suit with a sapphire jeweled crown placed atop his ashen blonde hair. I have forgiven him for the most part. For not remembering or knowing who I am, even if we have shared some very intimate memories before but I just wish he would make more of an effort.
The usual crowd is here and His Greatness hasn't showed up yet. Sedusa sits to the left of the empty chair with a green man who is standing behind her, a small gold chain and collar are around his neck. My eyes flicker to the next person, Princess who is stifling a yawn. Her deep red curls are tied into a high bun and her sharp hazel eyes glare at me. She gives me a rough smile before staring at Brick. Brick's hair is braided down the back as if he were a Viking King but really he is just the King's Heir. A crown with rubies shines in the afternoon light. His hand is tightly wrapped around an obnoxiously large silver chain that leads up to an oversized shackle around a rosy throat. Her outfit is as equally degrading, a long almost sheer black sheet just covering the goods in the front and the back. I stare at Blossom and silently grieve for her. She never gets a chair, she either stands behind Brick or has to sit on his lap like a child. No wonder she is called the pet of the Upper circle. Butch sits to the left of Brick lazily, his long cape draped over the chair behind him, something he only wears for official meetings. Butch has no crown for his dark raven hair, no he wears his crown for two occasions, parties and war. I catch his eye and he winks at me just before HIM arrives.
"Why hello lovelies." HIM croons, three or four voices speaking at once, "How are we this afternoon?"
Everyone replies cheerfully while I stare at that necklace. His Greatness goes over all of the plans and is getting the reports from every section. After about an hour of droning on he finally catches me staring at his necklace.
"Bubbles, you seemed so interested in my jewelry today." HIM starts out singsong before his voice turns into something more sinister, "Would you like to hear the story of how I got it?"
Everyone else at the table rolls their eyes, having heard the fake story thousands of times while Blossom and I share a horrified look.
Blossom~
When I first awoke after the New Beginning I was in a plush bed in a lowly lit room. The duvet was soft with down inside, some of the feathers would stick out and poke me. I rub my throbbing head as I try to piece together what had happened. The last thing I remember before being knocked out was the horrified look on Bubbles face. Her baby blue eyes were far too wide and her lower lip was quivering as she fought back tears. She was frozen this way as she was being dragged by a shadowy figure away from me. I remember whipping my head around to look for Buttercup only to see her fighting with another black blur. I watched the shadow swing and land a hard hit on her face followed by a sickening crack. Buttercup howled taking a step back to collect herself.
"Fuck." She hissed as blood flooded over her left eye, "Why?"
"You're the only toy I haven't broken yet."
My arms felt heavy while my head seemed to float. I stared down at my hands willing icy spikes to come but nothing happened. I'm quickly snatched up by my hair and was beginning to move away from my sisters, my hands instantly went to my attackers arm. I clawed away at his skin, by this point I should be feeling clumps of skin and blood beneath my nails. But instead of my assailant's skin breaking, my nails are. I feel panic seize up my throat, a scream following in its wake.
"I only like it when you scratch my back babe." The all too familiar voice said. I look up only to see shadows just before a fist is slammed into the side of my head. My world turned black in an instant.
A door opens flooding the room with light, I jump from the plush bed and land in a fighting stance bringing my fists up to block my face even as the room spins.
"Settle down my precious flower." The woman purrs as she flicks on the lights, "I was worried I was going to lose such pretty merchandise."
Her eyes trail over me hungrily which makes a blush creep onto my cheeks. I realize then that I am in nothing but a sheer black robe, lacey flowers gathering around my breasts. My flush deepens as I rip the comforter off of the bed and attempt to cover my all too exposed skin. Little did I know I would be spending the rest of my days in less.
"Oh my sweet Red there is nothing to be shy about!" She fusses as she rips the comforter from my steely grip. Or what I thought was a steely grip. I blink a few times and realize who is standing in front of me. Sedusa in a red body suit and black tights, her dark hair falling in trundles around her face. Her smile is too wide as her bright red lips stretch over pearly white teeth.
"I am going to make so much money off of you." She states proudly as she assesses me, "The questions is do I keep you for work or do I just sell you?"
"Don't you remember who I am?" I half growl, "You can't sell me. I am Blossom the…"
"I would remember a face like yours." Sedusa cuts me off, "And a body like yours too."
The all too familiar panic rises in my throat again, causing my chest to become way too tight. I try to summon my ice but my body doesn't respond. A flash of a glowing pink gem comes to my mind's eye, I clutch my throbbing head as I realize I am powerless.
"Hmmm. I wonder if the King of War would like you." She thinks aloud twirling her fingers in my hair, "Ah but he isn't much for red heads."
"King of what?" I sneer, "This is a democratic country."
Sedusa rolls her eyes as she answers, still fusing over my hair, "Why Butch is of course, Excuse me, King Butch."
"King Butch?" I breathe out, "He is King?"
"Oh my you must have been hit really hard love," She says sympathetically, "There are three kings and one Emperor."
"Who is Emperor?" I whisper, my gut telling me I already know the answer.
"HIM, his Greatness of course." She breathes and grabs my wrist, "You need a bath love."
After hours of primping and waxing in places I never would have waxed before into shapes I never would have dreamt of, I can finally sit down for a meal. I have come to the harsh realization that I am in a brothel of sorts. Tons of gorgeous women are at Sedusa's disposal, all dressed in too thin and too reveling clothing, their faces painted beautifully even as we sit around a large table for dinner. A few girls glance my way but no one really speaks to me. Sedusa keeps me by her side for the rest of the night.
I sat on a pillow far too beautiful for its intended use. It was more of a tapestry really. Blue and silver cranes hand stitched against a deep red, the beaks and long elegant legs stitched in shimmering golds wading in water that reflected cherry blossoms. Sedusa said she had the perfect pillow for me this morning at breakfast. She had dug through the closest in her quarters for what felt like hours, finally she reviled my present. As I studied it I begged her for a simpler pillow, something less gorgeous.
"No my darling a beautiful girl deserves a beautiful throne. This pillow shows your status here." She told me hours before we opened. She set the pillow right next to hers, a pillow more beautiful than my own. Her pillow was a shining black with glowing green serpents all across the fabric, if one looked closer they would see a giant serpent of green and gold shedding its skin. The symbolism on her pillow showed in the way she carried herself now, in my memories she was shady at best but now she sat next to me with a straight back, actual confidence instead of a bitchy façade. We had fans equally as captivating as our "thrones". My white fan covered in pink blossoms of all sort of flowers while hers was off black with glittering green snakes and shimmering black cats with eyes as bright and yellow as a moon low on the horizon. She held it over her mouth and told me to do so as well. Below was her empire built on the lusty needs of men and women, a dimly lit marble hall that was as large as a ballroom, deep purple curtains separated the hall from the rest of the rooms. The creamy floors were covered in pillows of all colors and small Japanese tables, which I would later learn were called kotatsu. Men came and went but none approached us on our perch. Our pillows atop of three wide steps, though most of the men's eyes lingered our way.
"You have such wonderful posture." Sedusa half whispered to me. I gave a small smile in return. Not sure how to feel about being "merchandise." Soon three hours passed of women laughing with men and some disappearing with them, lots of the men were warriors, some businessmen. The thick wooden doors seemed to be revolving as they opened and closed for most of the night but the air shifted as they opened this time. A snarl was painted across Sedusa's features. The man looked dead at Sedusa and smiled, he closed the distance quickly and even ascended the steps.
"Ah ladies careful!" She announced loudly with malice, "a rat is present."
A scowl crossed his handsome features as the ladies giggled behind him and then returned to their suitors.
"Don't be that way mimmo." His voice came out like silk even with the thick accent, and I felt heat rush towards my stomach, "You know I was playing last time I saw you."
The man stood tall on the second step, reaching eye level with Sedusa, his shoulders broad enough to carry the weight of the world it seemed. He oozed masculinity and maturity in his all black suit and tie. It took me a moment to notice the glistening snake on his tie. She did not remove her fan as she gave him a nasty glare.
"It seems we have two different definitions of playing." Her tone sharper than a knife, "Last I checked you are not allowed in my realm."
"This is purely business right now, serpente." He said taking a step forward slipping his hand in his right breast pocket.
"If you remove a weapon your head is mine." She snarled and the room seemed to darken, a heavy hush fell across the hall as the air seemed to crack around Sedusa. Curtains quickly falling from the ceiling to seal us and the stranger off.
"Just a letter love." He placed it on her lap, "Now where are those pretty lips to say thank you at? I saved you a trip from seeing His Greatness. You owe me one." His dark grey eyes were filled with mischief as his smirk grew wider. She snatched the letter from his hands and made a gesture with her free hand. A gesture Buttercup had used time and time again. After a moment of truly waiting for a thank you the man sighed.
"You can't stay mad forever." He half teased and made a bouquet appear out of nowhere, "Till we meet again my precious tesoro."
He turned and opened the curtains with a flick of the wrist, revealing the lively party again. The ladies all avoided eye contact as he strolled through the throngs of drinks and bodies.
The letter was sealed in deep red wax that she broke in an instant, the letter read as:
Dearest Sedusa,
My brother will be coming soon to oversee that your taxes are paid for this year. I hear you are doing well this summer season and hope your good fortune continues through the chilling months of winter. I will be by to see what your large loan has built you, considering you paid off the loan in full in a month's time.
Until then yours truly,
Brick.
My mouth went dry as I stared down at the all too familiar handwriting, the same handwriting that would show up on love notes in college. College seemed so far away now that I was in this new hell, I didn't even know what the hell the country was called, let alone it was ruled by my boyfriend and his brothers. Sedusa sighed and tucked the letter away.
"Don't fret my little Blossom, the visits will be short and sweet."
After two months or so I had learned to love it here. The women who worked here got paid generously and did not have to perform if they didn't wish to. Sedusa would still provide them shelter and food regardless and everyone, including Sedusa did simple chores. The other girls slowly warmed up to me and I had come to learn that many of them had tragic pasts, few hadn't come here on their own free will and the ones that didn't were happy about the blessing in disguise. Having fifty plus women in the house one would think there would be more bickering or cat fights but there was no bad blood here. All smiles and helpful tips, though some vulgar all with Sedusa looking at her girls happily. The air about the dinner table was very familiar to me, it felt like I was at home eating dinner with my sisters. Oh how I wished I at least knew where they were.
Tonight was like any other, I sat close to Sedusa on our pillows at the top of our steps, watching and enjoying. I was wearing soft pink today and Sedusa stuck to her brooding blacks and bruise purples. There was still no sign of Boomer or Butch, I am not sure which brother Brick was referring to but I couldn't wait until they arrived, surely they had to know who I was. But in those months of anxious waiting I learned who the regulars were and which girls had the most clientele. Two men in particular were different from the others, they would come just buy their women's time, just to talk and drink and dance. Romantic in its own way. As the night went into the wee hours of the morning many of the girls went to bed, Sedusa and I would stay on our pillows until the final customer left. All of the heavy purple curtains were closed and one could hear soft snoring coming from the rooms. Sedusa waved her wrist and the pillows and tables straightened themselves out, the hall now neat and tidy. Sedusa lifted her pillow to take to her quarters in the back, I stood grabbing my own following her like a shadow. Just as Sedusa was waving the lights off the heavy doors swung open and almost ripped off the hinges, leaving a large silhouette in its wake.
"Sedusa." The voice came out husky and seeing the shadow with glowing green eyes that left my head throbbing.
"Ah your majesty," She said waving the lights back on, Butch strode to the middle of the room, "Had I known you were arriving this late I would have been more prepared."
"I like to surprise people." He said gruffly, "Have you gotten any new women?"
I slid behind Sedusa trying to hide as his smile turned wicked.
"Time to get up ladies!" Butch's voice echoed around the large hall. The curtains flew open though I didn't know if it was from Butch or Sedusa's new found magic. I gulped thinking the worst that Butch was going to take every girl here and rip them apart. The girls poured out setting their eyes on the handsome prize. Butch was wearing black dress pants, a sleeveless athletic shirt that stuck to his muscles like a second skin and a midnight black cape. The only color to his outfit was the golden laurel leaf crown that stood out against his shiny raven hair.
"Butchie!" They all said at once, genuinely excited to see him. Some with robes on others stark naked wanting nothing more than to please the wolf before them.
"I have only gotten one new girl." Sedusa said softly while Butch instructed the ladies to line up. He walked up and down the women looking them over quickly. He stopped on Evelyn who was giving him the extra lusty eyes. The flirting and giggling fell silent as Butch grabbed her face harshly and came nose to nose with her.
"Is she lying?" Half growl half whisper. Evelyn looked shocked and scared as if he never showed this side of him before. Maybe he hadn't lost his temper here before maybe he always had that womanizer mask on to get whichever girl he wanted.
"No King." She breathed, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Ah don't cry." He said letting her go quickly, kissing the bruises forming on her chin with tenderness I didn't know he possessed. The bruises melted away, "I'm sorry. I'm just….looking for someone."
"Thank you ladies you may return to bed." They bowed to him before rushing back into their rooms as if he would snatch someone else next.
"Why didn't you send word that you had a new one?" Butch growled as he climbed the three steps. His eyes flickered to me for a moment before returning to Sedusa.
"As you can see," She gestured to me, "She doesn't have hair dark enough for the stars."
His eyes found mine, he leaned in close as if inspecting me, so close I could smell the musky cologne on his neck. I swallowed.
"Are you going to sell her daily or auction her?" He asked, interest in me fading fast.
"Do you have a suggestion as to whom would want her?"
"I know she isn't a virgin." He shrugged, I instantly turned shades of pink and red, "And she clearly isn't exposed to too much of it by her blush." His dark green eyes flickered to mine in amusement while a dark chuckle escaped his lips.
"Well do you have any buyers in mind?" She asked catching the attention on her, Butch shrugged.
"I may have one but he won't just show up. He's coming two days from now, that's when you should auction her. Brick has never wanted something until someone else does." He spoke of me as if I was an antique waiting for a new collector. A memory of Butch flashes in the forefront of my mind and I blush deeply.
"Oh and put this in her hair." Butch pulled a pink ribbon out of his pocket and tossed it toward Sedusa, "He will respond to that and buy her immediately."
"Another day then ladies." He gave that dark chuckle again as he walked towards the doors slamming them shut behind him.