So, Niphuria challenged me to write about Stayne when he saw Mirana on the battlefield…I hope I do a good job with it!
Illosovic Stayne
As we approached the chessboard battlefield, I began to think about my childhood. Yes, I'd been stuck with Iracebeth most of the time, but that also meant I got to see her beautiful younger sister, Mirana. I had spent every moment I could just staring at her; her wonderful imperfectness. Iracebeth had, a few times, called her ugly and different. But in truth, the fact that she was different made her that much more beautiful. Maybe it was the way her dark eyebrows looked next to the whiteness of her hair. Maybe it was her dark lips and nails against her pale skin. I never really figured out what it was about her. Maybe I never would.
We got closer and closer and I began to see the white woman atop her horse, leading a massive army. Part of me truly wanted to just kill Iracebeth and just give Mirana the crown back, but the other part of me wanted to stay in power so badly. Mirana was, and always would be, at the center of my thoughts.
"Illosovic! Where do you think you're going?" she shouted after me as I walked down the hall. She had just been yelling at me, that Bloody Big Headed Girl. I had no reason to put up with her crap anymore. I was on my way to go 'cry to Mirana' as Racy put it. And in truth, I was. But I enjoyed it and that was the secret.
"Mirana?" I whispered as I knocked on the door to her chambers. I heard some fumbling around for a few moments until she opened the door. I busted out laughing at the sight in front of me! Her hair was a bit like a haystack and her make up was spread all over her face. I believed she had been sleeping. She glared at me and I glared back until she began giggling. Seeing her happy made me happy.
"But Racy- we don't have to fight," said the sweet voice that invaded my mind constantly. I looked up from where I was standing and studied her face. She looked so desperate, so willing to put even her life in danger in order to keep peace between Racy and herself. If she only knew that I would sacrifice my beating heart before I lost her again.
"I know what you're doing," began Iracebeth. I wanted so badly to stop her from what she was about to say. "You think you can blink those pretty little eyes and I'll melt. Just like Mommy and Daddy did." I nearly cracked- Racy loved putting my Mirana down, all the time. She wanted her younger sister to feel inferior to her.
"Please?" asked the White woman. And suddenly, I was 15 again.
"Please?" she asked, holding onto my arm. I wanted to stay with her, but Iracebeth needed me. Even if I wanted to stay, I knew I couldn't.
"No-" and the memory was cut off.
"No!" shouted the Queen. "It is my cwown! I am the eldest!" Yes, that's true. But the crown truly belonged to her younger sister- the kind sweet person who cares everyone except herself. "Jobberwocky!"
So I took one last look at my long lost love and put on a mask of fearlessness. I turned and looked at the giant beast that could surely take the life of everyone on this damned chessboard if it really wanted. I waited as it rose from the rubble, spreading its wings and screeching.
And then, well, then I got ready for battle.
Goodbye, Mirana.
To be continued…