Alicia Abraham stared out the second story window of her History class, boredom etched on her pale features. At six three, she was the tallest sixteen year old in her school. Which came in handy in her occupation as school bully. Half the time she didn't even come to class. When she did show up, she just stared out the window, or made snide comments that had nothing to do with the topic at hand. After all, she had a reputation to keep...
She had to work at that reputation, though. In grade school, she was the one being bullied. Her pale skin made her susceptible to sunburn, so she had to avoid the sun most of the time. She wasn't very socially adaptable. As a kid, she hid under tables (and even in her locker a couple of times) just to avoid social contact or confrontation. That, of course, (coupled with her insane obsession with sci-fi /fantasy books) made her an easy target.
So, when she and her parents moved from her childhood home, she took it as the opportunity to change her entire persona. Her simple, modest, school—girl—esque wardrobe turned Goth, punk, death—metal. Her skirts got shorter and her tops higher. She replaced her geeky glasses with cat—pupil contacts. It took her a while to get used to being so exposed, but she adjusted.
Her family moved just after she finished sixth grade. That gave her the entire summer to revamp her life. By the time autumn rolled around, she couldn't even recognize herself. All summer, she practiced her new identity. She even talked her parents into letting her change the name on her school ID. At school, she was known simply as the 'Dark Denizen'. In class, she was acing the tests, and homework, so the teachers overlooked her outbursts.
Life seemed to become easier, the more aloof she became. The meaner she was to everyone else, the nicer they were to her... All she had to do was hide who she really was —— and what she truly felt —— and she was golden. No one messed with her in her new home.
As time passed, it became harder to hide who she was. She watched everyone scurry away from her, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. The memory of how it felt to be the object of someone else's fury would return to haunt each time she thought to turn her anger to them. She wanted to be powerful. She wanted to be the one in charge. Being feared was just part of the package. Not once did she actually hit anybody, though. Most of the trouble she caused was verbal. Once and a while she'd steal someone else's things, or hide their gym clothes from them. But she never kept the stuff. It would always turn up later in the 'Lost and Found' box.
At home, she was a completely different person. The clothes she wore were more like her old self. The cat contacts came out and her big anime—esque glasses sat precariously at the end of her nose. Posters of Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, X—Men, and X—Files lined her walls. Anime posters covered her ceiling. Her four—poster bed was nearly buried in handmade plushies. Her mom still brought her up milk and homemade cookies for an afternoon snack... And one wall was completely hidden from view by a bookcase. The entire wall—to—wall, floor—to—ceiling shelves were filled with books. Science Fiction, science fact, Fantasy, Preternatural Sciences, Xenobiology, Cryptozoology... Anything dealing with unusual circumstances, lined the said shelves.
Even her altar remained as it always had. Black curtains cordoned off that section of her room. The wooden altar itself stayed as orderly as usual. Sandalwood incense burned in its holder... The worn poem stayed taped to the wall, in the proper position for its effects to be fully utilized. "Bide the Wicca Reede ye must/ In perfect love and perfect trust/ Eight words the Wicca Reede fulfil/ 'An ye harm none, do what ye will'/ What ye sends forth comes back to thee/ so ever mind the Law of Three/ Follow this with mind and heart/ Merry ye meet, and merry ye part/".
Every morning and every evening, she'd recite those eight lines, before her prayers. She only hoped she wouldn't gather up too big of a karmic debt from her school life...
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It was those eight words: "An ye harm none, do what ye will", that haunted her thoughts as she watched the bespectacled kid being bullied in the courtyard below. The bully was a muscular Junior, shoulder—length blond hair fluttering into his face from the light breeze. She recognized him from Homeroom. His name was Shawn... Something... He was on the Varsity Football team. That was about all she knew about him. Well, that and every female student (excluding herself) was hopelessly infatuated with him. It seemed that he found her disinterest interesting. He propositioned her numerous times, each time receiving the same response.
A picture of Gaston knocking on Belle's door in 'Beauty and the Beast' popped into her head. An involuntary laugh spilled from her black—painted lips. The whole class turned their focus nervously to her. An angry glare returned their attention away from her. A contented smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. There were a few benefits of being feared...
She once more gazed down at the altercation in the courtyard. Gaston... err... Shawn lifted the geeky freshman a foot off the ground, muscles straining under his skin—tight tee—shirt. 'He has nothing on Alucard... He'd be able to lift that kid with his little finger, no problem...' Her mind turned inward, to her escapist's world. The rest of the class, she was off in fantasy.
It wasn't until the bell rang, signifying the end of class, that she finally noticed Real Life. History was her last class, so the rest of the day was hers... The sense of freedom made an Alucard—like laugh to fall from her lips. The whole way home, she let her mind wander to various fandoms, even as the motorcycle's engine hummed beneath her.
Her parents were worried at first about her getting a 'bike, but she finally convinced them... It was one of the few things she and her alter ego shared. The feel of the wind in her face was just so invigorating. Alicia could appreciate the freedom as much as the 'Dark Denizen' could. As Jack Sparrow would say (well, he did in one of her fics, at least): "Freedom is what you make it. It's not 'just a ship' or 'just a horse'. It's an escape. True freedom is an escape to, not from. To happiness, to life... Freedom isn't escaping life, it's embracing it."
It's funny how Alicia Abraham could be so philosophical and 'Dark Denizen' so callous. "It's a shame I don't practice what I preach..." Her words were lost in the roar of the engine.
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-.--. . -. -.. --- ..-. .--. .-. --- .-.. --- --. ..- . -.--.-
I know, this doesn't sound like much of a PotC fanfiction yet... But this was only just the prologue. The next part is coming now... It just made sense to end here. Don't like it? Blame my bloody muse. He's been on a Cowboy Bebop mood lately. I was lucky to get this out. It's like pulling teeth lately... I swear! He's worse than I am about Edward. I even made a Bebop crew Sim 2 family to appease him. (This fic was my reward for that.) I just hope I can do as good a job with my Mary—Sue fic as Lykosdracos did... If you've not read it yet, go read "The Forgotten Gem". It's a wonderfully written Mary—Sue fic.
I know... "Good and Mary—Sue? Those don't go together..." But she made it work. So go read it (after you review this, of course).
-(Cue Hellsing Theme)-
Scully: That's different... It's usually our theme...
Me: Well, this is a different fic.
Mulder: Where did your pretty muse go?
Scully: -(glares at Mulder)- -(slap)-
Mulder: Ow... What was that for?
Scully: If you don't know, I can't tell you...
Me: That usually means you didn't have a valid reason for hitting him.
Ed: Hi, Hi!
Me: Hi, Hi, Ed.
Ed: Why is that lady angry?
Mulder: I'm wondering the same thing...
Me: Never mind... Now where's Alucard? He owes me a rain check...
Ed: -(Looks up)- No rain... I just checked...
Me: -(Anime Sweat—Drop)- I didn't mean that way... -(Yelling into the empty air)- ALUCARD! 'C'm'ere, please...
Alucard: -(Grinning his full—fanged grin)- Yes?...
Me: -(swoon)- -(with dreamy, half—stoned voice)- Hi... -(Ahem...)- You owe me... I've decided to collect.
Alucard: Fine by me. -(lifts me into his arms)-
Ed: -(Watches intently)-
Me: Ed, I'd like you to meet my muse, Netalak.
Netalak: Oh... My... GreatOne... -(Looks admiringly at Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky the fourth)- Can I have your autograph?...
Ed: -(questioningly)- Why?
Netalak: You are my favourite character of all the fandoms GG uses... -(Holds out notebook and pen)-
Ed: -(signs as Alucard and I escape to a more... private... locale)- Hey, where did that writer—person go?
Netalak: Oh... Um... She's... Indisposed. I guess I'll have to do the ending...
Netalak: Oh... This is the end. You can stop reading now... Please post a review once you've read this piece of work. All characters are the property of their respective owners. Except for me, Alicia Abraham, and GG. We belong to ourselves...
Ed: But Alicia isn't real...
Netalak: Right... She's the property of Gothic Guardian. As is her alter ego: Dark Denizen. If you want to use either of them, ask GG. Or me, if she's still busy with that Vampyre freak...
Me: -(Yelling from elsewhere)- Watch it!
Netalak: I mean... As long as she's indisposed, I can give you permission.
Netalak: THE END!