Frogman: Thank you so much . And I totally agree with you. Fred Fredburger is definitely not a character I could ever work with. Sure, his behavior is funny and contrasts very to the stiff courtroom-setting, but even kids get fed up. But as the ongoing theme in my art projects this spring is heraldry and the justice system I just couldn't avoid him. But it was unnatural. Writing for the rest of the characters just "happens", because everyone else, even Billy develops nicely in the show. :D Warning: Death and graphic violence ahead. And so, here we are at chapter nine. The city is on fire and Grim has limited time to save Mandy before she slips away.
The prima donna wore nothing but undergarments as she rehearsed on stage. It was the night before Nergal Juniors latest triumph – a whole new opera, an epos about the fountain of youth. Everybody was busy. Costume managers, dancers, choir girls and stage hands rehearsed and worked in the background with clothing and props. Two of the older ballerinas were drinking heavily from a champagne bottle they shared between them. Oona, the prima donna, was the most insecure star he had ever worked with.
Madame Warden, the overseer of the actors came running elegantly across the stage. "I'm sorry maestro," she said with her whiskey voice, "But mademoiselle's wig is here now and her dress came back all too long…"
"Ok, then," Junior sighed. "Ten minutes."
Later, Oona's face had been carefully painted, and she was clothed in lovely white lace. "I'm ready now."
He raised his baton elegantly. The orchestra quickly hid their bottles and a peaceful breath of bassoons emerged from the pit. As the tone's pitch went higher, Oona started singing. "It's neither wealth nor love she wants, merely peace of mind…" The prompt waved his hand and the dancers, in veily mint costumes came floating across the stage.
Oona took a deep breath and started the brigde of the aria. Then, out of nowhere the singer was pierced from behind by an arrow. She fell to the floor like a ragdoll. The ballerinas screamed in terror and Junior looked up, gasping. Two of them fainted as he came running. "Oh, my God, Oona," he sat down on his knees and lay the singer's head in his lap. The arrow obtruded repulsively from her chest and her body jerked once, and then lay still.
The little ballerinas jumped frantically up and down. "Murder!" they screamed.
"Girls!" Junior tried to avoid a panic. "Go to your dormitory and report to the governess immediately!"
The doors to the theatre swung open and a whole army came marching. The little dancers yelped pitifully and clung close to each other as these brutes came crashing in through the windows, running down from the fly galleries and the fire escape. The staff and performers of The Royal Opera were mesmerized as three of Mindy's thugs even lowered themselves from the chandelier.
"What is going on?" Nergal Junior snarled as he was arrested by Sperg, who had just been promoted from captain to commandant.
"Orders from Winter Gates' new Queen," Sperg said as he dragged him towards the exit. "We are here to arrest every bearer of Mandy's emblem. We have a list here, and all we request of you is that you give up their locations. Or else!"
"But why did you kill Mme. Oona?"
Sperg glanced at Oona's body. Her wound leaked blood over most of the stage. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said, not the least bit sorry. "That one was meant for you."
Junior clenched his teeth and a tentacle shot out through the back of his black and read houppelande. The privates immediately armed their crossbows and pointed them at the little actresses.
"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you, loser," Sperg said. "Because of your powers Mindy wants you dead or alive. So give up your allies, geek wad!"
There were at least two more of these in Junior's opera house. "That won't happen."
"Really?" Junior's captor snapped his fingers, and the ring of privates pointed their bows at the dancers. They cried pitifully. Junior realized he had no choice.
Mindy hovered down from the sill on a floating shield, very smugly with her hands resting on her hips. Mandy was dying to tell her how fat she looked in that pink thing, but stayed quiet.
"Hello there. I believe it's time to start the negotiations."
A very old man in a wheel chair next to the jury box put a brass horn to his ear. "What?" he said in a squeaky voice. He used to be the mortal one of the Three Judges until he had to retire.
As Mindy hovered by him, she disrespectfully kicked the old man's horn out of his bony, weak fist. "While the stupid ugly people of this stupid ugly city are fighting the fire, you'll listen to me very carefully."
Everybody stared. Mrs. Doolin clenched her fist and thought of her glory days as a wrestling diva. The old judge held his ear horn keenly to his ear, even though it was on the floor. Mindy tossed her long red hair. "There's gonna be changes, changes to the better and prettier. Because in three days I will be the Queen of Winter Gates, and own every single one of you."
Billy started crying.
"…But don't worry. I'm fair. You'll have twenty-four hours to prepare your army. We'll play by Mandy's rules. Sounds fair?"
"This is ridiculous," the Three Judges scoffed in unison. "No way that…" they started arguing again. Mandy was aghast; the three fools could actually muster the peace of mind to squabble even when face to face with a threat. If there was a next week she would replace them with the Secret Snake Club instead.
The older judge, who had now recovered his ear pipe, squeaked: "Illegal warfare, this is. And against the Queen's…"
"Silence, you old toad," Mindy barked.
Mandy had carefully considered her enemy's words. "I see Boogeyman has taught you how to intimidate," She said and stepped down from the velvet draped dais. "The truth is that the last time I checked Boogey's power of intimidation is as weak as his sick mind. You have no authority here, you smart mouthed imp. I am the Queen of Winter Gates! I will protect my people, no matter what! I have saved them from invasions, wars, endemics and famine, and knocking off a jerk like you won't even make my achievements list."
It looked like Mandy had stuck her enemy in the proverbial vice. Then -
"No legal way, you say? Unfortunately for you, Winter Gates has no worldly allies. So, my declaration of warfare is legal enough. The Book of Hours can't save you now; I know all your little secrets!" Mindy cackled viciously. One of the jurors was so enraged he hurled his cup of hippocras at her, and hit her right in her precious forehead. The wine splattered her dress, and she gasped.
"Twenty four hours."
