Hey guys! People who read Blackened Grains of Time (Shameless Plugs!) will know that I will update this story on Sundays and at random points during the week!
Reviewers:TooLazyToLogin: Thanks! I loved your review and read about a million times. I was a little bit worried about the closeness of characters but I didn't know how to fix it and still get everything into one chapter. Your guest name is very cool by the way.
TheImmortalWeapon: I know you didn't review last chapter but I read your reviews for my other stories. I'm super happy you like the story and I added an extra epilogue to Blackened Grains, on your request.
Mira's pov
I woke up to a horrible smell. I gagged until my eyes shot open, Far was laughing next to me. His shoe was inches over my nose and it was emanating a rank stench.
"FAR!" I yelled. He laughed harder. Danny was trying to hide his chuckling. He was failing. I glared at him.
"What even happened?" I asked them. They immediately grew serious.
"Your father...remember?" Danny said awkwardly. It hit me. FATHER!
"Let's go!" I was on my feet and running down to the city. I heard the boys following me. Suddenly I was sliding down the snow at 100 miles per hour! I looked down to see a path of ice that was materializing. I looked back at Far who was holding something.
"Your freaking welcome!" He yelled as he flashed a surfs up sign, and attempted to surf the ice. Danny was gliding along beside him with grace.
"Mira!" He yelled. I looked and saw a very hard-looking pole that was just begging for my face to be imprinted on it. I squealed as Far somehow changed the direction of the ice in time for me not to hit the pole.
"Scared ya?" He mocked.
"Farligan Byrd! When I get my hands on you!" I shouted. Suddenly the ice ended, sending me flying into a mound of snow right in front of my house. I brushed off my clothes and opened the door. Danny and Far waited outside for a moment, until I gestured for them to come in. Inside, Father was sleeping on the couch. But he isn't sleeping, is he...I pressed a hand to his wrist, no pulse. The house was a complete mess. The kitchen table was ripped in half and chairs were strewn around the space. The carpet that mother had made was in pieces. Father's face was pale and cold, I turned him over and gasped. Danny and Far were at my side in an instant. Half of Father's face was metallic. His left eye was replaced with a red covering and there was no left side of his mouth. I tried to pry the metal off but it was imbedded in his skin.
"What is it?" Danny touched the skin-that-wasn't-skin.
"I...I...I think he was sick. He had been acting off. I could have helped. I should have been here. This is my fault," I whispered. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Danny looked down at me.
"It is not your fault. And him being sick does not explain the chaos," Danny said.
"Maybe...what if he was attacked?" My heart lifted slightly, maybe it wasn't my fault! Then I immediately felt horrible for thinking like that. I sighed, I turned around and noticed what Far was holding.
"Yeah, what if he was attacked," I repeated, "What's with the bow and arrow Far?" I snarled. He looked at the weapon in his hands.
"Oh...I found it in the house I live in. Watch this," He shot an arrow at the floor and a small sheet of ice formed in front of him.
"I learned that a few days ago," He smiled. I was still glaring at him.
"How did you know about Father?" I asked.
"I was in your house-"
"I knew it!"
"Come on! You have all this food, and you never share it! I was starving, and I still am!" He huffed.
"Then you better hope hunger kills you before I do, it will be less painful!" I lunged at him and felt Danny's strong hands holding me back.
"Far is innocent, I trust him. We have to focus on you right now Mira. Where will you go?" Danny asked. I stopped trying to murder Far, where will I go? What am I going to do? I'm an orphan...I'm an orphan!
"I'm not sure..." I sighed.
"Wow, you're house is going to seem so big, like mine when I became an orphan. I literally have more rooms than I know what to do with," Far babbled. Danny and I looked at him hopefully.
"What?" He said.
"Really?" I deadpanned.
"Oh! I wasn't going to let you stay at my house! I was just saying how big it feels," Far shrugged. Danny looked at him incredulously. His face very clearly read, what is wrong with you? I almost laughed. Almost.
"I am leaving for New York soon, you may stay in the palace while I'm gone," Danny offered.
"Way to show me up your royal kiss up," Far rolled his eyes. Some people just need a hug...around the neck...with a rope...
"Look guys, I'd like to be alone...with him...you know," I muttered. They left, and I stared at Father. I slipped my fingers into his jacket pocket and pulled out a tiny booklet. The pages were warped and torn, but I loved it. It had a lock in the center of the cover. I took out my locket and opened it, letting a miniature key drop out. It fit perfectly within the lock and the book opened smoothly. Inside, was the story Mother loved, she had written it down so she could always have it.
Once, when Kun'Lun was but a simple, happy village. The people worshiped an ancient treasure called the Dragon's Heart. It was a heart-shaped stone with the Ying and Yang. It was indestructible. The legends were that the bearer of the stone would either be granted the gift of honest power, or be corrupted into madness. The selfish king of the village wanted to claim the stone, and ordered the craftsman to make it into a type of amulet. The craftsman obeyed and made the stone into a necklace, but the craftsman did not see the king fit to wear such a power. So the next morning, the craftsman gave the king a regular stone on a chain, that had been painted and shaped. The king carefully put on the fake. The king had never told anyone, but he was truly afraid of what the Dragon's Heart could do to him. So he ordered for every boy over the age of eight to be his body guards and watch for signs of corruption.
Of course, the king had no idea what these signs could be. So he ordered every other man to come and suggest what they thought were signs. If a man happened to say something the king already had, such as balding hair, that man would be immediately killed. He ordered next, that the crops be cut down, because he feared that he was already corrupted and that people wanted to poison him through his food. For one long year, people starved and slaved as the king grew more insecure and more insane. Finally the craftsman appeared back at the king's side.
"Your highness, have no fear of corruption, the stone you wear is a fake. The real Dragon's Heart is deep underground where I hid it. I even wore it for six months and nothing has happened. Please, heed my words and return the village to its former glory!" He pleaded. But the king merely stared at him with foggy eyes.
"Liar! Liar! You want me to put my guard down! So that my soul can rot!" And the king stabbed the craftsman until he fell, bloodied and dead. So the king's story went up through generations. And reminds everyone today, that only man can corrupt himself, not an object.
I looked at my locket. This one was a fake as well, Father had carved it from an old rock. But it had ben Mother's pride and joy, and now it was mine. I'd always pitied the craftsman, he had died for nothing. But at the same time, he should not have obeyed the king in the first place. It seemed like he knew what would happen in advance. Funny, how anything can be anyone's fault, depending on perspective. But that meant that everything, was everyone's fault, which meant that I had killed Father. I had killed Father. If I hadn't gone to meet Danny...Yeah! If Danny hadn't asked me to meet him, I could have been here for Father! But, I suppose that he couldn't have known. I rubbed my temples, this was all too confusing, too fast.
"Hey Mira..." I expected to see Danny. Far was there instead.
"Get out Far. Infidel," I muttered. I didn't know what the word meant, but it sounded like an insult. Father had used it once, I think.
"Do you even know what that means?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"Why are you here?" I said quickly. He smiled mischievously. His grin was alarmingly kind.
"Danny boy is going back to the big apple. You know what that means right?" He whispered. I shook my head tiredly.
"It means that I get to leave this snow covered wasteland! Don't you get it? Danny is my one-way ticket outa here!" Far nodded excitedly. His eyes shone with an almost maniacal glint. I stood up to face him, stretching to my full height, which was a good two inches taller than Far.
"Is that right? Is that why you hang out with him? He really thinks you're his friend!" I yelled.
"I am! Mostly!" He yelled back.
"What are you two doing?" Danny asked calmly, suddenly appearing in the room. Far and I jumped. I looked at Far. His face was blank and neutral, but his eyes were pleading. I narrowed my eyes. I am going to rat you out you...infidel! Then I looked into Danny's eyes and lost all confidence. There was a sadness there, a pain. What would I even say? By the way Danny, Far only hangs out with you because he wants to follow you to New York. So how was your day?
"Far was just apologizing for his ignorance earlier," I lied. Danny smiled with a pleased look on his face. Far nodded at me and I wished I could somehow strangle Far without Danny noticing.
"Anyway, I was hoping I could escort you around the palace. It can be quite confusing," Danny said. I do not deserve this! I smiled weakly.
"Actually I think I can manage. I still need to pack up my things and...say goodbye," I reassured him. A look of disappointment quickly flashed across his face. I seem to have a talent for that, disappointing people.
"I wouldn't mind a tour," Far mused, "is that where you keep your plane? I haven't seen a plane in years!" Far said. Danny looked at him, then at me with a face that said, are you sure? I smiled again and watched as Far dragged Danny out by the arm.
I do not understand why my fingers love to type almost 2000 words per chapter! This never happens! Whatevs, I'll just go with it, but if I type one that is only 1000, do not say:
"Why so short?"
"Write longer!"
Because 1000 is my usual amount. But yeah, feedback is totally awesome and appreciated! Seriously! Reviewing has never killed anyone! Probably! Anyway...
Wolf out...