Crossing Paths
Life In Hell

I was aware, suddenly, that I was able to hear voices.

What were they saying?

“… listen… listen… listen...”

It was like a beautiful, but creepy, chorus. Many voices singing at different times and in different keys, but all the same word.

“… listen… listen… listen...”

Listen to what? All I could hear was the song, so I listened.

After a few seconds, the voices began singing a single tone.

“… mmmmmmmm…’

It sounded like humming, but each voice would start over after a few seconds.

For a few minutes, I listened to the humming.

Then, silence fell.

I felt a presence, but I couldn’t see anything.

I reached out, but I couldn’t feel my body, so I had no idea if I was really moving or had touched anyone or anything.

“I may have been wrong about you, child.”

I knew that voice. I had heard it before.

“You have been blessed with a second chance,” the voice, a woman, said.

I wanted to see. I needed to know who this was. I could never remember.

“Use it well, child”

“Melissa? Melissa?” someone was calling.

I opened my eyes to replace Matron Flora hovering over me with a small pouch in her hand.

“Now dear, don’t go wicked on us again. I don’t want to continue dosing you. I’m really not sure if it’s safe,” she said, kindly.

I wanted to snatch the pouch so she couldn’t drug me with it again. Maybe I would use it on her. Unfortunately, the effects of whatever the hell this stuff was kept me from moving my body. I remembered it had taken a few minutes to regain movement the first time I had been drugged.

Matron Flora smiled and said, “That’s better, isn’t it?”

It did not feel better. I couldn’t move my body. My mind was fuzzy and confused.

I wiggled my toes with a lot of effort, but it was a start.

“You’ve caused quite a lot of trouble now, with attacking the king like you did,” Matron Flora said, softly, as she moved around, doing things I couldn’t see.

I tried as hard as I could, but I couldn’t turn my head.

“You haven’t made things any easier for yourself, dear,” she said with disapproval.

I raised my hand a few inches and wiggled my fingers.

I was only half listening to her words. I was more focused on how I was going to kill her when I had control of myself again.

Finally, my head turned in the direction I had last heard her.

She was sitting at a table, waving a glowing stone over some flowers.

I figured now was a good time to test my voice.

“What…” I started but my voice cracked, and I started to cough.

Matron Flora came to my side.

“Here we go, here we go. Sit up, dear,” she said, helping me up.

As I cleared my throat and looked around me, I realized we were now in a lush garden. It was beautiful, really. The flowers were bigger than I had ever seen, and the scent of the air gave me a giddy feeling if I inhaled too deeply. There were plants here I had never seen. Beach ball sized blooms in shades of blue and gold with sparkling dust floating around them. A long, vine that snaked through the other plants and seemed to have twinkling lights running through it.

“Where am I?” I croaked.

“This is my healing room,” Matron Flora said, proudly, “Each plant is not only beautiful, but useful to my healing.”

She was looking around her with a self-satisfied smile.

“It stinks,” I said, my voice clearer now.

Matron Flora, turned to me with a look of shock.

“That’s very rude,” she snapped, “Your mother must have raised you better than that.”

Now I was sitting up and I could feel my legs enough that I was sure I could move them. What would I do?

“You don’t know the first thing about me, lady, so suck it!” I swung my legs off the… uh, flower bed, “How do I get out of here?”

“You can’t,” she replied, calmly.

I stood up, wobbly, but I was up.

“Where’s the exit, lady,” I said, adding a low growl to scare her.

I looked around, but it was like the room in the forest clearing. No doors. I wasn’t even sure it was a room. Maybe I was really outside.

Matron Flora held up her pouch and I snatched it out of her pudgy fingers.

“Now what? How will you control me without your drugs, sick old bat?” I said to her, holding the pouch tightly in my hand.

But the little Fae healer didn’t seem worried in the least.

“There is no way out unless you can control your Fae magic,” she smiled in a way that made me want to slap her, “So you may as well have a rest.”

I didn’t believe her. I took off running, figuring I would hit a wall or replace an opening somewhere. Instead, I slipped through the thick layers of foliage and stepped into…… the very same room.

Matron Flora smiled, sweetly at me.

“What the hell?” I said.

“This place is a pocket realm. I created it as a place for me to heal without interruptions,” she explained.

“But there has to be a way out. You have to have a way out,” I said to her angrily.

She laughed, “Of course, dear. I can use the power of my mother’s stone.”

She held up the glowing stone I had seen her using before.

“Okay, good. Let’s go.” I said.

Matron Flora slipped the stone back into her pocket and shook her head.

I was suddenly directly in front of her, my hand gripping her throat. I didn’t squeeze hard, but her eyes were filled with fear.

“Let me make this clear, lady,” I said with a growl, “You will let me-”

I didn’t get to finish because a soft breeze began to blow, and for a second, I was distracted by a barely visible bluish mist.

This time, when I woke up, I was more than angry. I was furious and terrified. I was also drugged, again, so all of that beautiful chaotic energy was being wasted on my motionless body.

As a sign to whoever was in earshot that I had woken up and was ready for the next round of whatever they were about to throw at me, I shrieked long and loud. My voice was strained and gravelly from sleep, but the sound was still horrific.

I didn’t hear anything. I seemed to be blindfolded, so I couldn’t see anything.

I lay like that for what seemed like hours. I might have fallen asleep. It was hard to tell. One thing I did know was that they had not used the whammy powder on me this time. However they had me immobilized, it was not wearing off. I could turn my head from side to side, but nothing else.

Finally, a dim light slowly emerged from the black. I flickered, so I thought it was candlelight. I watched as it came closer. The movement was too smooth to be someone carrying a candle. It seemed like it was floating. Then, it stopped.

The light was still too far from me to make it out clearly, so I had no idea what it could be.

Then, it disappeared.

Suddenly, lights came on above me. Harsh, bright lights that burned my skin. They got brighter and my skin sizzled.

I thought this was how they were planning to kill me. I had killed the king and now they would burn me alive.

The lights shut off after a few seconds, though, and I sobbed hysterically as I felt my skin repairing itself.

In seconds, I would heal, and they could do this to me over and over, for all of eternity, if they wanted.

Is this what fairies were all like? I hated them!

Then, the light came back, full intensity, no mercy.

I tried hard not to scream, but my skin was hissing and smoking and besides the excruciating pain of it, it was a seriously disturbing sight.

This time, it seemed to last longer.

My skin began to heal immediately when the lights were off. For a few seconds, I made no sound as I watched it. It seemed to be glowing, softly.

Oh great! They must’ve drugged me again! I thought, angrily. Then I realized, maybe the drug would help with the pain, but I doubted it. Why would the Fae jerks give me something that would help me?

My skin had completely healed, and I held my arms in front of my face, looking for signs of the torture.

Then, I realized, I was able to move! I was moving! I tried sitting up, but I was very wobbly, so I lay back down and started working different parts, trying to speed up the process.

I was hoping those damn lights wouldn’t come back on, but suddenly I was squeezing my eyes shut, screeching like a feral beast as the light burned over me.

With my arms, I grabbed the side of the table and pulled myself off, crashing to the floor, hoping to get out of the direct beam.

The light slowly shifted positions to hover over me, again. Then, it went out.

I was sobbing like a child, lost in a three-level mall, with no idea how to get help.

I sat up, wiping my face gently so as not to tear the fresh skin there, and looked down at myself.

My skin was still glowing. It wasn’t orange or red, though, like it was on fire. It was a pearly silvery glow. Faint, but definitely there.

I decided it was probably just the drug that still lingered in my system, causing my eyes to play tricks on me. Of course.

Let’s get out of here, I thought.

I got up and started wandering, exploring the space. It was dark, so dark that my vampire sight had trouble penetrating some of the shadows. It made me feel very uneasy. I had already grown accustomed to my new ability, and when it failed me, I got scared.

Finally, I found a doorknob, and yanked it open.

Light flooded the room, but not the painful kind. Just normal light, but it felt like needles in my eyes after so much time in the dark.

I stumbled out of the dark room, because I really wanted to get as far away from there as possible, and into the brightly lit room.

It looked like some kind of command center. There was a huge desk with a console full of flashing lights and strange symbols. The walls were plain stone, and the floor was the same. Multiple wooden doors surrounded the desk, but one door was opened, and I could see stairs.

I ran for it and that’s when I tripped over a lumpy mass on the floor.

I jumped up quickly, prepared to defend myself, but the mass turned out to be a Fae guard. A dead Fae guard, to be exact.

“What the hell?” I said, out loud, then slapped my hand over my mouth.

“Hello,” I heard, behind me.

I spun around and landed in a defensive crouch, snarling.

To my surprise, there stood Princess Dolphina. She was smiling, or trying to. She seemed terrified, but she was holding out a gown.

“You can put this on, if you would be more comfortable,” she said, trembling.

I growled, deeply, and stood my ground, afraid this was a trick.

Princess Dolphina continued holding my gaze, too stubborn to look away, even though her hand, holding the gown, was shaking visibly.

I could hear someone coming down the stairs, and I snarled angrily at the princess.

“It’s Gerritt, it’s only Gerritt. Please, trust us. We didn’t want this for you,” she said, in response, then she offered the gown again.

As angry and mistrustful I was of these Fae, I had to do something, right now.

So, I grabbed the princess around the neck, just hard enough to hold her there, until the owner of the heartbeat I heard coming closer showed themselves.

“I am sorry for what Almin has done,” Princess Dolphina said, softly.

“Shut up,” I said, harshly. The last thing I needed was to feel sorry for one of them.

Then, Gerritt stepped out of dark stairwell. He saw me holding Princess Dolphina and he froze.

“So, what was the plan? Catch the vampire and turn her over to Almin? Or were you just going to put me back in that torture chamber and burn me some more?” I said so angrily that I shrieked the last few words.

I felt and heard the princess’s heart beating faster.

“By the gods, no! Please, release her. She’s innocent, you can take me,” Gerrit said, and his tone made me thing that Princess Dolphina was more than just a royal he was supposed to guard.

“Ohhhhhhhh. I see,” I said, tauntingly, “You too are shackin’ up behind Almin’s back.”

Gerritt looked defensive, “And if we were? Are you, vampire, going to pass judgement on us?”

I let go of the princess and she stepped hesitantly towards Gerritt, as if she were afraid, I might jump out and grab her again.

She had dropped the gown when I grabbed her neck, so I picked it up and slipped it on.

“What is this made of? Beetle wings?” I said, sarcastically.

Princess Dolphina stiffened slightly and said, “That is made of mousecoat. It is very expensive and not easy to come by.”

I didn’t want to know what mousecoat was, so I moved towards the stairs, and Gerritt and Princess Dolphina.

“No!” Gerritt shouted and covered Princess Dolphina's body with his own.

I moved past them, laughing softly as I said, “That’s just sad.”

I went up the stairs, slowly. It was difficult because I knew I could be at the top in less than a second and have the element of surprise on whatever guardsmen were waiting for me, but I wanted to be careful in case they had more of that burning light.

Gerritt whispered behind me, calling for me to wait.

Did they really expect me to trust them?

Screw them.

I got a close to what I assumed was the top. I heard wind or trees rustling in the wind.

I ran up the rest of the way… into blackness.

“No! What the hell?” I said, out loud.

I felt someone grab my shoulder and tug at my sleeve. They grasped my hand and yanked, hard, and I tumbled backwards down the stone staircase.

“Ouch,” I moaned, feeling my broken bones healing and moving back into place under the bruises and cuts that were also vanishing quickly.

I heard a groan.

Then, Princess Dolphina pushed her way to sitting position.

“You have to stop this, please,” she said.

Her face was cut and bruised. She was favoring her right arm and there was a pretty big gash on her leg.

I realized Gerritt was also on the ground, unconscious.

“What was that? I mean, I was at the top of the stairs and then...” I trailed off, not liking the way the memory made me feel.

“Gerritt! Oh no, Gerritt, wake up, please!” Princess Dolphina said, in tears, dropping to her knees beside the unconscious guardsman.

“He’s just unconscious. I can hear his heartbeat,” I told her, stepping over the pair of them and moving into the control room again, “So, what? How the hell do I get out of here?”

Princess Dolphina apparently did not handle pressure well. She stood up quickly and marched over to me, looking me right in the eye with an angry expression.

“You listen here! We were trying to help you and you’ve nearly killed us both! Now, you stop this behavior or… or else I WILL call the guards!” she said in an almost authoritative voice, but it still squeaked a little too much for her to sound in control.

I watched her turn and go back to her place on the ground, next to Gerritt.

He started to wake up and I could hear her speaking softly to him, comforting him.

Should I trust these two? They had seemed to be on my side from the start, or at least, not on Almin’s side.

I moved closer to them and looked down at Gerritt.

“Does anything hurt? Like, maybe it’s broken?” I said to him.

“No, I’m fine. Just a bit dizzy,” he responded, “Just give me a moment.”

I stepped back and watched as he sat up with Princess Dolphina’s help.

They really were completely at my mercy at this moment, but they didn’t seem terrified. Scared and unsure, but also willing.

So, I asked them, “Why would you help me?”

I heard their heartbeats relax, making me think they felt their answer would help the situation.

“Almin is a monster. He wishes to defile our people and I cannot allow it. I may not be queen yet, but it is still my responsibility to protect my people,” Princess Dolphina said, “And also to protect our alliances with the other races, like yours. We’ve not had quarrel with the vampires in centuries. I would hope to keep it that way, by offering my help.”

Political. Ugh, I knew diddly squat about that stuff.

I turned to Gerritt, “And you, lover boy?”

He sighed and said, “First of all, this is not what it looks like. Not that it is your business, but Dolphina is my cousin. She used her influence to get me a position as a guard here. I’m trying to gather information on Almin’s activities so we can go to the Council and have him removed from the line of succession. He IS a monster. No clan should have to have him as their leader, let alone the whole damn realm.”

Okay, so these two were like rebels. And I’m that little robot holding the secret message to the savior of the world.

The idea made me giggle.

“This may be amusing to you, vampire, but this is our home we are fighting to save,” Princess Dolphina said to me, her chin out.

“I get it. You guys are helping me because it helps you, but you ARE still helping me and that’s good,” I said, “It’s not amusing at all. It’s actually kind of depressing to know you people have the same crap issues that humans have in my world.”

I was thinking about recent things going on in the news. I tried not to pay attention when Gideon was watching, because it was mostly just depressing to see what people did to eachother. Lately though, I had seen so many leaders of countries found lying or cheating or stealing. They say behavior like that is human nature. When you know, you can’t get caught, no matter how incorrect that knowledge is, you tend to do bad things. So, what is it called if all the races have the same issue? Just... nature?

“Okay,” I said, “So, what was your plan?”