Ira

Steel and stone press in all around, this place as much a cage as a palace. The one who claimed it as home had no desire to leave the world created within these cold walls. Those who wish an audience with him came here, but only those who had proven their loyalty are allowed entrance. They call him a king, but he has no kingdom. He is a ruler with only one rule and a shadow that did not belong to him.

The king may not leave his prison of a home but that is why he had his false shadow. The Man did not mind serving a mad King. Commands were obeyed without hesitation and the king's seclusion allowed the man to do as he pleased. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement born of one man's greed and another's wish for freedom.

But freedom comes at a cost.

And so did loyalty.

The young heart that beat strong with fear faltered when the Man entered and voices quiet to warry silence. The room in which the king held court Was occupied by three others and each held their breath, waiting to see what the man would do. Watchful eyes followed his progress to the king's place at the head of the table, but they did not see the king flinch when the man leaned down and mummer something into his ear.

The king shuddered as much in delight as dread.

He needs more.

The room's other inhabitants share wary glances. The loyal who knew little of the king did not like his unpredictable behaviors but knew it was not her place to question him. The Lier that did know the king did not like that he could not control him but disliked the man more than the king for interfering in his business. The girl that knew only that the king was not to be trifled with did not know what to think of him but did not regret the choices that had brought her here.

"It seems there's a new hot item on the market, and the serpents have a vested interest in getting their hands on it." The sudden snap of his fingers made the newest member of the group jump. King turned to the loyal. "Find out what they're after and why they think Muutes have become an acceptable form of collateral."

The Lier cleared his throat drawing the king's attention.

"Not to state the obvious but Muutes die all the time. We don't have the manpower to waste on squabbling lords..."

The intensity in which the King stared down his disloyal subject was enough to make him rethink his protests, but it was too late to save himself. The lies, secrets, and half-truths skittering across his mind spoke loud and clear to the King who would not tolerate such thoughts among his own. The king stood and the Man took a step away. The king went to the one who had dared question him. Taking the other man's face in his hands the king pulled him close to kiss a sweat-dampened forehead.

"'You have done well my good and faithful servant..." the king recited in reverent benediction, but his voice was cold when finished. "You should have known better."

Releasing him, the king went to the girl. Ignoring the unnatural stillness of the traitor and gripped her chin, forcing her to face him directly but her eyes were caught on the blood dripping from the traitor's nose and eyes like Morbid tears.

"Since I'm in need of a new head of staff, seeing as this one" The king flicked a look at the traitor, who groaned as his mind continued to consume itself. "...failed to share important information and Loria will need to take over his duties. So, it seems you'll get a chance to prove how useful you can be."

The others watched as the traitor's skull imploded with a wet crack and his dead body fell to the floor.

Now she did question her choices.

I won't let you down . . . your majesty." The girl promised.

"Let us hope so. Now get out, both of you."

The king returned to his seat and two females cleared the room. The Man pulled open the door, forcing them to walk by him before they could escape. As they passed, he breathed a command and their minds excepted it without thought.

"I was never here, and you never saw me."

The door clicked shut behind them and the room was silent. With the others gone, the Man approached. Placing a hand on the King's shoulder, he drew in the borrowed power he left in his stead and cut the strings that held his king. Memories flooded man's mind and the king slumped forward clutching at his head.

"n-n-nnnnnoooo" Nails drawing blood where they dug into his scalp, the king let a mewling cry of torment pour out of him as knowledge and power were siphoned from his mind into the man's. He shook, desperately grasping for the Man and reaching for the essence that he craved but bent with the agony of being deprived of it.

"Stop it." The Man hissed in disgust, shoving away flailing hands, and taking his own seat.

The false king moaned and rocked in place.

"The missing shipments are a problem, but I'll take care of that. Use the new girl to find more bodies if you need to. When the coke arrives make a deal with the Bothers to get rid of the dirty cash. Listen to me!" Grabbing the false king's throat to stop his incessant whispering, the man pulled him close. Once he was sure he had his attention he continued. "Get the Suwanee their guns and they'll be fine. If they keep giving you trouble let the Muhrey's take care of them. Got it?

"y-yes."

"Good. This time do as your told or I'll find someone else."

"N-no, don't do that." The king babbled "it'll get done."

"It better. Now stand up."

The king of no kingdom scrambled to his feet with eager desperation and bent subserviently toward the man, his breathing quickening in anticipation and a hand extended in offering. The man palace one hand over his mark of ownership and press the other to the king's forehead. The king inhaled a deep gasping breath of relief as power flooded his broken mind. Missing pieces replaced with the man's will, the false king straightened and gives an amiable smile.

Not quite whole, but a shadow that could imitate what it was to be.

"Bitch, wake up!"

Startled awake, Emma's next shove had me almost falling out of bed.

"What!?... "

"We're late," she said tossing some clothes at me. "Mrs. Stevens' been waiting for twenty minutes, and we still need dresses.

Fumbling to catch the bundle of cloth, I tried to shake off the sporadic details crowding my thoughts.

"Late for what?"

"Shopping duh."

It was easy to forget how determined Emma could be when she set her mind to something but today, she had it dead set on finding the perfect dresses for all of us. This would be our graduation ball. Our last dance: the final finale, and according to Emma, we were going out with a bang. Unfortunately, Emma was also a big believer in last-minute shopping. That meant we needed makeup, shoes, jewelry, everything, and since Mrs.Henson had offered to fund part of this expedition no expenses were to be spared.

So, we shopped.

For hours.

I suppose only had myself to blame.

Our first stop was to go pick up Autumn's dress. She had already decided on an elegant deep blue gown with long lace sleeves that left her shoulders bare but had wanted the skirt modified so that the font came down to just above her knees while the back trailed out behind. It didn't take long to pick up, but she was having trouble choosing what shoes to pair with it so, after mani-pedis for all of us and a heart attack to add to my collection of a-thousand-ways-to-die, we, or rather they, decided our next task was to find me a dress.

Only problem: I didn't care for any of them.

Once there would have been a time when I could have died of happiness on an outing like this. I had more than enough money to spend from working at the diner and a rich friend's parent who was more than happy to help with anything I couldn't afford. Really, what was not to like? The thing was all this seemed so trivial. How could I care about what dress I should wear when there were so many, more important, things happening in the world. People were dying and I was supposed to worry about frills, fluff, and lace?

No, just no.

I couldn't do that.

"What about this one?"

Emma held out a short halter top with an even shorter skirt. We were in a retail shop that took overstock from big wig designers. Apparently, this was Emma's go-to when she couldn't find anything she liked and was hoping I'd be just as inspired.

So far it wasn't working.

"It's okay" I shrugged.

"Are you serious?" Emma wined "You guess? That's what you said to the last one."

"Sorry I just don't like it enough to waste money on it."

"uuuugh, you're hopeless you know, that right?"

"Maybe if you asked her what she does like this won't take hours," Autumn interjected, eyeing a pair of knee-high leather boots with soles so thick they had to be at least four inches off the ground.

I choose not to point out it had taken nearly an entire hour already.

"I don't really like dresses..." I trailed off at Autumn's unimpressed look "What does River like?"

Autumn gave a soft snort. "River likes anything fuckable but something tells me you're not going as a stripper."

"Autumn!" Mrs. Stevens admonished.

"She might as well at this point" Emma muttered. "Got nothing to wear."

I sighed.

"If I try one on, can we go somewhere else? I don't think we're going to find anything here."

"fine" Emma huffed.

I didn't get the dress but Autumn did get the boots and we moved on to the next unsuspecting outfitter.

It was there that Emma found a long, black, mermaid tail dress that she "just had to" try on. With a sleeveless top and plunging V-neck, it was just the showstopper Emma was looking for. You would have thought it was love at first sight with the way she gushed over it. When she stepped out of the dressing room her bright green underwear was very much visible through the side panels of floral lace that when all the way down to the hem.

"What do 'ya think?"

Emma gave a little twirl.

She looked gorgeous.

"Wes is gonna be a miserable mother fucker." Autumn grinned.

Emma grinned back.

"You better believe it."

Having found her perfect pick and apparently giving up all hope for me, we decide to head home. After being on our feet all day no one had any energy left anyway. Still, it was a fifteen-minute walk back to the car from where we'd wandered. Hoping to cut down that time, Autumn led us down a different route for our return. As we passed a little thrift shop tucked away from the mall's main entrance a mannequin in the window caught my eye. The dress on display looked like something you would find at a renaissance fair with a long flowing skirt and billowing sleeves that hung off the forearms. A belt made of several thin silver chains wrapped around the waist in striking contrast to the burgundy red of the silk cloth.

The woman in the mirror was more elegant than she ever believed she could be in a dress that exposed as much as it concealed. Scandalized embarrassment tempered by curiosity and want. The warmth of someone standing close heating my back. A hand pressed to the back of my neck making the sting of power bite at my skin.

The glimpse of a different me stopped me dead in my tracks, I was barely aware of the others drifting farther ahead. Sucking in a deep breath of air I pushed my way into the Treasure Trove. The bell above the door rang and a woman appeared from behind a towering mass of shelves,

"Hello dear." A welcoming smile graced her well-worn wrinkles. "What can I do for you? You looking for anything special?"

"The dress, in the window, I-" Suddenly unsure, I glanced at the door.

"Oh that." she waved her hand in an absent gesture but tottered over to the display and pulled it down as she chattered. "You interested in buying? I ask 'cuz nobody seems to want it. A pretty costume, but she's not very accurate I'm afraid. I'll be honest; if she weren't genuine silk, I'd give her to you for free." She lifted the beautiful piece off the mannequin and folded it on her way over to the counter where she pulled out a paper bag that was immediately filled with silk and chains. "''course you're here now so I supposin' puttin' her out like that worked. See I fingered some little lady would take a fancy to her. Or maybe one of them young men that like getting all dressed up purtty."

before I had a chance to process the flood of words pouring from the woman the register was rung. And she held out a hand for payment

"that'll be forty dollars if you can afford it."

I could.

Five minutes later I joined a concerned Emma and curious Autumn waiting outside the car carrying my newly purchased item and three strawberry candies that were at least a decade past their expiration date.

"What happened to you? Emma asked, sounding more accusing than worried.

"I found a dress," I said presenting the paper bag.

Taking it from me she peered inside, frowned, then pulled the dress out so she could see it properly.

"You want to wear this?" she asked, dubious of my choice.

In a rare moment of determination, I looked her right in the eye and answered.

"Ya, I do."

"It's beautiful honey" Mrs. Stevenson interacted, reminding me we had an audience and making me look away.

I think it's dope" Autumn agreed.

"Okay...." handing it back to me she shook her head and climbed into the backseat. "you're nuts, you know that right?"

More than you know, I thought and climbed in after her.