Dream

For Dave, who made me want to write again.

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Dream
Chapter 2

I lifted my head, my emerald gaze shifting from my fathers’ dead body to my sisters and the other guests standing back against the wall. My raven hair slid silkily across my bare shoulders. I frowned slightly at the mortified expressions on my sisters faces then I dropped my gaze once more, etching my fathers’ pale, pinched features into my mind. Who would do such a thing? Murder the emperor of Lusitania in his own city? I sobbed, bitter tears coursing down my pale face, causing the kohl lining my eyes to run. I had loved my father dearly.

The bite of cold steel against my neck caused me to flinch. I dropped my hands into my lap and slowly leant back, tilting my head to gaze into the face of my would be assailant. The general. I curled my lips up into a sneer.
“Zyphere.” The general began, lowering his sword to his side “You would do well not to refuse me now that your father is no more. I am taking control of both my world and yours.”
I snarled.
“You killed him…” I growled.
“Yes. I did. And one day my dear, I will kill you too. But not before I allow you to give birth to my heir.” The general replied.
My emerald eyes narrowed. I would rather die.
“But…” The general continued “Who to take with us to start this new kingdom. Your sisters? Yes I believe so. Ladies, to the other side of the room with you. Theres a good girl.”
I met the eyes of my eldest sister Zyznril as she stepped past me to the other wall. Silent tears trailed down her cheeks. I coiled my legs underneath me, ready to spring at the general. Perhaps if I could disarm him…
“Zyphere, sit.” The general stated, raising his sword once more.
I leant back and crossed my legs, sitting on the ground. My green eyes full of defiance as I gazed up the sword pointed at my breast.
“Maverick, you too. Join the others.” The general stated, his beady little eyes locked on to mine.
“Father… I hardly think…” Maverick began.
I shifted my gaze to Maverick’s pale face. His normally sculpted demeanour now gone, Maverick toyed nervously with the a lock of his glossy silvery blonde hair.
“Silence boy. You will do as I say.” The general snapped, spittle flying from his thick lips.
I shuddered and took hold of my father’s cold hand. The only stability I had in our changing world, and it was gone. I gripped the rigid fingers in my own, fresh tears falling from my eyes.
“Father… I will avenge you… So many things we never shared with each other… So many wrongs I did you… I’ll make it up to you with the act of your revenge…” I vowed, my voice barely above a whisper.
The bloody corpse did nothing to acknowledge my statement.
A rough hand in my lustrous hair pulled me out of my reverie and I stumbled to my feet.
“Outside, all of you.” General Quinn ordered.
I kicked out with my vinyl-clad legs but was rewarded only with a harsh laugh as I was gripped by the wrists, a thick chain secured around one wrist which was connected to a cuff on the generals right wrist. I was then hefted over his meaty shoulder. I hit him in the back with my fists, but it was like hitting a brick wall for all the good it did me.
Outside the night air was cool yet rage and the remnants of the liquor burned hot in my veins. Waiting in the courthouse drive was a large cart, the sort used for hauling hay, with the deep tray at the back and high sides and hitched to four sturdy farm horses. Clydesdales perhaps. I was unceremoniously dumped on the ground. I rearranged my limbs under me and sprung to my feet, whipping my black hair from my face.
“Into the cart. All of you.” The general ordered.
My friends and sisters climbed into the back of the cart. Four soldiers appeared from the shadows and secured canvas sheets over the back.
“You will ride with me.” The general stated.
He yanked on the chain and I stumbled after him to the cart. There was a wooden bench up the front, big enough for three. I was made to sit on the bench between the general and a soldier. The general took up the reins and we began to move.
I rested my gaze on the horses’ backs, then let my gaze drop to the ground and wondered ‘If I jumped, would I die?’
Without a second thought I sprung forward into the space between the horses, clutching to the pole in the middle I was able to unhitch two of the horses before the generals weight as it tumbled after me dragged me under the cart. I missed the wheels entirely and lay on my back on the drive.
I raised my hand to my aching head and realised that it was the hand with the cuff. Attached to the cuff was the generals’ hand. I gasped and shuffled away as the rest of the general stormed toward me.
“You miserable whore!” he snarled, his face white with anger.
He grabbed my hair and spun me around to face the cart. My friends had been uncovered and were watching. Two soldiers had pistols trained on them. My sister Zasette was sobbing uncontrollably, her gold hair a dishevelled mess. The general forced me to my hands and knees then tore my dress down one side so it fell away from my back, a few of the laces still holding it to my frame. I dug my nails into the stone drive, not caring that they were cracking and bleeding.
The general held an object in front of my face. It was his severed hand. He pushed me on to my back and forced my legs apart then used the hand to caress my cheek. I bit my lip and tried to kick him but was restrained by another of the guards. With my ankles pinned to the ground, the general moved his severed hand lower until finally he had it poised before my vaginal opening. My eyes filled with tears as he forced the hand inside me. I opened my mouth to scream as I felt something tear, then he thrust the stump of his wrist into my mouth.
I gagged around the dirt and blood filling my mouth. Then tried to scream again, though the sound was muffled.
I started to choke on the blood, and then I knew for certain that I was going to die. Everything in my vision became hazy, and gave off a rainbow aura. Even the generals’ grotesque face above me.
Accompanied by the sound of my choking, and my muffled screams, as my lungs screamed for air, I passed into unconsciousness.

******

Consciousness returned to me in several stages. At first it was hysterical weeping, males harsh laughter and the sound of horses hooves striking stone. These gave way to a rocking sensation, which led to pain and discomfort. Finally I opened my eyes. It was light. I groaned and instinctively rolled over, shutting my eyes once more. I had the taste of blood and dirt in my mouth. The floor beneath me jolted, then shuddered, and then ceased moving altogether. Voices blared around me accompanied by more hysterical crying. I was still groggy.
I opened my eyes as something roughly grasped my calf and pulled. I landed heavily on the ground, hitting my head hard. I groaned. Would the pain never end?
“Get up!” a voice screamed at me.
I braced my arms against the ground and lifted my head. My vision swam. I lifted myself to my knees, holding my head. I looked at the cart in front of me. The cart! Then to my left General Quinn. I got to my feet and stumbled backwards, clutching my dress around me. The general laughed. I turned my face away and retched onto the grass. The disturbing events prior to my blackout came flooding back. Falling back onto the grass I hugged my knees to my chest, reliving the nightmare.
I lashed out at a hand on my shoulder, catching Maverick across the face with my sharp nails. He hissed in surprise and stepped back, holding a hand to his cheek. I furrowed my brows at him, my eyes full of tears.
My older sisters Zyznril, Zhallwan and Zasette crept over to where I sat. Zasette was sobbing heavily as she leaned on Zyznril for support, her rich golden hair a rough mess of loose curls that framed her tear stained face. My oldest sister Zyznril had one of her slender arms around Zasette’s shoulders and was trying to soothe her. Zyznril’s emotionless grey eyes were dry of tears, her dark red hair still smoothed back from her face. Both girls dresses showed signs of the rough travelling, with slight tears in the fabric, and smudges of dirt. I turned my face away angrily, fraying the ends of one of the laces holding my dress together.
“Zyphere…” Zyznril began.
I looked up, more for the fact that she had actually said my name. She said nothing more, but the three of my sisters took a seat in the grass next to me. I ignored them, as I ignored Maverick who was now sulking several feet away, his knees tucked up under his chin.
Karestian jumped out of the cart and rushed to my side. He knelt in front of me and lowered his head to look into my eyes. His hazel eyes were wide, his brown hair messy. I could feel fresh tears welling up, and turned away as they spilled down my cheeks.
“My, my, what a sorry looking bunch you are.” General Quinn stated, coming to stand before us.
I flinched and instinctively hugged my knees tighter.
“Most of you will be coming to establish the new kingdom. I say most, because all of you will be swimming the length of the river the lies just over that hill.” The general continued.
I looked at the hill. It was bare of grass, with only weeds and broken tombstones dotting the barren ground. What an odd task. To swim a river.
“Now on your feet. We begin immediately.” The general finished.
I slowly climbed to my feet, reaching out for Karestian, who was closest, as my head spun. I righted myself and flicked my hair back from my eyes. I then wiped the tears from my cheeks and turned to face the general. He smirked.
Maverick came to my side, three bleeding scratches on his cheek from my nails. He inclined his head, letting me know he was only concerned for me. I nodded in return. Karestian took my hand and gripped it tightly. I squeezed his hand, grateful for the support. I was determined not to fall apart.
“Go on. Over the hill.” The general ordered.
I stepped forward and strode up the hill, avoiding the open graves, and tombstones. At the crest of the hill I took another step forward, and tumbled headfirst into the river, if river is what it could be called.
The water was syrupy and green/black in colour. I surfaced, spitting out water, the sour taste burning my mouth. The water rose to my waist and left a green scum on my skin. I gagged, but had nothing left to vomit. Karestian and Maverick jumped down beside me, both landing on their feet. My sisters tumbled into the water as unceremoniously as I had. I could feel my boots filling up with water and pulling me down into the oozing mud so I reached down and unzipped one boot. I gripped the heel, ready to pull the boot off when I was grabbed around the wrist. Instinctively I pulled my arm away, out of the water. It emerged with a human hand attached. The flesh of the hand was dull green and bloodless. It had obviously been submerged for a long, long time. I screamed and shook my arm, trying to dislodge the hand. Maverick waded over, took hold of the hand and snapped the fingers back, they made a dull popping sound as they broke and fell away from my arm.
The general laughed from on top of the hill.
“Swim fast, and maybe I’ll see you at the castle.” He snickered, and then walked away.
As one my sisters wailed in despair. The thin banshee-type shriek shattered my already frayed nerves.
“Will you just shut up?” I snapped, whirling to face them.
I placed one hand on my vinyl-clad hip.
“We need to work together if we are going to survive. Do any of you know how deep this river actually goes? And what the fuck was that thing that grabbed me?” I added, now that I had their attention.
I angrily flicked my black hair out of my face. I was tired, I was aching and I was angry. Maverick glanced at the mangled fingers in his hand. He shuddered and let them drop back into the murky water. I surveyed the people gathered with dull emerald eyes. My useless, sobbing sisters, the silent Asichi, Maverick, Karestian and myself.
“I suppose we should be practical about this. Is there any way back out of this river the way we came?” I asked the boys.
Karestian waded over to the cliff that from this side appeared as smooth as glass. He placed his hand on it.
“Not from here.” He mumbled.
Karestian turned and gazed down the river.
“It looks the same the whole way down…” he added, his slender shoulders slumping.
“Then the only way out is to follow the river. Perhaps if we tie ourselves together…?” Maverick suggested.
I nodded and ripped the laces out of my boots. I tied a loose loop in one end and slipped it around my waist. I passed the other end to Karestian who attached the other lace and did the same.
“It will hinder more than help if we are all tied together.” Karestian mused.
Maverick nodded.
“We pair up then.” He stated in agreeance.
With bootlaces and strips of material from the girls’ dresses we managed to harness ourselves into pairs. In Zasettes case, she and Zhallwan were tied to Asichi.I took Karestian’s hand and turned toward the dark castle-like smudge on the horizon. Each slow step through the thick water sent me in deeper to the mud at the bottom. Soon enough, the water reached my chin, and the mud came up to my thighs.
A sharp tug on my ankle pulled my waist deep into the mud. Stuck below the surface, I struggled wildly, my eyes open but discerning nothing in the murk. I flailed my arms, trying to get free, and brushed up against something cold. I recoiled as a partially decayed human head moved toward me. The decayed jaw was working mechanically. I turned my head and felt the teeth latch on to my shoulder. I felt the clammy skin against my own. With the last of the air in my lungs I screamed.
I was hauled out of the water by Karestian, who held me in his arms. I screamed again and buried my face in his neck. He murmured unintelligible words to me as I sobbed.
Maverick cursed and reached under the water. He pulled up the head by its thin white hair. The jaw was still working up and down. He smashed the head against the side of the river. The skull shattered, the pieces falling back into the river.
Karestian and the others waded on toward the castle, that seemed to be getting no nearer. Still shaken by the attack, I wound my arms around Karestian’s neck and took the opportunity to look at my surroundings. The river was completely flat and the same dull green as far as the eye could see. Unidentifiable shapes breached the surface every now and then. I couldn’t help but shiver at the thought of what else could be lurking down there.