The King's Concubine

“Mother, I’m sorry,” Serena began, walking slowly behind her mother, doing her best to repair the ripped bodice of the dress and keep it closed around her breasts while she walked. She knew it was useless and it was almost unfixable, but she still wanted to hold on to a bit of modesty when she entered the clearing.

“Why are you sorry?” Lena nearly laughed at her daughter. “Sexual curiosity is a natural part of life, and you being my daughter, it is no surprise you wanted Hanzori.”

“What do you mean, mother?” Serena resigned herself to just holding the bodice closed and followed her mother, her arms wrapped around herself in what looked like a hug. They were coming closer to the clearing with every step. Serena recognized the way the water was starting to recede back into clear rivers that were not engulfed with trees at every inch. She was beginning to see the sun shining through, and she was noticing the many pairs of eyes that looked out at her from behind the trees multiplying.

“Serena, do not be so naïve,” Lena sighed. She stopped walking and turned on her daughter for a moment, nearly colliding with the sullied girl. “You know very well I use sex and power to get my way. Sex is something that is in your blood, just like the power of a true visionary. One day, when you do have sex with a man for the first time, you will know all that is within you. It is probably why your urge for Hanzori was so strong. You are eighteen now, and adult. Most women have come into their powers by adulthood. Your powers are screaming to be released.”

Serena looked up at her mother, catching the violet eyes underneath the blood-red hair. “You are disappointed that I have not come into my powers…” Serena realized, biting back her lips.

“Yes, and no,” Lena admitted. “I am disappointed, but I do not want you coming into your powers with the wrong man. Certain many may break you of your powers, certain men may not know how to treat you, and certain men can make your powers that much more awesome.”

Serena was suddenly horrified. “You want me to sleep with Orphen,” she cried out. “That is why you have kept me there! You are hoping that he will be my first!”

Lena let out a smile that tickled her lips. “I can not deny that,” she said happily, clasping her hands together. “Serena, you are a beautiful girl, and Orphen would be a fool not to want you. Besides, he is the one that I used to come into my powers.”

“Mother!” Serena cried, horrified. “That is disgusting! You want me to sleep with the same men you did!”

Lena ran her index finger over her daughters chin. “Only the ones who will give you power, my dear.” She turned on her heel and began walking towards the clearing once more. Serena stumbled after her, disgusted with her mother’s blind ambition. Serena had become just another one of Lena’s pawns in her hope of gaining more power.

The clearing came up like a grand castle in the distance. Flat land and many homes were built in the middle of the clearing. The clearing was the size of a town, and had the many amenities of a town. There were homes, a grocer, and a clothing store. Many other things could be found throughout the homes, but they were all things that were kept hush, for everyone within the clearing wanted to remain mysterious and anonymous. To those who walked into the clearing uninvited, all they would ever see was Lena’s cottage in a small little clearing. They would not see the actual size of the clearing, or the houses and many people who played about the land.

Most of the people of the clearing were like Hanzori, a were-animal trapped in the half-form. Most did not have the many human features that Hanzori had, instead have elongated snouts and limbs that stretched in abnormal ways. It left them as freaks to their world, and so they came to the Visionary Clearing looking for solace.

Three visionaries lived within the clearing. Lena, Trola, and Carinne. Trola and Carinne were lovers from long ago, but not long ago enough. Carinne was also Lena’s mother, and Serena’s grandmother. None of the women looked a day over twenty-five.

Many of the people in the clearing greeted Serena happily, waving to her and continuing on their way, knowing she never came for long any longer. Her visits had become less frequent and shorter in length with every year she grew older. She hoped that when she was finally released at twenty-one that she would be allowed to come back here, and know where to find it.

Lena took Serena into her small cottage used for her acts as a visionary and beckoned Serena to take a seat while she fixed a pot of tea. Serena could not contain her silence and she looked up to her mother with sad emerald eyes. “Mom, are you the reason the king is so… dark?”

Lena laughed and shook her head. “No my dear,” Lena said, turning the heat on the stove just to the right place. “Orphen has always been ‘dark as you say. His evilness is within his blood, just as your sexuality and visionary are within your blood. He was always evil and ready to attack at a moment’s notice. I just happened to be something else to relive his tension, instead of a body on his count of victims. He, instead, became mine.”

“Mom, please tell me you are not going to tell me of your first time with Orphen,” Serena said sadly, sick to her stomach.

Lena shook her head. “No dear, instead, I am going to tell you what I know, since that is what you came here for.”