Spirit Wolf

Just One Bite II

Their walk back to the store was quiet and shorter than Nicholas had expected, signaling what little ground they'd covered in so much time. A quite disheartening thought. He knew that they'd have to try again tomorrow. When they arrived, the sun had lowered even further, and it would be dark soon. That was when the monsters usually came out - they were nocturnal. They thrived in the darkness. It was almost as if they even moved quicker in the darkness. As if they were more powerful. The thought made Nicholas shudder.

"There will be some clothes that way," Nicholas said, pointing toward a section of the Walmart that once displayed women's clothing. "I don't think clothes were on many peoples' minds when they came through here, because there's quite a bit left. Get you something comfortable but easy to move in. You probably know, but there won't be much time for outfit changing during the day. I guess we'll get up tomorrow morning and try traveling again - with, you know, less stops."

He pursed his lips, surprised at the sudden leadership abilities he'd developed since having to care for his little sister, and now a complete stranger who he felt entitled to protect.

"I have a sister and my mom is here with us," Nicholas said. "They're going to be-"

His words were interrupted by a scream and three gunshots, causing his mouth to fall open and his eyes to bulge nearly out of his head as he ran forward and rounded a corner.

"Alissa?! Mom?!" he screamed, skidding to a halt upon seeing his sister pointing the rifle at him, his mother behind her with two bullets through her head. He raised his hands defensively, dropping the machete.

"Alissa," he said quietly. She lowered the rifle, fear in her eyes. He repeated her name, not knowing what else to say.

"She came after me," the eleven year old sobbed. "I was scared."

"It's okay," he said shakily, on the verge of tears himself. He held his arms open. "Come here. It's okay."

Alissa sat the rifle down gently and limped over to her brother, embracing him as she shivered and sweated at the same time. Nicholas placed a hand upon her forehead and frowned.

"You've got a fever," he said. "You need to lie down."

"I'm scared," his sister said weakly.

"Just lie down and go to sleep, okay? Come on," he led her over gently to her bed and helped her lie down. When she tried to pull the covers over her, he pulled them away and shook his head. "You have a fever. You don't need to cover up. I'm sorry."

The girl whimpered but didn't protest - she didn't have the strength to. She curled up on her side, and almost within seconds, she was unconscious. Nicholas knew she wouldn't survive the night.

The Kingdom of Sayyar

There was no other option but for Aire to follow his mother out of the kitchen unless he wanted to be brutally interrogated in front of a lowly servant, probably embarrassing them both and leading to the servant's possible death. Before the door shut behind him, he turned his head toward the servant and though her back was toward him, he said in a low voice, "I'm sorry."

"What was that?" the Queen asked, turning to her son as they walked toward the dinner table, now filled with guests.

"Nothing, mother," Aire replied politely. The Queen merely smiled at him and patted his arm.

"You're going to make a fine young King. I've already got some lovely women in mind for you to take in as your wife." She motioned to a young woman sitting between Duke Rowlan Marche of Barboan and his wife, Aliana Marche. "See her? That's the daughter of Rowlan, as you can probably tell. She looks almost just like him - and he is a very handsome man, I must say. Look, she's looking this way, wave at her. Hello, Marietta."

The Queen raised a hand and waved at the girl, and Aire followed suit in an awkwardly forced manner.

"Anyway," his mother continued, turning again to him. "Rowlan has informed me that she's quite infatuated with you. Do you even remember her? It's been some years since they visited, I believe their last visit was before your father died, but you and Marietta got along just fine. Just fine!"

Aire sighed audibly, though his mother paid no mind. He didn't know how to tell her that he was not quite ready for marriage yet.

"And there's Rachel Wetherby - Micus and Fiona's daughter, from Ostrand. Oh, Fiona recently passed, and word is that the poor dear is getting ready to marry her father if she can't find a suitor soon. Wouldn't you like to save her that trouble?"

Aire looked at the woman in mind with disgust, then at his mother with an equally disturbed expression.

"Mother," he said. "Why do I have to marry someone from another kingdom?"

The Queen looked at her son with a shocked expression, as if his question was the absolute definition of preposterous.

"More power, more land!" she exclaimed. "More fortune! Don't you want to secure the future of this kingdom? We aren't exactly the most prosperous kingdom, Ellie, and it's a vital...vital must that you get married as quickly as possible! And I will not marry my own son. Oh, I need a drink. You wear me out, Ellie."

Aire cringed at the use of his childhood nickname, one he'd always despised due to its implication at femininity. Before he could protest the words his mother spoke, she was prancing off after a servant carrying a tray of wine glasses. Another huffed breath escaped him and he seated himself at the head of the table, his designated spot. A glass of wine was offered to him, and he took it. Never before had he drank a type of alcohol - but he figured he'd better get used to it. It was almost a requirement at royal parties.

Just One Bite II

The sun had since passed its peak in the sky and was beginning its descent once again. Nicholas couldn't believe how fast the day had passed - it seemed like just moments ago, he was preparing for the start of the day. Then, Alissa got attacked, and he'd had to patch her up. Then the whole, running into Mattie thing. Now this. It had been an eventful day - though admittedly not any more eventful than the past two weeks. It was beginning to drive him to permanent exhaustion, both mental and physical. He didn't realize that he was still holding on softly to Mattie's arm as they walked, and only realized it when he wiped his face with the fist clenched around the machete. He let her go.

"Sorry," he said, face burning and turning red. "I think we're just going to have to go back to the Walmart. I can see how tired you are, and I'm not much better off myself."

He rummaged uselessly in his pocket, finding nothing and not even knowing what he expected to find.

The Kingdom of Sayyar

In devastated embarrassment at the fact that he'd said the wrong thing, Aire's shaking hand rose to his face and covered his eyes. A slow, seemingly controlled breath released itself through his lips. The servant hadn't turned to him, but the irritation in her tone was apparent. Aire had been considered the most charismatic Jutes around the castle, but when it came to this one woman, he was royally screwing up. It frustrated him to no ends, and it almost made him want to forget the attempt he was making at being kind and forming any kind of relationship, platonic or otherwise, with this servant.

"I didn't mean it like that," he snapped, trying to keep his cool.

Again, controlled breathing. Something his adviser told him to work on when he felt particularly angry. Before he could continue further, his mother entered the kitchen loudly, making her presence known.

"Aire," said the Queen. "Shouldn't you be preparing for your dinner? I assume you do have a speech all sorted out. Alana was supposed to have helped you with that earlier this week. Poor dear's been under some stress since we had to dispose of her retarded child."

Aire cringed at his mother's words - the Queen never did have a filter for her mouth, even less since the passing of the King. She'd become overwhelmed by her own power, by the fact that not many people would stand up to her because everyone knew she was quick to hand out executions.

"And what are you doing in here?" she continued. "I've been looking for you everywhere, our guests have been watching me run around like a chicken without its head. I heard your voice in here. What are you talking to this slave for?" The Queen looked at the servant with disgust. "Hopefully putting her in her place. Look at her - look at that hair. Dear," she said, addressing the servant. "You really do need to find out what a brush is, and use it quick. I don't want you looking like such a hideous mess around my guests. Especially on this night before my son's coronation. Have you no brains?"

Nose pointed deliberately into the air with disgust, the Queen gestured at Aire with a dainty, manicured finger. "Come on, son. The other cooks and servants are arriving and you don't need to be surrounded by their filth."

Just One Bite II

"No, Mattie," Nicholas said in a frustrated tone, feeling as if he'd spoken her name in that exact way before. He was firm but careful in leading her over to a chair and sitting her down, hoping she'd stay sitting. "Just relax," he said. "Okay? Listen, I don't hear anything anymore. I'll see what they have, okay?"

As Nicholas headed back to the kitchen, he was careful to step over the body of the zombie. A shiver of absolute terror went up his spine when he entered the kitchen and found that the body outside was not the only one - there were over a dozen human bodies scattered around the kitchen, ready to rise and attack at any moment. Nicholas panicked, backing out of the kitchen and then turning to run out into the main room, over to Mattie.

"We have to leave," Nicholas told her, voice strained and panicked. He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the exit. "The place is covered with- with bodies."

The Kingdom of Sayyar

"No, I-" Aire assumed she hadn't heard him begin to speak again or either didn't care, as she'd turned away from him and began peeling potatoes. A thin, pale hand hovered over the servant's back as he longed to place it upon her if anything in a comforting way. He swallowed past a thick buildup of anxiety in his throat and took a deep, but silent breath through his nostrils. He was well aware of the servant's fears of getting dismissed from her work - most of them possessed the same fear, for the common way for one to be "dismissed" was through execution. The hand fell back to his side, and he looked around the kitchen, seeing no other occupants.

His voice lowered, and he spoke in a hushed tone, "You- You don't have to be so formal anymore." He chewed nervously on his bottom lip, eyebrows knit together in worry. "At least, not while we are alone. You- I mean, I was being very rude and unfair this morning - not-not that I'm supposed to be fair to mere servants, per se-"

Horrified at his sudden awkwardness, Aire sputtered and squeezed his eyes shut to get his mental bearings. When he opened them again, he said, "I am, uh, I'm glad you're feeling better."

Just One Bite II

Nicholas sputtered and screamed when Mattie practically launched herself at the thing and projected it off of him. He could only watch and stare with stunned, terrified silence as she slashed and slice the undead being into nonexistence. As a reflex, he'd scrambled backward, away from the combatants, fingers still tightly wrapped around his weapon and brain ticking and wondering if he needed to intervene. He was very honestly afraid to intervene - that Mattie might hurt him in her rampage. His body was trembling with fear. Then it was over. Mattie stared down at her victim with heavy, strained breath, while Nicholas continued to only stare at her. And it was at that moment he felt himself become infatuated with this stranger.

When Mattie looked over at him, his heart almost stopped. He didn't know what she was going to do next. Her clothes were covered in blood, and Nicholas knew that was not the best thing right now.

"Well," she'd said, voice shaking as much as his own limbs were. "I suppose we should move on."

She looked weak, then, as if that had taken every bit of her physical strength - and it very well may have. Nicholas quickly picked himself up and rushed over to her, one arm wrapped around her upper back in a supportive touch.

"A-Are you okay?" he asked, stuttering fearfully. "Are you- can you- I mean, you've got blood everywhere. We-We have to find you different clothes."

The Kingdom of Sayyar

The way the servant worked was flawless. Again, Aire knew nothing about her other than her general personality, so he wasn't sure how long she'd been doing work. In fact, he didn't know what all was her responsibilities in this castle. After all, there were many servants and he couldn't keep track of the jobs of each one. However it was apparent that she not only did cleaning, but cooking as well. Typical enough, though, he figured. Most females handled the inside and males the out.

Her tensing did not go unnoticed, making Aire feel a little guilty. He hadn't meant to upset her work, and hoped that he could stand there a few moments longer while she tried to work in peace. The sarcastic way she'd curtsied didn't even register or bother him much.

"May I be of assistance?" she asked, much to his surprise.

"No," he replied, voice softer than when he'd spoken to her early that morning. "I was hoping you were here so that- that I could apologize for this morning. I hope you are...feeling better," the last sentence came out more as an inquiry than a statement, and he peered at her with concern.

Just One Bite II

While Mattie quickly started for the entrance, Nicholas surreptitiously stepped in front of her with an ever-tightening grip on his machete. Again, he held it up like a baseball bat and pushed the half-open restaurant door even further open. This place had very obviously been looted - some of the tables were overturned, but other than that, it was in pretty good shape. If anything, this could be a better, secluded shelter for them to take refuge in. That would mean, however, relocating his mom and Alissa, and he wasn't sure if either of them were in the right shape to travel even a short ways.

Nicholas then eyed Mattie's knife, fully realizing that she had it and that it was probably best that she did instead of a meek slingshot. After the first few steps into the building, Nicholas extended his arm in front of Mattie as a signal to halt.

"Listen," he said, holding up his finger. There was a rattling in what he assumed to be the kitchen - too large to be a rodent, unless it was somehow super mutated. However, he supposed it could have been a dog or raccoon, but in these times, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Wait here," he mouthed to her - whether she listened or not wasn't rightly his problem. He inched toward the kitchen door, crouching down as if he were in some video game. What was he doing? Where did this courage come from? As if suddenly realizing who he was and what he was capable of, he began shaking and felt a whimper trying to escape his throat. Now he felt utterly ridiculous - what was he going to do? Spar with a zombie? He froze in his tracks and looked back at Mattie.

And the second he looked back, a member of the undead burst out of the kitchen door like a horror movie trying to pull a cheap jump scare. Instinctively, Nicholas screamed (a very girlish scream), but as he tried to rise and run, he tripped over himself and fell belly-first upon the floor. He flipped over as the zombie toppled on top of him, clawing weakly at his flesh with one single arm, as the other was missing. Snarling, gnashing teeth threatened to rip into his throat, and it was as if he'd completely forgotten about the machete he was wielding, instead pathetically throwing punches at the zombie with his empty hand.

The Kingdom of Sayyar

As somewhat of a surprise to himself, Aire managed to walk away from the servant without skipping a beat or even looking back. In truth, he felt horrid for the way he'd spoke to her. Though after all, he was royalty and she was, well, filth. Absolute filth. The only way a relationship between them could ever exist would be in his late-night fantasies. At this thought, his heart sped up and his palms started sweating as their skin collided in his head.

What was he doing? Thinking up a relationship with a servant. His mother would have his head. This was no way for a prince to be thinking, he could almost hear her speaking those words. There was not a person he could open up to about this conflict. Not a damn person.

Evening dawned all too quickly and Aire had managed to bypass most of his pre-ruler responsibilities - but alas the pre-coronation dinner was upon them, and for Aire not to attend would be close to blasphemy. His coronation would take place early in the morning, then before his mother completely gave her powers of Queen over to him, now King, a search would begin for a suitable wife for him. This almost depressed him. He wasn't well acquainted with any visiting royalty enough to call them friends or to even say he was attracted to them, yet soon he would have to marry one of the coveted princesses.

When he entered the grand dining hall, not many were gathered around the oblong, mahogany table. It would be quite a bit before the dinner began, and the ones who had seated themselves were socializing among each other. They would hardly miss him at the moment. Taking a chance, he slipped into the kitchen and made up his mind that if another nobility asked him what he was doing, he would simply state he was making sure the servants were doing their part well.

There she was, slaving over the range. The petite, ginger servant whose name he never remembered.

"Hello," he greeted her, in an all-too-polite and embarrassingly cracking voice. He cleared his throat nonchalantly and opened his mouth to speak again, but no words came out.