My Heaven
-Scarred Not Scared-
By Michael James
Part 1
She belongs to me
On a planet,
in a Roc slave market...
“Master, I don't mean to complain. But why do we come to the slave market when we are on this planet?” Shore asked Brig if it made him uncomfortable? “Well yes and no. I just feel out of place here.” Shore started to respond, when a slave owner shouted he'd give him 20 coffins for Brig. Shore looked at Brig, then asked is that all he was worth? How much was he thinking?
“I cant put a price on my lead general.” Brig stretched his hand at the guy. “No no Brig” he looked at his boss, then lowered his hand. “I think I understand your reluctance. I come here whenever I can because I look for soldiers, medics, anyone really.” Brig couldn't argue with him, people who are bad off. Would do anything for freedom. It was then Brig looked at Shore, with something that caught his eye.
They walked to a stall with a blanket and 1 slave. A girl who was really young. She was covered in scars and fresh gashes and her clothing wasn't covering the right areas. She was just sitting on the blanket with a collar on her neck.
“Excuse me” Shore said walking up to the owner. “How much?” He looked at Shore and was fearful. Telling him this was his last slave to sell. He didn't want to be held accountable if she couldn't do work right. What did he think was fair? “I have these.” He put a pouch of solid gold rings on the ground. He agreed to the price. “Brig, give me your shirt.” Shore wrapped her up in the shirt and carried her to his ship.
In his bedroom...
“What is your name?” She just stood still and didn't answer. “I'm going to have some women come in here and clean you up. They mean you no harm. Once your clean and bandaged up. I want you to eat and get some sleep.” She didn't make a sound or move an inch. He left her standing still as a stone, as Nadi and Jaylen walked in.
When they had got her all nice and clean. Jaylen asked her what her name was? Trash. Did she need to throw something away? No, her name was Trash.
Nadi shook her head saying “I remember being in slave markets with Shore. I don't think I have ever come across a girl this far gone. Little one, I know this will be hard to understand. You are safe here, so just try to relax.” She was looking strait at the wall this whole time, never moving her head. “Okay, there is a nice warm bed over there. When you start to feel tired, go and sleep.”
Both women stood up and left her in the bedroom. She stood still for a few minutes and then looked at the bed. A bit later Jaylen came back to check on her. She was snuggled up in the bed dead asleep. Jaylen put a bowl of fruit on the night stand then left.
2 hours later,
at Shore's ships entry...
“Yeah, I want to talk to the guy who has my slave!” Cotton was standing guard and smiled when this guy said that. “What are you grinning at puppy dog?”
“Nothing, I just don't get a lot of idiots here looking for trouble.” He was well aware who his master was. But Shore bought stolen property and he wanted it back. “One sec.” Cotton grabbed his necklace telling Shore someone was here to claim the girl. Shore walked out of a building a couple minutes later.
“I want my slave back, sir.”
“What is her name?” What? “The girls name, she never said it, well actually she hasn't said anything.” Her name was trash, now he needed him to turn her back over. “I'm not going to do that.” He drew a knife made from mortal steel. “That's it, your ace in the whole?”
“I'll kill you goat man if you don't give her back.” Shore grabbed his hand and crushed his wrist bone. The knife fell to the ground. He tried to transform in to a giant roc bird.
“Don't even try it!” Shore told him crushing his skull the same way. The slave standing beside him just froze in terror. “I can take you with us if you want to come.” He nodded his head and came aboard.
Part 2
Before my king
Outside Shore's room...
“Jaylen, how is she?” She was fast asleep all cuddled up in his bed. “I need to get my notes. Do you think I will wake her?” If he fired a cannon in the room she wouldn't wake up. Now she had a request. “Yes?” Would it be out of the question to put a death order on those who hurt her? “If you want to go hunt some creeps down, go ahead.” Jaylen smiled and left the ship with her friends. Following the scent of abusive men.
Shore walked in the room, the girl was dead asleep and looked very comfortable. He walked up to her and patted her head. She called him papa in her sleep.
“Yes, your papa will look out for you now.”
In the depths,
of the market...
“Look you psychopathic wolves. This is a slave market, we don't kiss boo boos when they get hurt. We hurt them when they don't obey!” Jaylen was in a brothel, Trash was in for a time. The owner made the mistake thinking he was immune from her. She pointed her gun at him and he yelled. “I was in my rights, you have no authority here. She fired the gun, and the bullet turned into a thin wire net.
“She had blood coming out her anus.” The net shrank in flame very quickly and ripped him into pieces. His bouncers were restrained by her soldiers. She elected one of them the new owner. “I trust you know what happens to men like your former boss.”
In Shore's room...
“NO... PLEASE DON'T... NO!” Shore was watching over her reading his notes. She spontaneously woke up screaming from a nightmare. Nadi ran in the room. She had soiled the bed with sweat and urine. She ran to the girl, and she grabbed Shore. Shaking with huge tremors while she cried. Her soaked shorts got all over him, but he didn't care.
“Nordica, its okay. No one is going to hurt you.” Nadi offered to bathe her and wash her clothes and bedding. “Give the girl a few minutes Nadi.” She shook so violently holding on to him. “Its okay... its okay.” An hour later she calmed down enough to get washed up. While in the baths, she asked Nadi if her new name was Nordica.
“Yes, I think it suits you well...”
2 weeks later,
in front of king Cyclone...
“Tell me general Shore, who is this girl, by your side?” He said she was his daughter Nordica. Cyclone stood up off his throne. Everyone took the knee, even her. He walked up to her and told her to rise. Nordica wasn't scared, she stood there in her dress like a robot. “I sense pain in this one, but I am glad Shie has another sister from your line. I will have an apartment for her while you go to war. She will be treated as nobility.” Shore told his grace he was vastly generous.
“What war will I win for you?”
“Some no name plant devil thinks he can claim my territory. While I am fighting a real enemy. I want his army decimated, and I want him to carry a scar from this defeat. Settle this matter in days, not weeks. Otherwise, other idiots might follow his example.”
“It will be done.” He told Shore that he would leave immediately. “Yes your grace.” He was given leave to stand and go. As he walked away from Nordica she grabbed him and spoke, to not leave her! “Nordica, where I am going is not safe.”
“No! Don't leave me!”
“The girl has made her decision Shore. Take her with you.” Shore told his king so be it. He walked out of the court room with her by his side. When they reached the planet in question she was instructed to stay where she was told. Brig was already with him so it was his duty to lead the war. Nadi and Jaylen were also there. Nadi was charged with Nordica's safety. No one in the army dared touch the young girl.
In another city,
on the same planet...
“My lord I have news about who has been sent to deal with you.” He laughed at the challenge being put before him. Who was this imbecile? “It's general Shore my lord...”
“WHAT!”
Part 3
A dark prayer
At the campsite...
“You stay in this tent, do you here me?” Nordica nodded yes. He left her with a children's book and a bed. He heard from his men that a messenger had arrived.
At the prisoner tent, Shore walked in. The messenger was not treated kindly. He came to ask them to leave. As of now, he had a rock in one of his eye sockets.
“Where is he?” The messenger cried that he was just a middle man. “Where is... Creg!?” He was on the other side of the planet. Please could he find it in his heart to show mercy? Shore told him yes, he would show mercy and broke his neck.
“Your orders my lord?” He told Brig to flush what enemy there was to his camp. “Yes my lord.” Shore looked to a small female Roc named Illusion. He had a special job for her...
Hours later,
in her privet tent...
“Hello little robin” said Mistress appearing before her. Nordica swore her soul in exchange to make her useful to her master. “Let me see if I understand you, robin. You are already my servant, since you serve Cyclone's general. Now you wish to set terms for it?” Nordica stood off her knee saying she wasn't laying down conditions. She was wanting to be of further assistance with a little help! “Little robin, I am astounded by your nerve. Do you not fear me?
“I have lost almost all senses of fear, Mistress. When a slave owner does unthinkable things to you. You would learn not to be scared, just scarred.” Mistress put her hand on the girls forehead and gave her gifts. Only asking what was the most horrendous thing ever done? “My master stripped me in front of wicked men. Then put me in a trunk full of scorpions. As I cried trying to get out. I heard laughter outside the trunk while they drank ale. After I was let out, the men had different fun.”
“I will see to it these men suffer a worse fate. After all, you are my subject and I need to look out for you.” Mistress Evaporated into flame. Nadi walked in the tent asking how Mistress was?
“You heard?”
“Nordica, the whole planet knows she was here.” Where was lord Shore? “I'm sure he is on his way back here right...” Shore spoke to Nadi telepathically...
“What the hell just happened!?” Nadi told him Mistress appeared before Nordica. “Why?” Because Nordica requested it. “You were supposed to be watching her. This little one has seen enough pain!” Nadi was afraid to answer him now. Her thoughts were he might put her to work in a mine. He could hear her thoughts. He assured her that she wasn't going to, but as of now she was a prisoner and needed to turn herself in. She dropped her weapons on the ground and went to a cage.
After Shore got back...
“Little one, why are you crying in here?” She just wanted to be of use to him. She didn't want her friend to be hurt because she did a bad thing. “Brig, let Nadi out of her cage and give her weapons back.” Brig bowed and went to do this.
Off on the planets,
other side...
“My lord, he has returned” Creg's eelkshie announced. He walked outside the capital building. His messenger was standing there holding Shore's head.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Lord Brig sends his dead generals head with an order.” Creg asked if Brig killed his master. “Yes my lord.” What did they say to each other right before he left for Shore's camp? “I'm sorry?” Surely he remembered their conversation. Remind him of this fact, so he knew he was who he was. “My lord, I haven't seen you face to face in years. Your eelkshie gave me your orders as your middle man?”
“Bring me Shore's head servant. For this news I shall reward you royally!” He walked up to Creg and handed him the head. Asking what of Brig's request? “I don't care what that stupid turkey wants. Cyclone will deal with him.”
Next thing he knew, he had been run through by his messenger. Or actually Illusion had done the deed. She turned to his armies. Telling them to lay on their stomachs. As she unclouded herself, an army of roc's appeared in the sky.
They made the mistake of thinking it was a fake presence. The army in the sky destroyed all of Creg's army before the forth day was over.
Part 4
Birds of blades
On Nordica's,
home planet...
“Ah welcome, I have many fine slave milady. What are you in the market for?” Mistress wanted to know about the scorpion box torture. “Well well, I didn't know it was that famous. I have many children that could amuse you in one.”
“That wont be necessary. I have someone in mind already.” She looked right at him and warped him into a coffin 6 feet under. That was full of scorpions. It even had a pipe going to the surface so he could still breathe. Mistress evaporated into flame. Leaving the slaves still chained up. One of them was near the keys though.
On Cyclone's home world...
A bolder was hurled through the air right at Nordica. She sent blade birds at it and sliced it into pieces. Now prisoners were coming at her and they were killed in seconds. Finally, Coast got in the ring with her. He could teleport faster than she could send her birds at him. The match ended with her spear to his neck. And a very deep cut on his spear arm. Deep enough that he dropped it before his could kill her.
“Stand down Coast” ordered king Cyclone. His injury healed just like an eelkshie's wound would. But it hurt a great deal worse than a regular injury. Shie was on a smaller throne next to her father. She was eager to be with her new sister.
“Father may we go to the spa now?” He nodded yes to Shie and she escorted Nordica to get her back massaged. Shore was dissatisfied and asked to be excused.
On top of a lighthouse deck,
listening to the stormy weather...
“You are displeased with me?” Mistress asked from a ball of fire that appeared in front of him. Shore was terrified, but he knew not to lie as well. “Tell me, did I mess up?”
“In all honesty, I was hoping to raise a daughter between wars. Not during them. Its true she is a perfect soldier. I just thought, she had seen enough pain.” And what did Breaker tell him about her future? “She shall save my life decades from now. If not for her, I would surely die.” Mistress herself appeared before him.
While she hovered in the air she asked. “Would you give your life to correct my mistake?” No he would not, because she never made mistakes. She was a deity after all. “Good answer...”
My Heaven
-The Sword of Heaven's Gate-
By Michael James
Part 1
2 little monsters
In King Cyclone's,
throne room...
“I know you like to collect rare objects and valuable items. But why a holy sword?” Shore asked his king if this disappoints him? “No it doesn't disappoint me, I'm just curious.”
“This sword has the ability to bridge a journey to heaven. With no regards to the staircase. Imagine what kind of chaos that would cause, my king.” Cyclone told him this was a concerning item. Except it must be guarded. Not to mention it would hurt him if he touched it. “I plan to bring Jaylen for that very reason.”
“Well I don't have any major impending wars. I give you leave to pursue your hobby, you may go.” Shore and Nordica got off their knees and went to Shore's privet study in the castle. But on their way, Shore bumped into Shie. The child he conceived with Sylvain.
“Father, I suppose you have no time to talk as usual?” Shie looked into his eyes and then at Nordica. The two girls did not like each other. It was even on both sides of jealousy. Just different versions of jealousy. Shore told Nordica to go wait in the study.
“Yes papa.”
“Shie I have a little time to spend with you.” Shie got on her necklace and asked one of her eelkshie if hell froze over. He didn't understand the question, was his response. “What would you like to do shie?” She asked him to play a strategy game with her.
As night fell...
“Nordica are you in here? Oh by hell's dark grace.” Shore walked in the room where there was blood splattered everywhere. As well as pieces of a poor soldier. “Sweetheart, you are misbehaving.” Nordica who had blood on her clothes and face. Asked how was his day with Shie? “Come on you need to get cleaned up.”
“Are we going to take a bath papa?” He told her she was.
When she was in the kings privet luxurious bath. Jaylen was arguing with Shore about being the one to reason with her in the hot water. Shore actually said he begged her to do this. It was inappropriate for him to bathe with her. She wanted a promise that King Irish would bring her back. If the little girl lopped her head off...
2 days later,
on an Eternity world...
“Ah welcome, what can I do for you?” A clinic doctor asked Jaylen. She put a crate down on the floor. In the crate was enough blessed gold to buy a practice 10 fold. “Come in the back, please bring the payment.” The people in the waiting room were very confused by the event. “Put the gold over there. I cant believe you had the nerve to walk around in the open. On a planet governed by gods.”
“Do you have it?” He looked at her in a most serious way. “Look do you have it or not?” He told her it was a family heirloom. But he was months behind on his practice payments and schooling fees. He wanted assurance the sword would not be destroyed. “Oh I can guarantee it will be polished on occasion. That's how well kept it will be.” He went to a safe that was as tall as a file cabinet.
“Be careful don't touch this weapon. If it makes direct contact with your flesh. You will end up in front of your own heaven.” He handed it to her wrapped in a fine satin cloth.
Out on the street,
on her way to the ship...
“Aren't you out of your jurisdiction wolf?” 8 idiot men followed Jaylen to halfway to the docks. She turned around and a piece of the sword flashed them.
“I don't mean any harm, I'm just running an errand for my master. Please leave me be” she said humbly. The 8 guys who intended to kill her apologized and walked away. When Jaylen got to the ship and went into Shore's house ship. She set the weapon on the dining room table. The moment she let go, its hold over her broke.
“Oh by the 5 great kings. Master you don't want to touch this thing. It makes you feel all snugly...”
Part 2
Trapped in heaven
After Jaylen spoke...
“Let me guess, you felt like you would never feel sad or angry again?” Jaylen nodded yes. Shore started laughing. I should have warned you about that I apologize. And I'm sorry to ask you to move it again. I need you to put it on my rack in a sword cabinet.” Very well. Jaylen walked towards the trophy room, with Nordica not paying attention in the hall. It happened so fast, but Nordica was sent to heaven when they stumbled into each other. Shore was mortified...
In Nordica's,
personal heaven...
She was standing on top of a lighthouse on the deck. Looking over a city that she knew before she was a slave. It was a city meant for Roc's in their human form with places to take off as giant birds. To her right was Shore standing beside her. Her almost robot personality dissolved and she opened up as a happy girl.
She took Shore's hand and they jumped off the deck. She used wind to slow their descent. Nordica ran to the neighborhood where she lived. Shore followed right behind. She came to her house and saw her parents waiting to welcome her home.
“My girl, its so great to see you again.” Nordica hugged her mother tight and then her father. She was more happy then ever in Shore's service. “Daughter, Totho is waiting for you at the park.” Nordica had a boyfriend long ago. He was a son of a noble family. They couldn't legally be together, but this was heaven.
“Papa Shore I'll be home for dinner.” She went to the park where Totho was waiting. He was dressed as a hood rat. Clothes made from poor cloth and had holes. He had a bandage on his nose. He extended his hand and asked her to kiss.
Much later into the evening, they were under a tree laying with him holding her. About an hour ago, Nordica started to feel weaker. She couldn't explain it, but she didn't care. Totho asked her if she wanted him to carry her home. The next thing she knew was waking up in bed with Totho at her side holding her soft, yet firm.
She heard a knock from the door and Shore walked in. He wanted to know if she wanted to stay in bed all day with her love? Nordica smiled and nodded her head. Turning over to bury her face in his chest. She did check to see if she had anything on. She was wearing underwear and he was too. She normally wasn't this exhausted, again didn't care. Little did she know she was in a fantasy, not heaven...
In the real ganta,
on Shore's bed...
“I'll punish you later, we just need to figure out how to wake her up!” Shore shouted with relentless rage. Nordica was being killed by a sword that was like a parasite. Jaylen was scared of Shore, thinking if Nordica died, she would too. Shore had been manic since the sword touched her. Then an idea occurred to Jaylen.
“Maybe the clinic doctor would know how to solve this problem?” Shore hesitated sending her out there again. But he was out of options. He told her to go...
At the clinic,
into the evening...
“You're back already huh. Let me guess that bastard boss of yours touched it?” Jaylen noticed there were a lot of strong men in the waiting room. She demanded an explanation. “Very well, that's fare. First... did your boss touch the sword?” No his bodyguard did. “Are you kidding me!? We put this plan together for months and we don't hit our mark!” Jaylen reached for her gun.
“Don't try anything funny. We could kill you before you can pop out one bullet.” Jaylen growled what was going on? “I'm a bounty hunter you stupid animal. I take pride in my trophy kills. The sword is a unique kind, I had it specially made for him. It drains an eelkshie's life force like air leaving a sinking ship.”
“And the best part, is that they are lost in a heavenly fantasy. The only way to break out of the trance is to willingly want to break out of it.” Jaylen wanted to know what will happen to her friend? “Body failure, once her strength is gone her body will die. Don't worry, there isn't any pain. Unlike what we are going to do to you.”
Jaylen pointed her gun at him. He started to laugh, asking what was her plan here. Kill everyone in her path who are loyal to the gods of Eternity?” She demanded an antidote for her friend, as she cocked her gun...
Part 3
The flaw
Back in her fantasy...
“I am so happy, I could just die.” Nordica said rubbing her head into his chest. Totho held her close like a lover would. Then she heard Shore's voice. He was speaking to her telepathically, Nordica told him she wanted to sleep now.
“Please, I don't want to lose you.” Nordica opened her eyes in her fantasy and had a moment of being clear headed. She sat up in bed and Totho asked what was wrong. She wanted to get up and get dressed. He was thinking of course he should head home anyway. When he got his clothes on and left. Nordica saw in a mirror her scars came back. Her eyes started leaking tears.
“No, I don't want this!”
“Nordica please you are going to die. You need to want to end this.” She told him why should she give up heaven? “Because this isn't heaven, it is a lie.” Nordica's mother called for her saying breakfast was on the table. It physically hurt her to believe this was a lie.
“No, I'm in heaven... I'M IN HEAVEN, DAMMIT!” She cut him off from communicating. Shore in the real world tried hard to get a hold of her again. He was told the flaw in the sword design. When Jaylen relayed the info by thought when the fake doctor told her. The flaw was telepathy, but with limits.
Speaking of Jaylen...
“You wont get away with this.” The fake doctor said with a spear in his shoulder. Jaylen put the barrel to his head. He started crying because he knew he was going to die. “I don't want to die, please I'm just a guy doing his trade.”
“So am I.” She pulled the trigger and definitely killed him. Now she had to get back to the ship without suspicion. “Boss, any chance lord Coast could come get me?” There wasn't a response.
In the fantasy...
“Totho.” Yes? “What was our favorite thing to do?” He told her it was to go into town and look at swords. Nordica looked at him and started to cry a bit.
“I'm sorry have I upset you?” Nordica knew that was her favorite thing to do. His favorite thing to do was to go to the launch tower and jump off. She hated doing that, but its what they always did. Nordica closed her eyes and thought her masters name really hard.
“Nordica?”
“Papa, I'm ready to leave this realm, what do I have to do?” He explained to her what the fake doctor said. When she opened her eyes, she started leaking tears. She wasn't showing signs of crying she just had tears coming out. “Papa, I am sorry for ignoring you.” Shore asked what her personal heaven was like?
“BOSS, I COULD REALLY USE SOME HELP HERE!” Jaylen screamed in his head. Shore reached out to Coast and asked him for a favor. Jaylen was taken to a cell and sat there for a long time. Until a little girl named Challenger with two arch angels arrived. Jaylen knew this was her master Silver's doing.
“Open the cell” Challenger demanded. The officer did as ordered and Jaylen was escorted 8 feet from the cell. When Coast appeared and grabbed her. If there was any confusion. Her cell and the space around it. Had a block for teleporter's to lock in on her. Coast was more than a light year away and couldn't find her until this moment.
Aboard Shore's ship...
“Boss...” Jaylen said on her knee. Thinking she was going to be beaten for her blunder. Shore told her it was okay. If anyone was to blame it was him for being fooled by the sword. “What are we going to do with the pieces?” When Nordica left her fantasy the sword shattered into pieces and lost its power.
“We are going to pay Gulf a visit.”
Days later,
in Gulf's smithy...
“Here you go Shore. They wont transport you to a fantasy realm, but they will kill an Infinity being. I recommend you don't touch the bullets at all.” Shore told Jaylen to take the bullet belt. She should save the ammo for a traitor. “I got something for Nordica as well.” Gulf handed her a ring that was to protect her from this and other trickery items.
“Thank you lord Gulf...” Nordica thanked with gratitude.