Mimi, The Queen

Thousands of years had passed, as I stirred honey into my tea. I sat at the table behind the wall, while Mark cheerfully took a sugar cube from the holder. He had just joined me, while V1 used his points for a break set to last a few months. He was mildly upset until I told him that his time wasn't counted as a break while Mark was here. He became even more understanding when I told him Mark was going to be his boss.

I sipped the tea, adjusting it to taste better than it ever would in the real world. Mark sipped at his, before staring at the night sky with a happy sigh. "You've done it again, my Queen. I never thought such a thing was possible, and yet here we are."

I gave a small nod, "I was surprised you accepted the invitation. I thought you would decline."

Mark raised his cup to the stars, "I could hear the whispers and screams coming from your domain. I was afraid at first, but then something told me to join. A mental coin toss, and here I am. I can spare a few seconds to witness yet another miracle."

I gave a small huff, "I'm not a goddess, I'm still very touchy about being called that right now. All of this was just because some idiots wanted to be fanatics and ruined what I had going on."

Mark slowly shook his head, "You are more than a goddess, you are the Queen." He swirled the liquid in his cup, before drinking it all in one go.

I crossed my arms, "That doesn't make sense."

Mark chuckled, "I suppose it doesn't, but you do more than the gods themselves." He poured himself another cup. "At any moment you could just recede into a place like this. You could slumber, and have everything you possibly want, yet you don't. Why is that?"

"It's because I know this isn't real. Everything I do here doesn't truly matter, and it wastes resources I could have used to feed the Hive. Wonderland is a place for those weary souls to rest and recuperate, this is just the tip of that. Deeper into my mind lays the true Wonderland. A place without hunger, or fear. A place I have made for my personalities, and even you to enter after death. It could be your final resting place, or just a stop before entering your new body. The choice will always be yours."

Mark smiled at me, "The gods are more interested in making different hells for their domains. You on the other hand are making a place of rest and wonder. While the gods slumber, you are walking upon the land, spreading your influence. Even with these vampires that have attacked you, your first thought was to pull them into this space and forge them into something capable of serving you." He gestured at V1, who just kept still and tried to not be a part of this conversation.

"It is kind that you feel that way." I sipped that last of my tea, before making another cup.

Mark tilted his head, "You feel this is wrong?" I let the memories of everything that led to this point flow into his mind. He tilted his head back with a sigh, "I see now, you feel a little pained because Richard is still trying to break his bond with you. That pain just festering and lingering, while you have endured all these countless years. Silently you hope, and wait for him to realize the true intentions behind your actions. Almost like praying, but there is none for you to pray to."

A small sigh escaped my lips, "Not quite to that degree, but it does hurt. It would be so easy to just train these vampires to slaughter the entire village. To turn those I feel might hold value, and have them obey my every command. The only issue is that the king of Eclipse would take notice, and potentially put a stop to me."

"I understand that, my Queen." He took a sip, while I raised a brow. "Sometimes, I look at the people in my village, and my mind wanders. I see them covered in blood, or their heads gone from their bodies. While I sleep, I have nightmares about violating every man, woman, and child. These are the thoughts I keep from you, and that you have been gracious enough to allow me to deal with them." I felt those memories come from him, confirming what he said.

"I wasn't aware, why are you keeping these from me?" I put the cup down, to truly look at him.

Mark gave me a warm smile, "Everyone has bad thoughts, but the fact that we don't act on them makes us better people. I realize that I can't get rid of them, so I refuse to let them control me. It's always been like this for me, even before I was a vampire. It's kind of why I was able to crush the heads of those three. I wasn't sure if I was in a nightmare or not." He looked down at his cup, his complexion growing darker, "Before you both came, I just thought I was stuck in a neverending nightmare."

I put one of my hands over his, "You said you were healed. That the trauma that haunted you was fixed. Why would you lie about that?" I felt confused, but he was proving himself a worthy investment. This level of compassion was the least I could show him. I didn't understand why he would keep this to himself, why he wouldn't ask me to help him fix it.

Mark held my hand, looking into my eyes. "You did, my Queen." His words were genuine, "I am eternally grateful for you helping me. Some things just can't be fixed. I realized that towards the end. These terrible thoughts, they are as much a part of me as I am a part of your wonderful Hive." Mark will not make ghouls going forward, I sent that with most of this conversation back to the Hive version of myself. "I can only imagine what terrible thoughts you have, my Queen."

It felt as though he were asking me to share, I wasn't sure what to tell him. I looked down at the cup, filled with warm tea. "I don't have such thoughts, Mark." If he was being honest, I should return it unto him.

Mark held my hand a little tighter, "You don't have to share if you don't want to, but I promise to not say a word of it to anyone else. I won't think less of you."

I looked into his eyes, "I don't have those kinds of thoughts."

He shook his head, "You never thought about eating Richard?" He tried.

I paused, slowly nodding. "I have, and the conditions haven't been met for that to happen. He isn't on the verge of death where I cannot save him, and he hasn't hurt the Hive in an unforgivable way."

Mark smiled, "See? You do have bad thoughts. You just reason them away or set stuff up so that it takes something very specific to make it happen."

"The difference is that I wouldn't feel bad about killing Richard, or eating him if the criteria were met. If he asked me to do so, then I would grant his request after some intensive questioning." I smiled back at him.

Mark nodded, "You would feel bad though."

"No, I wouldn't."

"Yes, you would." He kept smiling.

"Again, I wouldn't."

"But, you would."

I let out a sigh, "I suppose you can explain how I might feel bad, by all means."

Mark bounced in his seat, "You haven't killed him yet, even though he hurt you." He said with complete confidence.

I pursed my lips, just staring at him. As if that explained anything, I slowly shook my head. All answers mattered, and I had yet to understand Mark's. While he was willing to explain, I must endure to come closer to his answer. "I admit, he is hurting me. Everyone I accept into the Hive has hurt me at some point at another."

"Even me?" Mark sounded apologetic.

"Yes, even you. It was less violent than most, but repairing your town cost me the time I could have spent traveling. You have to take the pain, to reap the benefits. Then there was the slight emotional pain of accepting you into my Hive against your will, after I had thought you were trying to betray us. My apology was helping you with your trauma, and you forgave me."

Mark frowned a little but nodded. "Yeah, that was scary, but I also hurt you by thinking you were a monster."

"I am a monster." I leveled my gaze at him.

Mark shook his head, shrugging it off. He had no fear towards me, and it was almost as frustrating as it was concerning. Everyone acted based on fear, including me. "You're not a monster, you're just a scared Queen that doesn't know who she can trust."

How? I stared at Mark. I hadn't shared my thoughts with him, yet he brought up fear while I thought it. I moved to protect the Hive because I was afraid of letting it die. I wanted to become stronger so no one could threaten what I held. There were times that it wasn't solely fear, but they weren't very common. I even used fear to manipulate others. Even Richard feared me, he knew what I was capable of. He stayed by my side because he feared being left alone.

"Just like you." Mark nodded his head, while I squinted at him.

"How are you doing that?" I tried to demand, but I wavered. I knew he wasn't keeping secrets from me, and yet he was able to say those words at the perfect time. How?

Mark smiled and shrugged, "I hear whispers." He said, as if that answered everything. "The more you care, the more you have to fear. If you can't handle something yourself, you're worried no one else in the Hive will be able to. You have so much to lose, and that fear makes you hesitate. You want to view yourself as a monster because it justifies the awful things you have to do. I can't think like you, nobody else can because you're you."

"You're talking to a Hive mind that can take in the memories of thousands of your kind, and you still say I am not a monster? I will grant that no one I have met can think as I do, but does the inverse apply? Are you suggesting that I cannot think like anyone else?"

Mark nodded, "Yep."

I lowered my head, knowing I could replicate the minds of others and come to their conclusions. It wouldn't count, because they were a separate entity, simulated, by that point. "I should just sever my bond with Richard, then. There is no point in trying to understand if I cannot think like your kind."

Mark shook his head, "You can think better than us though. You want answers, and Richard helps you find them. I want to make a bet."

I looked at him, feeling more exhausted during this talk, than training all these vampires for thousands of years. "Let's hear it, then."

"I bet Richard won't break your bond when I tell you to try and break it." Mark chuckled to himself, no doubt thinking of something very strange.

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"Very well, I will try to sever it at your request. It is better than letting the pain continue to linger, after I already have his answer." I smiled at the vampire.

Mark laughed madly, "What are you not getting?"

I pulled my hand away from him, "You mean, what do I get when I win?" I know Richard, he'll sever it the moment I want it severed. Especially now, he wants to get away from me. He wouldn't dare keep our bond, but now I had an excuse to let him squirm. "You'll turn into a jitterbug, just like Gray. You'll become closer to my Hive since that's the only thing you might refuse to do from me."

Mark shrugged, "I don't want them singing in my head, but it's a shame that won't happen. I want to kiss Richard on the forehead while he's asleep. When I win, I mean. Sometime, somewhere in the future."

What an odd, person. I just nodded my head, "Very well, the accord is struck." I sent the 'bet' to the Hive version of myself. The rest of the time was spent chatting about what kind of vampire Mark was. I would visit him on the way back. Unfortunately, Rose was behind the walls of Eclipse when I entered her garden. She didn't show up to chat or suggest anything. There was always tomorrow, however. Another chat with Mark, and I slowly spent the ten hours of the real world perfecting my elites.

All of the bodies would immediately jerk awake as soon as the sun set, and I would rejoin the rest of my being. All the important memories were recorded, and the experience was largely wiped away like most other long sessions. New ideas were preserved to be tested at a later date. We were whole again, and only time would tell if any new personalities would emerge. The bugs making up Rose's garden were quickly expanding my soul's power, and I no longer had a safe way to strengthen my vessel. I resolved to deal with it, after trying to sever my bond with Richard.

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Di'Rex

We spent hours practicing with bows, and lances. Mom was enchanting a few silver daggers to explode for Jack to throw, but I knew I couldn't prepare these people in a single night. They weren't fighters, they were farmers. Most of them were only spurred on by seeing their children come back, but those without could barely be assed to reinforce the walls. Their bodies were tough from all the hard labor, but their magic was lacking.

Sure, they could use magic for day-to-day life. Making the well's bucket a little lighter, using fire to light a candle or torch and make it brighter. The dirt users would plow the fields without the need for Bew or other beasts of labor. Even the damn wind elementalists could cool themselves off while harvesting so they might work just a little longer. They were used to farm work, not killing or fighting for their lives. If Dixon was right about the numbers, we'd be overwhelmed if our defenses didn't hold.

Light sparring was all I was willing to risk doing. Thankfully, the vampires weren't spotted by Dixon. He had been yelling nonstop from where I hung him a few out in the fields. He would have been screaming bloody murder if the vampires came, and I didn't feel like trying to cut Mimi's silk. Our priest Matthew came over, after spending the last few hours with Richard. He held a grim look on his face. "It doesn't look good."

I rolled my eyes, "I knew that, but I don't need it to be pretty. Did you at least figure out what made him break down?" I looked at the villagers starting to stare at me. "Did I say to stop firing those damn arrows!" They pointed them to the sky, letting them rain down on the spots I had marked. They'd hesitate if they saw the faces of the vampires, so I decided to use the wall as a way to keep that from happening. They'd just point up at the sky and fire. It was sloppy, but it was the best I could do. I had Jack off to the side dipping silver arrowheads in liquid garlic. We'd switch to them if Dixon started to scream.

Matthew sighed, "I doubt the vampires are coming tonight, surely it would be better to let everyone rest?"

I stared at him, "Every hour we can spend having them train, for now, is another hour they can sleep during the day. I'm surprised you even let Dixon start worshipping that monster."

Matthew shrugged, "The church of Death doesn't care what the locals worship, only that the bodies are cremated. I've spent my time hunting the undead and their ilk, but this will be the first I'll take to the fields against an army."

"FIRE!" I shouted as the others let loose another volley. They were getting a little better with every volley. "Good thing you'll be on the walls raining fire down on them. Now, tell me about Richard." The forty villagers got ready for another volley, most of them done groaning since I made them fire another five every time I heard a complaint.

"Aside from being a crossbreed, he blames himself for everything the monster has done until this point." Another volley at my command, "It is worrying that the creature can control vampires, but if the bugs inside them are alive I see no issues as far as my church is concerned. The boy sees the vampires as people, and cannot be persuaded otherwise." Yet another volley, even while Matthew made a disgusted face. "Worshipping monsters is one thing, but thinking undead are people? If he wasn't important to you, I would have beaten him until he understood otherwise."

I shrugged, "Glad to see you're still a racist old bastard." I looked at the others, "FIRE!" I turned back to him, "He won't ask the monster to help?"

Matthew shrugged, "Said he had to ask genuinely, or it would get more upset. He's going to try and help defend, but those eyes make me feel like he's given up." Just a few more volleys, and we'll be done tonight. "I don't recommend letting him out of the room, though it might not take much convincing to keep him there."

"FIRE! JUST A FEW MORE!" That got a couple of cheers and made them hurry with reloading. "Tell him to just stay inside, we'll defend ourselves. I don't want him feeling worse than he already does." Matthew nodded as I gave another order to fire. "I mean it, Matthew. The monster Dixon pissed off could probably deal with the army herself."

He smirked, "That strong? A fiend would struggle against such numbers." He didn't believe me but paused as I shouted out for another volley.

"LAST ONE! FIRE!" The arrows loosed, the ground ahead covered in the ones from before. "A fiend can't use magic, while a fiendling can. If the vampires are dumb enough to attack her with their minds, then the battle is already over. We're done here, please don't fuck this up."

Matthew scoffed but turned to talk to Richard again. I didn't have time to deal with him or Richard. I didn't deserve to ask for help, after what I tried to do. I faced the forty villagers, the only ones still capable of fighting. The others either oracles, too old, or crippled too much to use a weapon. "Sleep with a knife under your pillows! Tomorrow we feast, and prepare for what might be our last day! I'll do my best to keep you bastards alive, but it depends on you!"

The villagers didn't cheer, grim looks stuck on their faces as they started to go home. I sighed, walking over to Jack who had a decent pile of arrows beside him. "Halfway there, you're doing great."

"It stinks." He stuck out his tongue but didn't complain beyond that. There was a spot on the top of his head that appeared darker than the rest, the spot I slammed a branch over his head. It messed up his thinking, but there wasn't anything I could do to fix it. He usually wore a hat, but he always took it off whenever he got frustrated.

"You're tired, go get some sleep." I put a hand on his shoulder.

"The vampires are coming." He fidgeted, his speaking always getting worse when he was tired or angry. "The monster won't help us." He slammed his hand against the table.

"Yeah, but she didn't kill mom. Now more monsters are coming to kill us. Just like in the woods. You need to sleep so you can hit every dagger between their eyes. I'll finish the arrows." I rubbed his back.

Jack got up with a nod, "Okay." He put his fur cap back on, "You sleep too, right after." He looked me in the eyes.

I nodded, "Sure, now get out of here, ya git."

Jack smirked, "No, you're the idiot. I'll see if mom will cook breakfast."

I smiled back, as he left me there. I got to dipping every last silver-tipped arrow in garlic juice. It should bake in the sun and make a fine coat of slime that poisons the monsters. At least assuming they are from a bloodline that can be hurt by silver or garlic. I wanted those bags of rice atop the walls so I could drop them just in case. Any vampire taken out of battle, was another life I might save. Two hours passed while the night stretched on.

I got up after spreading all the arrows out on the table. It was enough for three volleys, and I was glad mom kept them in her stash in the basement. She would have carved runes, but we didn't have enough time for that. I got up, heading out the gates to retrieve Dixon. He was still bound and hanging from the pole he was hitched upon. The bastard had actually fallen asleep, so I kicked the pole making the idiot fall onto the ground. He woke up screaming.

I unsheathed my dagger, putting it to his neck. He went quiet real quick. "Did you break something Dixon?"

He whimpered, shaking his head. He was a pathetic excuse of a man and an even worse leader. I pulled my dagger back, putting it back in its sheath. Dixon had the audacity to speak, "W-we're going to die."

I picked him up, half dragging him, half carrying him. "You can't see anything unless it's more than two weeks ahead," I grunted as I kept heading towards the gate. "You're lucky the vampires didn't come tonight, or you would've died."

Dixon shook his head, "No, you don't understand. I see the darkness! I can't see anything!" His voice broke, as he started sobbing, "We're going to die!"

I started to say something when I heard deep thuds on the ground. Those thuds continued for two steps, before going silent. Then I saw Mimi standing at the gate, carrying the wicked-looking wagon above her head. The wheels weren't touching the ground as she stood up straight her stingers spread out to push against some colorful beetles. Her upper arms held the entire thing above her, while the lower ones were crossed.

She looked down at me, as I dropped Dixon. My heart sank even more, "Where are you going?"

"I'm heading towards the city and any other villages along the way. If I meet an army of vampires tonight, I'll deal with them. If I don't, they are your problem." She took a few silent steps towards the South.

"What about Richard?" I choked out, desperately hoping it would somehow change her mind.

She flicked her ears, turning to look at me again. "What about Richard?" She glared at me, "I already told you, without him, I don't have a reason to care for your little village. The teleporter is in the storehouse, and I do have a nest. It's waiting there for your mother and brother. Richard is trying to break his bond with me, and you have no idea how much that hurts. Everything I built for him, just gone because your little chief made him think I converted an entire village into vampires and ghouls. That I then turned even those vampires into my own."

Dixon struggled in his bindings, "Please! We'll do anything! I didn't mean for this to happen! I wouldn't have told him, had I known! You must believe me!"

I looked down at the ground, kneeling. "Please... I have nothing to offer you but my life. You may do with it as you please. You may eat me, and I will accept that. You may sell me into slavery, and I shall bear it with a grin. Everything that I am, just save these people."

I kept my head low, not even looking up as she approached me. "I gave you a chance, and you sought to use Richard against me. You tried to convince him to force me into helping your pathetic little village. You speak of honor, and yet all I have found from you was a coward willing to use a broken man as a tool instead of helping him as I asked. You are worthless, and I refuse to even eat your flesh. There are other orcs out there, so you can die here."

"I understand, then I shall seek an honorable death on the field of battle. Thank you for not killing my people." My heart stung from her words, but every one of them was correct.

"There is no honor to be had in this battle for you." What? Her words were like daggers, forcing me to stare up at her. She glared down at me, letting venom tip each syllable she spoke. "You are a fool seeking honor where there is none. This battle is an attempt to clean up a mess the people you seek to save, have caused. Had they not taken such foolish actions, there would be no battle. Had you sought to beg me to use the teleporter to take your people to Luf'Ard, I might have considered it. Now it is too late because you knew deep in your heart that I would save your mother and brother to spite you. You condemned everyone else to death in a battle without glory when they could have escaped and lived. But, you never saw it as that, did you?"

Her words carved deep into my chest, as I opened my mouth to refute them. Nothing came from my lips, no words, no rebuttal as I realized she had been right. In my hubris, I had forced those I sought to save, to fight an enemy they could not hope to win against. An ice-cold chill ran down my spine.

She continued, "Still you are here, kneeling before me. You didn't think to put Richard in the teleporter, because you had hoped to use him still. You still hope that his mere presence is enough to motivate me to save this place. That is why you asked me about Richard. Thing is, even while Richard is sniveling and lamenting about the things I may have done, he is still thinking of others he doesn't even know. He weeps for the tragedy he perceives, whereas you weep for not being able to prevent a tragedy. You have no right to ask me to save this place, you have nothing to offer me, and yet you still beg despite the debt you forced on another. Had you repaid that debt, I might have respected you enough to listen to your pleas. Now? I move only for my interests. Pray they align with your own."

Mimi walked away, as I stared at the ground. I couldn't speak, I couldn't refute her words. I had been a fool, seeking to create honor where there was none. I had sought to force myself into the debt of another without first repaying the debt I had forced upon Richard. I got up, unable to hear the prayers Dixon was muttering. I carried him gently because I was perhaps less than even him. I barely remember grabbing the sheers to cut the man free.

The last hours of the night were a blur, as I barricaded the gates. I kept watch, while the others slept. The night gave way to the sun slowly rising. I closed my eyes, passing out where I stood. I would die without honor tonight. If nothing else, I would try to get the others into the storehouse. I would have my people ask to be teleported to safety. They were all I had now, and like a loyal hound, I would die for them.