Act 2

Old Memories

Back when I had been a child everything had been so easy. I was after all Valerie Sherman, the one and only living heir to the Sherman fortune and the Arcana Future Industries Company. I was, like my father had used to say, special, not just because of my heritage but because of my very being. According to him I had the soul of a decade. I was the shining star on the sky of my generation.

What I decided to do would make or break millions of people. Sure, it was a tall order for a five year old child and my father had always been prone to... let’s say flights of fancy. At times his fervour and determination could get the best of him. But to the surprise of many – well, maybe not himself – the world deigned to prove him right. I was to be his special child of wonder and even back then he had already been anticipating it... at least that is what I had thought.

“Valerie! Come one you little rascal!” My caretaker called out to me. “Your parents are here! They just came back from their trip; don’t you want to greet them?”

Miss Braun was an old and ugly woman. And while she had never been as clever as me she made it up for with almost boundless tenacity. Which I simply didn’t understand, she was so... pudgy! And still that woman chased me almost anywhere whenever she thought I was behaving badly. I didn’t like her, or the little ugly dog she kept carrying around. Both of them smelled about the same anyway!

Ignoring her stupid crying I crawled deeper into the bushes around the estate. I loved the summerhouse; there was so much to see and so many things to discover, that no stay was the same. Back when I had been smaller I had found the large garden a bit scary, after all there were so many old trees and hedges that it was really easy to get lost but that all had changed one day. For I had discovered a secret about this place!

“You need to be reeeaaaaly quiet, Sally.” I whispered to my favourite dolly. “After all we don’t want that stupid old hag to find us!”

Slowly and carefully I crawled forward into the under-brush. A few sticks got stuck in my hair and my clothes were already all scuffed up but that didn’t bother me. My Dad would just buy me new clothes anyway. Not that I really needed them, I was fine with wearing the ripped ones, I never quite liked all the stuffy dresses. Once I had tried burning them with my mind... but instead I had set Miss Braun’s hair on fire. My ass had really hurt after that beating! She didn’t even believe me that it was an accident... or that I had done it with my mind.

“Pah!” I scoffed. “She is just jealous that I have cool magical friends and she doesn’t ... not that I am ever going to tell her about them.”

A lot of time went by as I tried to find my way through the brushes, hedges and brambles. Meeting up with my special friend wasn’t easily done! She was the very best at hiding herself, so that none would see her. But I had before and I was going to find her again! After all I was the most powerful and best...estes mage in the world! Papa kept saying so, so it must be true! Finally after what felt like forever I found the entrance to my friends home again.

A large tree deep in back, far behind the hedge maze. When I had first seen it from up close I had been very confused. It looked so different from when I had seen it while still in the garden. There it seemed like just any other tree but going through the bushes somehow changed it completely! Now it was a super big tree with lots and lots of insects and birds. Flowers were everywhere and everything was happy, beautiful and peaceful. And taking care of them all was my newest and bestest friend.

Her name was Arasenijel – I was incredibly proud that I could say it without mistakes now – and she was the prettiest woman I had ever seen! She was taller than my mother, just as tall as my father even! And her skin wasn’t at all like mine, instead it was green with many, many colourful petals growing out of it on different spots. Even her hair was super different, it wasn’t hair at all, it was actually plants too! A whole lot of vines and flowers that trailed all the way too the ground. She could even move them if she wanted to! Just looking at her filled me with happiness but the best things about her was, that she was so much kinder than my actual mother...

“Arasenijel!” I called out, happily running towards her. But before I could reach her my foot snagged on a dastardly root! I cried out, already expecting to hurt myself, when suddenly my fall was stopped by two soft vines wrapping around my chest and tummy.

“Valerie, silly child!” Arasenijel gently reprimanded me. “Do you have any idea how heartbroken I would be if something happened to you?”

The vines around me slithered off and instead my friend took me in her arms. I gasped in surprise when she casually picked me up, I hadn’t known that she was so strong! I couldn’t help but giggle as she lifted me high on top of her shoulders.

“Now, Valerie... what shall we play today? We could pet my birds, weave flowers into your hair, perhaps eat some snacks? I think I still have some peaches around...”

“Yes!” I called out excitedly from her shoulders. “Yes to all of it!”

The day went by quickly, between games, tasty treats and naps in the arms of my friend. Only as the sun got lower and lower in the sky I realised just how long I had away. If I didn’t go home now my parents would be angry!

“Seni, I think I need to leave now!”

“Really?” She wrapped her arms around me tightly. “Wouldn’t you like to stay a bit longer? I am so lonely most of the time and... hmmmm, if you stay I could teach you plant magic! You could do the same thing as me!”

“I would love to, really! But my parents-.”

“No!” All of a sudden vines shot out of the ground and wrapped around my arms and legs. Arasenijel kept talking but now her voice sounded all wrong, dark and scary! “You told me yourself; you love me! How mean your mother is, how your caretaker beats you! I would never do such a thing to you! Let me take care of you!”

“Seni,” I cried out. “You’re scaring me! Please let me go!”

“Sweet Valerie, just stay with me! Let me be your new mother! You could even become just like me! Isn’t that what you wanted last time we played?”

“You’re hurting me!” I screamed at her. I just wanted to leave, but the vines were so strong that I could barely move. I struggled and trashed, the vines dug deeper into my skin, her arms were like branches around me. Then suddenly, all my fear and anxiety broke out of me in a single massive blast. The wind roared like a beast and I was thrown to the ground, Arasenijel was no longer holding me. The birds weren’t singing anymore and the insects weren’t buzzing... instead when I opened my eyes I had to stifle a scream.

Seni was on the ground not far from me, dragging herself closer but I could only stare in horror at what was around me. The grass was darker now, like in a bog or swamp and the trees cast looming shadows. Yet most terrifying were the branches making up my friends toys, her decorations even the clothes and ornaments she was wearing... they were all bones. Everywhere I looked I saw bones or the remnants of animals and humans alike. Arasenijel was beautiful as ever but she was also just as terrible as she had been soothing before. Tears welled up in my eyes and I started running. Behind me I could hear the desperate pleading and begging of my friend, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop.

Screaming, sobbing and crying I ran and ran. I didn’t stop until managed to find my way back home. Once there my father took me in his arms, calmed me down asked me what had happened. I told him everything, of my friend and where she lived, of her sudden change and of the magical explosion I seemed to have caused. Throughout it all he was stroking my back and listening calmly, then once I was finished he carried me into bed.

I awoke in the middle of that night again. Loud near constant roaring and a strange orange glow outside made it impossible to sleep. It was so bright I almost thought it to be the sunrise... when I peaked through the curtains I saw the forest burning. Just at the edge of the woods several strange men in silver suits were pursuing a smouldering female figure. She was trying to run away, scared and desperate. Loud booming noises echoed through the night and the figure fell to the ground. The men circled around her, flames spouted from strange pipes on their backs... I could hear her screams despite the closed windows. I would not find sleep that night any more...

Arasenijel... she had been my very first friend and the very first to try and steal me away...

. . . . .

“No!” I screamed out defiantly, to my surprise not in mother’s voice but my own.

“Valerie! You’re awake! Finally!” A large slimy mass drooped over me, which only after a few moments I realised to be Adrienne hugging me.

“Ye- Yes.” Mother’s cadence came back quicker than I had hoped, as if I had only ever imagined to hear my own voice. “I’m awake. And apparently still alive. What... what happened? I can only remember my father, and then... fire?”

“Yes... you got the gist of it. I was still resting when he broke down the front door. I apologise that I couldn’t protect you High Priestess. It is a fault I will try to remedy.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Wait...” I interrupted her. “What did you just call me?”

“I don’t understand.” I could feel her confusion through the connection we shared. “I only referred to by you proper title. If this upset you I will immediately stop, your highness.”

“I- Don’t use that either!” I frowned, now truly upset. “No High Priestess, no your highness, or any other weird titles and sobriquets! I’m your friend, your partner, not some fucking religious figure! Mother be dam-.” My throat closed up in an instant and I could literally feel Mother’s disapproval. I cringed as a dissonant screech echoed through my mind. It got louder and louder until my head felt as if it would burst, yet it didn’t. Over several minutes I had to clench my teeth so as to not scream from the pain. Finally when it ebbed down I saw the blurry imagine of Adrienne staring at me like an emotionless puppet.

“As I was about to say, your highness,” She spoke but there was nothing human about it, no expression, no movement, not even her mouth was open. “The owner of the house, the male specimen you so heretically call “Father” broke down the door and with several other agressiv humans assaulted you. Your physical form suffered heavy burns before this one could escort you from the building. Would that be all or do you have any other questions, High Priestess?”

I could only weakly shake my head, too terrified was I of Mother’s display. I truly wished she’d stop using my friend like her personal puppet. Thankfully as soon as the spook had come, so it was gone again. Yet while Adrienne’s personality resurfaced and she quickly starting doting on me, I still had to wonder how much of that was truly her and not just Mother in an Adrienne-Suit. Despite my doubts about this whole situation I couldn’t think of a way to test it just yet, considering Mother was constantly watching me. Instead I turned my attention towards our current situation.

“So, Adrienne.” I addressed my fellow abomination. “We are as it seems residing in the sewers now? Any... hmm... I don’t know... better ideas on how to spend our time other than soaking in muck?”

“Yes!” She answered with her voice echoing all over the place. “Mother wishes for us to search for Clarissa, apparently she is in trouble or something else boring. Buuuut it does mean we get to go on an adventure!”

“An... adventure?” I truly hoped that every one of my eyes radiated my severe displeasure. “Why on earth would I go on an Adventure!? I spend my free time reading and studying! I don’t waste it going on “Adventures”, do you think me a child!?”

Someone must have recently shat into Adrienne’s brain... or what ever part of her strange biology did the thinking. But instead of realizing her own idiocy, she just smiled at me dumbly.

“Of course not, High Priestess! I would never force you to come with me, but if I go alone who knows what could happen! And if perhaps I meet the same fate as Clarissa, Mother would be incredibly upset... and then you would have to go anyways!”

I wasn’t even sure anymore which one of the two had planned this, no matter if it was Adrienne or Mother, it seemed like I wasn’t actually given a choice on the matter.

“Fuck. Fine, I’ll come along but don’t expect me to do anything.”

Begrudgingly I followed her down the sewers; I just hoped that my burns wouldn’t get infected… not that I was sure that I could still catch an infection in the first place. But apparently I would soon find out considering the cleanliness of this place…

. . . . . .

Tanya

I couldn’t help but wince as the cool disinfectant hit the cuts and bruises on my arm. Apparently my years as a personal bodyguard had made me go soft. Much to my chagrin I wasn’t the only one that noticed this.

“First time patching you up after what is it now… four years?” Ace grinned mischievously a loose hair freed from his messy bun falling in his face. “And now look at this! It burns a little and you shy away! Back during the Conflicts I would have never seen such a thing.” He shook his head in disbelieve, loosening more strands of hair.

“Now,” His face grew serious. “Wanna tell me who did this do you? Cause you didn’t do this yourself, at least not all of it...” His gaze fell onto the scars on my wrist, lingering on the singular fresh razor cut, barely scabbed over. He didn’t comment on it, he knew all to well what it meant, instead he just got up and hugged me. “What happened to you, Tanya?” His question didn’t seem rightly addressed at me, more like something asked into the void but it was clear how worried he was.

“I…” I stopped short, not sure how to even start. “Ace… before I begin I need you to know that what I am going to tell you sounds absolutely nuts.”

He nodded as a sign for me to keep going, he gave my uninjured hand a quick reassuring squeeze.

“Fuck… so, I got kicked from my bodyguard job and my former ward turned into a… fuck, I don’t even know, some kind of sexy tentacle abomination?” Seeing his questioning look, I sighed. “I guess it is best if I tell you everything from the very first day…”

Slowly careful to leave out the steamy bits I started retelling everything that had happened to me and Valerie over the last few days.

“So,” Ace said. “Let me get this straight. Your ten years younger Ward, which you should totally not have a crush on. Does some sort of fucked up ritual, under your care even, that changes her into a tentacle monster, her father who is the head of Future Arcana Industries tells you to literally “Fuck off and never show your face again”, AFI assigns her a new bodyguard who, unlike yourself, is a scary Corpo Soldier whose implants still work… and you think the best course of action is to shadow your barely legal crush, pull a gun on formerly mentioned Corpo, keep stalking your now tentacled crush, watch her get flame roasted, try to fight a whole group of Corpos and get yourself beaten up and subsequently thrown in a gutter?”

“Yeah,” I shrugged. “That just about sums it up.”

“And I am correct in assuming that is how you got all these cuts, bruises and a raging infection?”

“An Infection?” I exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes! Or can you tell me of another reason for this!?”

Ace pointed to the angry looking dark red welts around the cuts on my arms. The edges were wet and weeping clear fluid. I looked over at Ace confused.

“I didn’t even notice this! I mean shit, I feel completely fine, no fever or any pain really!”

“No fever you say?” Ace asked sceptical. “Because my thermometer clearly shows me otherwise. By the Hells, Tanya, your body-temperature is at 39° degrees. You shouldn’t even be walking about, in fact, fuck this! I am ordering you to rest and recover! You’re staying with Aliana and me today!”

“Ace… you know I can’t do this! I need to find Valerie, I can’t just let her run around town the way she is now! She might need me! Or she might get it into trouble! Anything could happen!”

“Valerie,” He said calmly. “You are a trusted friend and a great person. But if you attempt to leave this clinic without me, I will shoot you with a tranquillizer and drag you home. The only thing that will happen if you keep chasing after your super inappropriate crush, is you dying in a gutter. And can not, and will not let that happen! Do we have an understanding?”

“Yes, Doctor.” I sighed and leaned back in my chair.

“Good! Now I am going to finish dressing your wounds and after that I will cancel my appointments. Gods be damned, Tanya… every time the same with you.”

Half an hour later we were already outside; Ace had insisted that I be confined to a wheelchair and so I was now rolling along next to him. He had tried to push me but I would have none of that, it was already embarrassing enough that I looked like a cripple. I didn’t need people thinking me weak and pitying me! For Hell’s sake, I really did feel fine! Even if I seemed to have a fever, I didn’t notice it at all. In fact I felt stronger than ever; I was certain that I could easily take on that Sadiya and her goons. Sure last time had been… a bit of a loss for me, but next time I crossed paths I would crush them! A sudden scream next to me startled me out of my thoughts.

“Tanya!” Ace yelled, very much upset. “Snap out of it!”

“Huh?” I didn’t get what he meant.

“Please, clam yourself! No one is going to hurt you just... sit down again!”

I looked around; we were in a tram. How had we gotten here? And why was everyone looking at me? Why were they... terrified!? My gaze moved further, a young woman was clutching onto her daughter… several dark red spots dotted the girl’s face. She was constantly looking from my face to my hand. My hand that was still embedded in the window next to me. Large cracks spread from the my fist to the edges of the glass pane. Blood splatters covered much of the glass, my body and the surroundings. Apparently now both of my hands were injured.

Slowly I pulled back my arm; skin and blood stuck to the jagged edges and yet I didn’t feel any pain. I couldn’t even bring myself to care, instead I only looked passively at my mangled hand. It was fascinating to see the muscles and tendons move now that the skin wasn’t in the way. Blood dripped steadily down to the floor and stained my clothes in red but it was a lot less than I would have expected from such a drastic wound. I wondered if I should lick the wound clean? I felt a strange urge to do just so.

‘Would it taste good? Of course I have tasted my own blood before, but maybe it would taste better now?’ A small chuckle escaped me. ‘Such a silly thought. Why would it taste better now?’ My mind wandered back to the previous question. ‘Just how did this happen? I can’t even remember getting on the tram and definitely not punching the window.’

So lost in thoughts I barely noticed someone pushing me down into the wheelchair. I was still staring at my hand, thinking, trying to figure this out. Even as someone wrapped the wound in a bandage I lacked the awareness to know who it was, it must have been Ace, right? I kinda understood that we were going back to his clinic. Apparently I needed to get a scan for fractures or something. A sharp little prick on my neck was all that I noticed before the world began to dissolve into colours and lights.

I awoke… was that even the right word? I hadn’t been sleeping per say just kinda drifting in and out of consciousness. So perhaps it was more like, that I got back my bearing once I was already at the clinic again. The only difference being that this time I was cuffed to a bed. Both my hands were now covered in bandaged and my right, the one I had used to assault a train car, had been put in a cast, apparently I actually had broken it. Still, despite it being broken it felt surprisingly fine; before I must have been in shock so I hadn’t registered the pain, and right now I was probably on strong painkillers. It was the only way for me to make sense of my seemingly well being. Not sure what else to do now, I listened to the muffled voices coming from the next room over.

“How could you not know, Ace!?” A woman’s voice that was very familiar.

“She didn’t show any sign of relapsing! How was I supposed to know she would get an episode!?”

“Oh, no you do not get to weasel out of this, I saw the fresh scabs on her arm and you know very well how unstable she can be, especially if she has a crush on someone!”

“Alina, please...”

“No, Ace. You messed up and we will talk about this later. But for now I want to see my sister safe and sound. You were right with one thing, we are taking her home! No get out of my way, or, may the gods be my witness, your cock won’t see the light of day until Christmas!”

“I- I’m sorry Aliana. I should have called you earlier.”

The door to the resting area practically burt open and on came a tall and severe looking woman in her early thirties, her long dark hair was pulled up into a tight bun leaving her looking almost like a sort of military instructor. Which wouldn’t even be all that far from the truth as my older sister was in fact a Professor at the University of Amsterdam. Perhaps not for anything related to warfare, her field of study was actually Meta-Antropology, which as far as she had told me involved almost as much screaming. I never quite understood why that was. But despite her job for ever being a mystery to me I was more than happy to see her. That was, right up until the moment when I could smell her...