“Where is Zorobo?” Kotoro demands of the guard at the prison gates. “I want to know where he is! NOW!”
The guard shakes his helmeted head and shrugs his shoulders. He maintains eye contact with Kotoro as he states his case. “Zorobo was given a special task by the Monoch. No one has seen him since this afternoon. If you wish, I can tell him you were here. Other than that, I don’t know how else I can assist you. I am not privy to Security Master Zorobo’s special orders.”
Kotoro folds her wings over her chest and glowers at the guard. She smirks and the resemblance between herself and Zorobo becomes undeniable. Her voice comes out raspy and ominous.
“You won’t have to tell him I was here. Our mother is watching my clutchlings. I don’t plan on leaving here until I have spoken with him. Now, be a darling and get me a blanket to sit on and some Spliflich Tea.”
_
_
Several hours later, Kotoro is seated cross-legged on the blanket. Both of her eyes are closed and she appears to be in a deep state of meditation. The guard from earlier that day marches away from the gate and confers with his replacement—who has just arrived. The first guard nods solemnly and returns to where Kotoro is waiting. He softly clears his throat.
“Master Alchemist Kotoro…Security Master Zorobo will see you now,” the guard says hastily.
Kotoro once again puts on her most sly face. “Will he, now?” She states with evident sarcasm. She climbs to her feet and fixes the guard with a stern stare. “Then, take me to him.”
_
_
Zorobo is once again at the trunk in his room. He removes a large bottle of green liquid and holds it up to the light. Kotoro swishes into the room just as he begins to lower it.
“Ah. Dear sister. Please join me for a cup.” Zorobo says with a wide smile. His smile slowly fades when he catches sight of the angry expression on Kotoro’s face. He opens his mouth to speak but is not given the chance. Kotoro rushes in his direction and slaps him across the face with a wing.
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“How dare you, Zorobo?! How dare you?!” Kotoro hollers into his stunned face. “You could never find it in yourself to be happy for me. You could never believe that Sotet was good enough for me. That anyone was good enough for me. But to use Sotet…To use me…For your political gain? That I never saw coming. How could you? Always spying on him. Always sending others to inquire about him. I thought you were simply being an overbearing louse. Now, I realize you were simply being a monster. And you wonder why you were passed up for Master Guardsman? Maybe the Monoch saw something in you? Something which truly sets you apart from every other shrike? The knack for unbridled cruelty.”
Zorobo shows great restraint as he gently places the bottle of liquid on the table. He reaches into the trunk and pulls out a second bottle. The bottle contains a small amount of amber liquid. Zorobo holds up the bottle to Kotoro with a blank stare.
“I’m almost out of energy elixir, dear sister. Do fetch me another batch. I’ll expect it by tomorrow morning. I have work to do for the Monoch.”
Kotoro snatches the bottle and leans further into Zorobo’s personal space—their beaks nearly touching.
“You will regret what you have done, Zorobo,” Kotoro hisses angrily. “My clutchlings will grow up without a father. And you…Will never be Master Guardsman! Mark my words, Zorobo! Never! No matter how many shrikes you lead to slaughter…Or to exile.”
Kotoro turns swiftly. In a flurry of feathers and robes, she is gone.
Zorobo glances down at the bottle of green liquid. Lifting it from its place on the table, he prepares to hurl it after Kotoro. Thinking better of it, he removes a goblet from the trunk and pours himself a cup of elixir. His eyes briefly glow a fierce shade of purple as he gulps down the liquid. A smile returns to his lips.
“No, dear sister. I think you are very wrong about that!”
_
_
Mrs. Middleton jolts up in bed. The noise repeats. Shaking her deeply slumbering husband, Mrs. Middleton tries not to panic.
“Jeff? Did you hear that? Jeff. Jeff, get up! I think there’s someone trying to get in the house.”
Mr. Middleton grumbles and rips the blanket off of his body. He sits up on the edge of the bed and uses his bare feet to feel for his slippers.
“For crying out loud, Beth!” He groans. “It’s probably that darn possum again. But yeah, I’ll get up and check it out.”
Both Mr. and Mrs. Middleton find their way through the house and out onto the front porch. The loud thumping does not halt the entire time. Mr. Middleton turns on his flashlight and descends the porch steps. He drops down on his knees and glances under the porch. The flashlight’s beam lands on a familiar face and he utters a surprised gasp.
“Oh…Oh…Oh my god!” Mr. Middleton mutters. His eyes are riveted on the sight in front of him and he repeats the phrase over and over. Mrs. Middleton drops down beside him. She follows the beam of his flashlight to what has caused him to flounder.
Nancy lies under the porch. She jerks to and fro; scratching and clawing at her hair, her face, her arms, and any other available piece of flesh. The deep gauges in Nancy’s skin range from still bleeding profusely, to dried and crusty. She has been at this a while. Nancy’s mother looks at her only child—and screams.