The woman made no move or gesture to avoid the bullet. The bullet just stoped midair barely a foot from her face quivering then collapsing into a flat unrecognizable bit of metal that clattered to the ground unceremoniously. “Hello Morgana.” Merlynn spat as if cursing the name. “Two years, no calls, no letters, no texts, and the first thing you do after not seeing me in so long is fire a bullet in my face. I feel the love, Lynn.” Morgana spoke in an emotionless tone as she adjusted her glasses. “Love? When have you ever cared about that Morgana?” Merlynn asked slamming her revolver into a holster at her side then with a gesture of willed it to disappear.
“Quite right. Love has never produced good results. Only wars, pain, and demon spawn.” Morgana spoke in a calculating tone. “Speaking of demon spawn where’s my little niece? At some bar slumming it up with the other scum?” Morgana asked knowing how Merlynn would react. “Leave Gloria the fuck out of this or the next bullet I fire you WON’T stop.” Merlynn cursed, her eyes flaring with intense anger. “Easy sister. I mean no Ill will.” Morgana chuckled which was unlike her usual demeanor.
“Why are you here Morgana? Why are you building Simulacra!?” Merlynn asked, her words fuming with more anger as she stepped closer to her sister. “Did my little Hiro give you that tidbit? I’m sure he’s had to have found you by now.” Morgana asked raising her pink eyebrow. Merlynn’s thoughts rapidly turned to Hiro two floors down curled up asleep. “I’m such a fool!” Merlynn shouted as she started to turn away. “Lynn! Fret not dear sister, I didn’t send him. He kept prattling on and on about seeing you since we were in town and I figured it would do him some good to get out of the house once in a while, so, I simply opened a doorway and gave him a push.” Morgana raised her voice stopping Merlynn in her tracks.
“You abandoned him. Don’t you dare, don’t you DARE try to tell me you did it for his own good.” Merlynn screamed quickly turning to face her sister. “I did Lynn, just like it was for your own good I left home all those years ago. Pathetic farm, what were ever going to learn there or dream of even accomplishing. Which reminds me we didn’t get the chance to catch up that day did we? Well I’ve got some free time now…” Morgana prattled on until Merlynn rage screamed over her.
“Don’t avoid my question!. Why are you building an army?” Merlynn asked her expression deadly serious. “An army? Why dear sister I have no idea what you're talking about.” Morgana slyly asked. “Cut the shit. I might not know if Hiro has ulterior motives or not, but do I know for a fact he hasn’t lied to me. Also considering Hiro is practically a simulacrum himself it’s not hard to perceive you making more especially since I’m sure your skill in the matter has more than likely matured.” Merlynn flayed her arms as she spoke in frustration. “You are correct, at least partially so. I am indeed making simulacra; however, their numbers are barely a squad let alone an army.” Morgana answered without hesitation.
“Why? What purpose do they serve?” Merlynn asked folding her arms against her chest. “My, my, Lynn all business are we? In that case I’m not telling you Lynn. I was going to give you a taste to tide you over but now you’ve ruined my fun. Currently you don’t deserve to know anything, perhaps later if you're willing to help I’ll tell you your teaser then.” Morgana answered turning away from Merlynn. Morgana then walked away towards the edge of the roof. “No! You will tell me now! This isn’t a game, Morgana!” Merlynn shouted as she chased after her sister. “Make me.” Morgana giggled as she stepped off the roof without hesitation plummeting quickly. Merlynn ran as hard as she could to the edge leaning over frantically searching only to see her sister fall into a rip in time and space that closed immediately after she went through. “Bitch did it to me again.” Merlynn cursed remembering the last time she and her sister encountered one another two years ago.
She then lit another cigarette as she leaned into the ledge of the roof with her elbows. Her mind drifted as she continued smoking. She recalled having just purchased new core sets for the campaign they were working on at the Addled Mimic. It was to be a big event where players would pay to play in a large scale campaign over the course of a full year. There was so much left to do and the pre-registry list was growing larger, so she had decided to stop for coffee before heading back to the bar. As she opened the door to Wrought Guht Brew Haus fate would have it that Morgana was there too, standing third in line where Merlynn was eleventh. “Welcome to Wrought Guht Asshole!” the crew grunted in loud protest per the normal.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Morgana!” Merlynn called out in excitement. Morgana ignored her continuing to fiddle with a ring while she waited in line. “Excuse me that’s my sister, pardon me, hey! Watch the hands buddy. Morgana!” Merlynn called again after wailing her way through the long line. Finally reaching her sister she placed a hand on her shoulder turning her around. “Lynn!?” Morgana asked in surprise, shocked to see her sister. “Gods it is you!? How have you been!?” Merlynn asked with a warm weeping smile as she hugged her sister tightly. “Good.” Morgana answered simply and returned the hug. “What are you doing here?” Merlynn asked her, releasing from the hug. “Getting Coffee.” Morgana replied with little effort.
“I see that Morgana, I meant, what are you doing here in Chattanooga! Don’t get me wrong I’m elated to see you!” Merlynn corrected herself, her voice bubbling with excitement. Morgana looked her sister up and down showing little emotion which was normal for her on most days however something seemed off about her distant gaze. “Morgana is something wrong? Are you okay?” Merlynn asked brimming with sudden onset worry. Morgana’s eyes flickered as she slightly jostled her head. “I’m fine Lynn, just working.” She finally answered as the line began moving. “Mobile order for a Miss Morgan!” An employee called out as he set down a large cookie dough frappe with java chips and whipped cream. Morgana spun immediately on her heels wrenching her drink from the counter and plunged her own personal curly straw into it slurping hard.
“Welcome to Wrought Guht asshole, what can I get for you?” An employee named Amy leaned over the counter prompting Merlynn. “Large dark roast black with a triple shot espresso please.” Merlynn answered her worried eyes never leaving her sister whom walked over to a high-top table sitting in front of a bay window. As she felt the warmth of the coffee touch her hand Merlynn laid exact change on the counter and briskly walked over joining her sister. Morgana sat facing out the window as she sipped patiently on her straw. She seemed thinner than Merlynn remembered as well as her striking new hair color. “Hot pink huh?” Merlynn asked with a smile as she sat in the chair across from Morgana. She timidly brought her steaming cup of pure caffeine to her lips as Morgana’s eyes flickered up to meet her sisters. “Do you like it?” Morgana blushed as she twiddled with a thick strand of pink hair. “Of course! It suits you very well! Why pink though? You used to say you hated pink that it was for sissies and troglodytes.” Merlynn asked with a chuckle. “Kokonoe.” Morgana replied with a stronger blush. “Oh, from Blaz blue? Ahhh makes sense seeing as you idolized that character.” Merlynn smiled understanding her sister's choice more firmly.
The two sisters remained for another hour in idle cheery chat until the clock above Merlynn’s head struck twelve o' clock, lunch time. The very second the time clicked over Morgana's expression soured. “Hey what’s wrong? Morgan? Morgana!” Merlynn asked repeatedly as she waved her hand in front of her sister's face. As she finally reached out to jostle her sister, Morgana’s hand snapped up pushing Merlynn’s outstretched hand to the side. “You can’t stop it, Lynn.”
“Can’t stop what Morgan? Tell me what’s going on!? I can help! Between the two of us I know there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.” Merlynn tried reassuring her sister as she clutched her hands within her own. “It's too late Lynn.” Morgana replied as she and Merlynn turned facing out the large bay window to see a meteor the size of a wrecking ball smash through the window turning everything hot white.
Merlynn jumped away out of reflex as the hot white light began to quickly cool and congeal into a blurry mixture of streetlights, flashing LED billboards, and car headlights moving in hectic patterns. The lights rapidly grew closer and clearer as the chilling night air whipped past Merlynn while she plummeted face first towards the chaotic streets of Chattanooga.
Merlynn frantically searched every inch of her body for anything helpful only to turn up nothing. As a last-ditch effort with the street quickly coming into view Merlynn immediately began chanting summoning every ounce of she could muster. Her words echoed on the air as she rattled through her incantation with each phrase that passed her lips power flooded into her.
Her thoughts began to waiver as doubt filled her mind causing her hold on the power to wane and shatter. A single tear escaped her eye as her entire life flashed before her leading up to the moment she fell. She whispered her final goodbyes with the last bit of will she had remaining, accepting her fate.
Refusing to shut her eyes, Merlynn watched as the street seemed to beckon her closer when she noticed a sparkle of prismatic energy flickering in the distance. Merlynn’s eyes fell onto a large analog clock above the SunTrust Bank doors as its second hand seemed to stop entirely. Within that brief split second that flash of energy had traveled miles only to carefully cradle Merlynn in its comforting familiar embrace, a split second ago she was looking at the clock right side up, the next, she was back on the roof of her building staring into the dirty goggled eyes of a tall man with messy brown windswept hair and a worried look cemented to his face.