Eyes of Red and Blue

Chapter One

         As I ran down the alleyway, the only thing I could hear was the sound of my feet on the pavement and my heart beat, pulsating repetitively in my ears. I could not tell how long I had been running nor how far I had made it away. All I could think about was running as far away as possible before the males caught up with me. I have always been a fast runner.

            I am trying to get away from the males I inadvertently passed the back in alleys. I know that I have to be careful where I go in this wicked city. Well, at least it's wicked to people like me. Castaway in the slums and alleys of Iva. To anyone not from the slums, it is a beautiful place full of growth and academics. Being the capital of the Rain Court, that much was at least expected. This city is believed to be one of the greatest in all of Maleania. 

             As I ran, I made my way to the main roads, hoping to get lost in the crowds and make it harder for the males to find me. When I made it to the main road, I zig-zagged through the crowd, dodging fae and lesser faerie alike. The road was so crowded that I was barely able to make it through. I turned around to see if the males had caught up just as they came bursting through the people out of the alley. That only encouraged me to run faster.

            Males like them are only interested in the body of a female. They break the females so bad that most of them can't be around males. I was not in the mood for that to happen to me. It did not help that I have a very feminine body.

            Making my way within the crowd, I sought to make it to the one place where I could be remotely safe. Where is that, you might ask. Well in all of Iva, you would think that the guard would be the safest, and maybe for the wealthy, but for people like me, that is not true. The guards and royals pay no attention to the people like us. To them, we don't exist.

            The only place where I am safe is at my best friend Liam's bar. He has always been my protector. Ever since he found me when I was young and asked to play. He is only a year older than me, but he feels like the big brother I never had. He would protect me and get into fights for me. His parents never really liked me. They saw me as a distraction in Liam's life. When they kept shoving that in my face every chance they got, I decided to leave Liam alone. It didn't work, because he found me in less than 48 hours scolding me on never listening to his parents. I grew up with Liam and when he eventually started his bar, that is where I spend most of my time.

Liam offered to let me live in the space above the bar, but I declined. I can't pay him back and I don't want to burden him more than I already do. As I ran through the crowd, I could see the bar The Fair Charlie come into view. He named the bar after me after much argument over the name. The closer I got, the louder the music from inside was. When I made it to the door I turned around to see how close the males where. Luckily, they got caught in the fray of the crowd and lost my tail. When I close the door, I walk over to the counter of the bar to search for Liam. He sees me before I see him, walking over to find out what had happened.

"What did you do this time Charlie?" I heard Liam drawl from behind the counter. Glass in hand and looking as good as ever.

"This time it's not my fault," I said while trying to catch my breath, " these males saw me in the alley and thought I would make a good snack for their midday craze."

As I said it, I could see the rage growing on Liam's face.
" where are they," his face turned red in seconds and I actually thought he might kill somebody.

"Oh their gone now, guess they weren't fast enough to keep up."

"One of these day's, you won't be fast enough"

I don't know why, but the statement hit me like a rock. I think it reminded me of the time where I wasn't fast enough to keep up with my parents. Not like I would ever tell that to Liam, because he would feel bad for saying something like that. But the thought of not being fast enough, not being good enough for someone always hit me in the gut.

"Ok, I get it. Before you go on and how I need to be more careful, you need to understand that I did make it here this time."

"This time."
" Oh give me a break you old bum. Now will you hand me a beer, because that is kind of the only thing you're good at."

"oh don't lie to yourself, you know I'm good at many things, some you just don't know about."

He winked and I almost gaged. But I was happy. At least for now...