Hot N cold rock version- Katy Perry
Your pov
Steve dropped me off, i handed him the helmet and fixed my hair before putting my hood and dark purple mask back on. The preserves sat inside a tall stone fixed building, the stones stacked on top of each other and ended in glass on top as a roof shaped as dome. The afternoon sun was shining, i didn't notice how many hours it had already been. I stepped up to the entrance and knocked on the door. An older witch with blue hair answered,she adjusted her glasses to see me. I continued my rehearsed lines that i was familiar with using. I showed her my coven sigil and informed, "Hello mamm' Im the Amethyst Guard and am here on abode with Emperor Belos. he's requested more palistram wood and palismen." I said, more of an order than anything.
"Im sorry, but the wood is being over harvested. I cannot supply you with this." She responded, her hands shaky as she shook her head. I paused thinking of what to say; i couldn't go back empty handed.
"is there any you can spare mamm?" I asked keeping my voice warm.
She paused, "What does he want them for? what could the emperor possibly want or need this many palismen and palistram wood for?"
I corrected her, "its confidential business mamm. I cannot tell you. All you must know is that the Emperor desires it for everyones weller being. Now..." I paused, "is there any you can spare, any at all to help?" I asked again, keeping my stance non threatening and my voice welcoming.
She pondered for a moment and then nodded, "yes... i suppose there is. Follow me," She said as she walked shakily, she was in her late what looked to be sixties as she led me through the doors. Inside the building the stone walls felt like they expanded, the inside was huge and as beautiful as i remembered from my last visit here. There were rows and rows of great trees that always had sometype of maintenance being done to take care of them. For today, a witch who seemed to be a little younger than me was working on a latter and pruning the leaves. He seemed so familiar with his dark hair that was cut in a bowl cut.
"Down this way is all the prices of large branches we use for students, since Hexside has decided to adopt palismen instead of make new ones we have extra..." she began but through the corner of my eye i noticed the maintenance witch start to loose balance on the latter and before i knew it, in a flash of yellow i teleported my way next to them holding the latter in place. They looked down at me as i helped them. I smiled, forgetting about the mask- and held a thumbs up as they held their heart, smiled at me, and continued to work.
"Whats the point of pruning the leaves?" i let myself ask, i was nothing of a plant expert, so it seemed silly, especially with how high they were.
'its to keep the trees healthy." they shouted from the long distance between us, "If you cut off any problem leaves it keeps the whole tree stable and in good condition." They said, putting the tool in their side pouch and began climbing down.
"So i'm guessing you aren't put on pruning duty often then?" I asked, the social part of me forgetting that i was on a mission.
The boy seemed flabbergasted i would ever ask such a question, "huh? why would you say that?" He asked, seeming almost offended.
I laughed softly, "because most people who did it often would know to always have someone spot the ladder.
He grumbled something about not needing anyones held and that he was fine on his own. The childish demeanor reminded me of someone. Then it clicked. "Oh. So you're Steves brother."
He seemed even more flabbergasted at that question, "Wha- How do you know my brother?"
"He's a scout." i said, waiting for him to connect the dots. He didn't. "Im the Amethyst Guard.." Still nothing in his empty head. "your brother works with me."
"oh yea!" He said, finally. "You work for the Golden Guard right?"
Pierced. I was shot. I have fallen and cant get up. 'Worked?' did people really think that? the thought alone made me cringe.
"No, I don't work for "the golden Guard." i said more sarcastic then i meant as i put my hands on my hips. "Why would you think that?"
" Because he's the cooler one who's on the posters, so i just assumed that you were the one who worked for him." He said, part of me not knowing if he was trying to piss me off or not.
I was dead. This was death, this was hell.
I was about to let my professionalism collapse all together and flip him a not so professional finger until the ladies voice stopped me, "are you coming Amethyst Guard?" She asked i nodded,making a mental not to laugh about this encounter with Steve later as i followed her through a door. Inside it held crates and crates of palistram wood. "This one here belonged to hexside, but due to them adopting palismen they didn't need them. You can give this crate to Emperor Belos. I nodded and thanked the older witch as i called for trucks to haul the wood back but, the little kids words stuck in my head.
I wasn't lesser than the Golden Guard. I was just as important and skilled as he was. I wasn't letting a fourteen year old get to me, let alone Steves brother.
As the trucks arrived a scout asked me how many crates we were to take.
"Three." I instructed as they nodded taking three crates of the palistram wood out.
Yes. Yes i was. i wasn't lesser or less skilled then the Golden Guard. I could do far better and more than he could and apart of me was tired of always being compared to him. So i kept proving myself, to whom i'm not entirely sure,myself, the public, Belos.?
Let alone the fact that a fourteen year old made me feel insecure... Titan that says a lot about my self esteem. I got atop my staff after the trucks had hauled them out, shoving down the lying pit in my stomach, 'It was for the greater good. This wood and palismen are made of wild magic, its dangerous, let me not forget what happened to Belos and my mom. ' Is what i reminded myself as i flew over the red trees as the moon began to rise.
Titian i cant believe that took all day, so much for being fast.
I made my way through the intimidating halls and walked to the even more intimidating throne room to report my very successful job to collect more palistram wood. The rising sun Shined through a tall-shocker i know- window that peered to the night sky. I sighed rubbing off the betrayal to that old women letting it slide off my back the best i could. I completed my mission. Thats all that mattered. I walked and noticed a familiar white cloak as i decided to let myself softly show my cockier side due to the win i had experienced today when i noticed that he looked beaten up, and from the back i could see apart of his sandy hair was singed.
"Whoa," I laughed, "What happened to you-"
I let my words falter as they seemed to leave me. He turned around and his signature golden mask was gone. In place of it stood a sharp jawline, a fitting hooked nose,a scar on his left cheek, thick dark eyebrows, messy- but i was guessing was usually better kept- swept back sandy blond hair, and his eyes... they were a piercing magenta.
Titan, I mean i don't mean to sound rude, condescending, snarky or all the above, but i always imagined him looking like well... a troll. i never imagined him to be so... attractive..?
Then i felt the familiar glare from him but for once could actually see it. His eyes slanted down with his eyebrows as he scowled at me, "None of your business. How did the assignment to fetch the "sacred" palismen wood go?" He asked snakily, reminding my teenage hormonal-any sight of a conventionally attractive witch sends me in a flustered spiral- who i was still talking to.
"better than yours, i would assume at least, and i will continue to assume if its 'none of my business.'" i smirked under my own mask as he rolled his very showing eyes. Titan they were pretty, ill give him that.
He shot me another glare, a lot that was surprisingly easy to get used to, "if you'll excuse me i have a successful assignment to report to Emperor Belos. Ill be seeing you tomorrow Golden Boy." That time he shot a glance around and actually gave me an unprofessional gesture as i just laughed waving him off, stepping foot in the throne room. I found Belos holding his mask, in obviously a lot of pain. It hurt my heart to see how much distraught the curse made him.
"Belos sir," I said kneeling in front of him, "I think you'd be happy to know I've collected plentiful amounts of palismen wood from the preserve." Belos pain seemed to subside for a moment as he nodded.
"good, i knew i could count on you to not mess up. Speaking of mess up, would you go fetch the Golden Guard for me?"