Roses are the burgundy color that closely resembles the blood in our veins. Violets are blue like the deep tropical sea everyone wishes they could catch their sights on. It's odd, the color of blood, the color of roses, the color seen daily, is feared more so than the blue we'd never see. The people here live amongst the rose garden surrounding the border. Legend is told, if one enters the rose garden their clothes will closely resemble the color of the roses, indicating their own blood stains. A death threat, amongst this town resides within the intents of the gods.
There are the 5 tiers of civilization that reside here the 5th tier is the most wealthy but the most envied, they're known as the kings of the land their beds made of the gold only found in Egypt, their food; animals hand picked from the masses with the slightest touch of rare fruit rarely seen. But most importantly Every meal of a king had a rose petal softly lay atop their amazingly pristine cooked meal. The kings found the land settled it and created our many states, but once the lower tiers had arrived the king's role had simply been to order them, punish them, but only enrich themselves for their oh so hard work. The kings have the talent of being a ruler, which is a role requiring mostly lack of empathy.
The 4th tier are the warriors, or those who fight for the kings, they also receive riches but only to die in battle and have their name forgotten or at least the good ones. The ones who shove one's face into the semant with a slightly crooked smile for a public ceremony of death will always be remembered. The 3rd tier are the merchants; the bribers, the flatterers the ones who will take anyone's money for things the kings would call worthless junk, but would sell the finest gold only to the kings. The merchants are their own little deal, most would mostly avoid them. The 2nd tier are the servants or those who have dedicated their lives to the profession of serving all the classes.
The only rule the 2nd tier has is to not serve the 1st tier. The 1st tier are the criminals, the slaves, the beaten, the worthless. The 1st tier is I.
My name is Jade Francisca and I'm an untouchable, my crime most unforgettable among the masses. I'm not the girl who traded gold for a rabbet, nor am I the one who stabbed my best friend nor my sister. I'm the one who defied the gods. Ever since my birth I have been destined to be a 1 ever since 3000 years ago when I died, only to change my name and give my life to the God of the underworld, my dear Hades soul resides within me. I remember the single day that I died only to live again but never the same, I am Hades daughter, but now I am hades himself. Our souls merged when he was caste out by the gods alliance. Hades was to become a mere nothing in a gods castle they caste Hades into the void which was designed to become of him but not in my eyes, Hades was truly a savior for the criminals with no where to go. I was not a criminal in my lifetime in fact The gods adored me until I rebelled to save Hades. I remember walking in Heaven's library each time I walked near a certain spot this promanant black dust began to appear but only under my observation, so I collected the dust.
My new collection grew and grew until I could fit it in a chest in my room, but one day I opened the mahogany chest only to watch through a portal every night, a portal to the underworld, but I wasn't afraid though I was astounded at the sights of hades, I had fell in love with the darkness trapped in a chest. Once Apollo, my god of light, found my chest he didn't blame me nor did he caste me away though his pity for me was intense, so intense that his goal was to caste Hades away. Apollo loved me and I loved Hades, but the tragedy of it is when 3 beings become 1. Ever since the beginning of time I have been a soul stealer. Apollo willingly gave his to me as he fought Hades but somehow I found myself my in tact with Hades. Apollo's power has always lied within me but one day my sense of Apollo was gone but I could feel his power more than ever but Apollo himself was gone. So afterward it was Hades and I. To this day the Gods of light resent me.
As I walk the cobbled road of the ruins of what was once Venice, I notice the flow of the trees in the wind, the small ripple of the shallow waters but lastly not among the pleasant senses, I smell the ashes of a burning body. The burning ceremony was being held left of Milton square, my neighborhood.
My shackles on my ankles felt warmer than usual but my bare feet pierced the ground step by step, piercing quicker and quicker, this time no one was dying under my watch. I arrived within no time the men their wives and children being tied one by one to be burned in the pit, I remained unphased, this was a daily occurrence, ones' were hand picked by our corrupt rulers to be executed for the pleasure to the eyes of those who enjoy the sight of false victory. I didn't know any of these people though I lived amongst them I was new to the caste, and was cast by my sister to be dead. Everyone who is a one is essentially on death row, when one commits a crime of any sort they and their families are destined to be a one. Unsurprisingly these people quit fighting the guards holding them when they saw me. I was sick of it, I've been sick of it. I always wonder why my sight is feared or honored among anyone.
My cherry red hair covered my face as the tears streamed down my face it was difficult to remain unphased in these moments; these moments of despair helplessness and worthlessness. I've always been nothing to everyone I've known, A sinner in the eyes of the masses. My crime was the most unforgettable here in Venice so no one forgot it, I've always been acknowledged but never in a way of pleasure. The disappointing thing is I am the only one crying in this whole town, because all I hear are my own soft weeps all the attention was on me, you could hear a pin drop it was so quiet... to quiet. I was sick of it, I am sick of this.
"IM SICK OF THIS!!!" I yelled without my mind's consent my hands covered my mouth in my personal shock. The ground beneath my feet began to rumble...
"1... 2... 3... may the people caste darkness to death 4... 5... 6... may the land rumble in discontent 7... 8... 9... may the gods bring death to the unworthy 10"
Holes began to form in the ground as people fell from the ground to hell itself. My teeth clenched and my breathing light then something fell on my hood; a chunk of fresh apple. My eyes sore from the pits to the top of the statue untouched pure as the gods white as the heavens, a man stood atop the peak of the statue he wore a red cape his raven black hair perfectly framed his lifted face his eyes were light green with a slight shimmer within them his posture proud he stood atop the statue with grace. I know this boy. That is something I'd never be able to say in this life but he wasn't from this life he was in fact from 2 past.
But Constantine seemed different he was once a boy of fear he hugged me for resilience in that time I meant something to people. I saw Constantine's face look down at mine as I looked up but instead of resilience he glared into my eyes with disgust. I had already had a bad enough day so I allowed my arms to flow outward loosely I released my tension...
"1... 2... 3... may the darkness stride 4... 5... 6... may the earth settle 7... 8... 9... may the Gods forgive... 10" on that tenth beat of that tentative day I remember when I could see the sun, I remember when everyone that fell looked at me with hope this life was designed to be a lonely one by the gods, but I don't conform to the god's standards I never have, and I never will. A smile smile and a slight snicker escaped my lips. I didn't seem to realize Constantine was still here until I heard...
"Hey Jade! Don't use up your power you poor one!" Constantine knew he knew about my lives but how could he I only knew him for the course of 1."
"Constantine... I wasn't aware it was you." I spoke quietly but firmly
"Oh you poor fool casting yourself into a lowly place such as this, you wouldn't know me anyway my dear Jadelian you were my brightness anyway! But after you cast yourself, I had a reason to live! Not to flee or hide Jade your old ways taught me It seems as if We had switched roles my dear Jade! The sad thing is though I'm here today It isn't and never was for You Jadelian and it never will be don't be fooled by my ways my dear girl but You're nothing to speak to someone who has giving their life for the rightful purpose; the rightful God." "Hey Jade! Are you ready?!"
"Constantine... shut your foul mouth I once adored you and now you so freely recklessly stand upon the fast blowing winds, Constantine the Gods favor you today but I'll warn you the day you wake up again you'll be here with me again just be warned toward the possibilities be warned of the truth that you never understood beware of the god's who consumed you with lies and cast even yourself to such a lowly state. Constantine you must remember who you are, putting yourself up there would only be true if you could treat people as if they were true as well. Your judgment isn't worthy here so I'd highly recommend your departure now, goodbye Constantine.
"Oh how sad... still not ready... to my observations. Jadelian just know I will always be with you for time is to come and pass. See ya Jade."
The floor of venice is back in tact the smell of ashes has vanished the sight of guards unseen truly an unforgettable sight in today's venice. Also on the last day of 4008 to be 4009 in 6 hours. The year has ended but the scene has just began. As my feet pierced in the other direction at a slow steady pace I throw my hood back over my head but as I walk there begins a sight of a young girl holding flowers, I begin to change my direction around the child but her gaze catches mine
"Miss! Please wait!!" her innocent voice pleads I stop to allow her entrance to me she skips toward my direction the big bouquet flopping around in her arms and suddenly into mine
"Thank you, Mrs. Jade!! For helping my papa!!" she bowed and skipped in the other direction to her father's arms the family waved toward my direction. I hesitantly smiled and waved back my other arm tightly gripping the bouquet. I proceeded toward my home it was almost time of rest I filled my burnt vase slightly with the ocean water and I put the flowers in the water, and set them on the stand next to my bed I smiled for the first time in awhile. I felt I could rest easy that night. But still Constantine lurked in my mind at night as a slept.
"Jade?"
"Oh! Constantine you startled me!"
"Mrs. Jadelian?"
"Yes? Constantine?"
"I was going to inquire if I had permission to sleep with you tonight I have been in constant worry about your well being My lady... as your servant it is my duty to be sure you're well."
"Constantine... come to the bed there I must speak to you in honesty."
Constantine's feet slightly touch the ground in front of him lightly moving toward the bed slipping his feet under the covers next to me. "Jade.. I wanted to apologize for the scene that occurred at Dusk my intentions were not to be misleading toward you truly I never really thought I had the capability to become of you our feet should have never pierced the same ground you're much higher than I though it may seem differently."
A very loud knock at the door turns into a prominent banging that essentially wakes me up. I yell at the door and opens my eyes... "What's going on outside... Constantine?" Constantine's book he'd left on the nightstand has vanished and his shoes as well as Constantine himself. Was it all a dream? Constantine was never in her bedroom last night but about 500 years ago when he and I were married. Things have changed... Why must I be so foolish to reconcile or even imagine; to make such egotistical presumptions? I begin to grab my hair in frustration and slight terror; the banging and the commotion outside just seemed to have slipped my mind as I sat there my mind blank my senses had gone away for a moment but after, I walked out of the room in dizziness all I saw was the light from the sun. I stepped on something hot and sharp my foot began to bleed my sight came back then glass and ashes covered the ground along with the bodies of every single one laid across each crevice along the ground. I was the only one left. My eyes glared up only to see a quick flash of light of a figure while everything remained dark. I reminded myself, I was the only one left. I was the only one left. I failed. The flash of the light must've won. I lost. My balance began to fault as i found myself on the ground with a dagger in my chest. I had died but the war had only begun.
I am Jade Francisca and this life is over I was the vivid stone trapped within the darkness. The darkness is truth the Light is hope, dreams, happiness but not the truth. I chose the truth and my truth is the light must be reinvented into the truth, the darkness and the light must merge in order to create a better place; The best place.