>Quinn’s dreams<
Quinn ran through the forest. A couple men crashed behind her. Her simple peasant’s dress caught on a tree. She tugged it loose, and continued on. The young girl fell over a root. She tried to scramble to her feet, but the men caught her. They shoved Quinn back to the ground, before lifting her. They held Quinn between them. Soldiers. The commander stood in front of her. “Do you know the law for stealing, girl?” She shook her head “no.’ But, honestly, everyone knew that stupid rule. “The price for theft is the loss of a hand.”
“Please, good sir, I didn’t steal anything.” She begged.
“The baker told us you stole his bread. You ran when we chased you. That isn’t how a innocent person acts,” he sneered.
“Please, sir, anyone in their right mind would run,” Quinn pleaded.
“Check her bag,” he ordered two soldiers. They tore her bag away. Dumping the contents, two loaves of bread fell out.
“How’d that get there?” She mused sarcastically.
“Off with her hand.” The two soldiers shoved her onto her knees. The held her wrist against a raised tree roots. The commander drew a knife. The young girl struggled but the soldiers held her tight. He stroked the blade lovingly. She pulled away, but they held her still. He prepared the knife.
“You’re going to regret coming after me. You’ll see,’’ she sneered. But, honestly she was powerless against these soldiers. Or so everyone thought. Deep inside power was brewing. It had been there all along, but the anger made it grow. The guards looked curiously on as her eyes turned violet. One of the guards flew back. Quinn herself was surprised. It could be sorcery. She stood up as the rest of the men went flying away. Quinn backed against a tree holding the knife that the commander had been holding. She brandished it in front of her. She had never even held a knife before. A lady stepped out of the trees. She wore a black cape, and a dark blue dress. Her hair was black and pulled into an elaborate braid. Most curiously her eyes were black as night. “What did you do?” Quinn hissed as she squeezed closer into the tree. The women laughed quietly.
“Well that’s very brave. I am Miranda. It’s not what I did, but what you did.”
“I didn’t do a thing,” the young girl replied fiercely without offering her own name.
“Oh yes you did,” she chuckled. “There is a magic deep within you. You released it. This isn’t the time for bickering. You must leave for the kingdom of Algernon. There you will find an old woman named Marie. She had instruction from me to take you in. You must flee from the people here for they believe you to be a witch. That is illegal as you may know. You have a strange ability that hasn’t gone unnoticed. That’s why these men chase you. You can’t go to that cave you call home. I have clothes you will put on, and weapons to protect you.” The women gave her jeans, a black shirt, and knee high leather boots. Then she gave Quinn two swords, and a harness to which they fit. The women helped her put the harness on. Then Miranda took off her cloak and fixed it upon Quinn. Next, Miranda handed her a black mask. Quinn gave a questioning look. Miranda whispered hurried words in a language that Quinn didn’t understand. Quinn’s face froze, as did the rest of her body. “This spell had frozen you so you will listen to me. You will go to Algernon. You will find Marie. My next spells are coming. One will give you strength, agility, and weapon mastery. The other will implement fake memories of times you learned to fight. It will steal the memory of our meeting and these spells. Good luck Aspasia!”
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Quinn sat in the trees. She was at the moment holding a slender sword. It was one of two. The other was in its sheath on her back. The sheaths were black and crossed on her back. They made a black 'X'. They also crossed in the front. Therefore it was tight against her shirt and skin. On the front where they crossed was a black buckle so the harness slipped off easily. But, they blended into the dark shirt she wore. As well as dark jeans, and brown leather knee-high boots. Casting her mind-reading senses she was able to sense a movement nearby. Quinn slid the sword back into its place. She crawled forward on the branch. “Aspasia,”a fairy squealed in her ear. The fairies called her that. Quinn had long blonde hair, and blue eyes. Quinn wore her wavy hair in a ponytail with her bangs cascading over her left eye. Over her eyes she wore a black mask with a satin tie in the back. Quinn waved her hand absently shooing the fairy. The blue fairy disappeared into a rain drop. That was what the water fairies did while exiting. They would then disappear into the ground. Under the ground was a society of fairies.
Quinn's blue eyes searched the road looking for whoever was coming. When the person did come she slid back into a sitting position with a groan. Quinn was a bold robber going after the rich. But, this was too much. The person slid into the forest. Quinn followed silently, jumping from tree to tree. The person stopped, and so did Quinn. She sat in a tree watching silently to see what would happen. The person she had been following stood in the meadow oblivious.
Princess Annette stood in the meadow. She held a leather bound book. Quinn recognized Annette by her red hair. The red hair glowed in the sun. Princess Annette's pink dress swayed in the gentle wind. Princess Annette opened the book her green eyes tracking the words. Quinn groaned I'll be here a while she thought. Quinn observed Annette's lips slowly and quietly pronouncing the words. Quinn gasped as an orange and black striped cat appeared out of nowhere. Quinn watched as the cat rounded on the princess. Quinn cursed quietly; if the princess got hurt by the cat and someone found out that she was there Quinn would be in trouble. She was the only one around. Quinn whipped her swords out of their place. Jumping out of the tree, Quinn landed on the ground facing the meadow and took off at a sprint to Annette.
The cat turned angrily. It pulled itself into a position to pounce. Annette stood still a look of horror on her face. The cat turned to Quinn as she burst into the meadow.
“Move!” Quinn shouted to Annette. Annette stood still. The cat turned on her again. This time it pounced at Annette. Quinn opened her hand. Her palm facing the cat, it stopped on mid- air. With a flick of her wrist the cat was thrown into the forest. ”If you want to live, Princess, you have to move.” Annette turned to Quinn.
“How..............how............did you do that,” Princess Annette stuttered.
“Forget it! Where did that cat come from?”
“It’s a tiger. I read it from a......a book and it just came here.”
“Well read it back!”Quinn said.
“I'll try. You got to keep it away from me.” Annette said. The tiger leaped from the forest. It sprinted to attack Quinn. It threw itself at her. Quinn ducked the tiger. It landed on the ground and spun quicker then Quinn. It threw itself into Quinn. She was smashed into the ground. One sword clambered onto the ground. With the other sword she slashed at the cats’ side. It howled as the sword cut into it. Quinn looked at Princess Annette as she read hastily. Standing shakily to her feet she faced the tiger. It jumped at her she twisted out of the way. Its claws sunk into her hand as she dropped the sword. The cat turned and seemed to grin. Quinn dove for the sword. She managed to grab it. The cat had jumped. Its claws sunk into her side and flipped her onto her stomach. Quinn cried out. She pressed her hand onto her side. The tiger pinned her to the ground. The tiger sunk its claws into Quinn. Quinn screamed as pain shot through her body. Using the sword in her hand she embedded into its side. The cat fell off her. Quinn let go of the sword leaving it in the cat’s side. She pressed both hands onto her side. It was too late. She had lost too much blood. Everything was hazy. The tiger disappeared into the air. Princess Annette stared at her tears running down her face. Quinn wanted to reassure her but no words came.
“Don't,” a voice said. “Just listen. I am here, because I need your help. I can't explain everything now. But, Annette will.” Quinn blinked and was standing. Quinn looked around and saw herself. The body of Quinn was lying on her back. Her shoulders were bleeding. Annette stood over her. Quinn turned to where she heard the voice. She gasped at the women standing next to her. The woman was literally glowing. Quinn could hardly tell a thing about her. The light was blinding. Quinn turned her face. “A long time ago a wicked wizard king kidnapped a couple kids. He wanted to take their powers, like yours, and use them for himself. Annette will help you find them. It sounds odd, I know. Trust Princess Annette and protect her with your life. You will not remember this.” The golden women took a step back and started to disappear. Quinn stood alone in the forest. Then a voice began to sing:
Queen of Heaven
Queen of Hell
Stand by me
And all will be well
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Quinn woke up in the middle of a flowery clearing. She groaned and put her hand to her head. Quinn had a splitting headache. She tried to sit up but her stomach stung so she fell back to the ground. She held her hand to her stomach, and pushed herself up to take in her surroundings. Flowers and trees were everywhere. The wind was blowing gently, ruffling my hair. Miranda stood in front of me. Now she wore a magenta dress, with a black cloak. The hood was back revealing her face. She smiled reassuringly. “You’ve been sliced by a poisonous concoction. The poison spread throughout your body before anything or anyone could help you.” Quinn held up her hand. The veins running through her hands were black as Miranda’s eyes. Her skin was pale.
“Am I dead?”She asked hoarsely. Miranda’s eyes dropped to the ground.
“Unfortunately my dear. But, do you remember what I told you all those years ago. I told you that, you would meet me two more times. The first time we met was in the latest flashback of you and Anna. I took that memory from you. It needed to be done. The first flashback was how you got to Algernon. Our second meeting is now. We meet when you die. “
“So I will die one more time?”
“Yes and that will be the final time.
“I have a question,” Quinn said.
“I have an answer,” Miranda replied with a smiled.
“Is Marie alive?”
“No my dear.
“I have so many questions.”
“That’ll come in time, now it is time to get you back to your friends, and your mission. That wound is awful. I shall cure it now. Then send you back.” She muttered a few old sounding words. Green smoke spiraled around and away from her. “That’s the poison being expelled from you. My words of wisdom to you never lose hope and take a chance.” She smiled at Quinn. Tears were rolling down Quinn’s cheeks. The flowers and trees faded till it was just them in darkness. Then Miranda faded away leaving Quinn in the dark. Then she herself disappeared.