S1 Chapter 12, Dying to Meet you, Part II

The Highhills......earliest rays of dawn....

Dawn was riding to the Highhills, places of woods and misty rocky hills. that bordered the Dragoons and Sabbath lands. The people here were splintered in many different clans and factions, but the ones she sought were the GeordieMen. The cleverest of warriors who didn't take no for an answer, or anyone's bullshit for that matter. She had actually met a few Geordiemen years ago in a village market somewhere. Wanderers far from home.

But now so was she.

The army was behind her, the wrong army. It had been weeks of fighting, nearing a third month's worth, and Dawn's army had broken some line within the forests of Holy Wood and the Eastern freelands, many Spyders had fled or been killed. Dawn herself didn't take prisoners, not many anyhow. Star and Richi had staked their holdings on the boarder of Holy Wood and surrounding touching lands, and were succeeding in fending off the attackers, but they had recently closed in in the forests. They choked a pathway around the main force and somehow, of course somehow, Star managed to break off Spyder contact with the lands they had claimed. Forcing the largest fraction of their army up a narrow crag in the earth that went north by north east.

That is where she was now. In the heat of this chase, and the battle that started their running, she had taken off with nothing but her horse and she carried, trailing after the enemy. She couldn't turn back for risk of losing them in the rocky gorge, and so could not break pace and could not lose sight of them. In this place, one day lost was an army lost forever. She knew they were trying to get to the Hills, those misty hills where Clansmen lived. If the Spyders got there before she did, they would slaughter the natives and hide out for the winter fast approaching.

The hills were pitted with caves that went deep into the earth, and the winters grew harsh. If the enemy made it to the caves, Dawn and her army would be barred all winter, and the Spyders would be free to take every advantage and flee to the East before she could catch them. But she gained ground on the Spyders, though her horse was ragged and so was she, she went on, she had to find the GeordieMen, to tell them, to recruit them. For their lives and her peoples'.

She missed her child, who was all the way by the sea with her nursemaid. Dawn had been shaken by the death of her childhood nanny, Tilda. Her mother seemed indifferent, until her Bon was murdered. True while Dawn hated him, she didn't wish for either of them to go through such violence. While she prayed to pagan gods to protect her child, she also worried for her now war crazed mother. The loon was going mad, Richi said she was not sleeping well, and was mostly silent. This was a bad combination that hopefully changed if they won.

She shook her head to wake herself, tired from the journey and the exertion she had endured to get this far ahead. Behind her the Spyders were happily setting up camp for the evening. She glared at them, wishing that she had Rosie's potential power to harness and command the earth. Rosie would never use her powers for such violence, but Dawn would have gladly used them to stop this from ever having to happen. A big hole in the earth would have sufficed.

Her own powers over the sun were too vast and wild for her to control safely.

She was in the foothills when the lavender tint of pre-dawn crept into the sky above and around her. Below, the camps were surprisingly out of sight in the canyon below. This would only prove her point, or make her look insane. These clansmen were so secluded that she doubted their knowledge of the outside world was up to date. Would all of this even matter if the clan she found in these foothills wasn't even the Geordiemen? The Spyders would stay in that canyon for days, probably sending spies to scout these areas....she had that much time over them at least. Maybe.

If the Georidemen weren't in this area, if they exceeded her reach, she doubted she would win. She laughed in her throat as she could almost hear her mother's voice in her head, telling her to never doubt her own power. She was Lizard Blooded, she would win if she tried.

“Its when you stop trying that you really lose.” Dawn's voice echoed as she recited the words with a sarcastic tone, mimicking her mother's. “Loon. . . “

Her horse suddenly stopped, panting hard. Its breath rising and freezing int the chilly morning air. Dawn shivered. The winders of ice were upon them, snow would be falling within the month. By then the Spyders would be right at home with the bodies of the dead left to the storm.

There was noise on the crag above her. Her sword was drawn and pointed at the hills above her. In one fluid motioned honed to even faster speeds during this current war. But she saw no one near. She sheathed her sword, dismounted, and retrieved the blade quietly once again. She led the animal by the reigns carefully, and came around a mound of rock that blocked the paths above. When she saw a man some ways above, on a path she now saw open up before her, she stopped.

That face she knew only from paintings, from dreams, from looking in the mirror. In leather brown pants, a flowing white shirt, with soft brown hair in even softer curls, was her father, standing above her, looking down with an lazy, expectant look. He turned without a word, throwing a leather jacket over his shoulder and walked up the rocks and boulders, leaving her behind.

“Father! Father wait!” She shouted. She left her horse and began scrambling up the hillside path. The sky was beginning to grow a lighter shade of lavender by the time she straightened up and stopped in the middle of the a dirt switch back with a wide turn, as if for a small cart or wagon. She stopped and spun round on the spot. Her father was nowhere in sight.

But another man was. He was dressed in a green kilt and a moss black long sleeved tunic. He wore leather boots that rode up to his knees, fur lined the edges and insides. His eyes were dark, made darker by the large, grey wool shawl he had wrapped around his torso. His face was handsome, hinted with a tad touch of being plain. His curly hair was a light brown and the wild expanse was kept tightly under a dark grey cap.

She wasted only a moment's worth of inspecting him before she realized that other, similarly looking and clad men stood in places behind him on the hillside. She herself was void of any identifying marks or colors. Her armor was a dark, grey color that she had lost parts to some time ago. She now had her platemail tied to her horse behind her, and it looked like nothing extravagant. Her horse was tired, drooping, beginning to thin. Her self wrapped in a large black cloak, her long hair was meant to be kept in a netted cap but of course it broke free around her face and sprouted from her head like wild vines. Her cheeks reddened by the cold winds, her skin dusty from the road. She looked like a traveler, but her eyes bore into their in such a way that they conveyed power.

“I am Dawn of the Lizard Blood!” She used her more common titles. “Princess of Holy Wood, daughter of Queen Star Dust and the Last Lizard King.” Her father was more widely known as such. “I come seeking the leader of the GeordieMen. I have traveled far to see him.”

The one nearest her took a moment to listen and think. He nodded. “Well comma long then, you certainly found who you were lookin for. I'll take you to the Jasper.”

She hurried to catch up to him and the others dissipated into the rocks it seemed. She left her horse but it plodded forward on the path, instinctively following her. She was relieved that these were, apparently, the GeordieMen.

“Wait the who?” She stumbled but was quick to recover.

“The Jasper, the leader, chief!.”

“Oh,” she remembered it. “What is his name?”

“Ya came lookin for em but ya don't know his na'iem?”

“Well no,” she admitted. “We know little of you, if I hadn't crossed two of your people before in Holy Wood, I wouldn't have known to come here.”

He suddenly stopped and turned to face her. “Why do you come 'ere?”

She stopped gratefully. “Because a war is coming your way wild man. A new clan called the Spyders have started war and is below in That canyon.” She pointed, he looked.

“I see nothin.”

“They're hidden down inside.”

“ 'Ow many?”

“Five thousand? Eight thousand? Does it matter? How many of You are there?”

“Ah, enough to take em.” He moved on.

“I hope so.”

“Naaaah,” he drawled.

“You don't believe me?”

“Hardly even know who you are.”

“And I don't even know who I'm asking for help here, so we're just going to have to get over that shit and trust each other. Got it?!”

He shook his head and laughed. “I like yeh! You're alright as far as princesses go and all.”

She gave him a “hmpf”, an act committed in doubt that he had even met Real princesses who could trace their blood back thousands of years.

When they reached what was the encampment it was half in the caves of the hills and half out in the open. Dawn cringed at the exposed targets, there was no fighting here yet, but these people would be in harm's way when it did come. She was taken through the camp, people watching and whispering in her wake. She was from the Southern Kingdom called Holy Wood, they all knew her Lady Mother. The man who led her took her into the caves and led her through more throngs of people.

Dawn counted that they could match and maybe hold the Spyder army with the men she saw present, but numbers is all these men had to their advantage. She had her doubts about them being able to hold their own on the battle field with such skill and defense powers. There were warrior men and women here, but the Princess didn't see them as being able to take on a trained and well provisioned army.

They passed a fire ring with an old white haired woman sitting near it, her back to a tent post. As Dawn passed she reached out and grabbed her arm. The Princess tugged out of reflex but the woman held firm.

“I see a son rising. The Queen of darkness shall have one, but the Queen of light will have two. One born of memories past, one born of a hopeful new future. Born of dark and light, this second son shall take what was due to the first for the first shall have no inheritance.

Dawn glared at her. “You ramble woman. Of Whom do you speak?”

“The Queen of Mars.

“There is no such person.”

“There will be....”

She was silent for only a moment, recalling that her mother's prophecy predicted none of her mother's daughters shall rule on Earth.

“This second son will give rise to a new era. An era long desired. Balance, once corrupted, will return. When no sons were born to rule, now let them come forth to take their places as rightful Kings of the thrones they are due.”

“Eh , don't mind 'er, crazy that one.” Her guide warned her.

They went on and were quickly led into thew largest tent. Inside was a man dressed as the others. But he was far shorter. He stood his full height but Dawn's reach was nearing six feet tall, he had to be just over five feet. By the way the ornate wooden chair sat in one corner, nearest the fire pits, she guessed this was His tent and he was their Jasper.

“Look, I don't know how to approach you as the leader, the Jasper, if that is who you are,” she was harshly direct. “But I need to speak to the Jasper here, its life or death for you and your people.”

“And who ar' you?” He asked, a smirk tainted his mouth.

“I am Princess Dawn Abithia Morrison, daughter of the Star Queen and Lizard King. I come your way because a war ravages the lands beyond your hills, and those who which to enslave you and use your caves for themselves are not far away.”

“She was sayi' 'ow there is an army in the Canyon, the one below us. Says we can't see em but they hide within.”

The Jasper looked from his man to the Princess. “How do we know you're tellin the truth woman?”

“Why would I lie about this? If you don't believe me, then fine. Go ahead and I'll leave you all here and you'll be slaughtered in your sleep. Our kingdoms are not familiar with each other, true. You have no reason to trust anything I say.”

“And If I act crazy like and do?” The Jasper asked.

“Then I will prepare your men for battle, and it doesn't even have to be a battle. Its a defense. They have you out weaponed, my mother's army comes from the south-”

“How do we know that's not a trick?” Someone asked.

Their leader raised a hand to silence whoever it was. “Silence ye!”

“ My mother's army comes to crush those who would destroy you!” She shouted. “I came to help you, despite our lack of knowledge of each other. If these Syders get passed you, they will hide in the hills you call home and desecrate them. If I am wrong, there will be no defense, no fighting. If I am not. . . .”

The Jasper stared at her, looked to the fire and then nodded. “I've 'erad of ye. All of ye. Yer whole family. If you tellin' the truth, and we win this defense of yers, I want to see yer castle.”

She grinned, “You'd be the first.” She held out her hand. “Dawn of Holy Wood.”

He held his and drew a black stone blade, its glossy surface cut across his palm with ease and he didn't flinch. “Brian of the Geordiemen Hills.” He slid his blade across her flesh and they grasped hands.

Their bloody palms connected and she smiled.

"Show meh to the canyon now Princess," Brian said. "I wish teh see what yer ravin' about."

"Come with me and I'll show you more than the army, I'll show you how to win," she replied with a smile. 

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Star and Richi rode up behind their army, through the ruins of the Spyder camp. Any Spyder soldier was killed, any officer taken prisoner for questioning. As she and Dawn had discussed, she would not receive  word if all went well with her daughter's mission, she would have to carry out her attack on the Spyders no matter Dawn's outcome. But when Star came, the hills the Spyders would travel through lit with fire. Balls of fire were launched from hastily constructed trebuchets. They had successfully held the Spyders at bay, all too easily it appeared, giving the Queen enough time to bring her army in and over run the enemy.

The defeated Spyders ran to the hills to the east, to the high, rocky mountains already piled with snow and covered in stormy clouds. They would face a death by frost that way. Star did not pursue them, the mountains were the biggest in the lands, bigger than the Dragoons. They ran thousands of miles in either direction and no one had crossed them for thousands of years. No one ever came back if they lived.

Suddenly a large group of the so called Geordiemen came forward. The group split and Star and Richi paused. The men made a path from the Lady and her Companion to Dawn and her companion. A gruff looking man far shorter than she. Star was instantly intrigued. She dismounted and couldn't reach Dawn fast enough o embrace her.

“Oh my child, I am so relieved.”

“Oh Mother, you shouldn't have been so worried.”

“How could I not be?! You ran off to find a group of clansmen we know nothing about. And managed to get them to fight with us I see.”

Dawn stood proudly to her mother's side. “Mother, I present theJasper of the clan himself, Brian.”

The man tipped his hat. “My day Queen.”

Star smiled without understanding, “Um, greetings Jasper Brian.”

He reached out a hand tied in a blood stained cloth and took her gauntless hand and pressed his lips to the top of her hand. She was sure she felt the tip of his tongue lash out to perversely touch her sweat covered skin. She saw him lick his bottom lick ever so subtlety. Her heart ached for another man but she accepted his greeting.

“My day is their way of addressing royalty Mother.”

“I see,” her smile deepened in understanding. “You made quick work of this, for that I am grateful to you Brian.”

“And I to yer kin Star One,” he replied. “I hope that jour'ney to yer castle will not be too long. I've never been to another kingdom's castle befor'.”

Star had to take in his words. “Ah yes, the journey to Ao'o, should not take long at all. I will be most pleased and honored to have you as a guest.”

“Ah good. Since I'll be taking place as Lord Brian I'd like to see this place. Now excuse meh, I ned to make arrangements.”

Her dutiful cousin leaped into action.“I shall go with you, we must speak of our kingdoms and come to understanding each other. I am Lord Richi of Blackmour, advisory to the Queen and Lord of the Courts.”

When they were gone, Star spun to around to face Dawn. “He's coming with us?” She asked with a stony voice.

Dawn smiled,” Of course Mother, as a reward for helping us. I wasn't going to give him nothing.”

“We did not discuss this.”

“You're not angry I'm bringing our ally to the courts are you?”

“No. . .Of course not.”

“Oh and I also gave him the Power Band as well, which is what will make him status of Lord in the court.”

At this Star bristled. “You WHAT!?”

“It came up in conversation,” Dawn went to a nearby wagon filled with medic women and water barrels. She thankfully received a deep bowl of water to rise her face in. “After procuring his alliance, he wanted to know if this entitled him to a wife, to which he was two. I said it may. He then asked how to become a lord of the courts, to become more involved in the Kingdoms. I said that Lords were either of noble birth such as he, or leaders of Greater bands of musical men.”

“How did the Power Band come into this I wonder?”

“He heard tale of a mighty band form the Far Far south, and wanted to know if there were many bands like that in Holy Wood” she took a long drink. “I said that band was now without a frontman, to which he said his own band had just bisdanned. I said Perfect!” She splashed her face. “He said he become more than our temporary allies, he would bend his knee to you if it meant he was placed with the Power Band, thus making him a Lord of our court.”

“Dawn how could you!? I can't just give up Bon's place to a stranger,” she eyed him walking with Richi. “A handsome stranger, but strange all the same! How can you demand this of me?!”

“Because without him you would have lost this battle. Had he not heeded my warnings when I must have sounded insane, all this would not have come to be.” She grabbed a towel from the medical supplies and went to a tent that was being constructed for the commanding officers, which included her. Star followed to bag.

Before she could, Dawn was right behind her. “He is dead mother. I am sorry it happened but he is gone and you must accept it. Brian will ease the pain felt by the people who loved Bon. Somebody has to be this way and I will take the burden. Now do not deny our newest ally the rewards he was promised. It'll make you look bad.”

Star turned and left the tent as her daughter began dismantling her chainmaille and armor plates. Though it pained her to give up the Power Band to this, Brian, she would have to. He was the reason they had fortified the small hill paths that would have be free for trespassers otherwise.

The show of fire as they lit the hills a'flame. The balls of red that rained down on the Spyder camp in the night, without warning. Fire is what greeted the queen when she arrived, fire and chaos. She nearly had to wait for the flames to go down before she could go through the camp. It wasn't as spectacularly drenched in blood as she had hoped, but those fleeing would never last. With a bittersweet victory she walked through the devastated Spyder camp, the words of the Kilmister echoing through her head.

“We come from the same place.”

The Spyders seemed to know and hold onto a part of the Martian culture they hailed from. She was envious. They knew more of their home than she did. If what the Kilmister said, if what her dreams really meant were true, then she was no earthling and these enemies she destroyed were her people.

Still, she wanted to return to Ao'o now. With her daughter, her cousin and reunite with her granddchild. She wanted a bath, a bowl of dates to eat, wine to drink, and a joint on her lips.  Her blood craze has vanished when the Spyders broke and ran. She was feeling the tired ache of war in her body.

She wanted to go home. . . .

S1 Chapter 11, Dying to Meet you. Part 1

 1 year later. . . .

2021 AC/DC Holy Wood. Castle Ao'o.

There was much excitement in the kingdoms. In Holy Wood a procession of bands was making way all over the Sunset drive, filling taverns and bars with music and people. People were prospering, thriving, happy, joyful. Star stood on the balcony smiling down at the incoming convoy, her lover at the forefront. Bon was here and it was all she could think about, finally being able to propose a union between their bands, and maybe eventually a marriage between her and Bon which would now be seen as appropriate.. All had come to be a year later, just as she set it up and predicted. A new band had risen from the Great Southern Island consisting of the Prince Malcom, his body guards Cliff and Philipe, their leader Bon Mantle, and Malcom's foster brother, a boy with red skin named Angus.

The five of them had formed the Power Band, and powerful they were. They left nothing but prosperity in their wake and everywhere they went the people and societies thrived and built themselves. As Star had planned and secretly funded, the potential for great peace had come in the form of this band that she had helped create. They had successfully brought peace to the Great Island they came from, now they came up from the Gold Fields to the south, and the Kingdom by the Sea had praised them. They were now coming to Holy Wood, the foremost thriving kingdom in the known world.

Star had asked them to make an appearance in her court, to publicly propose a full swinging tour that would untie that kingdoms and bring a new era of peace and thinking. This would make them the most powerful and influential force in the world. Nothing would stand in their way.

In the great hall of Ao'o Castle, Star sat with Dawn on her right had, and Rosie on her left. They were dressed in their finest velvets to receive these visitors, Rosie kept fidgeting, Dawn glared at the eldest of the Power Band as they entered. Star was soaring on the inside, her heart leapt in her throat, bursting with pride at the view of her demon son and lover walking side by side as if father and son. Angus was no more aware of who Star was in relation to himself and was staring at the place in wonder and devilish delight. When he saw Rosie he grinned, his smile full of teeth. The girl tilted her head in curiosity.

Richi was to the direct right side of Star, sitting in a comfortable ornate chair. The Blackmoore was angered at Bon's presence, no matter how happy it made Star. He shared Dawn's contempt at the sight of the arrogant looking man they detested. This was the only way he could have ever approached the Queen in public and the Blackmoore lord could feel the connection between his cousin and the man of filth, they were drowned in blissful happiness.

 Star herself was dressed in a wine red velvet dress was clung to her and trailed a foot behind her. She wore an epaulette of copper on her shoulders and rings of gold on her fingers, a small gold bell chimed with each subtle move of her head and her soft pink lips were hard pressed to remain in a smile that wouldn't give her away.

When the Power Band came to show their respects to the ruling queen, she did the same when Prince Malcom was formally introduced as the only true royal member.

“In attendance is Prince Malcom Younge, son of King Aberneil Younge, and his fostered brother his Lordship, Angus Younge.”

Star nodded her head once, her gold crown moving with her. “Prince Malcom, Lord Angus. Sirs Philipe, Cliff and Bon.” She grinned. “It is a cause for celebration that you visit today. News of your success and of your help towards those in need are told strongly here. As you are aware, since my rule implanted in 1980 AC/DC, Holy Wood has thrived and proven thriving in its people. Wherever you go, poverty ends, where ever I look poverty ends.”

“I have seen this in our time here your highness,” Bon spoke with a grin on his face. “Your lands are beautiful and full and rich, a reflection of their queen.”

Star felt Richi tense beside her. Dee stood among the crowd as well, the only BOC member in attendance. He watched and while he smiled, he was silent.

“Oh Sir Bon you flatter me. In the face of such rich success I propose a tour.”

“A tour you say?” Malcom asked. He, too, excited at the idea of uniting the Great Southern island with the rest of the world. Spreading a combination of powerful influence.

“Why yes dear, Prince Younge,” she directed her attention to him and rose from her throne. “Your Power Band and my Neon Knights combined will accomplish more than we could do on our own. My adviser, Lord Blackmoore's band Light in the Black shall also march. I ask you to join us and begin a crusade to end poverty and war, to bring about a new era of peace and enlightenment. A call to criminals to lay down their crime and wayward lives and to join us for a revolution of the mind.”

“You have the Power Band!” Malcom announced. “We will gladly unite to bring about a new era.”

Star descended the steps, Richi followed and she went to Malcom, just a boy of eighteen, Angus forever frozen as a sixteen year old boy. She held up a hand and the first prince pressed his palm to hers. Richi pulled a red ribbon out of his pocket, a ceremonial ribbon to symbolize unification, and wrapped it around their hands. When he was done he turned to the crowds.

“Let it be known that we three bands shall lead a march to the other kingdoms! We will invite the others to the south to join us! We invite YOU the people to join us! The tour for Peace begins with all of us!”

Whatever else he said was drowned out in noise as the people burst into celebration. Yes there had been peace in the time of Star's rule as queen, but there had always been conflict. Kingdoms isolated and thought abandoned, people still living without. This was to a rekindling of all the kingdoms to come to come alive. To join together and be free in every sense. This was a call to rise up and care for all in need, a way to boost economies of all sorts. This was going to change their worlds more than it was changed in 1979. More than it changed in 1980.

While the commoners in attendance left to spread the word and call everyone to join them, Dee slipped away into the crowds. Dawn was the only one who watched him leave his place. She followed him while her mother continued to make love sick gaga eyes at Bon in public. She went to the servants hall she saw him last and hurried quietly, the sounds of the people in the great hall still echoing. She heard silence ahead and in a panic she began running faster.

When she emerged into the nearest courtyard, she scanned the open area, seeing no one there. But when she stepped forward she saw a body in the grass. A woman's body.

“GUARDS!” She called as she dove to tend to the woman she knew. “GUARDS COME QUICK!”

Even though they came and helped her take the injured to the nearest healer in the castle, she knew it was too late.....Tilda was dead. A single stab to the heart had ended her life, why or by who Dawn didn't know and not a single guard had been present to see anyone. Dee was still gone and while the Princess wanted to believe he had done it, there was absolutely no proof that he had. There were no witnesses, no weapon, and Tilda was dead.

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It was late into the next day, as the entire city and all of Star's managers of affairs got the tour in order, when she was alerted of Tilda's murder. Dawn brought her to the crypts, where the woman was already laid out for burial and mourning. But she had no family, and only May was there to acknowledge her passing. Rosie had been told that Tilda had died in her sleep, the girl was shaken by the sudden death, but in the wake of the Tour her sadness was distracted. Star however stood shoulder to shoulder with Dawn and May, staring at the woman's body.

“I cannot stop the tour,” she said.

Dawn frowned. “I didn't think you would, despite the dishonor to Tilda.”

“Its not that,” Star whispered. “I loved her, she helped me raise you and Rosie. I owed her and this is the thanks I give? I understand your anger but the tour must continue, one in order to spite Tilda's killer, and two because she would want us to continue. It will free the lands and hopefully encourage them to separate from the BOC. For all my power and liberation the people still look tot hem for help in situations they offer assistance to. This tour could end the rule of the BOC, Tilda knew that.”

“We will not go after the killer? We know who it was.”

“He did not murder her, he could not have.”

“He is of the BOC, you know he did.”

“Did anyone see it?”

“No.”

“They will laugh at you without any evidence. There is nothing we can do.”

Dawn sighed. “I know.” She turned and left. . . .

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It wasn't long before the royal family once again was in the great hall, drinking and merry making before the tour was set to launch. The platform where the thrones usually sat was cleared of the chairs and instead was littered with divans and large pillows tossed about. The queen reclined on a chair while Bon sat next to her, they flirted outrageously, whispering of being loved dearly. Angus entertained a horde of girls by playing guitar for them. Everyone else was spread throughout the hall, mingling and drinking. Feasting and dancing. Dawn wandered the hall, drinking, smoking, May was not among them, she was with Rosie in her chambers. Rosie was not fond of large gatherings like this.

Richi was surrounded by people as well, his band mates, women, other dignitaries. He shared Dawn's belief that a member of the BOC murdered Tilda, it unsettled them both. They also knew that the tour would commence. When infuriated him most was the sight of Star with Bon. After he had broken her heart for forty years, she gives him a band and then invites him to her castle. Now they sat side by side as if lovingly collaborating on their tour, and it made Richi huff in frustration.

In the middle of their celebrations a guard came running through the large hall doors, his armor clanking loudly and drawing everyone's attention. He held a piece of parchment in his hand and came to the steps below the gathering. Star, while prone to folly, knew that he had grave news, even more upsetting than her friend's death. She stood, Bon watched. Richi leaned forward, dawn followed her mothers suit and stood next to her.

“Speak!” Star said.

The guard nodded and unrolled the scroll. “To QUEEN OF HOLY WOOD. This note is to remind you that we are not dead and our forces have amassed to new heights. We await you outside your castle, in the open fields to the east, myself and my two delegates. We have gained the strength necessary to come and demand you pay heed to us and our power. Should you fail to speak with us, and listen to our demands, war will come down upon you. Awaiting your presence, signed, the King of the Spyders.”

There was silence.

Star burst into a grin. “Who sent this?”

“The messenger outside said he is to show you to the field where they wait.”

“Then by all means, let us meet.” She said as she swept away to dress for the hint of battle.

Dawn and Richi followed her, Bon followed against their wishes but Star demanded he come. The Princess whispered furiously with her mother, this did not feel right. Something was wrong. Star waved her concerns away as jitters of a negotiation. Dawn huffed at her mother's ignorance but followed her to dress for travel all the same. 

Princess and Lord Blackmoore, dressed in leather shin, arm and body gear. Star was dressed similarly with thigh high leather boots and a long necked, tight fitted chemise with the sleeves split open and leather guards from her wrists to elbows. Bon was given his choice of armor since they had come without, and donned a pair of metal shin guards and a long sleeved leather jacket, he declined any sort of chainmail since war was not yet eminent.

When done with their quick travel preparations, they met at the stables and Star called a small fraction of her army to come with her to investigate. The messenger boy was a Spyder, he wore the vivid red and silver colors and held a flag pole flying the silver Spyder on a red background. Star told him to led them and he did without further conversation. She had to admit that he was indeed in better condition that she expected, the last time she encountered the Spyder's, they were mere rag tag warriors without armor to call their own. It appeared they had improved since then.

Richi and Dawn trailed behind Star and Bon who sat abreast on their horses. The messenger was well ahead of them to avoid any speaking situations and this made Star lean in close to Bon.

“This is unusual.”

“What do you think they want?”

“To stop us. If we unite the people, they will be cast out and free for me to round up and deal with.”

“Another attempt at rebellion.” He said.

She smiled. “But it isn't as frighting this time, with you beside me.” She looked and smiled at him. “I had hoped we would set on a march for peace, and not to investigate if war is here.”

“We will tour. We will speak to the king and he might even join us.”

“Oh I doubt that,” she laughed. “But yes, we go to speak. I'm so happy you're here.”

“You said that already,” he laughed.

“Because I am,” she whispered. “I would rather be marching North rather than east, but with you by my side I fear nothing.”

He took her hand and kissed the back of it. She did likewise and he gave her hand a squeeze. They had been unable to share an intimate moment since his arrival two days prior. The Queen was beginning to regret it. This was a scene from her vision of the tour, them dressed as they were, atop horses on a dirt path. She saw no more after that and was waiting to see what lay beyond.

Their conversation died the moment the crested a hill and saw the camp. There at least one thousand soldiers present and their camps were abandoned as they all stood in neat uniform rows behind three leaders. The King and his two delegates. Star was not prepared for this and the moment she saw that her one hundred men was a vast miscalculation she motioned for Dawn to come forward. She watched the other army carefully, the situation had suddenly become grave.

“Ride to Ao'o, gather more, one thousand at least more. Begin preparations to possibly evacuate the city. Go to the old King. This is not a meeting, this I a negotiation and threat of war.” She looked into her daughter's eyes.

Dawn stared at her mother, the encampment and then nodded and turned to ride back for Ao'o. She did not question Star then, as to why she did not send Richi. She wanted to ensure that Rosie was far from the castle if War struck, and they would need more warriors. One thousand men was hardly an army, but it was all the BOC had had when they overthrew Star with in the beginning. She ran hard and didn't look back.

Star kicked her horse forward, Bon and Richi following by her sides. She motioned for Bon to come close and he did, Richi glared at the army ahead. Now was not the time for her to be flirting and it angered him. They went slowly plodding along.

“I'll never forget the day we met,” she said.

Richi glared at him. Star smiled.

“How could anyone forget?”He said.

“I think of it almost every night when you are away.” She was quiet. “I wish for that night over and over.”

“We will live it again.” He ensured her.

“I hope so,” she whispered.

The Spyders moved forward when the others stopped and approached the Holy Wood Queen. They all shared bright red hair, dyed of course to sport their war colors. A bright red band of paint was spread across their faces like a mask. The King wore a silver crown with large rubies inset along the band, he was young, too young.

When the two parties met they were mere yards away from the nearest soldier, either Spyder or Holy Woodian. The King spoke first.

“I am Xander of the Spyders.”

“I am Star Dust of Holy Wood.”

His lips peeled over yellowed teeth and a sick smile. "I have been Dying to meet you Queen. We are no longer the petty warrior thieves you knew. We are now a thriving community of people, taking over lands far to the east that you yourself abandoned.”

“I do not deny living space to those who need it. Enemy or otherwise.”

“That is not why I brought you here.”

“And why did you King of the Spyders?” She asked sarcastically, clearing mocking him.

“To inform you that we are powerful now. More than the thread bare people you knew, we have amassed our own kingdom and fortunes and riches and we have built an army and we have gathered land and we continue to build.”

“You seem familiar. . .” she said then, as if ignoring him. “Have I imprisoned you before?”

“We met once, on the fields of war in 1979.”

“Oh yes, when everyone who wanted to fight leapt into war.” She seemed puzzled. “But why do you wish war on me? It was the BOC I was fighting, not you.”

“Because you are of Holy Wood! Your former kings imprisoned my forefathers! You have ignored us as a force of might for far too long!”

“Because you attack my people! Surrounding lands! You encourage crime and pillaging!”

“Is that not what you plan now with your tour? To eradicate us?”

“Of course not! In fact you may join us! Lay down your grievances and join us King of the Spyders. Join us. Do you have another sponsor perhaps? Allies of your own?”

“If you only knew,” he grinned wickedly. “We drank the water of life you gave your people, we are more than mere decedents, we are the last of the Spyders who were wrongfully imprisoned. And by who? A king who knew a Spyder was the rightful heir of Holy Wood.”

“Now that is where you fail to make sense,” Richi said. “The case you refer to took place nearly two centuries ago. It was a fight over two legitimate children for the Throne on Earth, and the one whose mother was Martian was denied the throne while the earthling mother was given the throne.”

The King smiled, "Time hides many secrets Blackmoore Lord."

Star went pale. If he only knew. . . . “He is right. I cannot attest to what my husband's ancestors did to your forefathers, but we can fix it right now.”

Xander's eyes darkened. “I am afraid it is too late to offer an alliance. You have been bested your highness.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean bested? By who? Speak clearly or you will never be a proper king at all!”

“You will address me as KING Xander the first of the Spyders!”

They fell into a fit of yelling at each other, Star hurtling insults and Xander using sarcastic allusions to double meanings. In the throngs of red, one among them crept silently, seemingly unnoticed by those around him until he reached the edge of the crow closest to the dignitaries. Bon watched the woman and Spyder argue, Richi did as well....But it was Bon who heard the crunch of dirt, being a Dirty Deeds Man his senses could detect what was otherwise silent. It was a trait of the Dirty Men faction. He turned in time to see the crowd part and without explanation he shoved Star out of the saddle with a violent push and grabbed a knife out of his shin guard.

As the dagger flew and struck the “king's” eye, another blade flashed in the sunlight. It wouldn't kill Xander. . .at the same time he reacted, there was a sudden movement in the crowd of uniformed stanced Spyder soldiers, and it happened quicker than anyone else could react. A Spyder pushed through the crowd and flung an object at the Queen.

In the same moment that Bon had shoved her and threw his blade, another was released from the hands of an assassin for hire. As the King screamed and was taken away from the stand off, arrows flew, war cries were screamed, the war began. With an arm raised the slaughter was started.

Richi ducked and jumped down from his horse, hiding behind it as he protected the Queen.

“SHEILD WWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLL!” He screamed.

As the wall formed he looked down and crouched low to pick up his cousin, but she did not see him. He followed her gaze and saw Bon across from them, his hand in hers, a knife protruding from his chest. In the midst of colliding enemy lines, Richi picked her up and guards picked up Bon. They found shelter a mile away from the front line and a healer, sent by Dawn had quickly arrived with a small battalion of battle ready men. Dawn came with nightfall and led the battle as the people she had brought sent up a temporary base. As the tent was constructed and a table unloaded, Bon was being dressed by a healer, a magic healer from the Sabbath lands. A gift from that Kingdom to Star's.

With nothing else for it he grabbed the dagger and the moment it was free, covered it with a heavy cloth he pressed down. This changed nothing. The healer said his chants, laid a hand over the chest and the wound glowed a soft blue...but when the glow dimmed it was apparent that they were too late. He shook his head and said another chant while placing coins over the man's eyes.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Star screamed so loud that moment that her voice broke.

She fell to the ground and Richi was overwhelmed.

“Get her out of here!” he shouted as he drew his sword.

The tent was so close to the front lines that this was his holding point and he had to get her away to safety until she was dressed in her armor ready to fight, but with the death of her love right before her eyes he wasn't sure she was able to fight. The guards and healers took her away, but she fought them. Not willing to leave unless Bon's body went with her. They took her and the dead man to a tavern in a nearby evacuated village while Dawn and Richi battled on the front line. They were not far from the Castle Ao'o and Dawn had called for more and more reinforcements to come even after she had ridden out with her militia.

Eventually they held the line and more soldiers came to fight. Far into the night and the next day there was fighting. Dawn and Richi pulled out long enough to establish where they stood. Star was still holed up in the tavern and was said to be drinking copious amounts of rum. Dawn relayed to Richi that everyone incapable of fighting was being evacuated to the Kingdom by the Sea and he was willingly taking them in, Rosie and May included. The Princess then broke off from her uncle to go send word to the other kingdoms. This was not their fight but it would maybe become theirs if Holy Wood should lose, they should be prepared.

Richi agreed. With morale falling low at the sudden attack and Star's safety uncertain, the soldiers needed to know that their queen was well. They needed to know they were not fighting a losing battle....Even though it appeared as such. Over the course of the next few days, it became apparent that the Spyder's had also rebuilt their military and military tactics. Every time the Holy Woodians entered the forest to pursue them, the men were overwhelmed and scattered, sent running from the forests. It wasn't long before both Richi and Dawn concluded that the Spyder's had a significant army spread through the lands usually uninhabited, under one command it seemed.

The forests were thick, the hills rocky and full of caves. The Spyders had planned for this and it was evident in the way they moved and nearly expected their battle plans. After a large squad of soldiers was lost in an ambush, Dawn pulled back their forces and Richi went in search of Star.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A tavern in the village of Tull, 2021 AC/DC, sunrise. . . . .

Stardust sat at the bar, Richi and a band of five soldiers stood behind her. The Blackmoore lord behind her was dressed in his battle worn armor. Their leader was getting wasted at a bar as the kingdom was at war. With the death of her lover Bon, the Queen was ill.

“My Lady, there is a war at hand the enemy is attacking from the east. We need your guidance in this time.” Her cousin said.

She sucked down another rum shot and tapped the glass in thought before pouring more. She drank and ignored those in attendance. The other soldiers didn't know what to make of it. Richi set his helmet down and stared at his Queen and cousin.

“Leave us,” he commanded his men. They did as told. He grabbed the shot from her hand before it touched her lips and threw it on the ground. She looked at him with an irritated smirk. “Wake up,” he growled at her.

She wasn't deterred. She pushed another shot to him, “Here have a drink on me,” she suddenly burst into laughter that dribbled into tears. “Hes upstairs, and there's no pulse.”

She spoke of her lover Bon. Just as their two powerbands were about to embark on a massive tour across the kingdoms, Bon had been assassinated before her very eyes. He had died after they fled the battle field and she held onto his body in the hopes he wasn't dead.

But he died long before being brought here, and she did everything in her willpower to deny it. She was drowning out her sorrow like she did after the Great war of 1979. After her husband vanished....she turned to heavy drinking in that short time before being exiled and separated from her newly born baby.

Richi was there to break her out of her drunken dream. “We need our Queen! Your daughter needs you, your granddaughter needs you.” He put his hand over the glass she was about to drink from. “Bon would want you to keep fighting. He didn't come all this way, he didn't follow you for more than thirty years to see you give up all because he died.”

She grinned at him and shoved his hand away. “Now that I will drink to. Bon was a persistent man.” She downed the double shot without a flicker of disgust. “And his persistence got him dead.”

Richi laughed. “You know nothing of Bon you foolish woman.”

She raised her glass and smashed in on his armor breast plate.

“Don't you say that Richi!” She screamed.

“You know you must go on! When we have a victory he will be cremated as the bravest of men are. He would want you to fight and we must go NOW!”

“Don't you dare touch him!” She branched a dagger at him, freed from its hidden sheath in her sleeve. I will keep his body forever if I have to!”

“You would defy his honor and keep him in a glass coffin if it meant you could keep him for yourself.”

“You're damn right I would and I'll drink to that right now!' She drank again and slammed the next glass to the floor. “

There was a sudden ruckus on the floor above them and the sound of smashing glass. Stardust leapt to the stairs when the glass shattered above and Richi trailed closely behind her. Her heart pounded in terror at what she would find and she ran down the hall to his room. The door was slammed open so hard that it fell off on hinge. She flew inside to find his body gone and the window smashed.

She stood there in stoic, sobering silence and Richi stood alongside her.

“Is this your doing?” She asked Richi.

He shook his head. “No. I. . . I have no explanation.”

Both body and dagger were gone from this room. She went to the window and saw that the glass was broken outwards, there was no glass inside the room. There was no godly, earthly, physical way that Bon should have moved. He had been dead, she had felt no pulse, he was dead. Now he was gone, once again gone. With the realization that she would be unable to keep his body, she gave up and came out of her depression.

She nodded, facing the rising sun. “Let us win this war then.”

to be continued. . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

S1, Chapter 2; The trick with curses...

2020 AC/DC. Holy Wood tavern, evening.

She wore a half dress of copper velvet. Bright copper. It matched her eyes. Richi watched her as she floated around the room, after her stage performance, she was flocked by young girls and boys. Men stood on the outskirts, waiting for her to break free from the young ones she had a penchant for. She drifted in and out of the smoke, the people adored her.

Richi watched as he always did, her right hand was the sane side of her. She was a good singer, more of an entertainer than singer. She was a good queen too, and a good mother, despite Dawn's wildness. The young woman was off now, stomping in and around the underground. She seemed to really take enjoyment in the belly of the city, all the gangs were in some way or another, under her control. She was a ruthless fighter and had taken down each crime boss one by one. There was nothing she didn't notice, and therefore nothing Star didn't notice.

The BOC was planning a jury assault, wanting to take Star to the stand AGAIN! For the three hundredth and thirty fifth time-yes he kept track- she was being accused of teenage seduction. Caught in the act with a sixteen year old girl who was screaming for pleasurable release. Truly screaming for Star to finish her off. Whatever the Queen did to that girl, it got her caught and imprisoned. But of course, by the Grace of the Queen's Goddess-The Mother- she was released the very next day with no charges having been pressed. A bail was always allowed and she always made it.

She was smoking now, and that herb even Richi smoked on while he watched her. Her bare legs looked longer than they were in the dim light of the club, in her mini dress of velvet. Rainbow lights danced over them all and a haze drifted around their ankles. She knew how to throw a party. She kissed a girl, and took her under her arms, she looked to Richi and winked, licking her lips with a small flick of her tongue. She was silently asking him to join her. He would of course, he had other lovers himself but how could you say no when a beautiful Queen asked you to bed with her and a young girl?

Dawn hated it when Star went after the young girls, Richi thought to himself while he took another sip of whiskey. Rosie, her grandchild, was just barely fifteen, well mentally. Physically she was supposed to be in her twenties, but Star had magic and magic always won. That's why the Princess and Princess-in-waiting, were not present. Dawn was sick of the reckless debauchery, but only when it concerned her mother, and had more fun ordering her underground subjects about. 

Yes, Dawn had her happy share of mind altering substances and loved her booze-a trait inherited form her father- the biggest difference between them was that Star loved many, while Dawn loved few. Another thing that twisted the blade in Dawn's side, irritating things between her and her mother, Star refused to give up the throne that was rightfully hers. Dawn was far old enough and capable, to run the kingdom by herself. But Star refused, caught up in a web of fortune telling and secrets. So the dark haired warrior woman ruled a different kind of kingdom.

Nearly one fourth of the kingdom came into immortality after Star won The Rebellion. Many subjects still chose to live and die mortal lives, noble creatures they were. Riche sipped his whiskey and gazed about the room. They loved her, everyone was free, men kissed men, women made love to women, all in the same room, all because Star had liberated them. The circle of love and hate was solid and bold between the BOC and the Queen.

Star's band, the Silver Knights, was a testament to her conquering the BOC sixty years ago. She sang of heroic deeds of men and women, of sex and pride and joy and love. She had harems of fans and even attracted many traveling musical knights and ladies from across the lands. She loved guitarist men and singers and women singers. The era of love had consumed them all and she took it all with grace and fervor. Richi himself was a guitarist, his own band, Light in the Black, was still cycling through singers, trying to find the right one. Richi was picky and could afford to be.

With Richi observing, waiting for the moment Star would retire so he could join her, the party went on and on well into the evening.

*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

Holy Wood Castle, evening.

In the castle, Rosie sat alone at her window. She could see the lights where she knew her Nana was, and her mother was gone. Rosie was often left alone, and had learned to be alright in their absences, but it was still disheartening. Suddenly, below her window, she saw soft dancing orbs of yellow light. She smiled, they reminded her of fairies. They beckoned to her, dancing in and out of the trees, calling to her. Whispering her name and enchanting her. She got up and ran to go play with them, desperate for a friend.

She went, and played, and smiled and laughed in the darkness. The guards who normally stood guard at this hour, were slumped in their places, giving the appearance of standing guard but were cast into death. Rosie didn't hear the man approach from behind...didn't hear the rustling black robes of velvet...until they folded around her.

 SHE SCREAMED

.....and was gone into the night.....

*****&&&&&&&*****

Holy Wood Castle, morning. 

In the morning, Star slept soundly with a brunette woman on one side, and Richi on the other. She got up, stretched and went to the warm coffee waiting in the foyer of her chambers. She inhaled the sweet scent of her drink and had just taken a morning sigh when the chaos erupted. The piercing scream reached her ears and the door blew open, she didn't flinch.

Her grandchild's maid rushed in, a plump short woman with red hair in thick curls. She mothered the girl when both Star and Dawn were absent, Dawn was due to return that mid afternoon. It was too late.

“HE HAS TAKEN HER! THE DARK ONE HAS TAKEN ROSIE!!!” She screamed and stared at her queen. Her name was May and she was fierce, Star had wanted her to be so.

Star set down her coffee, and slowly went to her wardrobe. May continued to curse and retell how the guards were found murdered at their posts and the Symbol of the Dark One was carved into Rosie's bedroom door. Star put on her dark blue jeans, her black ruffled, pirate's shirt, and put the brown belt around her waist. She grabbed a sword from the perch on the inside of the door and slung it around her waist. Star was going to go after the Wizard without hesitation. She tied back her hair, put on her riding boots, and she took off before Richi and the other lover had any idea what had happened.

Richi sighed, not again.

The Dark One often teased Dawn and Star, pitting mother and daughter against each other as he played their sexual fantasies and emotions. Though, if he knew Star well enough, he knew that while she loved making love to the wizard, her heart belonged to one man who she hadn't seen in years. Now he got up and the woman stirred across from him. Star traveled quick, May left the rooms and he pulled on his black trousers and was leaving the room.

He had to await for Dawn and he knew it wouldn't be long.

&*&*&**&*&*&*&

On her way, Star was met with a traveler. A wandering man dressed in red. She stopped her mad gallop when he stepped into the road. He threw back his hood, his hair dyed a deep red. He smiled and held a scythe by his side. He pointed it at her.

“Keep your children close,” he said. “And your enemies closer.”

“I don't have time for you, get out of my way!” Normally she would have fought the man hand to hand to make it fair. He was a Spider member, a gang that had been fighting to over throw Star ever since she came to the throne. She drew her sword.

“The Spiders are everywhere, their webs long and sticky. They sent me to remind you, lest you forget.”

“I didn't forget. Especially how easy it is to kill your kind.”

Just as he began to laugh she cut his head from his neck and galloped away once more. She had more important places to be, and he didn't put up a fight. She knew that whoever sent him and done knowing he would never return.

&*&*&*&*&*&*&

Inside the Dark Castle of the Wizard, day.

Rosie sat in her chambers, in the depths of the castle she was wailing horribly in tears of utter sadness and fear. The Dark One growled in his library and put his hands over his ears to block out her cries. He had taken her to draw her mother and grandmother out for battle. He was bored and one of them was sure to fall victim to his antics and lusts. He wanted nothing to do with Rosie, she was purely a pawn in his tyrannical games. Mostly, he desired for Dawn to come, as he was darkness she was the light and he craved her light. Where her mother was lean and fox like, Dawn was tall and a lady wolf.

When he hunted, He preferred the wolf to the trickster fox.

Now he was stuck with a child that wailed louder than a baby. As ear splitting crying echoed through the castle, he hoped they came soon to take her back. His pride would not allow him to take her himself. He didn't have to wait long. The royal had impeccable timing.

“Wizard! You foul demon!” Star came storming into his library then. The doors bursting open and rattling on their hinges from her strength.

He looked up at her entry. Once they had made wild love to each other in ecstasy. But sometime before he turned his sights to Dawn, Star turned and looked at him as if his actions no longer pleased her. He had the horrible feeling that she saw right through his flirting, taking it as nothing more than a grain of salt in a flesh wound. What had given her this insight he didn't know, he had been an excellent lover, but he knew she was never true to him nor he to her, they never shared that kind of love.

She rushed in and pointed her sword at him. He stared along the silver up to her glowing honey eyes. He sighed.

“Where is she you brute!?”

“Two floors above.” he said.

She frowned at him, and brought her sword down on a book in front of him. He sighed at the lack of need she had to do such a thing. She turned and stormed away. He stood and followed her, seeming to float along the thick carpeting. At least he was able to attract one of them to come retrieve the girl. And while she was at it, he would take her to his bed once more.

&*&*&**&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

Dawn stormed in, dressed in a long black skirt that fell in layers, it swished around her, looking like she flew in on a cloud. Riche stood by the throne, talking to other throne managers and dignitaries. Dawn had never be particularly fond of Star's cousin, Uncle Riche as she called him. But she found him to be a useful ally, and enjoyed his band.

“Why is my mother's horse gone and why is Rosie not in her room?” Dawn never wasted words.

Riche could appreciate that, they were alike in that way. “The Dark One stole Rosie in the night. Star went after them. If I were you-”

She was gone before he could finish. He sighed and shook his head, the women of the family were mental. Completely mad, yet they were in power.

&*&*&*&*&*&*

Holy Wood Lands, day.

Dawn rode hard and fast to the Castle. Anger at the Wizard for daring steal her daughter, and jealousy that he might seduce her mother instead of her, rushed through her veins. She did not fear for the child, if Star was already at the castle-which she knew her mother was- there was nothing to fear. Before Dawn, there were two older sisters, stolen from their cribs. Not long after, Dawn was born and when the BOC took Her away, her mother tore down their castle walls to rescue her. Star was like the power between wolf and bears fighting for their cubs.

She was also prone to fucking that awful wizard! Dawn raged when she recalled her and Star fighting over him, her mother had spurned him before her birth. The old bag should back the fuck off. She made her horse go faster as they came closer to the black stone castle.

&*&*&*&*&*&*&

Dark Castle of the Wizard, day.

Star had Rosie in her arms, petting the girl's long brown curls and comforting her. She led the girl out of the room and down the stairs. The Wizard watching from a Bannister overhead, grinned to himself. Star was fuming. What was he playing at? Kidnapping her for no reason? He usually had a reason for everything, this was odd.

“Leaving so soon?” His voice echoed down to her.

She stopped, and pushed her grandchild forward to the doors. “Go Rosie, my horse awaits you. Get on and ride for home!” She faced the wizard. “Shut up!”

“Finally, send that horrid brat home,” he said and walked down the stairs towards her. “She wouldn't stop that crying for anything.”

“What did you just call her?” Her fists began to glow in a blue static.

“You heard me. She's louder than you,” he was referring to her love noise. “Join me Star, come to my bed. I'll let you both peacefully.” He came up beside her, suddenly holding her close. Her heart fluttered but as was her way, she was stubborn and defiant.

She laughed in his face. “Oh you think it would be that easy did you? Kidnap my grandchild to lure me here and do away with? Not today my tease!” She lifted her palms and recited her spell. “Let they who have lustful hearts be trapped in the castle of their lustful desires! May the need for lust be heavy upon them, not easily broken except by the whiteness of purity!”

From outside, Rosie heard the loud chanting. She didn't know what to do, but when she looked to the road she saw her mother coming. A BRIGHT burst of green magic flared over the castle and the curse Star laid over the place echoed loudly, Dawn heard every word said back as the curse took over.

“You Bitch!” She shouted towards her mother's figure within. “That's MY wizard!”

The wizard looked out the open doors and saw the blurry figure of Dawn through the haze of the spell. He laughed as Star had just done and then let her go. He wasn't sure if Star knew, but with the arrival of her daughter and a curse upon him, his clever mind was far ahead of her's in a mere moment. In an instant he needed someone to lift the curse from the outside, and he knew Dawn would do it. Until then he had to seduce the queen, effectively making her a captive of her own spell, and give Dawn a reason to break her mother's curse. Acting quickly, he moved forward, reaching out for Star.

“Looks like your daughter has come to join us.”

“You insolent beast!” She meant to slap him but thought better of it. “Rot here alone you sick animal. And leave my daughter alone.”

“Your daughter is a wonderful lover. Very giving, very wanting. Dare I say I'm glad she's here, she's near your equal in coupling,. If not your superior.”

Star turned then, her neck hair bristling in silvery strands. “You shut your whore mouth. Do not speak of my daughter's actions to me.”

“Oh I thought you knew, you always do seem jealous of her.” He came close again, and reached out to her hand. He lifted it to his lips and pressed a small kiss to her hand. She may not be fooled by his love puppy ways, but she was receptive to the touch. “Don't be jealous.”

“I am not jealous of my child!” She turned away and he suddenly latched on to her shoulders, pressing a quick, wet, kiss to the nape of her neck. Her body blew up in heat from the inside. She pressed it down and stilled her frantic heart. He knew her weaknesses.

“Why don't you show me?” His voice was low and attractive to her ears.

She nearly gave it but shook him off. “No! Not today!” She began storming to the doors and slammed right into the walls she had created. She pressed her palms to the green magic hovering before her, seeing the figure of Dawn outside, her ranting and raves of anger were muted by the magic cover.

“Dawn!” She screamed. “DAWN! IT'S NOT MY FAULT!”

The magic then echoed her words to her. “Lustful heart.....lustful heart....trapped in the castle...castle...castle.” In a single moment he had stoked just enough passion in her blood to make her victim to her own spell. Her magic so powerful that it took her under its wing in an instant.

She felt it then. The maddening curse she had placed on not only the Wizard, but now herself. Her own curse was used against her and she could feel the lust building in her. He looked at her with hunger filled eyes Wide, mad eyes that were filled to the brim with desire and lust. Her cruse ran rampant on them both and she ran from him, screaming a string of curses as he chased after her. That day they made angry, vengeance sex all over the castle chambers on every floor. She smacked him in the face when he fell asleep after a session of coupling and cursed him with a foul name, before succumbing to sleep beside him.

&*&*&*&*&*&*

Holy Wood Castle, night.

Dawn was back at Holy Wood. After faintly hearing her mother scream her name and upon hearing the curse echo, she could only wonder what they did inside. She chose to believe he was torturing Star. It made the jealousy go away. Yes that was it, he was abusing her in a non sexual way that Star couldn't possibly enjoy. Or She was abusing him.... The Princess hated to admit that He alone evoked jealousy between mother and daughter. Dawn sat on the throne with Rosie sitting on the steps below. Suddenly Dawn knew what had to be done, to ensure that no one took Rosie from under her, she gently took her daughter by the arm and led her away. They made haste to the stables again.

“Where are we going mum?” She asked.

“To the Kingdom by the Sea. I think I know the “white purity” that will break the spell. And you're coming with me. I know you hate travel but you're staying right by my side.”

They flew from the stables swift and fleet. Dawn drove the horses to breaking point but with her magic was able to keep them going. They rode into the night and upon the breaking sun of morning, they arrived on the outskirts of the Kingdom by the Sea. She gazed out over the ocean then and took in the salty breeze. She always did love the sea, but now was not a time to enjoy it, she came to see the King.”

&*&*&*&*&*

The chambers of the Wizard in the Dark Castle, night.

While Star slept she was visited by Zardos. Zardos was her conscious personified. The female esque creature had a slight wolf curve to the lines of her face. Her teeth were fangs, her eyes a bright shining yellow. She had first appeared to Star a year after she fell to earth, coming in dreams. Zardos had been compelled her to awaken in the mind and become who she was now. Zardos was like her demented guardian angel, who always failed at her job. But she hovered over the bed where Star slept next to the Wizard.

“Wake up,” Zardos droned in an exotic brough. “Open your eyes and see me Star Dust of Holy Wood.”

She did as commanded. Zardos was a physical being only Star seemed to see. She had grappled with the creature before, to test the boundaries of reality and came away with wounds from their scuffle. She was real, but only to the Queen.

“There are spiders in the night coming for you. Protect your children, they are the key.” Star had no idea what Zardos was talking about. All that registered was the words Spiders, they were a gang that harassed her and the throne. “Keep your children close, and your enemies, ever closer.”

Star blinked, and Zardos was gone.