Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Tales of Intempia ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: These characters and settings belong to me - please don't steal them!

 

Chapter One

Pale skin creased and azure eyes filled with concern and doubt. Delicate fingers flicked the page of the newspaper, the rustling filling the otherwise silent room.
Hundreds dead. Death toll still unknown.
The headlines screamed at her from the pages, as did the pictures of the wounded, the dying, the grieving, the starving. Her breath whispered in a sigh as she folded the paper and placed it to one side as her mother entered.
“Why the grim face, Alsentia?”
Her mother was a tall woman, slender with chocolate hair and eyes. Well, that was her favoured shape. What she really looked like no one could remember. Alsentia gestured at the paper, the headline blazing at the ceiling.
“Ah yes, the rebel forces are killing hundreds of our innocent Guards. Never trust a werewolf or a vampire. They'll always stab you in the back.”
Alsentia nodded,
“They still burn those who enter Algora, don't they?”
“Oh of course. Only way to kill the damned things. You know, they wiped out a tribe of humans a few weeks back.”
“Humans? Aren't they endangered?”
“Verging on extinction. And they massacred an entire tribe. 30 individuals. Dead. Gone.” Her mother shook her head in disgust as she spoke, bustling around the kitchen making breakfast. “Next thing you know they'll be starting on the mermen.”
“Is this really the conversation for breakfast?”
“Good morning father.” Alsentia hastily removed the newspapers from the table. Her father did not like werewolves or vampires, or any mention of them within the house. Definitely not when he was in earshot. And she didn't blame him. He worked for the Guard. He sent out the orders to the frontline. He went to see the families of those who had been killed. No, she didn't blame him for not liking them.
“How has school been going?” her father took his seat, pouring himself some coffee. Alsentia wrinkled her nose as the smell touched her nose.
“It's fine.”
“Working hard?”
“Yes.”
“Doing all your work?”
“Yes.”
“Handing everything in on time?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
There was silence as they waited for her mother to join them. He cleared his throat once she was seated.
“I'm to visit a town recently captured by the Guard this week.”
Her mother lifted her head, her face alarmed.
“But it's too dangerous!”
Her father shook his head, swallowing a mouthful of toast.
“It's well behind the frontline. It's as safe as can be. In fact, I was considering taking Alsentia.”
“No.”
He looked up in surprise. She was clutching the tablecloth in both hands, her knuckles white and trembling.
“No?”
“No. I'm not letting you take our daughter into a war zone!”
“It's a good experience for her. One day she'll have my job. She needs to see what's happening. And as I said; it's perfectly safe there.”
“No.”
Alsentia turned her attention to her breakfast, ignoring their argument. She'd long since learnt to block it out. They'd argue for a long time before her mother would admit defeat and back down.

“Don't worry, I'll be fine.”
Her mother hugged her tightly, as if loath to let her go. As Alsentia had predicted, her parents had argued for a long time until her mother had finally agreed to let her go. Now she seemed to regret doing it.
“Mother, I'll be fine. The Guard will be there, I'll be quite safe.”
“Yes…” she said softly.
“Alsentia!”
She smiled at her mother once more, before leaping lightly down the steps into the car beside her father. As the engine started, she leant out the window waving furiously. They pulled away, the stone house gradually growing smaller as they drove on. Still she waved, until she could no longer see the pinprick amongst of the multi-coloured flowers of the garden. Only when the house had entirely vanished, did she settle down in her seat. Soon they would be in town, and then they would be on the train. Then, Intempia.

She'd always loved train journeys. When she was little, the family would take the train and go to one of the northern towns for the holidays. But it was the journey there and back that was the best bit. You see, many people sleep on trains. And this gives you the best chance to watch them and work out who they are. To store away titbits of information that may someday be of use to you, should you ever wish to write a story about such a character as the person you're watching. And Alsentia loved doing this. She loved watching people and writing stories in her mind about them. It passed the time anyway. On this particular journey, she was watching a boy, of about her age, sleeping against the window. His hair was golden in colour, and stood out at odd angles, apart from where it was squashed on the glass. He looked peaceful. In Alsentia's mind he was a prince. A prince from a far-off city. No, better than that. A human prince, doomed to stay in eternal slumber until called to the defence of his kingdom. Satisfied, she turned her attentions on another.

Feeling the gaze leave him, he risked cracking open an eyelid. The four of the other occupants in the compartment were sleeping, save for one. She was watching one of the others carefully, seemingly analysing them. Opening his eye a tiny amount more, he was careful not to move as he examined her. Fiery hair that hung in a single braid over her shoulder, emerald eyes that shone with curiosity and smooth, unmarked skin. Suddenly a look of satisfaction flitted across her face, and she looked around. Mentally cursing, he hurriedly shut his eye.

Alsentia frowned. She could've sworn she'd seen a sliver of violet between the boy's eyelids. Shaking her head she decided she'd imagined it. Much to wrapped up in her imaginings, her mind was playing tricks on her.
“Alsentia.”
She looked to her father beside her.
“Why have you changed your hair and eyes? You're supposed to remain like the picture on your ID card.”
Sighing, Alsentia allowed her hair to return to its normal yellow, and her eyes to their average blue.
“Much better.” He smiled at her, and she tried to smile back.
“How long until we're there?”
Her father consulted his pocket watch. Alsentia had always adored his watch. It was solid silver and had a design set into the metal.
“Not long.” He answered, “And then we find our escort and head across the border.”
Alsentia nodded, glancing at the boy once more before deciding to try and sleep a while. There was still a long journey left.