Fractured Loyalties - Snippet #02

The relentless downpour pelted the three individuals, soaking them to the bone as they stood at the edge of Delirare, the Town of Harmony. They were mesmerized by the idyllic town, nestled amongst the ominous forests of the Deranged Realms.

Moliann pushed back her golden-threaded hood and gazed around in wonder with bright silver eyes. She hadn’t ventured out of her home palace in over twelve annums, and her heart raced as she fidgeted with her cloak absently.

Odeniik shielded his gold metallic faceplate from the rain with his gloved hand, stepping up to his superior, Captain Farris.

“Are we even sure the girl is still here?” he muttered to her, but before Farris could reply, Moliann interrupted as she faced them with a wide grin on her pink lips.

“She is. I can feel it.”

Farris grimaces but nods her acknowledgment. “I hope you’re right…your father could have Ode and I hanged for sneaking you out here.”

When the gates to the dreamlike town swung open, they came face to face with a girl mirroring Moliann’s image, waiting there with a smirk. The two Origin girls had long, messy, dark wine-toned hair and similar silver eyes, though Moliana’s appeared to have a mysterious glow to hers.

“Hello…”

“Ana!” Moliann exclaimed, running forward and embracing her long-lost sister. “I’ve missed you so much!”

In the background, Odeniik and Farris watched with unease gnawing at them.

“That was quick,” Odeniik grunted, his luminescent red eyes narrowed. “How’d she know we were here? Twin nonsense?”

Farris shrugs her armor-plated shoulders. “Probably.”

With one arm around her sister’s waist, Moliana addressed all three of them.

“Come on, let’s get out of the rain before you all get sick. I have a small home just inside the gates,”

Quickly sharing a worried glance with his Captain, Odeniik spoke out, “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we were just visiting—”

“I’m not returning,” Moliann declared then, her back facing her two personal guards.

“But if you don’t go back, we can’t return either…” Farris reminded her, trying to maintain a level tone.

Moliann closed her eyes tightly as tears started to form, but Moliana answered for her.

“Then it sounds like you are all staying here permanently. I hope you didn’t leave anything of value behind.”

Wearing an irritated expression, the male Automated soldier turned to his female counterpart, “I hate to be the one to say I told you so, but—”

Then Moliann turned on her heel to face them, flashing her bright grin confidently, all signs of tears wiped away.

“It’s going to be okay! We can make better lives here anyway. I promise you won’t regret this.”

Farris sighs, “It’s not like we have a choice…”

“Come on, all of you, let’s get moving,” Moliana suggested, and she led them down the cobblestone path toward her home.

Moliana’s hut was a small, narrow place made of weathered wood and thatched with dried grass. The interior was compact, with no discernible rooms except a small bathroom tucked away in the corner. The only natural light sources were tiny windows scattered throughout the walls. The hut felt cozy and welcoming despite its size, thanks to colorful tapestries on the walls and shelves lined with trinkets and knick-knacks collected from Moliana’s travels. It wasn’t grand or extravagant, but it was her sanctuary and solitude.

As they entered, Moliana walked over to the tiny kitchen island and started brewing some tea for them.

“I’m afraid the two extra cots I ordered haven’t arrived yet, so you two can share the bed that was meant for Moliann, and she can share with me,” Moliana told them as she began to pour water into the tea kettle.

“Wait, what do you mean you ordered two extra beds?” Farris questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“I ordered three beds in anticipation of your arrival, but they could only finish one so far.” the twin explained calmly, placing the kettle on the small wood-burner stove.

While Moliana’s twin sister was busy looking over the different knick-knacks, Odeniik scrunched his nose with suspicion.

“Hold on, how did you know we were coming?”

“Hmm?” Moliana looked up briefly from carefully placing the herb bags into the kettle. “Oh, Moli told me in a dream about a month ago.”

“What?” Farris said, louder than she meant to, “She didn’t even know if you were alive or not a month ago!”

Then, Moliann straightened and turned to face Farris with a knowing smirk, “That was before I had the dream! But why do you think I worked so hard on our plan to sneak away these last few weeks?”

“So, you had this planned from the get-go and still failed to let us in on this little ‘getaway’ of yours?” Odeniik asked seriously, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“What if we did have important things or lives back at home? And you just forced us to give it up!” Farris added angrily.

“Please,” Moliana scoffed. “If you had a life worth keeping back in that corrupt city, you wouldn’t have agreed to bring her to me. So don’t you dare yell at her!”

Moliann puts her hand up passively,

“It’s okay, Ana, they have a right to be upset,” Sighing, Moliann stepped up to the two now-banished soldiers apologetically. “I know it might seem selfish, but there was a reason I convinced my father to make you two the new Captain and Commander of my guard. It was because I could tell you two yearned for more than our kingdom offered!”

“Look, you may think you were doing us a favor, but some communication goes a long way. You should have told us you weren’t planning on going back.” Odeniik explained in a level tone, tapping his fingers on his knees.

Moliann’s bright eyes considered that sadly in the momentary silence between them before she spoke again softly, “I’m sorry…I swear, this was the only way I could guarantee escaping that Purgatorium nightmare and being with my sister again…but I can now see that what I did was wrong. I should have been more forthright. And for that, I’m very sorry.”

Captain Farris and Commander Odeniik look at each other, deciding that the runaway princess is genuine. Farris sighs and nods her head. “We will forgive you IF you promise never to do anything like that again, okay?”

“Of course, I will never lie to you two again,” Moliann agreed, bowing respectfully.

“Then I think we can work this out. So, do you have any sleeping bags or anything?” Farris asked of Moliana, but the cast-out princess shook her head.

“No, only the two beds. I’m sure the two of you will fit just fine, though.”

Odeniik crosses his arms and looks away grumpily, fighting the urge to mutter profanities under his breath. “Right…”

“It’s only temporary,” Moliann reassured, “Then you will have your bed!”

“Unless there is a mix-up with my order. I’ll have to check with the carpenters tomorrow to make sure that didn’t happen,” Moliana said with a frown, taking the whistling kettle off the stove and pouring the hot liquid into four individual teacups.

“That’s a fantastic idea. In fact, I think Odeniik should join you when you speak to them tomorrow. You know, to check on the dimensions.” Farris suggested with a casual grin.

The twin looked up at them with a glance that could be deadly, “What?”

Odeniik also glared at his Captain, but after receiving a knowing look from her, his discontent sizzled into complacency. “Right…I am a big guy, after all….”

“Oh, that’s a great idea!” Moliann chimed in before her sister could object, “It’ll be a great bonding experience, too. It’ll also give Captain Farris and me time to explore the town!”

Odeniik smirked at Farris. “Sounds like fun, don’t you think, Captain?”

“Of course!” Captain Farris said, though her eye twitched as she said, “If this is going to be our home, we will need to look for jobs as well.”

“Then it’s settled! After tea, we will sleep and have the best day ever tomorrow!” Moliann giggles, raising her tea cup after Moliana hands it to her. Moliana, meanwhile, kept silent, giving the Captain and Commander their drinks while watching out the rainy window intently.

Odeniik noticed Moliana’s gaze and looked up at the window, too. “What is it?”

Moliana frowns, her eyes fixated on what she thought were shadowy movements outside, but then decides that it is nothing and turns her focus away. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”