Open House Day One Part Two
Chapter Twelve: The Order of the Realms
A bit of background on Ennica!
Ennica Mykai
Species: Hybrid Panther/Monkey
Element: Shadow
Special Ability: She can use her feet as hands and has such a good sense of balance that she can fist fight while in a handstand.
Strongest Spell: Soul Deconstruction (Possesses an opponent's soul and literally rips it apart while still in the body)
Birthday: June 17, 1990
Ennica was born into a wealthy line of panthers. However, when her parents found she was a shadow creature, they immediately abandoned her in the middle of nowhere to avoid an 'impurity' to their blood before her first birthday. She wandered for a month before being adopted by the Helldragon that came before Lacyus. The Helldragon trained her in combat and survival, as well as treating her like the dragon's son and daughter. She was the only family that Ennica remembers and even then, the Helldragon disappeared along with the last Heavendragon during an operation, leaving Ennica without any friends or family to turn to. To this day, she serves the Order with undying loyalty with the hopes that her adoptive mother will come back. She has not met her step-brother or step-sister yet.
*********
(Mira)
"Explain panther." I ordered.
"Sorry. I am not at liberty to divulge the information to a civilian." The panther girl said.
Lacyus sighed and raised a hand to his face in annoyance. "Explain to both of us Ennica."
"Yes, my lord!" She snapped to attention. "In the year 1995, the US Military began research into the theory of dimensions. When they finally confirmed that one dimension existed, they pinpointed the co-ordinates for it in the multiverse. The eventually developed the Damocles as a highly efficient portal generator and activated it on October 15, 2002. Unfortunately, it was targeted wrong and it began spitting out demons. Only the intervention of the Order saved the Earth that day. Ever since then, the facility was deemed too valuable to demolish and was abandoned and sealed off. We reached an agreement with the United States Government at the time to not reveal the existence of 'fused DNA creatures.'"
"So, it's been reactivated?" I asked.
"Sorry. I am not at liberty to divulge the informat-"
"JUST SPIT IT OUT!" Lacyus howled angrily.
Terror crossed Ennica's face. "Y-y-y-y-yes, m-m-m-y lord! It was reactivated about two weeks ago!"
I decided to try again. "Okay. Do you know who activated it?"
Ennica gave me a pleading look, as if to say, "Please don't make me say that again. He'll yell at me again."
Lacyus tuned in immediately and gave an apologetic frown. "Sorry Ennica. Mira is my sister. I'm giving her as much authority as I have over you for whatever stupid reason."
Ennica relaxed visibly. "We don't know yet, but we are looking into it ma'am."
"Call me Mira please."
"My apologies Mira."
Lacyus sighed. "Please drop as many formalities as possible Ennica."
"Yessir."
"Okay, so what is the Order of the Realms? I've never heard of it."
"The Order of the Realms mediates and polices the links between Amorphis and other dimensions, Earth mainly, as a secret organization. We have the strength of five combat ready divisions that are available at your discretion sir. We have promised to protect all Xenomophic life anywhere within the multiverse. As you have probably figured out, we are lead by the current Hell and Heavendragons. You are the Lord of the Order of The Realms and my colleague and I are searching for the Lady of the Order. When you were detected sir, I was assigned as your personal aide and attendant. Ethis will be the Lady's attendant."
Lacyus gave me a look and I nodded, understanding. Sunset was the Lady.
"Ethis?"
"He will reveal himself when necessary."
Lacyus sighed. "Great, more secrets."
"What are the divisions like?" I asked, interested in this Order.
"We have two shadow divisions and two light divisions. The fifth is my division, the Blitzkriegs."
"Blitzkriegs?"
"The Blitzkriegs are the most experienced shadow and light Xenomophs in their professions. It's the only joint Division in the Order."
"What professions?"
"You name it. Assassination, thievery, murder, electronic warfare, etcetera."
"Wow..."
Lacyus sighed. "Alright. So do you have an idea of who the Lady is?"
"Not quite, but she's in the city. I know it."
Lacyus nodded and closed his eyes. I knew he was sending a warning to Sunset.
"So can I give you orders yet?"
"Yes, my lord."
Lacyus opened his eyes. "I want at least two divisions standing by in active duty. One of the remaining two divisions will stand in quick response ready with one in rest. They will swap positions every month until this has blown over or I say otherwise. The Blitzkriegs will conduct investigations on Earth to the identity of the attackers."
"Yes, my lord! I will pass those orders on!" Ennica snapped to attention and saluted curtly before leaving the room.
Lacyus gave an exasperated sigh. "If she wasn't so duty oriented, I might be able to be friends with her."
***
(Ennica)
After completing my taskings, I decided I might check out the rest of the guild to ease my mind.
Seeing Lord Akival always hurt on an emotional level. He looked so much like mom. And it felt like she was yelling at me when he yelled. I loved my adoptive mother dearly, more than I did my biological. And when she disappeared, it took five Shadowdragons to hold me down. I lost my voice from screaming so much. Mom mentioned a brother and sister, both of them dragons, but I never heard anything more.
I found the best way to deal with my grief was just to shove it away and think of it when I was alone. Every week, I would literally cry myself to sleep at least once. But this time was worse. I couldn't just bottle it up.
Fighting back tears, I ran through the halls, urgently looking for a janitor's closet or a store room or something. I found what appeared to be a office under construction, locked the door and cast a silence barrier spell. Leaning towards the wall, I began to cry. Small tears at first, but then my sorrow just got worse. I began whimpering pitfully, eventually sobbing loudly.
"WHY!!!" I screamed to vent some of my sorrow. "WHY HER!!!! SHE DID NOTHING!!!!"
I collapsed to my knees and fished in my pocket for my only personal possession besides the wolf plushie that mom left me. It was a picture of my third birthday. I was blowing out a single candle on a cupcake. In the background, mom was clapping and smiling. It both warmed and wrenched my heart to see that. I couldn't help but smile at the fond memories it held.
Suddenly, there was a click and the door opened. A white and gold dragoness stepped in with a worried frown on her face.
"Hey, are you ok? I heard you out in the hall."
I quickly composed myself, got up and wiped away my tears. "I'm fine. Sorry to trouble you ma'am."
"You don't look like it."
"I'm just a bit lonely, that's all ma'am."
"Ummm, okay. Do you mind if we stick together? My mate was giving me a tour and he got called away."
"Not a problem ma'am."
***
(Sunset)
*This is Ennica, right?*
*Yeah, but she looks like she's been crying. You know why?* Lacyus' worried voice came back
*No....*
I walked beside Ennica. She looked like she just crawled out of a ditch. Her fur was heavily matted to the point that her natural spots weren't even visible. And her hair. She had fiery red hair, but it was all frizzy and tangled. She didn't smell or anything but overall, she was ugly. But that's not what bothered me. She didn't seem to notice or care. She simply just kept going.
"Ummmm.... My name's Sunset."
Ennica gave me an unimpressed look. "Nicole. Hi."
She was a very bad liar. "I don't think that's your real name."
"Smart. Figure anything else out, huh." Her blunt rudeness caught me off guard.
No wonder Lacyus found her annoying. "Okay. You need to know this. I am currently a Heavendragon."
Ennica's eyes went wide and she gasped and bowed. "My apologies, Lady Sunset! Please forgive me!"
"No formailites. Just call me Sunset."
"But Lady-"
"Just Sunset."
"Yes Sunset."
"No problem. Why are you upset."
Ennica seemed to almost cry. She then composed herself and forced herself to tell me. "I was abandoned as child and adopted by the last Helldragon. Unfortunately, she just disappeared during an operation."
"You still hurting over that eh?"
"Yes."
"Do you have any friends?"
"Friends? What are those? Some kind of personal possession?"
That completely broke my heart. "Friends are people that stick with you and look out for always. Do you have any?"
"In that case, no. Not now, not ever."
"A mate."
"Never."
"So just your mother."
"Correct."