Remnya

Remnya lay on Brisa's bed, waiting for her to come out of the changing room. Remnya had agreed to help her pick the best dress for the upcoming ceremony; Ronner would be waiting for her at the altar that night. He had invited everyone in the city to witness the humiliation: the powerful Lady Magenta replaced by a simple maid.

Ronner had made sure to spread nasty rumors and lies across the city; Magenta had ordered the deaths of a poor old lady called Orena and an innocent girl called Ellyn. However, his then-boyfriend, Ronner Kavalar, had exposed her crime. Afraid, she tried to run away, but Ronner and his men stopped her and brought her to justice.

People were gullible and stupid; they would chew and swallow any bullshit the elites threw at them. They had voted for someone like Persen Doman as governor, and now, his son Cassius Viper Doman would replace him. Remnya's blood boiled, thinking about how many lives had perished under the schemes of those demons.

If she could just expose them to the world.

The door of the changing room opened, and Brisa finally walked out, wearing that dress she hated so much; her wedding dress. An exotic design of black mulberry silk with a long trail showered in gemstones, mainly amethysts, giving the dress violet sparks. Her long hair fell graciously over her shoulders, blending with the silk into a mesmerizing shimmer.

Remnya sprang from the bed. "You look beautiful!" she shouted, scanning Brisa from head to toe.

"Do I?" Brisa twisted her lips and fixed her downcast eyes in the mirror. She let out a deep sigh. "I always thought it would be different."

Remnya stood behind her and leaned her hands on her shoulders. "Don't worry. You'll be out of here before you realize," Remnya assured with a confident smile.

"When I was a little girl, I always dreamed of getting married to a prince." Brisa stifled a lifeless chuckle. "Have you ever dreamed of it?"

"No," Remnya rushed to say, ignoring her childish dreams of knights and princesses. "But I used to dream of having a family."

Brisa stared at her for a moment, and then a tender smile drew across her face. "You already have a family."

Remnya raised her eyebrows and took her time to digest those words. Do I have a family? She fixed her eyes on their reflection. They looked so different, yet so alike. She smiled. "Well, we have the same hair color, and I'm almost your height now! You could be my older sister."

Brisa smirked. "You still got a long way, midget."

"Hey! I'm almost 5'8 (1,72) now!" Remnya pouted. "You cheat by wearing heels!"

"Yeah, I know." Brisa snickered. "Trust me, you'll be a giant when you reach adulthood. I'll be a shorter older sister." She turned to Remnya and ruffled her hair. "Come, help me remove this dress. It's too heavy, I can barely move." Remnya nodded and accompanied Brisa toward the changing room.

They struggled with the dress for a while. The slightest mistake could ruin the fine silk.

"Where's room 125?" Remnya asked, removing the trail of Brisa's dress.

Brisa widened her eyes. "Room 125?"

"The key Magenta gave me belongs to that room. Where is it?"

Brisa removed the last piece of her dress and stood up. "There's no room 125."

"What?" Remnya shouted, holding her head in her hands. "Then, what did Magenta mean by that? She said her most precious memories were there."

"Her most precious memories?" Brisa held her chin in a pensive expression.

"Here." Remnya showed her the silver key gleaming between her fingers.

"Oh, that is . . . " Brisa's eyes shone as she scanned the flower-shaped key head. "I think I know where we have to go." She walked toward the door, gesturing for Remnya to follow her. "Let's go!"

They headed to the first floor. Dozens of Ronner's men wandered the mansion now, terrorizing the servants and doing their will whenever they pleased. However, no one dared to lay a finger on Brisa or Remnya. Otherwise, the consequences would be worse than death. Brisa ordered them to move out of their way as they strode toward their destination.

"I'm pretty sure Magenta was vague on purpose," Brisa said, leading Remnya through the last corridor. "She probably wanted you to take your time figuring this out."

"Why?"

Brisa gave her a sidelong glance and smirked. "You're a hot-headed brat, quite literally sometimes." A chuckle slipped through her lips. "She probably feared you'd do something reckless."

Remnya pouted. "She could've just warned me about it!"

"The Lady has always been a calculating woman. If she does something, you can bet she has good reasons for it."

"Or perhaps she didn't have a choice." Remnya scowled and bit her lower lip. "She's defenseless and overpowered."

"The lady has been dealing with monsters way before we were even born. Give her some credit."

Remnya had to believe that. Magenta had kept Ronner at bay for too long.

"Why didn't you ask me sooner, though?" Brisa glanced at Remnya.

"I didn't want to get you involved," Remnya mumbled, rubbing her arm.

Brisa narrowed her eyes. "Rem, we're friends. You know you can ask me anything."

"I know, I know! It's just that," Remnya averted her eyes, "I need to do things on my own. You've already helped me too much."

"So have you." Brisa patted her head and smiled. "You're not alone, remember that."

Remnya twisted her lips into a shy smile and nodded. Other than Zeo and Amy, she had never trusted someone so much. How could she fail her?

They crossed the last hall and halted in the middle of an endless corridor. Empty rooms loomed on both sides, and a faint scent of dampness lingered in the air. Remnya realized that was the end of the mansion, which they used as a storehouse. Old furniture and home appliances were scattered everywhere. The only ones walking that zone were the electricians, plumbers, and cleaning staff.

Remnya helped Brisa move a pile of heavy boxes, uncovering an old cracked door. It had no number, only a flower-like symbol engraved in silver.

"Are you sure it's here?" Remnya asked, scratching the rotten wood.

"Yes. Try the key," Brisa suggested.

Remnya did as she said, but the key didn't fit. In fact, the door was already unlocked. Remnya and Brisa exchanged surprised looks.

The screech of ancient rusty hinges drilled Remnya's ears as she pushed the door open. A cloud of dust welcomed her into a cold dark room. Remnya coughed and covered her nose as she stepped inside. Brisa stood further away, waiting for the dust to settle.

"There's no light here!" Remnya complained, stumbling on a chair. She halted and swept her surroundings with her hands. Old furniture and boxes spread everywhere. She could barely move in such a cramped space.

Brisa followed Remnya and grabbed her tail not to lose track of her steps and avoid the obstacles. "There hasn't been electricity in these old rooms for years. Should I go get a torch?"

"No need." Remnya snapped her fingers. Sparks crackled between her thumb and middle finger as a crimson flame grew in her hand, illuminating the whole room.

Brisa gaped at her. "What? When did you learn to do that without a lighter?"

"Long story." She smirked, thinking about her last meeting with Zeo.

They continued through the mess. Everything flickered in crimson. Boxes, chairs, tables, refrigerators, ovens. They looked in perfect condition, way better than anything Remnya had seen in the orphanage. Yet, these people just threw it there like trash. How many orphanages could have had warm food and cold water with half of those things? How many children could have had a smile on their faces?

"We didn't even have enough tables . . . " Remnya murmured, increasing the fire in her hand. Brisa stopped, blinded by the intense light. Remnya realized only her eyes weren't affected by it.

Remnya let out a silent gasp when she spotted a pile of books and boxes lying in a corner. She kneeled next to them and began tossing things around until she uncovered what lay beneath. A massive iron chest buried under a thick layer of dust. "This!" Remnya shouted as she swept the dust away with her free hand.

"How did you know this was here?" Brisa asked, crouching next to her.

"The key," Remnya replied. "I knew it was different from the keys we use for the doors. I figured it had to belong to a chest or something."

Remnya pushed the key into the lock, and it fit perfectly. She took a deep breath and then turned the key.

The chest opened.

There she saw it; Magenta's memories. Piles and piles of pictures, photo albums, boxes full of letters, gifts, and withered flowers.

Remnya's eyes shone when she found what she was looking for; a book buried in a corner. Its cover read 'My Most Precious Memories.' Remnya took it between her hands, and a picture slipped through the pages, falling on the dusty floor.

Remnya picked it up. A knot closed her throat when she saw it; Magenta and Marcus in their younger years. Remnya observed the image in silence as tears welled up in her eyes.

"He was so handsome," Remnya whispered, caressing the old picture. "And she was just as beautiful."

"You're right." Brisa leaned her chin on Remnya's shoulder and observed the picture too.

"Why?" Remnya asked bitterly. "Why couldn't they be happy together? They were so perfect."

"I don't know much about it, other than what Ronner told me. They both made mistakes, they both had too many regrets . . . " Brisa sighed. "In the end, I guess we need more than love to be happy." Brisa's voice trembled as she rubbed Remnya's arm and kissed her head. "You'll need to learn the truth by yourself, Rem."

Remnya nodded and placed the picture upside down over a cardboard box filled with letters. Her pupils caught a glimpse of sparkling metal peeking at her from a corner of the chest.

Remnya rushed to remove the boxes.

Her jaw dropped, and her blood froze at the sight.

A huge shotgun, and two revolvers. They gleamed in lustrous titanium. "What is this?" Remnya mumbled as her trembling fingertips caressed one of the guns.

"Remnya, be careful with that!" Brisa shouted, terror filling her voice.

Remnya ignored her warning and cradled one of the guns in her hands. Her heart kicked against her chest. She had never touched anything like that. "Why did Magenta leave this here?"

"No idea . . . Perhaps, a mistake?"

"No." Remnya narrowed her eyes. "She wouldn't make such mistakes. You said it yourself, she has good reasons for everything she does."

"Are you telling me that . . . " Brisa gulped, "she left these weapons here on purpose?"

Remnya eased the gun back into the chest and glanced at Brisa. "She wants me to get everyone out of here . . . in order to do that, I need to fight."

"But . . . weapons are extremely dangerous! Why would she do this?"

"Bris." Remnya regarded her with an endearing smile. "My fire is a thousand times more dangerous. Magenta believes I am ready to handle this responsibility. I can't fail her or you, or anyone else."

"Rem, even if you say that . . . "

"Don't worry. I know I can't kill someone, I'm not a murderer, but I need to use them if necessary. Not to kill, but to protect those who are important to me."

"Those aren't ordinary weapons, though."

"I noticed."

"Those use plasma type cannon bullets. They're made of titanium."

Remnya tilted her head, widening her eyes. "How do you know those things?"

Brisa giggled. "Ronner told me about that . . . I need to listen when he goes on his rants."

"So, do you know how special these are?"

"All I know is that those things can seriously injure the toughest of enemies." Brisa took a deep breath. "Ronner told me that Magenta tried to kill Skado with one of those. She aimed it at his head and pulled the trigger. The impact sent him unconscious, almost cracking his skull before his brother stopped her. He tried to kill her, but Ronner stopped him."

Remnya took a moment to process her words. "That's why he used to wear bandages . . . "

"Several bullets to the head could even kill one of them. However, Ronner is far stronger than any of the Doman's brothers."

"What about the big one?"

"If what he says is true, one of those things could penetrate through the skin of a Nephilim, so they're likely to kill any of them. I'd dare say, even Ronner, as long as he doesn't protect himself with one of his skills."

"So . . . a surprise attack."

Brisa tightened her lips. "We should return. They'll become suspicious if we stay here for too long."

"Yes, we should . . . " Remnya ordered the weapons and boxes in the chest but made sure to take that one photo album with her. She closed the chest and locked it.

*°*°*