Lady Death by Lora Carlson (manga ereader TXT) 📖

I tug on my new uniform to try and get it to hang right on my strangely muscular body. I’m not so muscular its gross, but I’m muscular enough to have it not be normal. I mean, everyone here thinks the only job I’ve ever had is as a bartender and you don’t build up muscles as a bartender. But you do build up muscles training to be an assassin so...

“Amara! Come here!” A strong female voice commands. I rush down the the hallway and into the maids chambers.

“What is it Synestra?” I grumble at the older housekeeper.

“Just as I thought, your hair is a mess! Come here.” I walk over and stand in front of her  She uses her fingers to force the knots out of my hair without mercy.

“Ow! Slow down!” I screech. It doesn’t actually hurt because my hair is a wig, but it would be weird if I didn’t react so I put up a fuss.

“Hush” She shushes me as she twists my “hair” into a knot. I look around when she’s done to see all the other girls perfect hair. Then I look in the mirror at my floppy lopsided hair and grin. I spin around when I hear a thump on the door.

“I’ll get it” I proclame. Running to the door I stop to fix my skirt. Just as I'm about to open the door a booming voice yells:

“Amara! Come here now!” Ugh.

“Coming!” I trudge up the stairs and into Master Oceloth’s study.

“What do you want?” I groan.

“Amara, how many times do I have to tell you, this is not Naydorn’s. You have to address me with respect, not like another customer”  

“Sorry” I mumble.

"What I am about to tell you is very important. This isn't real. None of this world is real. It's-" he gets cut off when Mylene opens the door and quietly says:

"Excuse me Master Oceloth. Amara, there are people here to see you." Mylene is a small blond girl with bright green eyes and a small nose. Her top lip is slightly fuller than her bottom and her cheeks are always slightly pink. I really like her. She's pretty shy, so I could see that she was embarrassed to interrupt Nalfar. Her cheeks flush and she quickly walks out of the room, closing the door behind her. Nalfar looks at me.

“What? I didn’t invite anyone over” He gives me a “I don’t believe you” look, but dismissed me anyway. I quickly walk out the door and down the stairs. Mylene gives me a small smile while Synestra frowns upon my unladylike ness. I skip to the door and throw it open. In front of me is Enro, Yeta, Mezo and Ikar. Standing next to Yeta is a tall guy with dirty blond hair. He has bright green eyes. I squint at him.

“Amara, this is Derik.” Yeta explains while running his hand through his hair. I turn my head to the side but keep my eyes on Derik.

“Mylene, can you come here a sec?” Mylene comes up behind me and I look at her. Just as I thought. Somehow, these two are related. I watch as Derik’s face lights up.

“Mylene!”

“Derik!” He picks her up in a bear hug and swings her around. When he sets her down again they look at me.

“Derik is my older brother. When our father left for work, I came here to be a maid and Derik traveled. I didn’t think I would see him again until the winter festival.” She explained while hugging him. I just smiled for her. I don’t have any siblings, but my parents are not the best people. I would rather massacre a whole village than see them. Which I have had to do. I watch as they hug again and Mylene walks back into the house. I look at Yeta.

“Why did you guys come here?”

“We meet Derik at Naydorn’s, he’s your replacement.” I glare at Derik. “We were talking when you came up as a topic and we decided to visit.” Yeta finishes by running his hand through his hair. I scowl at him. I’m just about to glare at Derik when the entire house shakes. I grab the door frame in an attempt to stay upright. I watch all the boys fall to the ground and hear all the maids scream and run around the house. I remember that I’m not supposed to be this strong, so I fall to the floor. I turn around and watch Nalfar stumble down the stairs and towards me.

“Amara, run! They're here!” I don’t have to ask to know who’s here. My parents. I quickly stand up on the shaking ground and stumble away from the house. I turn around to see my friends run from the house. I turn back around and run at full speed. I enter the forest. As I’m running Amara slowly disappears. I rip my wig off and my platinum blonde hair falls down to my shoulders. Yes, that’s right. I’m an assassin called Lady Death and I have platinum blonde hair. I use my magik to make my eyes ice blue again, then my dress burst’s into ash’s and I have a black shirt, black pants and black boots. I’m still running as this all happens. I watch as the world around me starts to shimmer and wobble and disappear. I keep running, hoping I can outrun my parents. The ground vanishes and I fall. And I just keep falling.

 "Beep! Beep! Beep... WAKE UP!" My alarm clock screams at me. Yes, it actually says wake up.

"Just shut up already!" I scream back. I groggily lift my arm and slam my hand down on my alarm clock, trying to shut it up. It stops mid-beep. I can remember having a dream, but I can't remember what I dreamed about. I stand up and walk over to my dresser grabbing the first things my fingers touch for my outfit. I grab my toothbrush and brush my teeth while I search my desk for homework I didn't do. I grab my found homework and shove it in the Sack. Also known as my backpack. I spit in the sink and grab my hair brush. I walk downstairs as I pull the brush through my hair. I walk into the kitchen and sit at the counter.

"Pick your poison." my Mom says as she puts eggs, toast and a smoothie in front of me. I grab the smoothie.

"Good choice." She twirls her finger once in the air. I spin around on the spinney stool and drink my smoothie as she puts my platinum blonde hair up in a ponytail. I spin back around and watch my brother walk into the kitchen with his eyes half shut.

"Good morning Tyler." my Mom says to him. He sits down on the stool next to me. He grabs the toast and shoves a whole piece in his mouth. I reach over and mess up his light brown hair. He just grunts and walks back towards his room. My Mom sighs.

"I guess your father will be having eggs this morning." I shrug and slid off the stool. I walk towards the front door when my Dad almost knocks me over.

"Oh, sorry Lea, I didn't see you." He smiles and plants a kiss on my forehead. I roll my eyes and walk out the door, waving to my parents. I finish my smoothie and put the cup in Tyler's car. He always brings it back inside. I walk down the sidewalk and towards my school. Sure, Tyler could give me a ride but I don't think he wants to be seen with me. I mean, he is the second most popular guy in my school and being the big brother of the school freak would ruin that. I don't mind. Being the freak means people leave me alone. I take out my IPhone and plug in my earphones. I go to my songs and play Rockstar by Nickleback. I keep walking with my head down. I look at my outfit, since I didn't really notice it this morning. I have a black tank top over some dark gray sweat pants and black Bearclaws. I shrug and look up. I look next to me when I hear a car pull up. I roll my eyes and look back down. The car honks and I just ignore it. If you don't want to be stung, don't mess with the bee. So I take out my phone and pretend like I got a text. I watch the car drive away out of the corner of my eye. 

I walk into my school and strait to my locker. I open it and shove the Sack inside. I call it the Sack because it is a sack. With two belts glued to the back as straps. I made it in art class because I didn't have a good backpack. Just the light purple one my Mom bought me. So I made my own and turned the old one into a birdfeeder for my Mom's birthday. She had found it strange, but sweet. I close my locker and shuffle towrds my homeroom.

Text: Lora C
Publication Date: 10-23-2012

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
I was inspired by Tamora Peirce. Thank you.