Chapter VI
Anabelle loved being in the Zone. It was so vibrant, so dangerous, so much more interesting than the palace and the City. She often snuck down here, heavily cloaked so no one would recognize her, to come speak to the locals. Her father had always impressed upon her that even though these were disgraced Monsters, they were still Monsters. They were often treated as if they had a disease by those in the City, but that just seemed wrong to her.
Her father also believed that disgraced Monsters could be rehabilitated, with just a little effort. The Council wouldn't hear of it, of course. But part of her research in the Zone had led her to believe that her father was right, many of the denizens of the Zone desperately wanted to go back to being real Monsters.
It had come to the point where she had made a decision. Her father had always deferred to the Council, but she would not. She was the Princess, she would make them listen. She would take back control of the City, and restore her family's rightful place as monarchs, instead of just being glorified showpieces.
Suddenly, a dark shape hurtled through the air, landing directly in front of her. The sun glinted off a knife that the figure was carrying.
Anabelle shrunk back, but the figure advanced towards her, threatening.
"Today won't be a complete loss," whispered the figure, as it raised the knife to strike.
And then, out of thin air came a second dark figure. It landed right in between Anabelle and her attacker, sparks flying as knife was blocked by claws. .
"Run, Your Majesty!" Shouted her saviour.
But she didn't run. She had to see what would happen.
Her attacker and the tigrean who had saved her fought viciously, claws slicing through the air. The attacker seemed to be gaining the upper hand, her saviour fending off attack after attack. But then, slowly, the fight began to shift. Her saviour seemed to be gaining the upper hand, and then suddenly, a blow to the attacker's head ended the fight.
She crept up to look at her now-unconscious attacker. The tigrean who had saved her, looking tired and bloody, turned to face her.
"I... Who are you?" She stammered.
"Name's Garland. I almost killed your father once, and now I'm back here saving him again. Now, it's time for you to go home, Princess."
A couple of palace guards came breathlessly sprinting up behind her. Garland moved aside as they chained her would-be assassin.
Credits
Sunrise
Art by frederick
Wood, Stone, Damask by
Pixabay
Story by Trithie