Haley Thistle
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The Tweedle Twins: Part Two (rough draft)
🕑 Added 2021-10-09 20:01:00 +0000 UTCOver the next few days I healed. Dee and Dum took turns caring for me. While one stayed at the house with me, the other went out, possibly getting more bodies or going to Somnus. Once I started to feel better I helped around the house. I wasn’t used to housework, but they taught me the basics. I could sew, so I started patching up their clothes for them.
“There, you’ll have scars, but you healed up nicely.” Dee had removed the stitches that Somnus had put in me. He smoothed his fingers down the dark pink line and his gaze went gentle. “Does it hurt?”
I inspected it in the mirror, Dee’s finger still lingering on the edges. “No. Not really.” I smiled up sweetly at him. “You’ve all taken so good care of me.”
Dee’s cheeks darkened and he cast his eyes aside. “It’s been surprisingly nice to have you around.”
“Aww, look at you being sweet.” I stood on tiptoe and kissed his scruffy cheek.
“I want one!” Dum rushed over and presented his cheek to me which I kissed with a laugh.
“Okay, okay,” Dee cleared his throat. “We’ve got work to do, and now that you’re healed up, we don’t have to baby you anymore.”
I smiled as the blush still lingered upon his cheeks. “Then how about I cook dinner tonight?” I asked.
“No!” They both suddenly yelled. “No,” they said more calmly.
“Please don’t go near the stove again,” Dum laughed kindly.
I’ll admit, last time I tried to cook was a disaster.
“Dum will cook, you can clean.” Dee sighed.
Dum nodded in agreement. “That will help us much better anyways.”
It was a strange turn of events from the palace. I wasn’t usually around people, well, not in this way. I had gotten to know Dee and Dum on a level that felt much more intimate than I knew anyone at the palace. Things always had to have an air of formality there. But not here, not with Dee and Dum.
Somnus visited a few times since I arrived, but his earlier seed only remained planted in my mind. He was often busy, often hidden away doing his research which I still didn’t have a grasp upon.
“It’s good to see you’re doing well.” He checked Dee’s handy work at removing the stitches. His hand was cool to the touch and his skin had a strange texture. “With any luck the scars will barely be noticeable.”
“I’m not worried about that.” I pulled my dress back up and buttoned it while Somnus watched. His eyes were like glass, unmoving and unreadable. They were completely black, but I could assume there was a world hidden behind them.
“And what is it that does?” He asked.
“Was what you said before all talk, or do you really intend to help me destroy Pleasance?” I asked sternly and upfront.
Somnus smiled. “I’ve been working on it. It will take time, and there has to be a strong plan put in place. To create a goddess, you need believers.”
I furrowed my brow, and looking into those endless eyes of his, I felt my nerves melt away. “Why am I a goddess?”
Somnus stroked his knuckles along my cheek before his fingers tucked my hair back behind my ear. “What else could defeat a wicked queen? And what’s more, it will be the best way to frighten her.”
I smiled softly. “I suppose.”
Dum came back into the room, handing Somnus a package. “How does she look, Professor?”
“I think she will live,” Somnus chuckled. He tucked the package under his arm and stood up from the table. “You two have really taken good care of her.”
Dum’s smile was proud and joyful. “We’ve enjoyed having her around. It’s been kind of nice having someone between Dee and I.”
Somnus nodded as he placed his hand upon the door. “I’m glad the three of you are bonding, it will be important for the future.” He left on that cryptic note, which Dum and Dee glanced curiously at one another.
Seasons changed and the air grew colder. As the mornings became crisp and nipped at my nose, Somnus came to me with the beginnings of his plan. He dressed me in armor that was white and gold, he filled my hair with flowers and placed a crown upon my head.
“Wow,” Dee marveled. “She really does look like a goddess.”
My cheeks warmed as he gazed upon me. Somnus slipped a ring upon my finger that bore my mother’s crest. “It’s time, Alice. The winter will be harsh, and your people will need you.”
It didn’t matter what I looked like, I thought. I didn’t have the power of a goddess to help anybody. Somnus gave me a look, a sly smile that seemed to be the only answer I needed.
“You’ve lived amongst your people now. You’ve seen their lives and how they are living. You speak from experience and understanding, which is why they will follow you and lift you up.” He handed me a bound book which was filled with handwritten notes.
“Study this. I’ve prepared everything you will need in there. It will be the basis for what we will create together.”
Dum held a concerned look upon his face. “Will she be safe?”
“That is why she has you two,” Somnus replied. He tapped the other two boxes he had brought along. “You will play the part alongside her.”
“And what do you get out of this?” I asked.
Somnus’ gaze went distant. He looked beyond what I am sure any of us could see with clear naked eyes. He then smiled. “Life,” he said. “I want to preserve life.”
A hand slipped into mine, and when I looked down, I saw it was attached to Dee. He held a concerned expression on his face, and the way he gripped my hand told me he was afraid. I squeezed his hand back and gave him a smile when his blue eyes turned up to mine.
“I trust you,” I whispered to him.
Dee’s eyes widened and rimmed with tears. He averted his gaze away from me again, placing his mouth into a firm, stern line.
That evening both of them seemed distant. The kitchen was quiet during dinner, and as we prepared for bed, I felt them trying to ignore the elephant in the room.
“Well, good night,” I murmured as I got into bed.
“Alice,” Dum started. “We need to talk.”
The two of them sat on the edge of the bed, both of them looking down. Dum was the first to look at me and he swept away his dark curls from his face.
“There is-” Dee continued, but his voice sounded stilted. “There is something we should tell you about...us.”
My eyes darted between the both of them. I wanted to hug them both but that seemed like the wrong thing to do at the moment. “Is there something worse than grave robbing?”
“Yes?” They both looked at one another. Dum then huffed and stood up, he took off his shirt then stood there still. The slit down his chest began to open, it peeled back slowly, revealing soft, wet pink. A tongue slithered out, poking at the air then lapping around the lips of the slit.
“We’re Corvids.”
I watched Dum in shock, seeing that as he raised his arm, the black markings from his fingertips to his back began to unfurl, fluffing out in clouds of dark smoke that curled and billowed to make ominous shadowy wings that stretched his arm to a new length, then billowed around his head so only his blue eyes glowed through.
“We wanted you to know,” Dee said shakily. “We’re not exactly the guardians of a goddess, let alone the future knights of a queen. We’re monsters. Most of us have been hunted and killed so-” He stalled when I rose from the bed.
I noticed Dum trembling and I couldn’t stand it any longer. I pulled him down into my arms, cradling his head against my shoulder. His wings wrapped around me and the mouth upon his chest closed.
“It’s okay,” I whispered to him. “I’m not afraid.”
“You’re such a strange girl, for a princess.” Dee murmured, he was trying to hide it, but he was crying.
“It’s okay,” I whispered again. I pet Dum’s face and looked into his eyes as the shadows moved away. I kissed him softly, wanting him to know I would never run away from him. I had heard stories of the Corvids when I was little. They would swoop down from storm clouds and eat people whole with their wide, grotesque mouths. My father’s family had hunted them down and used their feathers for decoration.
I then went to Dee once Dum stopped shaking. I kissed him too, pressing a bit harder and accidentally knocking against his teeth. He gave me a look but, as I smiled, he returned the kiss to me. Dum sat back down upon the bed and I took turns giving them sweet, loving kisses.
“You’re both beautiful to me. I don’t think you’re monsters,” I breathed. My lips felt heavy from how much I’d kissed them both, and my heart was humming happily. “I want you both by my side.”
“I’m glad we thought you were a corpse,” Dum sighed.
Dee then scoffed. “There must be a better way to say that!”
The bed was cramped, but I laid down between both of them, snuggling closely to them until we fell asleep. I woke up feeling extremely hot. Not surprising since I was smashed in between them. I slipped out of bed to cool down and I opened the window. The moon was so frighteningly big and full in the sky it took my breath away.
“What’s wrong?” I heard Dee mumble.
I looked back at him as he rose up from bed. Dum was still slumbering but was beginning to stir. “I got hot, and then the moon-” I turned back to look out the window. As I gazed up I felt Dee’s arms wrap around me. I placed my hands over his and the heat of my body simmered and boiled within the pit of my belly.
“The moonlight makes you look beautiful, Alice,” Dee whispered.
My voice caught in my throat as I tried to respond, but his touch silenced me, made me feel like a woman. His lips tortured the curve of my neck, his hands sunk into the most intimate parts of me. I was moaning softly, my knees trembling as Dee’s voice began to vibrate in my ear.
I turned my head, seeing Dum watching me quietly from the corner of the bed. His eyes were lidded and he bit his tongue between his teeth. I reached out to him, pleading. He took my hand, kissing the center of my palm then all the way up my arm. He tugged down my nightgown, kissing the top of my breast then nursing upon the nipple. I balanced my arms upon his shoulders as Dee’s fingers slipped into my core.
“She’s so wet,” Dee moaned hungrily.
Dum lifted my skirt and his tongue descended down my belly and to my mound. His tongue struck a nerve and I cried out in pleasure. They took their time with me, each one having a chance to show me passion I had never felt before. Their bodies felt so wonderful pressed against mine. And the way they felt inside, while at first was strange, grew to feel like heaven.
I woke in the morning bleary and sore, my body exhausted but melted like butter. Dee and Dum were snuggled around me, and I realized this was what I wanted for my future. I didn’t want them as my knights, I wanted them as my kings.
As I was waking, Somnus walked into the room, his endless eyes fell upon us and a smile crossed his lips. “Are you happy this way?” He asked.
I sat up from bed and placed my arm around my breasts. “I am.”
“It’s how it should be.” Somnus sat down upon my empty bed. “I have had dreams about you, Alice. All my life I have seen you, and all my life I knew I needed you.”
I held my breath as he spoke. His beautiful countenance seemed so hopeful and bright. The way his skin glittered even appeared more radiant.
“It is why I took in Dee and Dum, because I knew they would be the start of this new beginning.” Somnus looked over the boys as they slept. “I am so glad to see them happy, to finally see them where they belong.”
I felt Dee begin to stir, but when I placed my hand upon him, he rested again. “You knew all this was going to happen. So you can see the future?”
“I can dream.” Somnus answered quietly. “I dream and, in that place, I can see many things. I saw you, and I chased after you.” He reached out over Dum and held my face between his palms. I gazed into his eyes, for the first time seeing something beyond the dark glass surface. I saw a vivid sea of green inside them, a vast and endless garden of roses in all colors. He leaned down, placing a soft kiss upon my lips.
Dee placed his head upon my lap and I ran my fingers through his long hair. “I doubt you can tell me what will happen. But I desperately want to ask now.”
“Time will be your answer. I’ll let you all rest, it seems you had a very productive night.” He winked as he left the room, and I felt my cheeks blossom red hot.
Dum stirred. “Are you up, princess?” He rose sleepily, his hair all messy and his eyes sleepy. I smiled and fixed his hair, giving him a soft kiss. “How do you feel?” He asked so sweetly it made my teeth ache.
“I feel a lot of things.” I kissed him again. “How about you?”
“I’m just happy,” he chuckled.
That afternoon, Somnus took me and the boys into a village where I made my first appearance. There had been a fire at one of the homes and other houses had been damaged. When I arrived I was frightened, I felt ridiculous in my armor and garb while all these people were mourning and suffering. They looked at me like I was crazy, but then Somnus placed a wet cloth into my hand.
I kneeled down with a woman and I cleaned her face of soot and ash. “What’s your name?” I asked her. She told me and we talked. I heard her story, how it was her house that burnt down. I held her in my arms as she wept for the life that was lost with her home destroyed while Dee and Dum gave out water to people as well as bread from the trunk Somnus packed onto the wagon.
“Who are you?” I was asked.
I looked nervously over the people as they waited. “I am Alice.” I tried to keep my voice from trembling. “I am your rightful ruler. So I will take care of you.”
As the winter continued to be harsh, Somnus and I fulfilled his plan. Word of my deeds spread through Miror and, as they did, my confidence grew. More and more people gathered around me, followed me. I soon had men willing to fight for me.
It did not take long until someone from the palace was sent to see if the rumors were true, and to my pleasure, it was Jukel who came. The very man who tried to kill me was now here to see that I had survived. He stood there staring, his eyes wide and his mouth agape. Dee stood at my side, keeping a close guard upon me. He sneered, showing his teeth to Jukel.
“I remember him,” he snarled. “He’s the one who told us where to find your body that day!”
I shushed him. “Careful now, love. I need you to be quiet until I need you.” I cast my eyes back to Jukel. “It’s been a long time, Jukel. Although our last meeting was not a pleasant one.”
“It’s impossible,” he whispered.
“Give us the word.” Dee placed his hand upon my back.
I raised my hand and shooed them behind me. I stepped towards Jukel with a smile upon my face. “I owe you my gratitude, Jukel. Thanks to you I was able to be reborn. Without you this would not have been possible.”
Jukel started to laugh. “What power? What rebirth? I still see the same useless girl I had before. Only now it seems you have decided to protect yourself with some cheap polished armor.”
“That may be all you see, Jukel, but that is all you need to see. The girl you tried to kill, the girl you dumped in a ditch. The girl whose final thoughts were of pain and revenge.” I stepped closer towards him. “I have power now, even if you can’t see it. Tell your sister I intend to use it upon her.”
Jukel’s jaw was clenched and he took a step away from me. “Prove it.” He pulled out the same knife he had used to try and kill me. But when he did, Dum picked him up into the air, flapping his dark shadow wings so he pulled him higher and higher. Dee rushed out before me, opening the mouth upon his chest wide so that if Dum dropped Jukel, he would be devoured.
“I have my angels to surround me,” I said calmly to Jukel. “And like them, I will devour all who try to stand in my way.”
“Please let me go!” Jukel cried. “Let me go!”
I had Dee stand back and he put his wings around me. Dum dropped Jukel to the ground and landed at my side. I gazed down upon Jukel, feeling a rush of power at seeing him crumpled before me. I grabbed him by his hair and dragged him out where the people could see. They surrounded us, prepared to protect me. I tossed Jukel out before them.
“I am the rightful queen of Miror!” I announced. “I am the goddess Alice! And I will not allow men like him to hold power over you anymore!”
The crowd erupted and cheered.
“Return him to his queen with this message!” I shouted out. “Let all know that as long as the Queen of Hearts remains upon the throne, then the heart of this land shall suffer! As long as the hearts of the people beat, I will fight for them!”
With a scream of terror, Jukel was pulled into the crowd. Dee and Dum led me away, taking me back inside where Somnus waited. I looked at him expectantly, having recited the words from his book just as he asked.
“You did so well.” He held his arms open to me and I ran to him. I took him into my arms and held him tightly. Somnus kissed my forehead, showing me his dream where I sat upon the throne. I saw years flashed before my eyes, and while I could not take it all in, I saw my children, my grandchildren, and the future line of the royal family. “You have nothing to fear,” he breathed against my lips. “This is only the beginning of your reign.”
I held both his hands tight and gave him an affirming nod. “I won’t let you down.”
“It isn’t me you should concern yourself with, my Alice.” He cupped my cheek into his palm. “From now on, it is the world that watches you.”
