The stallion’s hooves colliding against the dirt resonated with Meilana’s auditory sensors in a muffle. In fact, in that moment, all sounds paled in comparison to the sheer volume of her worry.

She prayed, to whom… she didn’t know. Please let him escape. Don’t let them kill him.

The vulnerability percolating through her bones released warm tears from her eyes. She wept to herself, refusing to give Juroiza the satisfaction. They soon rode into a grassy clearing, putting the forest at their backs. On the horizon was a gargantuan castle.

A bout of sarcasm raided Meilana. Back to the great Gazzo Castle, home sweet home.

Its gothic design comprised of vibrant gray stone bricks. Gorgeous embellishments swept across it in all directions. From towers and spires waved enthusiastic silver flags. Purple draperies with the Gazzo Clan symbol hung over the ramparts, an ostentatious spectacle indeed.

Outrage strangled Meilana’s sarcasm. Why does she have to be so pretentious? She gripped at her thighs, ruffling her kimono. I’ve had enough of her shit. I won’t let her do this to me anymore. A quarter mile left of the castle lay the fossil of a Gatling gun. Rust and the elements had taken its toll on the weapon and tall grass was ingesting it. It’s returning to nature. Looks almost peaceful. Maybe I should do the same.

 While crossing the bridge leading to the castle, she glanced down at the moat. As expected, it was full to the brim with brown, murky water. She wondered what repugnant creatures might dwell there.

The stallion slowed to a halt before reaching the gatehouse. Two muscular men stood guard in front of the shiny bars. They, too, wore armor like Juroiza’s.

Meilana wiped her tears away fast. Nobody seemed to notice. Upon recognizing them, the samurai saluted with nothing but the utmost respect.

“General Juroiza and the Grandheiress have returned. Open the gate!”

In an instant, the gate rose into the high archway. After passing through a short hall, they emerged in a torch lit courtyard. Countless voices erupted at once, all emanating from the city folk, busy getting ready for the approaching daylight. The courtyard was large enough to fit thousands of people at a time. Several shops lined the bottom of the ramparts; everything from food to clothing was available for purchase. Meilana took a moment to observe the elders playing chess and the children making mischief. It filled her heart with joy.

I would give anything to be free like them. They seem so happy. Loud, obnoxious trumpets reverberated from the towers. Great, the sound of my impending confinement.

City folk fell silent and shuffled to either side of the courtyard. Juroiza and Meilana went toward the keep at the opposite end. On the left was a stable housing a donkey who had seen better days. The stable sat between the keep’s entrance and a pathway. A sign dangling from the arch above the pathway read: Gazzo City. Meilana could see hundreds of homes made of the same gothic design. One home harbored a plethora of potted plants on the front stoop.

I’d live in that one for sure.

Juroiza placed his stallion in a stall then stroked it on its upper neck. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t try to break out this time. You cost me a lot of money every time you do that, buddy.”

 The majestic animal looked away as if bashful. Juroiza pulled out a gleaming silver ring overflowing with keys. He unlocked and swung open the long doors of the keep. Meilana rushed in, Juroiza followed. Before he finished shutting the doors, the hustle and bustle of the courtyard reignited.

The interior of the castle was more decorative than anything outside by a long shot. A shimmering foyer that led to three branching hallways lay before them. Many glass chandeliers dazzled each hallway. Marble tiles of silver and purple accented the granite walls without effort. Two statues made of pearl surpassed the beauty of the chandeliers, floors and walls combined. One depicted a beautiful yet shrewd woman. The other depicted a man with a long flowing mustache who looked equally as shrewd.

I bet you were every bit the asshole she is. Meilana thought, stopping to gander at the two statues.

Although everything on display was beautiful, the objects left Meilana with a strong feeling of dread. Dark memories resurfaced to ignite her imagination, which conjured a grotesque demon. It observed her from the wall, syphoning what little happiness she had left.

Juroiza ushered her along. “Let’s go, kid. The Grandmagistra’s waiting.”

Down the center most hallway they went, it led to a stairway that ascended three levels.

On the third floor, a set of double doors engraved with lavender flowers awaited them. Rather gentle, Juroiza knocked with his knuckles.

A voice doing its best impression of a calm tone called out from within. “You may enter.”

Juroiza opened both doors to reveal yet another pretentious room. Inside was a balcony with a banister engrossed in thick vines. Two half oval windows sat on either side of the balcony. Each made of the finest stained-glass. They both depicted the same shrewd woman from the pearl statue, only this time, the woman was adorned with lavish battle armor. On the left, the woman sat in a stoic manner atop a noble steed. On the right, she raised a large war-hammer to the sky in triumph. Opposite the balcony rested a bed capable of fitting five full-grown adults. Next to the bed, a blonde, curly haired woman sat facing a floor mirror. She wore a purple kimono that hung loose off her smooth shoulders. Her olive skinned back aimed at the entrance while she stared at her reflection and combed her locks.

“Stay here,” said Juroiza before entering and closing both doors behind him.

Unable to resist the urge, Meilana eavesdropped. Careful not to make a sound, she pressed her ear against one of the doors. Voices on the other side sounded like inaudible mumbles to her. She soon realized her effort was in vain and opted to give up. Over ten minutes later, Juroiza returned and escorted her inside. Now, the blonde woman stared at the distant lands from her balcony.

“Here she is, Grandmagistra Izaru.”

“Thank you. Please leave us.”

“As you wish.”

A stressful silence boiled the room. Meilana prepared to unleash, but her mother’s words wrestled her anger into submission.

“Come stand with me.”

The Grandmagistra’s voice sounded like malevolence wrapped in a blanket of serenity. Hesitation took hold of Meilana, it felt like a trap. Despite her better judgement, she walked to the balcony. Each step was almost painful to complete. Her feet weighed a ton each. Once she arrived, the mesmerizing view stole her problems away only to return them a mere millisecond later. It occurred to her she’d never been on her mother’s balcony.

“You know, one day this will all be yours,” said Izaru. “There are those that would literally kill to be in your position, yet you take it for granted.”

Meilana glanced at Izaru, trying to gauge her temperament. However, Izaru was difficult to read, her facial expression unwavering. Izaru turned to meet her daughter’s gaze. Her eyes held a brilliant tint of yellow, her stare beyond intimidating. Their eye contact broke, Meilana’s eyes burning against her mothers.

“The things I’ve done to secure your future bring me no comfort. But everything has been for the betterment of the Bushido Empire. I can’t have you tarnishing the family reputation for some peasant boy.”

Meilana went to speak, but her voice quivered. Before she could utter a word, Izaru pressed on.

“Now, you’re going to tell me every detail you know about the boy you’ve been sneaking around with.”

Shock hit Meilana like a force of nature. Her eyes attempted to leave her face and her jaw tried smacking the floor.

“First things first, what’s his name and what clan does he belong to?”

The interrogation gave Meilana a bout of anxiety. Fear was trying to suffocate her to death. No way would she reveal any information, but she couldn’t think fast enough to formulate a convincing lie. She hoped to disappear, go anywhere except where she was.

“I’m waiting.” Izaru’s tone shifted to one of open hostility.

“He’s a boy from the academy mom, that’s all. He’s in my class.”

“Interesting, if he was indeed a boy from your class, I’d know. I handpick all of your classmates myself.”

Meilana spiraled through a twister of different emotions. They were high jacking her, threatening to rip her to pieces.

“Are you serious?”

“Of course, darling, it’s been that way since you convinced me to let you learn with the common children.” Izaru was now smug and arrogant.

“No wonder everybody in this godforsaken city treats me like I’m some sort of freak.”

“They treat you like the Grandheiress that you are.”

“They treat me like a porcelain doll. People are too afraid of you to risk getting close to me. I’m all alone here, always have been!”

Izaru scoffed and turned her eyes back toward the spectacular view. “Don’t be so dramatic, you have everything a girl could ever want.”

With resilience by her side, Meilana liberated herself from the emotional twister’s clutches. “This is what you want! You could care less about what I want! You have no idea how much I hate it here. Did it ever occur to you that maybe I don’t want to rule over this place?” 

Meilana’s sudden burst of rebellion left Izaru flabbergasted. “Enough! Give me the boy’s name!”

“He’s just a boy I met in the courtyard one day.”

Fury shot from Izaru’s eyes like a cannonball. “Tell the fucking truth! If I have to find out on my own, I will make him suffer. They’re bringing him to me as we speak. You know that, right? What do you think I will do when I get my hands on him?”

The disgusting display of wrath left Meilana speechless for a moment, but words soon found their way back to her.

“You want to talk about truth? You think I don’t know about you sneaking around with Juroiza behind Dad’s back?”

Flabbergasted yet again, Izaru took pause and adopted an expression confirming her daughter’s claims. “Mind your tongue, child. Your father’s allegiance no longer resides where it should. Even a Grandmagistra has needs.”

A series of urgent knocks hit the double doors.

“Juroiza, I told you to leave us.”

Both of the lavender doors flew open. A look of utter shock splashed across Juroiza’s face. He squeezed the words out, gasping like somebody who just sprinted a mile.

“I know… I’m sorry… but this couldn’t wait.” After taking a big gulp of air, he beckoned at someone next to him. “Come here, hurry.”

Agalo limped inside, he kept a hand on the back of his head, but a trickle of blood carried on regardless.

Izaru looked appalled. “Agalo? What happened to you?”

Juroiza interjected like an eager child. “Tell her everything you just told me.”

Agalo winced. “I’m sorry, Grandmagistra. He… he escaped. Stole my horse. We chased him, but… the others. They’re all dead. He killed them! I’m so sorry I failed you.”

The happiness building within Meilana was uncontainable. She smiled as big as her cheek muscles would allow and suffered a case of whiplash for it. Having witnessed Meilana’s glee, Izaru yanked her close. She then scrutinized her daughter’s eyes for answers, but Meilana looked away.

“Tell me who the boy is this instant!” screamed Izaru, so loud her voice cracked in protest.

Meilana’s smile scattered like prey from a predator, but she didn’t give in. Overcome with frustration, Izaru shoved her daughter to the floor. The last shred of respect Meilana had for her mother was out the window.

Izaru turned her attention elsewhere. “Something isn’t adding up. Agalo, what can you tell me about this boy?”

“Well. He had green hair.”

“Okay, that’s a start. What about weapons? Did he use any against you? Did he deploy any type of deceptive tactics to escape?”

“Oh. Yeah, sort of. Um… he threw knives at us.”

“What kind of knives?”

Agalo’s eyes darted about. “I think they were normal kitchen knives. Couldn’t see them too well in the dark though.”

“Kitchen knives?”

“Yeah. Uh… he threw a bomb at us too.”

Izaru stroked her chin with an investigative look about her. “Interesting, smoke bomb?”

“No. It was filled with little sharp objects.”

“Shrapnel, huh? I see, I see.”

Meilana grew anxious again as Juroiza offered a comment of his own. “You’re not suggesting?”

“Quiet down,” snapped Izaru.

Juroiza rolled his neck and shoulder in irritation. “Ah, come on. This has got to stop. You’re being paranoid. I mean, what are the odds?”

“It’s highly possible, and you’d be an idiot to think otherwise.”

“We haven’t had conflict with the ninja in decades. Why would they risk war now?”

“Those abhorrent gaikaos can’t be trusted, and now my daughter’s colluding with one of them.”

 “You don’t know that.” Juroiza sighed. “Plenty of samurai use knives and bombs, too. This means nothing. We can’t keep traveling down this road, Grandmagistra. Please, give it up.”

Izaru turned to him, fury shooting from her eyes again.

“I don’t recall giving you permission to tell me what to do. You work for me. Or did you forget?”

Like a scolded pet, Juroiza backed down.

“It’s normal for a girl to behave suspiciously while having a secret boyfriend. I’ll give you that. Nevertheless, she’s far too nervous for this to be a boy from our empire. Even for a teenager, why go through this much trouble?”

Juroiza hesitated, but ended up offering one last comment. “I understand. I just feel like we need some sort of proof, is all. We can’t risk the lives of so many on a whim.”

Izaru paused for a solid minute, lost in deep thought. “At dawn, go out to the scene of the incident and bring the bodies back. I’ll have the doctors analyze them for any clues that may corroborate my theory. You’re right, as of now I’m speculating, but my intuition has never been wrong before.”

“Yes, Grandmagistra,” said Juroiza, bowing so low he risked toppling over.

Izaru looked at her daughter who was starting to stand back up. “Report to your quarters and remain there until I say so.”

Surprise gripped Meilana’s face. “But what about the academy? My graduation ceremony is Friday night.”

“There will be no more graduation ceremony. Not for you or anyone else.”

Exhaustion had set in. Meilana no longer contained the energy to argue back.

Izaru turned to Juroiza. “I’ll also need you to herd the cattle.”

“What day and time would you prefer?”

“Friday at nightfall.”

With an air of arrogance, Izaru turned back to Meilana and spoke again. “Go now, darling. Think long and hard about your defiance and what that gets you.”

Seeing how vindictive her mother could be was like a punch through the gut. Meilana slouched then sulked from the room.

She took a left turn, then a right down a narrow corridor. Yay, back to my very own personal prison cell.

Her room opposed the décor in the rest of the castle. Each high-priced item relegated to a forsaken corner, hidden beneath a transparent veil. Two white vases towered over the rest of the items. A painting of Meilana standing with Izaru and a thin man leaned against the vases. A smaller statue of the shrewd looking man with the flowing mustache lay on the floor. Near the pile was a window decorated with a fiddle leaf fig. Despite its depressing surroundings, it was healthy and well-watered. Even the granite walls were barren. Everything had been stripped away.

Meilana drug herself over a rug covering most of the marble flooring. She plopped onto a bed she had long since outgrown. A cascade of tears raced down her cheeks, so much so she dry heaved. Darkness descended upon her once more. As she gazed around the room, she imagined the demons return. Its grotesque face peeked out of all four walls to howl with laughter.

No. Stop watching me. Go away! A wave of pressure sank her. I can’t keep living this way. Anything would be better than this.

She reached under her bed, retrieved a tanto and pried the blade from its scabbard. Holding it to her wrist, she thought about dragging the cold steel up the length of her forearm.

Demon laughter grew louder, more haunting. It taunted her. “Do it!”

Meilana stalled, an epiphany was upon her. “But I have Obake now. I can run away with him.”

“She’ll never stop hunting you.” The demon’s eyes turned crazed. “You might as well kill him yourself.”

“You’re right. I’m no good to anyone.”

Upon stabbing the blade into her flesh, she observed as the deep wound seeped blood. Seeing such a thing released her from the hazardous trance. After tossing the tanto to the floor, she cleared the sweat accumulating on her brow. The demon faces vanished and the walls returned to normal.

“Sweet Drop, may I come in?”

A familiar voice called out to her from the hall. Unsure whether she imagined it or not, she said nothing. The door to her room creaked open.

“Sweet Drop, you in there?”

The voice was real after all; Meilana dove at her tanto and threw it back under the bed.

She then sat on the edge near the headboard and covered her wrist. “Come in.”

A thin, pointy nosed man waltzed over the threshold, the same man from the painting under the transparent veil. Meilana was aghast to see him.

Silver hair descended to his waistline, where it turned into two ponytails. Both tied by kiwi green ribbons. The sleeves of his shozoku dangled beside his hakama pants. He moved with fluidity, just like his outfit’s many loose-fitting components.

He sat at the edge of the small bed and looked at his daughter with a joyous smile. His circular specs made him appear like a wise man that held the answers to life’s many conundrums.

“I heard what happened. Are you okay?”

Meilana fixated on her fiddle leaf fig, then beyond to the starry sky. “I’m fine,” she barked.

 “You don’t seem fine.” The man continued to smile. “I know when my little girl’s upset.”

After a bit of squirming, she succumbed to the urge to speak her mind. “Why do you let her treat us like this? Why don’t you stand up to her? Huh? Pai Liu?”

Pai Liu’s smile tumbled away; his eyes converted from happy to solemn. “We’ve been over this Sweet Drop. Your mom is Gazzo’s daughter.” Pai Liu took a disgusted glance at the statue under the sheet. “I’m only Grandmaster by way of marriage. She calls the shots. Not much I can do about it.”

“I still don’t understand why you even married her. She’s a nightmare.”

Pai Liu taped a toothy grin to his olive toned face. “I married her so that I could have you.”

“Yeah, right.”

“No, seriously. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Meilana slammed her hands on the bed in a fit of sheer frustration then re-concealed her wound. “Doesn’t seem like it. You barely talk to me. Let alone spend time with me. Can’t believe you still follow her stupid rules.”

“Can’t argue with you there. Most of her rules are very stupid.”

“Then why follow them? I’m lucky if I see you once a month. I’m your fucking daughter! What? Does she think we’ll plot to overthrow her if she lets us near each other?”

The glow of a proud father beamed from Pai Liu as he chuckled. “First off, language. Second, she thinks I’ll make you soft.”

Meilana lay back on her bed.

“I know it’s not right, but try to understand. There’s only so much I can do. Your mom could have me exiled or worse. At least I can help you in secret for now.”

In utter disapproval, Meilana shook her head. “You could’ve been happy with someone else. You could’ve had a completely different life.”

Pai Liu inhaled. “I was confused when I was your age. I craved power and wealth. Your mom fancied me and being with her gave me everything I thought I wanted. I later realized that none of it mattered. At least I got you out of the deal. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

Almost inadvertent, Meilana rolled her eyes.

Pai Liu continued. “So, what’s this I hear about you having a little ninja boyfriend?”

Meilana sprang back to a seated position.

Giggles escaped Pai Liu. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to answer that.”

“Why does she hate them so much? I mean… I know about what happened, but that was forever ago. Things are peaceful now.”

“Some people are better than others at getting over things.”

Meilana toiled over her father’s words.

“Look, hang in there a little while longer. Once you turn eighteen, you’ll be able to take control of your life. You’re almost there. Don’t give up now.”

A more relaxed posture found Meilana.

“I guess you’re right, Dad. Thanks for visiting me. I needed that.”

 “Yes, calling me Dad again,” Pai Liu became ecstatic. “Oh, and anytime. Well, anytime I can get away with it. Your mom’s a bit preoccupied at the moment.”

“Do you think she’d ever,” Meilana averted her gaze. “Hurt us?”

Pai Liu paused in contemplation. “Let’s hope we never have to find out.”

At a loss for words, Meilana gave no response.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way.” After kissing his daughter on the forehead, Pai Liu waltzed across the threshold, but before closing the door, he glanced back. “Should I be concerned about that?” he said, staring at the blood rising between Meilana’s fingers.

“No. Um… just a scratch.”

“That’s some scratch. Do me a favor and have Madame Weila take a look at it, okay?”

 Meilana nodded and Pai Liu gave her a wink then shut the door.