Queen of Crows

It is a cloudy day, but you don’t care. The feeling of the breeze on your face and the smell of rain in the air makes you quiver with delight. Heavy clouds hang low in the sky making the world look smaller than it is. Feeling cocooned in the darkness of the clouds you embrace the world with open arms from the top of the tower. Nose raised, you inhale the scent of freedom and bask in the joy it brings you. For too long you have been content to toil in the cages that have ensnared you… That time is coming to an end. Now, the city lays small and fragile before your inspection. Like a miniature that you have the pleasure of enjoying (or snuffing out) at will. It amazes you how delicate a human life can be even when there are thousands of them scurrying along in the city below you.
“I’m glad you’re happy,” Bucky states from where he’s leaning against the wall several feet away. Unlike you, he’s hiding near the building and not taking full advantage of the rooftop terrace.
You turn from your view of the city and smile at him. “Thank you, James. Being inside was too much of a cage for me at times.”
“I understand.” He replies as he offers you a rare smile. “It doesn’t seem such a luxury until it is taken away.”
The sky seems to weep at his words as it begins to rain. Not a large storm but a sudden opening of the sky to release a torrent that could last for hours. Drenching you within minutes you don’t respond to Bucky as you tilt your head back and laugh. You let out a sound of pure joy at the feeling of something so peaceful and cleansing that it takes away all your pain. The water plasters your hair to your face and soaks your clothing through until it becomes heavy. With your mouth open, you catch the droplets on your tongue and feeling them run down your throat. It a moment of peace.
“Having fun?” Bucky’s voice comes from right behind you.
Lowering your head, you turn and see him standing in the rain. You smile, holding out your hands to take his in yours. “Isn’t the rain glorious, James?”
“Yeah, doll.” He grasps your hands now noticing the use of the pet name as you drag him closer.
“Let’s dance.” You announce as you position his hands so the two of you can twirl about in the rain.
“Um,” Bucky hesitates as his metal hand flexes at your waist. He’s worried it is too high or too low, and maybe this is too intimate, or that he can’t remember the steps to anything. He’s terrified of this. “Not sure I’ll remember any steps.”
You smile and bring yourself even closer to him. “Don’t worry, Sergeant. I can lead us until you get the hang of it.”
Not willing to argue, Bucky tightens his grip and nods.
With the rain still pelting down and no music but the droplets hitting the ground to be heard, the two of you dance.
~
Her giggling is infectious as she clings to your waist, little toes digging into the top of your foot as she balances on them. The music playing is one of your favorites, a slow ballad that involves intricate sweeps and hand gestures. It is a romantic dance; the best kind always are.
“Twirl us, Sissy!” Aru begs as she squeezes you tightly.
Your arms are wrapped around her with steading hands pressed tightly to her back. “Again, stardust?”
“Again!” She announces with the authority of a queen.
Little queen, she rules the entire court with her dazzling smiles and engaging nature. While Kore is the majestic one, all kindness and tempered passion, Aru brims with life in a way many cannot look away from. You on the other hand are the quiet darkness behind both. Neither majestic or dazzling, you remain placid in your beauty. Kore and Aru demand to be seen. You slip into the shadows and wait for the most observant to see you.
“May we cut in?” Zacharias inquires, he and Zacchaeus stand beside the two of you. They’re bend over in formal, courtly, bows which makes them look even more solemn in their military uniforms. Each has been serving in the Imperial army for nearly a decade and their deep hunter green uniforms glisten with hints of gold and silver from all the accolades they’ve earned. Of all your siblings they are the most earnest in their endeavors, no matter what they are.
“Of course, kind sirs.” You lift Aru off your feet and set her down gently.
Both of you execute flawless curtseys before Aru leaps into Zacchaeus’s arms. She laughs as he catches her easily and soon he is spinning her away with a smile, rarely seen, on his face.
Zacharias takes your hand in a more sedate manner and the two of you continue the dance. “She glows with happiness when with you, sister dearest.”
“She glows with happiness no matter who she is with, silly brother.” You tease him with a quick yank of his hair, which he has let grow so long he wears it in a braid down his back. “Our little star burns brighter every day.”
Your brother frowns at your words. “Yes, she does. Her power is immense and ever growing. When will she finally reach the peak of her power? The gift of future sight is amazing but dangerous if she spends too much time venturing down the paths the universe might take. She’s very young to be so powerful. Do you think she can handle it?”
“You think we should bind her power?” With a sharp intake of breath, you cease dancing and pull Zacharias to the side of the room. “How can you suggest something like that?”
He shrugs and leans in closer to whisper in your ear. “Sister, if she is not controlled soon it may be too late. If we bind her now then slowly let the bonds dissolve it won’t hurt her.”
“And who do you suggest does the binding? If you think Ezekiel will let anyone touch a hair on Aru’s head you’re delusional.” Rolling your eyes, you slap Zacharias’s shoulder. “Binding her might be a good idea, but you get to pitch it to the Lord of Chaos. If he doesn’t remove your head from your body call me over.”
“I’m his brother, he wouldn’t harm me.” Zacharias boasts with a grin.
You smile before shaking your head. “For her, Zacharias, I dare say he would.”
As one you both turn to see Aru. She’s laughing and spinning with Zacchaeus, her head tilted back and eyes sparkling with joy. Everyone is watching the young princess as she shares her happiness with all. Even the young man standing near the back, his head lowered but gaze raised to watch her. At his side stands a young woman in white, she whispers in his ear. Ezekiel and Kore watch Aru with something like calculation in their eyes.
~
“Not so bad, was it?” you ask as the two of you sit in the kitchen with mugs of tea in hand and towels around your shoulders.
Rubbing some of the moisture from his hair, Bucky offers you a small grin. “I suppose it wasn’t.”
You sip your tea and let your eyes wander over nothing. “My father taught me to dance. In fact, he taught all my siblings to dance too.”
Bucky stills. “Not your mother?”
“No!” you bark out a laugh. “Mama never liked dancing. She loved to watch us though. My brothers were especially good at it. “Just like your father,” she’d always say.”
Meeting his gaze, you look wistful. “We used to use the foyer to practice. There’s an even number of us so we’d all partner up and practice our steps together with someone humming the tune. Mama would always scold us for using such a public room, but Papa would just laugh. Laugh, and correct our footwork. He made it so that we could glide across the floor like flower petals on the breeze. That was a long time ago.”
Bucky reaches out and grasps your wrist with his hand. It is so foreign to him, this voluntary touch, but he does it for you. “Do you have many siblings?”
You brighten at his words. “Not so many.”
“You have Aru?” he prompts, eager to learn more about you.
“She’s the youngest of us. The most cherished,” you sigh. “Darling, Aru. The one we must protect and care for. Unlike the rest of us she was sheltered utterly from the world. But, I don’t fault anyone for that. A child like her deserved only roses and rainbows.”
“Any more sisters?”
“Yes,” you delve into your memories as you tell him about them. “One other sister - she goes by Kore. Kore the Keeper of Balance. There is a legend that has spread far and wide about the three of us. It tells that we represent the three sides of every woman. Together we cared and nurtured women throughout their lives. Keeping them strong and reminding them that women united can achieve anything. We were even worshipped… But, circumstances changed. The tale goes that I grew jealous of my sisters’ powers and contrived to steal them. Unfortunately, I was unable to do this with my magic so I turned to another means. I killed both my sisters and devoured their souls, thus claiming their magic for my own. Shunned by the people I fled the world and began a journey to state my unquenchable appetite. They called me the Destroyer of Worlds because the story tells that I travel the universe destroying planets in order to try to sate my lust for more power.”
Bucky finds he has moved closer to you as you wove your tale. Now, he sits with his knees brushing against yours and both his hands tangled amongst yours. “And? Where are your sisters?”
“You don’t believe I actually killed them?” You ask with a look of mock offense. “I’m appalled you aren’t asking that!”
He laughs, as you intend him too and nudges your knee with his. “Come on, tell me.”
Rolling your eyes, you tell him. “Kore ran away. Very scandalous as she dashed off into the night, never to be heard from again. She was the best of us. The brightest and the boldest, but the most willing to run from a problem then face it head on. Silly, girl.”
“And Aru?”
“Ah, the young one.” You muse. “Well, she was taken. Stolen away under the pretense of keeping her safe.”
“What?” Bucky exclaims, drawing back. Shocked by your words, his mouth hangs open. “Your brothers did nothing to stop it?”
Biting your lip, you look away. “Yes, well… That is part of the problem. Two of my brothers went out after Kore. The twins vowed not to return until they found her and dragged her back with them. Dedicated fools. It was always a matter of pride to them that Kore left us to burn.”
“And the last brother?” asks Bucky, totally immersed in the story. “She mentioned she had a favorite brother. No brother worth his salt would let his sister’s kidnapping go unavenged.”
“Oh, he didn’t.” you say, solemnly. “He would never let anyone harm Aru. To him she is the world and nothing would stop him from protecting her, hence the problem. He kidnapped her.”
For a moment he stares at you, his mouth hanging open.
“So, the story can never be disproven.” You finish the tale with a heavy sigh.
He leans closer to you. “And neither sister has been found?”
You shake your head. “Not for lack of trying. But the twins have not sent word since they left looking for Kore, and Aru has been untraceable since she was taken.”
“By your brother?”
“Yes, by my brother – the Causer of Discord.”
“That’s quite the name.”
“Mainly we call him Ezekiel.”
~
In a bar, hundreds of miles away, sits a young brunette woman. She’s nursing yet another drink and seems uninterested by the laughter and merriment around her, as she stares down at the condensation on her glass. On one of her last night in the city before she heads back to work she’s trying to enjoy herself, and failing. The bar is the farthest thing from what she enjoys. She’s more of a nice glass of wine and a good book kind of girl. Yet, tonight she’s gone out to try to have a good time.
“You look bored.” A silky voice beside her comments.
She looks up and smiles at the sight of the attractive man leaning against the bar next to her. His hair is glossy and dark, slicked back in a way few men can truly pull off, yet this man does it exceptionally. Dressed in a suit, minus the tie, he looks like a business man dressing down for an evening out. Yet, his eyes are that of a shrewd hunter examining potential prey. To some he might be too much. With wicked eyes, a mocking smile, and body set to pounce he is intimidating as much as he is appealing.
The very essence of him alights discontent as the woman tries to determine if he’s worth the risk. It is a good thing she is such a risk taker.
“I was,” she says as she turns fully towards him. “Have you come to offer some entertainment?”
He smiles and the shine of his teeth makes him look more like a wolf ready to devour her than before. “I always aim to please beautiful women.”
She offers him a smile in return. “Oh, do you?”
“I really do,” he purrs as he slips closer to her. “May I ask this particular beautiful woman’s name?”
“Maria,” she holds out her hand. “Maria Hill.”
Taking Maria’s hand, he kisses the back of it. His lips linger on her knuckles before he pulls back, not releasing her hand. “Well, Maria, could I escort you out of here and perhaps make it so you have a more pleasant evening?”
Slipping from her seat, Maria finds herself standing almost pressed against the stranger. “I think I’d find that pleasing. Are you going to tell me your name?”
“Come on, darling.” Coaxes the man as he slides his arm around her waist to hold her close as he leads her from the bar. “Let’s get out of here before things get too chaotic. And I go by Zek.”
~
Later that evening, long after Zek left with Maria, things at the bar did get chaotic.