The Mystery of Behell By @SkyWingFP & @daisydog177 Chapter 1- City ofLazuli 5 DAYS BEFORE BEHELL Lavina “Mother, do we have all the materials to survive the Behell? Shall I go to The Mart and get more?” I asked, hints of uncertainty in my voice. It was Redark, and me and my mother were in our make-shift hut, a warm, but dim fire was crackling next to us, and me and mother sitting on two chairs, watching my brother play with his toys. Mother looked away, then sighed heavily. “Perhaps, the safer the better. We can't let the same thing that happened to your father happen to you, or Lark.” Lark is my little brother, he is just 6 years of age. “Remember, we shalln't waste all our jewels, not now. We haven't much left. “ I furrowed my brows., “Yes, mother, I know. I'm responsible, aren't I?” Mother didn't answer. I didn't take this personally, she often was so lost in her misery and worries, that she simply couldn't hear my reply. Her dark blue eyes were troubled, and she was holding the cuffs of her lazuli-studded robe tightly. “Lavey, come play!!” Lark exclaimed to me. “Sorry Larky, not today.” Lark opened his mouth to protest, but then closed it. He knew better. I looked down, feeling sorry for my brother, who was being forced to grow up so early. Then an idea skimmed my brain. “I’ll be right back, Mother.” I briskly said, and then I grabbed my leather purse, trotted to the door, gently closed behind me (if I slammed it, I was sure it would break,) and then charged off into the city in front of me. The city was cold and dark, and the lights on the streets were dim, but even the golden sidewalk and lamp posts seemed to be sad and discolored. The distinct, rich blue shade of lazuli sparkled all around me, but I snapped my head in front of me and kept running until I finally reached the stables. Everybody knew when they reached the city stables. The smell of hay and stallions hit people like a freight train once they reached them. “Psst, Lainie, are you here?” Lainie is a beautiful white and blue spotted horse, my favorite. Nobody beats Lainie. I mean, no horse. If anything happened to her during Behell… I don't know what I would do. I surely wouldn't just ‘pick’ another horse, I had thought long and hard about which horse I was going to choose. At first, I didn't find any horse that said, “that's the one,” but then I saw Lainie. Oh, and when I saw Lainie, I knew she was the one. A soft, sad snort came from inside the dark stables, and I tiptoed inside. I knew from habit which stable was Lainie’s, the fourth one down from the entrance. “Neiiiiiigh!” She bellowed wildly, thrashing around in her small stable. “Quiet, Lainie!” I whispered briskly, worried that the stablemaster would come and check what all the racket was about. I know what she was trying to say. BEHELL IS COMING. “It's alright, girl. I know. I won't be long.” I whispered softly to her elegant mane. She buried her face in my small palm, and nuzzled me calmly. I had her- she had me. We both had nothing- and nobody to fear. Until now. Chapter 2- City of Ruby 4 DAYS BEFORE BEHELL Rose The ruby, gem-covered city never fails to amaze me, though I've lived here all my life. Every day, no matter where I look, the rich, calming shade of red- ruby, the city I live in, never fails to tell me, "I'm home.” “Rosewater! I told you to come inside!” “But Mother-” “NOW!” I stifled my sigh, and went over to where my mother was standing. Her glare almost burned a hole right through me, and I avoided her eyes. I've always wondered what I've done to deserve such poor treatment. Maybe… I just don't belong in this family. I can't meet up to their standards. I've never been good enough for them. Once, I was in first school, and I accidentally colored outside the line. I was scolded and given a speech about perfection and how I cannot be so inconsiderate. I didn't even know what that meant. I couldn't say that, though, because that would just lead to another speech. “Never be so foolish and childish like that again.” Mother had barked, folding in her robes. Father nodded beside her, giving me a, “your mother knows best.” face. I never had any friends, I couldn't ever visit their Apartments, nor talk with them. With Mothers glare scorching my back, I lumbered back into my Apartment, and went up the stairs into my bedroom. I sat down on my ruby-colored bed, and looked out the window. It was sunset, and the street was beginning to glow with an eerie light. Behell was never too dangerous here, but I knew this year would be different. Suddenly, a flash of purple disappeared behind a large set of Apartments. I squinted through the blurry glass of my dirty bedroom window, trying to see what the thing was. Nothing. The thing had disappeared as soon as it had come. I lay down on my bed, feeling a wave of unease wash over me. Behell would come back twice as strong, I felt it in my blood.
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