#SFF #AtoZChallenge Wavered

A speculative fiction short story from a dreamer

A continuous #sff story during April. May Rose is the main character (🧑🏽 they/them pronouns).

"This isn't the sparring room at Budding Manor. You aren't Opal anymore." May held the weapon at the ready.

Doña Marina lunged at May. "Good."

May caught Doña Marina, knocking her to the ground. "I held back before. You never beat me when I had to hold back, when I wasn't allowed to harm you."

Jade cried in the distance, begging them not to fight. Piers held on to her, trying to keep her quiet. 

Nightingale flew at May from behind. A chunk of hair went flying as May screamed. Doña Marina took advantage, getting back to her feet and using her weapon against May. The sand turned red.

Doña Marina stood over May, weapon poised for a killing blow. Nightingale held the body, face down in the sand, blood gushing out. 

"What will your loyalty get you?" Piers released Jade as she spoke. "Nightingale will dispose of you as quickly as May, Piers, and countless others. Execution orders for every human who does not net a profit and bring enhanced status are already issued. Even if you do mate, after providing a few healthy pets, you will have no more use."

Doña Marina wavered for a moment as Jade approached. 

"Give me the weapon. I will do what needs to be done." Jade held out her hand.

Jade

"You?" Doña Marina looked at the innocence in Jade's eyes. There was such childlike wonder. "All those private sessions. It's because May saw an opposite in you. An opposite from this world of death, disease, and destruction. You aren't capable of killing."

Yet Jade curled and uncurled her hand, indicating a desire for the weapon. Nightingale piped with impatience. May groaned, coming around.

"I was not supposed to be here. My parents broke the law by allowing me to live. Twins were forbidden. I grew up hidden. My sister was chosen. But my sister wasn't there to take that day. I snuck out, I'm who they found, I'm who they brought here. I am ruining your world, your chance at a future." Jade pulled out her reddish stone. "And I am all that stands in your way. A ticket to freedom. You will have choices and be safe. Give me that weapon, I will give you a way to be free and survive."

Doña Marina looked at Nightingale, then down at May. "Will you also give me May?"

"What?" Jade asked, and Piers echoed in the distance.

Doña Marina pointed the weapon at Jade. "I could kill you and Nightingale, take your freedom stone or whatever that is, and get May to myself. We're alike, we understand each other. May will grow tired of you. I'm a better match."

"You have to be kidding me. That's what this is about? Jealousy?" Jade shook her head." No more mister nice alien." The words came from Jade's mouth as the hand with the stone touched person after person.  O'tien zipped through mind-space dimensions. 

Doña Marina fell to the ground, coughing uncontrollably. May clamored to their feet. Nightingale backed up until she was against a tree, Jade's hand choking her and pressing the stone to her neck.

May aimed the weapon at Doña Marina's chest. Though killing was natural and normal to them, and despite being unable to think of a reason not to do it, May was as still as stone.

A shadow came over them, large enough to block out the sun.

Question: If this were available in ebook format, would you pay 99 cents for it?

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