“But why?” Kitten asked. “Why are you putting on this elaborate of a ploy to fool people? If you’re a peaceful race then why don’t you-”
“Peaceful race?” Eirene quizzed her, stopping and turning to Kitten with a sharp eye. “No, no, Kitten. There are no ‘peaceful races’ in Eden. There are just people who are peaceful. An entire race is never benevolent. I’m sure even the gentle harpies have kin who have bloodied talons and tainted hearts. Peace comes from the individual, not the collective.”
Kitten remained silent as the copycat looked her over with a smirk before leading her forward again.
“Kroanette told me about you, as well as the man you’re with. Daniel Sorres. A brave visionary who wishes to unite monsters and mankind in peaceful coexistence. I was hoping to have this discussion with him tonight, but I was also aware of the possibility that he wouldn’t want to venture into Stonegate without first confirming he wouldn’t be raped to death upon entering the city walls.”
“That was a pressing concern for all of us, not just him,” Kitten mentioned.
“Again, who could blame you? I can understand that you wanted to check this place out first before he dared to come here. I imagine after being given the okay by you from having personally come here like this he may feel a bit braver in stepping into our home. One can hope anyway. I sincerely do wish to meet that man and speak to him face to face as soon as possible, especially knowing what he’s out there doing at the moment.”
“You’re that eager to speak to my master?” Kitten wondered.
“Yes. He sounds like a kindred spirit, one who sees who we are beneath what we appear to be, and has the determination to stand tall in this world and shout to the heavens his beliefs that many would of course consider to be impossible to achieve.”
“He is,” Kitten said, a smile forming on her face. “My master is indeed a wise and courageous visionary. He’s out here to succeed with his quest that could change the world. I’m pleased to hear you share his vision, and I’m certain he would be most interested in meeting you as well.”
“Share his vision?” Eirene questioned, coming to a halt. She paused for a moment before sighing and turning to Kitten with an empathetic look. “Kroanette said the same thing. She was delighted to see that we were so peaceful down here, after she, you know, was done screaming for her life in fear we were going to eat her, and couldn’t wait for Daniel to meet with me so he could share his beliefs in person. So that we could unite and stand together in his quest to usher in a new age in Eden, one where monsters and humans coexist in harmony everywhere. Is that what you think will happen as well?”
“Well… yes,” Kitten said, seeing the questioning look on the copycat’s face.
“No,” Eirene firmly replied. “That’s not going to happen, Kitten.”
“No? But… but you just said-”
“Make no mistake, we would love for there to be peace in the world between our races. But that’s an unrealistic dream. The world is never going to change. Humans and monsters will forever be at war with one another. That’s the way of life out there.”
“But you’re proof of his beliefs,” Kitten argued. “You and your people are-”
“Outcasts,” Eirene interjected, silencing the demon. “Misfits. Rejects. Blasphemers. Crazy. That’s what we are in the eyes of our sisters out there. Kitten, I don’t believe you understand the situation just as Kroanette failed to at first. I don’t want Daniel Sorres here to speak about joining his little alliance and stepping forward in the world to prove his beliefs. I want him to come here so he will be safe down here with us.”
“Safe?”
“Yes, safe. Because right now he is out there spouting very dangerous ideas that people are not going to like hearing. He’s going to get himself and all of you girls killed if he continues his quest.”
“They’re not dangerous ideas,” Kitten contended. “He’s trying to end the ceaseless cycle of killing and raping out there between our races. He’s trying to put a stop to all that so everyone can live in peace. He’s-”
“Going to get you all killed!” Eirene shouted. “You idiots, you can’t go around shouting that nonsense to everyone you see and expect there to be no consequences. Humans and monsters cannot live together like you’re claiming; such a thing to chase after will only bring trouble down upon you.”
“How can you say humans and monsters can’t live together when you have humans living down here with you?” Kitten demanded.
“Like I said, we’re all outcasts,” Eirene explained, having a remorseful tone now. “Kitten, we’re able to live here together because the world will not accept us out there. And we know for a fact it won’t, we’ve seen it firsthand. The goblins and gremlins who live with us, do you honestly think they would be accepted by their peers if they speak such things as treating others as equals? The mites we have flying above us, they would be put down by their own kin if they spoke about having humans as friends. Monster races as a whole will reject such a notion, leaving those that believe it to wander alone in this world.”
Kitten opened her mouth to protest before the copycat stepped closer and continued.
“And it’s not just monsters who are like that. Humans are also capable of being monsters in their own right, especially when confronted with radical new ideas such as all of us living together in peace. There are rare exceptions, such as Daniel Sorres, but the voices of the few never carry over the voices of the many. And the vast majority of humans will never accept monster races as equals, let alone partners to willingly mate with. We’re all just that to them; monsters.”
“You don’t know that,” Kitten insisted.
“Yes, we do,” Eirene sternly argued. “We’ve seen the worst in our races and in humans. We’ve seen what people of all races are truly like as a collective. We’ve seen just how few in number those like us actually are in Eden. Kitten, Daniel’s dream of establishing peace throughout Eden is just that; a dream. The only way those like us who think so differently can live and survive is in places like this, sanctuaries hidden away from the world and those who will never accept us.”
“No, that’s not true. This isn’t how it has to be.”
“Yes it is, Kitten. We have spies all over the land, we have ears stationed in the deepest halls, and we have eyes on more than you seem to realize. We’ve watched it all, we’ve seen how the line between human and monster is often blurred as both act so horrendously when it comes to facing the unknown or different. The rare exceptions such as your master, they either run from those that reject them, or try in vain to correct them. And should they try, grave misfortune will befall them, every time. This is how it is, and how it will always be.”
“No, it won’t,” Kitten argued. “My master can convince them to listen. My master can make this work!”
“Like how he did in Edgewood?” Eirene questioned with a raised eyebrow. “The councilwomen there weren’t particularly moved by his voice. Then again, aside from Triska Raylight, nobody in that town thought he was anything more than a hopeless fool.”
“How did you know about that?” Kitten carefully asked. Eirene smirked and waited a moment, with Kitten and Triska both coming to a very surprising speculation as to how the countess knew of that past detail.
“No… it couldn’t be…”
“Tell me, is Chatara still wearing her hair in that silly flamboyant style? Oh, I’m sorry, you probably know her as Orlenne Seviks.”
“No way, Orlenne is a copycat?” Triska exclaimed. “She’s one of the councilwomen alongside my mother!”
“One of Edgewood’s councilwomen,” Kitten realized.
“Daniel Sorres sure wasn’t met with much understanding on that day,” Eirene said, crossing her arms. “As I heard from my spy, nobody cared at all that he left the village and to this day nobody cares if he’s even still alive. I’d wager they had a pool going for how long it would be before his body is discovered somewhere near the village, and nobody would h
ave shed a tear if their village lunatic met an unfortunate end outside their walls.”
“You have a spy in Edgewood?” Kitten cautiously asked.
“I told you we have ears and eyes everywhere, Kitten,” the copycat reminded her. “We watch the world unfolding from the safety of our camouflage, always being reminded of how cruel and heartless everyone out there truly is. But not just that, we also watch as now and again, new voices try to speak up over the blaring hatred around them. We keep our eyes out for those like us, those who were born in the dens of real monsters.”
Gesturing to the nearby city, Eirene showed a knowing smile towards Kitten.
“And for those that show us they truly belong here, we extend a welcoming invitation.”
“You’ve been watching my master, haven’t you?” Kitten questioned.
“Only recently,” Eirene confessed. “My spy did make mention of him during his time in Edgewood, however at the time we feared if we made our presence known and invited him to this place, he would have let loose our secret in order to help prove his beliefs to the councilwomen. After he left the village, I heard reports of him again standing by his beliefs in Ashwood, showing mercy and benevolence towards a monster in need. And then once more in Flairwood.”
“Flairwood?” Kitten repeated. “The giant butterfly grove? You have spies there too?”
“Yes. I was surprised he made it that far during his quest, and so quickly too. My scout was there in the crowd that day when Triska Raylight returned with saving their princess, as well as Daniel Sorres who then spoke about them becoming equals in the world alongside humans, something that he convinced the monarch into supporting. I was quite surprised to hear of him persuading the entire grove that the winds of change would be approaching like he did.”
“I’m even more surprised to hear there was a copycat in that crowd,” Kitten remarked. “I thought you said copycats can’t mimic wings that worked. How has your spy managed to pass off as a giant butterfly for so long when she can’t fly?”
“The princess isn’t the only crippled butterfly in that grove,” Eirene winked, and then showed a serious face again as she stepped back from the cambion. “We’ve heard much about Daniel Sorres, and with each report I’m given I’m further convinced he truly does belong here with us. I’m also growing more and more wary for his safety, as well as those he convinces into making such unwanted noise with him.”
“Wishing for peace between our races is unwanted noise to you?” Kitten retorted.
“It’s unwanted noise to many out there,” Eirene warned. “It draws ridicule and rejection from one’s own people, and paints a nice big target on your back for others to strike at as a weakness. Those that openly preach things like peaceful coexistence and that monsters are people too are not met with understanding or curiosity, they’re met with hatred and derision. You girls who follow him out of adoration and love, you’re walking towards your own execution in doing so.”
“We’ll take our chances,” Kitten scoffed, crossing her arms with a sharp glare at the copycat. “I would much rather trust my master with his words over your rather pessimistic ones, and I feel confident in saying that all of us who follow him feel the same way.”
“I feared you would be just as foolhardy as he is,” Eirene sighed. “And maybe I can’t change that, maybe you’ll stay on the path you’ve chosen with him. But I know the outcome that path will bring, and for that I truly do feel sorry for you.”
“You’re the one who deserves pity here,” Kitten snapped. “My master will indeed have a few choice words to give you should you two meet. Preaching that we need to hide ourselves and what we are just to live in this world, having so little faith in others, and writing everyone off as monsters just like those in The Sisterhood simply because there are a few bad souls out there; I don’t believe he’ll find anything in your argument he can agree on, and as such neither shall I. You really are copycat, countess. You pretend to be kind and merciful, but in reality you’re just perpetuating another lie in this world; one that has everyone here convinced they have to live by or else.”
“You’ll see the truth just as we have soon enough,” Eirene promised, giving the demon a small worried smile before leading the way again. “When your own races disavow you and the humans remain resolute that you’re all monsters who need to be killed, including Daniel Sorres for speaking such outlandish beliefs, you’ll see the truth then.”
Kitten breathed out in discontent before following her, not a word more being spoken between them as they walked along the outskirts of the city towards the open fields on the other side. As they did Kitten noticed copycats and monsters going about their night while under the artificial daylight from above, with even some human men and women seen walking among them without a care or slightest fear for their lives. Not only that, but a few young boys were laughing and running about with little copycats and a gremlin as their playmates, the children running across a shallow stream near the trail and through a tall hedge as they laughed and chased one another in a game.
‘I don’t believe this,’ Triska complained. ‘An entire city… there’s an entire city down here that fully proves Daniel’s point, that proves humans and monsters can live together if they try. It’s all right here… and they refuse to show it to the world!’
“It’s almost too surreal to believe,” Kitten commented. “I’ve often wondered what the world my master dreams of would look like. This seems like the closest possibility, one that he’s out there risking his life to bring to everyone in Eden. And it’s right here, working just as he said it could.”
‘We have to tell Daniel about this. We have to tell him to set Eirene straight. For crying out loud, this is the fucking proof he needs to convince Queen Leanna that what he’s preaching is possible! It’s all right here, it’s all right here in front of us and… and…’
“And these scared little cats are hoarding it away,” Kitten sighed. “Don’t worry, Triska. My master will hear of this when we return, so long as you remain hidden away inside our head for the time being. This will indeed be a great opportunity for him to win valuable support for his cause. Not only is this place living proof of his beliefs, but if what Eirene said is true, they have connections with nearly everyone out there. Important connections.”
‘Holy shit… they could help us convince other rulers to join Daniel’s cause. We would have inside support with all their leaders. If Daniel gains Eirene’s vote…’
“He’ll be much closer to winning over all the races that reside in Koskaysil, if not further out. His queen would certainly hear a loud voice then when he proposes his ideas to her.”
‘We have to convince Eirene to side with us, we just have to now. I hope Daniel is able to reach her, this copycat is going to be a real challenge to persuade. She seems very locked in her way of thinking, I have no idea how we’re going to be able to sway her.’
“You shouldn’t lose faith in him, Triska. If anyone could convince this stubborn cat of anything, it would be my master.”
Walking up small stone stairs they came to the top of a knoll that overlooked the countryside, with Kitten witnessing the passing herd of centaurs running by while a few waved to the countess.
“We may be deceivers, Kitten,” Eirene admitted as she waved back. “And maybe our outlook on life isn’t so bright or optimistic. But it’s a realistic view of life, and one that won’t disappoint us once we accept it. Our way of life allows us to live, where our different views and beliefs won’t lead to us being imprisoned or put to death. It’s not the peaceful world Daniel wishes to see, but it’s one that can be achieved, and he’s welcome to be a part of it.”
“It’s a way of cowardice and dishonesty with one’s self,” Kitten argued shaking her head. “It’s a way my master will never approve of. And as his devoted demon, I will never agree to it either.”
“Well you’re welcome to your differing opinion down here,” Eirene laughed. “We won’t chastise or threa
ten your life for doing so. However the experiences of Daniel, however plentiful you believe them to be, pale in comparison to what we’ve witnessed in the real world. And reality will not bend to suit his beliefs, no matter how noble or fantastic they may be.”
“We’ll see about that,” Kitten retorted.
“Yes, I’m sure we will,” Eirene said, surveying the area. A small smile was made as she glanced to Kitten and gestured towards something that caught her interest, with the demon slowly turning her head to see before her anger towards the copycat vanished and was replaced with amazement at what she saw.
While most of the centaurs were galloping around in the fields before them, a smaller group was slowly walking along a worn dirt trail that ran between the countryside and the city. A few centaurs were seen along some copycats, all of which were closely gathered around one centaur in particular who was walking very slowly and carefully with padded bandages covering her front leg.
“Is that…” Kitten quietly wondered.
“Kroanette!” Triska exclaimed.
Eirene led the surprised cambion towards them, with Kitten and Triska watching in awe at seeing Kroanette being escorted by a group of centaurs and copycats who were all guiding her along the path, with the felines walking slowly ahead of her while gently urging her to take it easy while the centaurs at her sides were helping her keep balanced atop her four legs.
“You’re doing good, Kroanette,” a copycat purred. “Nice and easy. That’s it.”
“How does it feel to be on your feet again? I’m sure you’ve missed it.”
“Very much so, yes,” Kroanette said, half laughing as she walked atop her legs, with the one covered in bindings flinching a few times during their stroll. “It’s still a little sore, though that’s certainly more acceptable than the condition it was in a few days ago.”
Chronicles of Eden - Season II - Act II Page 41