“I see it!” Dougal growled. Lola ran to him with excitement. They stood side by side staring up at the mansion that dwelled behind large gates and stone walls about thirty feet high. It was at the top of a plateau and below it, the stream turned into a river. Across the river was the area where Lola and her friends trained in the arts of fire, she can still see and smell the burned lumber from afar. The mansion had three floors. The third floor was all for master Perim. No one but his servants was allowed up there. The second floor was where all of Lola’s friends’ bedrooms were located. The mansion had not changed since Lola and Dougal left. It had statues of Dragons everywhere outside and on the rooftops. Goth belfries with dragon statues snaking around it. Statues of knights of North Alexandria stood by the entrance, after the gates.
“So what do we do? Just walk up and knock on the door.” Lola said sarcastically. She squinted and noticed the lights of the third floor. He must be up there by himself as usual, she thought.
“Lola look! By the gate.” Dougal alarmed. Lola gazed in the same direction and by the gate of the mansion she saw them. It was her old friends. Five of them chatting by the gate. Two boys and three girls. Two blonde girls, both were slim wearing long skirts and corsets. One wore a blue long skirt with floral patterns and the other a long red skirt of pointy leaf ends. A brunette girl wearing a black gown sat on a boulder that protruded from the grass. The two boys were clad in red and brown tunics. They were all the same age as Lola. Nineteen or perhaps a few years older. They laughed by the gates, conversing and they all wore a headband on their forehead with a gemstone that looked like black onyx.
Lola was somewhat nervous to approach them but she had not come this far from the capital city just to flee out of fear. She was going to confront them whether they still accepted her or not. “What are they doing outside this time off night?” Dougal asked the abyss as he crouched.
“They are probably just killing the time in this boring place. It’s what we used to do, remember.” Lola snarled. “Come on then. Let’s say hello to our old friends.”
They walked up the sloping path. Lola was nervous and Dougal seemed to have his senses all together. He never showed signs of fears even when he was a human or at least that Lola remembers. Up the slope path they went until they reached the mansion’s gate. The five people that chattered by the gate jerked their heads to Lola and Dougal at the sound of their steps. Immediately they raised their guards. They all raised their rods. They were all mages like Lola. They gave her a vile stare. “Who are you?” Shouted the blonde girl in red. “Don’t come any closer.”
Lola paced towards them with her arms raised, holding her red rod with her right hand. “I come in peace.” She declared. “Don’t you remember me Lynn? It’s me Lola.”
The blonde girl raised her eye brows and her eyes bloomed as memories of Lola returned. The rest of them lowered their rods. They all stared at Lola, not surprised but with realization. None of them spoke on regards to Lola’s return to the mansion. They remained silent staring at each other. It was awkward for Lola. In times like these Dougal would take charge and respond but this was different. “Well. Say something.”
“It’s been such a long time.” The blonde girl finally answered. “We didn’t think you would ever return.”
“It’s nice to see you again too Lynn.” Lola responded sarcastically. She could sense that she was not truly welcome here. However she only hopes that she could at least speak to Master Perim with no hard feelings.
“Weren’t you the one that escaped?” Asked one of the boys whom had chestnut hair. “And what is that beast by your side?” Asked the other boy of light brown hair rudely pointing at Dougal.
“I don’t blame you for not remembering Dougal.” Lola answered. “Last time you saw him he was human. We were both students of Master Perim training under the arts of fire. We came to visit the mansion to speak to Perim.”
“By the moons” Said the brunette girl with a gentle voice. She stood up from the boulder she had been sitting on and slowly walked towards Lola. “Lola you have grown beautifully.”
“Jazelle is that you. Great Omegus you are a beauty yourself.” The two girls ran towards each other with open arms and embraced each other tightly. Jazelle was Lola’s most trusted friend in the mansion above everyone else. While everyone was unfair with Lola, Jazelle was always there to light a candle in Lola’s darkness. Jazelle filled that lonely spot in Lola’s heart when she first became part of Perim’s agency of fire mages. Why did you return, Jazelle whispered in Lola’s ear remembering that horrible night when Lola escaped with Dougal. Lola did not answer her instead she gently pulled away from the embrace. “At least someone is happy to see me. What is wrong with the rest of you?” Lola challenged them.
“You dare ask us what is wrong.” Said the boy of chestnut hair, moving towards Lola. He stood three inches taller than her, looking down at her. Lola stared at his green eyes fearlessly. “I still remember the night when you escaped from our home.” He said and Lola giggled.
“The past is behind us, Daniel.” Lola told him.
“Tell that to Master Perim and remind him how you tried to steal one of his artifacts that was trusted to him by King Alexander himself.” Then Daniel looked down at Dougal. “That is why Master Perim cursed Dougal with that ugly form that he is in.”
Dougal then growled and barked fiercely. Blue smoke left his nostril. Suddenly he felt the malevolence to bite on Daniel’s neck. He remembers the boy. Daniel was a tattle tale. A snitch and a liar as well. He would get away with many things and got Dougal in trouble so many times. “Daniel.” Dougal growled as if he chewed on gravel. “You ass kissing tattle tale son of a wanton. As much as I want revenge now that I am free, that is not what I came here to do. Let us in to the mansion. All we want to do is speak with Master Perim.”
“Follow me.” Said Lynn. “I will take you to Master Perim.”
“What makes you think that Perim will want to see their faces again?” Daniel snarled.
“How about if you let master decide on that?”
“He instructed us to…Ouch!” Daniel could not finish his sentence with Lynn’s elbow in his ribs. Lola noticed Lynn’s left eye blinking. At that very moment Lola understood who was still on her side. She glanced down at Dougal and he nodded his head. Things had not changed. They are still the same bastards as they have always been. Especially you Lynn. You naughty little harlot. I will keep my eyes on you.
Lynn walked towards the gate and stood before it. She stretched out her rod and placed it just before the lock that began to flicker a feeble light. Lynn twisted her rod as if to turn a key inside a keyhole and with a thumping sound the gate opened. “Follow me. Master Perim waits.”
Lola could only grin and follow behind the five of them. Jazelle looked over her shoulder at Lola. Her eyes were wet as if she were to cry. Lola understood and did not want to endanger her only friend. Lola then felt Dougal’s rough horns brushing against her lower left leg. “What is it?” She asked.
“It seems like Jazelle is the only one on your side.” He stated.
“Yes. If she wants I will take her with me and get her out of this prison.” Lola whispered. She remembers hating the insides of the mansion. As luxurious as it was, it felt like more of a prison for the four years that she had reside here. She walked into the mansion. The gates closed behind her. That same feeling came back and memories began to slithering in her mind. Memories of the first day she walked into the gardens of Perim’s mansion when she first joined the fire mages agency.
She was only twelve years of age. Her father who worked for the chancellor of North Alexandria was unable to pay off his dept. The chancellor took her father’s piece of land. The small farm they had and the hut in which they lived was taken marked as a property of the chancellor. Her father rebelled against the chancellor but the knights of the north came and forced him out of the lands. His daughters would become servants in the castle of the chancellor. Lola and he
r sister Leishla ran away. Leishla was captured first and Lola ran into the wilderness till the knights of the north found her weak nearly dying. Lola was separated from her sister. Thrown in the back of a caravan she was taken to the chancellor in the large city of Draken Dess. On the road, the knights who had seized Lola tried to take advantage of her before taking her to the harem in Draken Dess. Twelve year old Lola ran out of the caravan. The sinful knights chased her and caught her. Lola had no one to protect her. Back then she was still not trained in the arts of fire. She only carried a rod that her father gave her but did not know how to use it. Lola did not know how to use the rod. She had a knight on top of her, forcing her against her will in the wilderness of the north.
Then someone saved her. Somehow Omegus had heard her prayers and sent a hero. It was Perim and his apprentices. They had found the caravan heading south. They saw the perverted knight on top of the innocent farm girl. Perim punished the two knights who tried to abuse her and set Lola free. “You can come with me and learn the arts of fire or do as you wish?” Perim gave her two choices and of course she followed him. She did not want to be alone walking through the wilderness, woods and forest of Alexandria alone and risk of being attacked by opportunist. She went with Perim to his mansion and Lola had never felt safer ever since. However things were not always as well as Lola imagine they would be.
She was safe but Master Perim and his apprentice were difficult. Training in the arts of fire was rough. Her body endured much pain and burns. Her fellow apprentices would challenge her but Lola strived and never gave up. Perim would make them duel with fire magic, mercilessly. Lola’s power increased every day and surpassed many of the apprentices in the mansion. Thirty of them and all came to respect her. Four years training under the arts of fire with Master Perim. She became his favorite student, so much that one day he made her an offer she could not refuse. He told Lola that she would have to leave the mansion unless she gave herself to him every night. Many of the apprentices wanted Lola out of the mansion and Perim would only reject their request if Lola did as he told her. Of course she agreed. Where would she go? The mansion was the only place she knew. The only home she ever had after the chancellor took her father’s land. Lola hated Perim ever since.
I will kill him with my new powers, Lola thought. He will pay for what he did to me. I am no longer his. I am free and more powerful than ever. I will strike when the time is right and those who made me suffer in this mansion as well. That means you Lynn. Lola and Dougal walked between statues shaped like the knights of North Alexandria. Studded steel armor with spikes running along the upper body. Helmets shaped like a dragon’s head, spears on the left hand and right hands on the hilt of their swords that hanged from their waist. The autumn leaves fell on the statues from the tall oaks above. The leaves dance around Lola as they fell. She caught one and stared at it. She then looked down at Dougal walking by her side and smile.
“What is it?” He asked.
“Nothing. Just memories.” She answered. After they passed the statues they then walked on the path of the vast front courtyard. The trees grew tall and some had naked branches. Fireflies flew in the night and their small light was enough to brighten the whole yard. The path was made of round cobble stones. Red roses danced with the wind in the garden by the front of the mansion. The scent in the air was a fresh vanilla that reminded Lola of snowy winter nights. The mansion seemed a mile far from the entrance. Perhaps it was the large field between the entrance and the mansion that made it seem so vast and spacious like a coliseum of grass and flowers. Lola always found it odd that Master Perim kept flowers in his yards being a fire magus but she was also suspicious of him knowing more than one elemental art of magic.
Up ahead Lola saw the front large door of the mansion. It had a glass stained window with crucifix. Lynn waited by the door with the other four apprentices. Suddenly the door burst open startling Lynn and the others. Out came a tall man of blonde hair. His hair was so blonde and vivid that it almost seemed white. His nose was a beak pointing down. He was clad in black, red and orange. Lola remembered who he was right away at first sight. He was one of Perim’s high magus. Those who have reached a mastery level don’t use rods or wands to perform magic. He walked towards Lola with a scowl. Behind him more apprentices of Perim followed him. They were all in robes and tunics, mostly reds, gradients of orange colors and different shades of black. They wielded a rods except the one of blonde hair. Kasco was his name, Lola remembered. She never had faced him in a duel when she trained with them but she had seen his magic. His spells were explosive. She once feared him but now she was ready to take on him or all of them if they were to challenge her.
They all wore a headband that held an onyx gemstone. They marched out of the mansion following Kasco. Their boots thumped on the cobblestone. Lola took a deep breath and gripped her rod tightly.
“You must have nerves of steel to show your face around here.” Kasco told her as he came closer.
“I wish that were true.” Lola responded with a cocky tone in her voice and a wide smirk. “High magus Kasco. You don’t seem so happy to see. I thought we were on goods terms despite of all that had happened three years ago.”
Kasco stopped just about a dozen feet away from Lola. She took that offensively as if she reeks so much he dare not go near.
“On good terms?” Kasco spat on the cobblestone path of the courtyard. “The chaos you left before your sudden departure is not something one simply forgets. You and your little horned pet caused Master Perim fortunes and shook the trust that the king had on our organization. You put us at risk.”
“All I wanted was freedom.” Lola snarled before Kasco could go on. “I do not regret what I did three years ago and I do not expect you to forgive me nor do I expect you to understand. I came here to speak to Master Perim. I do not wish to cause any trouble. Once my mission here is accomplished I will leave and you won’t have to see my face here anymore.”
Only the sound of the wind blowing was heard in the night. Kasco breathe deeply as if he struggles to hold his anger. His eyes narrow and would not take his eyes of Lola. He leered her like a fiend but Lola did not fear him. In fact she was so eager to use her new powers she was hoping Kasco would snap. She has eager to burn him with her fire for so long. Not just him but many of Perim’s apprentices. Those who stood behind Kasco leered her as well.
“He does not want to see your face. Lola Raven.” Kasco said.
“It is Lola The Black now. Memorize it.” Lola corrected him with a smile on her face that seemed to make Kasco seethe even more with anger.
“He wants you dead.” Kasco stated, his voice cold.
“Actually he wants me alive according to the fiends that tried to attack me in the woods.” Lola informed him. “What else has Perim been doing besides working with fiends?”
“That is none of your business?” Kasco spat on the floor again. “You are no longer part of the agency. What we do is no longer your concern. Unfortunately we are no longer accepting new members.”
Then Dougal started to brush his ram horns on Lola’s leg again trying to get her attention. “What is it?” She said annoyed.
“There is absolutely no reasoning with them Lola. I believe we have walked into a trap.” Dougal remarked. Lola stared down at him and understood. A part of her knew that no one in the mansion would allow her to get close to Master Perim. She was surprised they allowed her through the front gate. All the apprentices with rods at hand began to slowly form a circle around Lola, surrounding her. “You are naïve to believe they would be kind to you.” Dougal told her. “Look how they leer us. Their eyes seethe with vengeance Lola. They are committed to Perim like we once were.”
Lola raised her rod. The ruby gemstone lit up with a volcanic light. Perim’s apprentices circled her. Lola knew they wanted to harm her. Their past with her was a game of status and gaining the approval of Master Perim. “What a bunch of sad orphans. If only you knew the taste of freedom.” Lola wh
ispered to herself not caring if they heard. “Master Perim has brain washed you. That head band you wear on your foreheads has some manipulative spell on it.”
“Did you just discover that now?” Dougal asked her sarcastically.
“Walking in here willingly was a big mistake Lola.” Kasco told her with a long dirty smirk. “We never dueled when you were here. Unfortunately I am not the only one who wants a piece of you. Lucky for you Master Perim wants you alive. Whether if you are an inch away from death or unconscious.”
“How sweat of him. Tell that pervert I send him my regards.” Lola responded. She notices Jazelle and the other apprentices that had escorted her, hurried inside the mansion. I will take care of them later, Lola thought and turned her attention to the dozens of apprentices surrounding her. They pointed their rods at her, gemstones shining red and orange colors. They all studied under the art of fire. The only magic they learned from Master Perim.
“I knew you would return!” Lola heard a familiar voice coming from third floor of the mansion. All the apprentices turned their heads to the mansion. On the balcony of the third floor he stood staring down at everyone in the vast courtyard. It was Master Perim. He wore a black cloak, underneath a red turtle neck tunic, a sword hanged from his waist. Perim was blonde, his long hair in a ponytail showing his forehead. Blue icy eyes and small. He stood at the balcony with arms crossed. He chuckled as he stared down at Lola from up high. Lola could only smile back with her own long nasty smirk. “My dear Lola” Perim’s voice echoed in the courtyard as if it were an indoor grand hall. “I was just about to go on a trip to see his majesty King Alexander. But I sensed a disturbing mana around the mansion and it turned out to be you. I had a feeling you would return to me my dear Lola. Tell me, how is the cruel outside world treating you?”
Tales Of Lola The Black Page 2