Chapter Ninty: Day Three: Gilded Cage
Christina's Arc: Bend or Break
I leaned against the door, cracking it open slowly, and peeked out. The guards escorting Ms. Igarashi were gone, which meant I could move freely—
The door was yanked open, sending me stumbling forward and crashing onto the floor. I pushed myself up; the sound of a closing door told me that I wasn't alone.
I turned my head, still in a downed position, and Ayame was standing over me, glaring down, inches away from me.
"Let me guess. You were sitting behind the door?"
"That's right, dipshit. Did you think I would let you get away with all that fucking back talk?"
I hung my head low.
This arrogant brat. Calm down and figure this out.
"Master Tetsuzaki—"
"Oh, fuck me, Carter! You can say it now because I'm about to beat your ass?"
"Well, does that make you feel like a big girl?"
She reached down and pulled me up by the collar, but Ayame didn't let me stand straight. I grabbed her waist for balance.
"If you hit me, then you're dead!" I yelled.
"Who's going to kill me over teaching you manners?"
That's abuse, you delinquent.
"Christina," I said.
She pushed me back, and I fell to the floor. Then she walked to me and squatted down.
"You are so dumb that it's impressive. I'm going to convince my queen to drop your ass. But don't worry. There is a place on the estate where you can put that filthy mouth to use after we brand that pretty face."
I clenched my teeth.
I'm no fool, and she doesn't have to say it for me to know what she's talking about.
"That won't happen. My sister—"
"Your sister is going to lose, because she's a nobody with no training," she said, moving closer to me. "When she loses, we're going to make sure she disappears. But don't worry, I'll give you some closure right now," Ayame said, closing the distance.
I could feel her breath on the bridge of my nose.
"We're going to cut her into—"
I leaned forward and kissed her.
Her eyes grew wide; she pushed me back and jerked away.
"What the fuck! You disrespectful little—"
Trish's doors swung open. Trish stood there, just as sloppy as I remembered, looking down at us with glassy eyes.
"Who the fuck is…yelling! I'm trying to…to work." She rubbed her eyes.
"Ayame is screaming at me, Mom," I said. I hated calling Trish "mom," but right now she was my win condition.
"You fucking rat," Ayame snapped, looking back at me.
"Tetsuzaki!" Ayame flinched, then crawled to all fours and bowed her head to Trish. "Stop killing my buzz with your screaming!" She shook her head. "Why are both of you on the floor?"
Oh, it's payback time!
I forced my eyes to water, furrowed my brow, and frowned with quivering lips. Trish's face softened, and then she frowned.
"Aw, fuck. I'm not sober enough to watch a boy cry. Tetsuzaki! I don't know what you did, but you'd better fix this shit," she said, pointing at Ayame.
"Yes, your majesty!"
She turned her attention to me and opened her arms for a hug, which was as dangerous as being hit.
I gradually rose to my feet, playing into the pain Ayame supposedly caused me. I shambled to Trish. My heart trembled with each step.
Her arms wrapped around me, and she pressed me against her chest. The smell of alcohol assaulted my nose, so I buried my face into her chest.
"Mom, Ayame—"
"I-I bumped into him by accident, your majesty!" Ayame said.
Liar. But I'll play along.
"Ayame Tetsuzaki, captain of the scouting squad, and royal guard to my daughter. Are you so blind as to miss my son-in-law?" I felt her chin drag across my head. "Why are you here, son?"
"That was me," Ms. Igarashi called out from within Trish's office.
She pulled me back just enough to look at me. "Now, you be careful and go back to your room, and make me a granddaughter."
Hell no!
I wiped my liar's tears and nodded my head.
She stepped backward into her office.
"Well, now that that's done, get the hell away from my office," she said and closed her door.
I turned slowly toward Ayame, flashing my toothy grin as she looked up at me from her prostrated position. She showed her whites, too, but less enjoyable than mine.
I walked over to her and squatted down.
"Dear, sweet Ayame. I think this is leverage."
"You're a dumb ass," she said.
I patted her on the head, and her toothy scowl grew.
"Oh? If I tell Trish or Christina that you kissed me, what do you think will happen?" I whispered.
"Y-you kissed me. You fucking—"
"Who's going to believe you?"
She lowered her head and tapped it against the floor.
Serves her right for treating me like shit.
Ayame raised her head. "If you tell either of them, we're both fucked, Carter."
I rubbed the side of my face. "How do you figure?"
"Spew that fucking lie, and they'll execute me. But you'll never see daylight again." She grinned. "Just like Kisaragi."
"Excuse me? A life of luxury inside a gilded cage… I can dig it."
"Fine! I'll tell my queen that I can't guard you anymore."
I stood up and stretched. "That won't be necessary. Now that I've got you in my pocket, I want you around."
She started to rise.
"That's far enough," I said when she reached the kneeling position. "Every time you greet me, you'll kneel."
Her sleepy eyes snapped open.
"You'll also call me Antwon moving forward."
"Not on your fucking life."
She stood and clawed at the air around my face.
I froze.
Then she pulled at her hair.
"Fucking shit," she said, and then she marched off.
I hope this doesn't backfire.
***
Once Ayame was gone, I walked to Christina's room and checked the pictures hanging on the wall. The white-haired woman, Shimeko Kisaragi… I opened the room door and flipped the lights on. Christina was asleep.
The mother drinks in the morning, and the daughter takes naps in the afternoon…
I turned the lights off and felt around for the bathroom door to take a shower.
I felt along the wall, knowing the bathroom door wasn't far. The room didn't have a window, so I had to be careful.
I placed both hands on the wall and guided myself toward the far right corner of the room.
I hope my fingers are clean.
The bed sheets rustled.
I paused.
I'm supposed to be here, so why am I scared of getting caught?
I found the corner. The bathroom wasn't far now.
"Make me a granddaughter." Christ! I've got twenty-something days before I have to face that reality.
I felt the doorframe leading into the bathroom. But something fleshy was blocking the way.
"Christina?" I whispered.
The bathroom lit up, and Christina's silhouette burned into my eyes.
"Where were you?"
"I was with your mom and Ms. Igarashi."
"Why are you sneaking around?"
I tried not to look at her body, but why can't we have a conversation with clothing?
"Um, you were sleeping. I didn't want to disturb you, ya know?"
She looked to the side, and her hair bounced.
"Okay. Take a shower and get in bed. Let's watch a movie together."
It's not as if I could say no.
"Sure."
***
I took my time showering. I wanted her to fall asleep while she waited, but she was up, sitting on the bed, and shifting through channels. I walked over to the bed and stood there.
"Where are my clothes, Christina?"
She didn't say anything, just continued clicking.
I crawled into the bed, back against the bedpost, and waited.
"Romance or comedy?"
…
"Tragedy," I said.
She slid closer to me, brushing against my shoulder. I raised my arm, and she moved under it. She continued clicking.
"What did you have in mind?"
Her eyes lowered.
"I was thinking of a romantic comedy that ended in tragedy."
Is there such a thing?
The television's glow sat eerily on her face as she stared without blinking.
"Christina, does a film like that exist?"
…
"You know, you only touch me in your sleep."
Does she want me to apologize?
"I'm…sorry, Christina. I'll sleep on the floor from now on."
She wrapped her leg around mine.
I guess she doesn't want me to sleep on the floor.
"Are you okay because you're acting differently?"
…
I touched her shoulder, wanting her to say something, even if it was hurtful. I traced her arm down to her hand, and though I tried not to look at her body, my eyes drifted. Shame ate at my core because it was wrong, so why couldn't I stop?
Christina moved, and her hair brushed past my face, filling me with her floral scent. I closed my eyes, and my body reminded me that I was only fifteen.
I hope she doesn't notice.
She rubbed her leg against mine, against me. My heart pounded inexplicably.
"Christina, I didn't mean to."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Well, you're fifteen and I—"
She held the back of my neck.
"Shut up, you're fifteen too," she let go of my neck, picked up the remote, and started changing the channel again. Now, she seemed more upset.
I tried to leave, to handle my problem in private. She tightened her hold on my leg.
"Where are you trying to go, Antwon?"
I looked at her and frowned. "To the bathroom, to take a shower."
"You've already taken a shower. Have you been…" she looked me over, "have you been pleasuring yourself?"
What kind of question is that?!
"Are we serious right now? When, Christina, do you think I find the time to—touch myself? You know what. Let's just watch the movie."
Thank you. Because of that weird question, everything is copacetic.
She settled on a movie. Three kids from the Iron Fan around our age were lost in the Moonbind's territory, and a Moonbind mystic cast a spell that sent them back in time.
"Are all the movies about the clans or clan-related?"
…
I shouldn't be angry that she's ignoring me, but I am, and that makes me angrier.
After the Moonbind mystic sent the kids back in time, they were immediately attacked by a demon…
Why are there demons in the past, but not the present?
"Christina, can we find a different movie?"
"Maybe we should order some popcorn."
I scratched the left side of my face.
I'm not sure if I did something wrong, but I've done so much that the list would be endless.
"Christina, would you be angry if I kissed someone else?"
The kids in the movie screamed as Christina slowly turned toward me. She reached over and took me by the jaw and pulled me closer to her face.
"Who the fuck did you kiss?"
I tapped her hand, and she slightly loosened her grip.
"I'm missing the movie because of you."
"The movie you've been complaining about?"
I didn't think that she would react like this, or did I?
I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against hers. I let the pain in my cheeks drive me to the brink of tears, and her big blue eyes drank every ounce of my submission.
"I think it's cute how much you care, but maybe show it in gentler ways. I said that I was with your mother and Ms. Igarashi."
She let go of my face.
"Oh, and your guard dog was there."
…
"Are you talking about Tetsuzaki?"
"That's the one. You should buy her some treats."
She canted her head to the side, and a demon roared through the television.
"Why are you so mean to her, Antwon?"
"She's the one who treats me like crap. She tried to hit me today, and then she told me that she was going to kill my sister after…if she lost to you for a second time."
Christina stared for a moment, and then she removed my arm. She focused on the movie.
"Wow. I'll have to increase her pay."
She smiled.
"Why was Tetsuzaki about to hit you?"
"I may have cursed."
"Antwon, you are mine, and the only one who can correct your shitty behaviors is me. I'll assign you someone new."
"Don't worry about it."
She paused the movie and turned toward me. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I took her by the shoulder, and we both lay down.
"Christina, do you know anything about your grandparents, like Kisaragi?"
The luster in her eyes faded.
"Shimeko Kisaragi was a—"
"Not her. I mean her husband."
…
"Not much is known about my grandfather. He lived his life in my grandmother's room."
So, Ayame wasn't fibbing.
"So, he wasn't allowed to leave?"
Christina reached for the remote and turned the TV off. She pushed me away and got out of bed. Then she walked to the door and turned the lights on.
"Get up; we're leaving the room."
Was it because I asked about her grandfather? Did that upset her?
"What about my clothes?"
***
We went back to Trish's office, where Christina demanded a key. Then we walked to the other side of the estate, only to exit and enter another building connected by a pathway. We encountered a few servants who bowed their heads as we passed, but she didn't acknowledge them, so I tried to, but I didn't know how.
The only good thing to come out of this field trip was learning about the push-open closet in the bathroom.
We stopped at a door on the second floor of the building. It had an engraving of a ruby dagger protruding from the bottom of a golden fan against a black background.
"This is Shimeko Kisaragi's room, my grandmother's room," Christina said, facing the door. She turned to me. "This room is all I have of her, because her battle ended when I was only two."
"Do they preserve the rooms of every former queen?"
"No, just Shimeko, for now."
She turned back to the door, produced the key Trish had given her, and opened it.
"Don't touch anything."
Christina took my hand, and we entered the past.
I hope there are no demons.