Zack Valentine helped his father from sunrise to sunset. The small general store was a welcome change from the fields of his uncle’s farm. All summer long he went to help his aging uncle while his cousins went to get drunk and waste money with the ladies of the night. What good Puritans they were. Zack shook his head. It wasn’t nice to think about others that weren’t good things. So he focused on to the task at hand the list of the items that were low. Zack was counting and writing numbers He failed to hear the bell ding.

The loud cough caused him to jump up and his face quickly flushed. He turned around and there was a young woman. Her hood was up and she pulled it down only after she got his attention.

She shook her head causing her lovely coal-black hair to cascade down. Emerald eyes almost feline-like but they were her best feature. Sure she was very beautiful than the other girls, but her eyes were the most. It was so odd to see color in the ocean of blue and brown.

“Mister Valentine” She spoke. Her voice too. It was like honey or sweetest of cider.

She raised her thin eyebrow at him, and he feared that he spoke out loud. Did he offend her?

“I have been speaking to you for the last minute, but you only stare at me.” She said.

Zack flushed.

“Do I have something in my face sir?” She asked. She spoke in a monotone voice but if he was not mistaking he heard amusement?

“Apologies, Miss Black, you caught me off guard” He muttered. Miss Black placed her basket down and leaned over the counter.

“Don’t I always?” She asked.

That she did. Zack couldn’t remember when he didn’t make himself look like a fool in her presence. His heart will race and just the thought of her made him blush. Unwanted thoughts about touching her. He shook his head and clears his throat and sent a prayer to God to help him. He began to gather the wheat and other things.

She laughed suddenly that he dropped the bag. Her laugh was like a siren.

Miss Black rested her head in her hands and her eyes seemed to be a bit darker.

“Mister Valentine” She spoke.

“Yes?” He asked.

She looked down at the counter and back at him with a smile.

“You didn’t look at the list” She added. Zack flushed again and quickly gather the courage and looked at the list. He felt her eyes on him the entire time too while he gathered the items and placed them in her basket. Miss Black never spoke expected when his father was there.

His father was an outgoing and warm man. Miss Black was kind of the black sheep of the entire village of Salem. Rumors about her were always swimming by the women and girls of the village. Rumors of her hanging around the Indians or her offering food to the beggars. Even Sarah Good spoke lowly of her and Miss Black would always give her something.

He couldn't understand why they spoke about her like that

They were born from a goddess of blue.

The blue goddess Nora.

It was a bright light that shines their wasteland.

The goddess is depicted as a woman with large dark blue oval-shaped eyes, light blue skin with white freckles around her body.

She created them with her feces.

You truly don't know how different a species is until you hear their creation myth.

Until children and older people offered their feces or are covered head to toe all while asking for your blessing.

They offer it as a gift.

The same gift their goddess created them with.

It's an honor, to say the least.

Remember that you can't give your prejudice against these people.

These people who are so different than anyone.

Not unique with their creation myth but still unique and count yourself lucky.

You are one of the few creatures in this universe to explore and understand why these customs are important to this species.

You held your breath and declined.

Always be gentle and kind.

Remember the children of Nora are one of the few species in a long yet shortlists of creatures whose planet was able to create life.

I have seen wonders and impossible species live in impossible planets.

From the acid rain and lava rivers.

Different creatures surving in impossible wonders.

Creatures of all shapes and sizes just living.

There is beauty in this universe.

But like so many planets none can match her.

The little blue planet so far away.

They called me the Oracle of the Milky Way Galaxy.

It's been years too many years since I been in my local system.

That's the rule. The Oracle can't go back to her own system.

My family is now nothing but dust.

There is no longer anyone who remembered my name.

To the rest of the galaxies I am just the Oracle.

The place of my birth is no longer my home.

Yet, nothing can beat the salty breeze and clear seas.

That blue sky that seems to stretch endlessly.

It's forbidden to return.

Ah, ah, ah-ah.

I can hear it the sounds of the Stars and galaxies so far away.

I can hear the call.

The call of duty.

I can hear the universe calling me!!

The universe is calling me to her, I can hear her whispers and her promises the universe is calling me!

I can hear you but I won’t.

Yes, I hear your call of adventure and willingness but are you ready to face the consequences?

Yes, the call of the universe is like sweet whispers.

The universe is so bright and full of life.

But are you truly ready?

To know her lies and her secrets?

Yes, the life you live now seems so dull and plain compared to balls of gas.

Life and death are something that exist.

The line between good and bad is blurry.

You must stand between both.

Are you ready to face a starless night?

To never see the rocky or gas planet that gives you life?

To never to returned?

Nice to meet you, I am Soledad.

Words are empty.

The feelings are lies.

They told me the world is beautiful but is it?

They aren’t kind to people who look like me.

Was it fun?

To give me hope?

To give a chance?

You say I am closed off and quite.

Yet, you still wonder.

I don’t trust you nor anyone.

Pretty words are meant for lovers and family.

Not for killers.

Not for people who don't know who they are.

Sometimes I wonder if there really was a witch hidden among them. How can peaceful people react who stupidly? Turning against each other. People who were respected pointed at their neighbors. I remember clearly when I saw her. Her beauty was welcoming and different from the hardness of the entire village. She was outcast from everyone and it was obvious that she is avoided by everyone. The way she held herself was different too. She walked forward with her head up. Her eyes never cast down either and when she was spoken to she looked directly at your eyes and compared to women in the colonies and London was a welcome change.

My meeting with this woman was strange. It was during the time that I was doing odd jobs around to make a few extra money and spot her. She was picking up what looked like a heavy basket, and some blackbirds were around her. Oddly those blackbirds didn’t seem fright of her until I walked over to give her a hand. She was dressed in the typical colonist grey dress curly with a black coat around her shoulders. Her dark coal-black hair was cascade down. Most women would wear their hair up in a tight bun, not this woman. I reached down to picked up and she thanked me. Her voice sounded like your average English accent but I could tell it wasn’t her native language. I smiled at her and was surprised by how pale she really was. Her skin was very pale even for the people here. Her skin was like a porcelain doll and she even had rosey cheeks. Her lips were like a small heart and the color was a deep red rose. I looked her up and down. She didn’t appear to resemble a lady of the night. She offered a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

She wiped her lips with the back of her hand and the red rose stayed. Her lips were naturally red?

How odd.

She was very lovely.

Why couldn't it be me?

Your image is like a slap in the face

The one he loved above everyone else.

When you came I thought nothing about you.

Nothing but a common woman who somehow sneaked in into the palace.

The way he looked at you was no different.

Just the new person who would share his bed, and his attention.

No.

You had to be the one

Why not me?

Why did you have to capture his heart?

I was the one always there for him.

The one who watched him from afar, and waited.

Laughing at the foolishness of those men and women who declared their love.

Turns out I was one too.

Why are you looking at me with that face?

Don't you realize what you did?

You are the love of his life!

Aren't you happy? I saw the way you both stared at each other.

Your love for him is as clear as your teal eyes.

I won't lie to you

When you died I thought he would...

No, instead he distanced himself from everyone

Your image always in his thought and now covers his favorite places.

You died twice.

Yet, you came back

The Maiden who was lost.

Why can't I accept it?

It was God’s choice and will.

We are but humble servants following his way.

Curse the dark one and turn away.

His whispers of lust and murder can’t harm us!

Those women were guilty of their words.

It’s their fault that my goat died even if I forgot to feed it.

Gather the rope and gather the crowd.

It is the fault of those witches.

It’s almost amusing she spoke.

Turn your ears, my people, don’t listen to the whispers.

It’s almost pathetic how you don’t realize she added.

The holy girls point and shout.

She’s a witch, a witch!

Her laugh is like honey and like the sweetest of apple cider.

The witch’s lips turn up and show the pearls of white.

She’s nothing more than a whore.

Nothing more than slut!

My hands are clean and my mind is clear she spoke.

Everyone stayed silent before the judge looked down.

His gaze cold that wind seems to freeze.

You dare mock us? You are not clean nor holy. You dance with the devil!

The witch lifted her head and smile.

No.

Cries of anger and sadness.

I'm sorry sister said, Maria

No little sister you'll be sorry.

Did you really think those bitches would stop me?

You still haven't changed little sister.

Even in death, you're still the stupid girl.

Always trying to top your older sister even if the reach was too far.

You beg and beg me to stop.

Whoops, I thought your cries were laughter.

You always did make such funny sounds.

She's my puppet, Maria.

You can't reach her.

None of you can.

Violet is me.

She is me.

How brave you eleven came.

Running and almost breaking the door.

Nana, Marco, Star, Rosalie, Alice, Rosa, Angel, Lucy, Azucena , Starlight, Ana, Anne.

Just like your memorial.

Now your faces are in the news.

Your eyes are now dark.

You run to save her.

The one who you bought you together and you followed.

She turned around in a white dress.

A pure white dress with red eyes.

She tried so hard to stop me.

Now your faces are nothing more memorial.

Your names in the top ten.

Youtube video about your death.

The murder who carries the blame.

The one who bought you together.

I never got to thank you either.

Whoops.

You never realized how much…I love you?

He made me dance, he made me sing.

Oh honey yes I do

Now I sing by choice.

Every time you…

Is it really your choice?

Are you really in control?

…..

He made me dance, he made me sing.

Haven’t you realized?

No, I am in control!

These people are here for me.

Oh, honey each time.

This is my choice.

I want to dance and singing.

I hear your name

Rosa Maria. Rosa Maria. Rosa Maria. Rosa Maria. Rosa Maria.

Make sure they remember and regret what they did.

La vie en Rose.