I didn’t intend for her to find out that I lied, but of course, you can’t always get what you want. Not that it’s my fault that a twelve-foot enchanted sea serpent decided it liked my friend’s house better than salt water. Though I can’t blame him—that stuff’s terrible for your skin.

It’s just, one moment, my new—and only friend—is mere inches from my face, repeating for the hundreth time to ”Not. Burn. The. House. Down. Please.” Like just because it happened once before (also not my fault) doesn’t mean it’s going to happen again. Give a girl a chance, am I right?

And then next thing I know, I’m yanked from a dream about dancing ice cubes with little mustaches to glass shattering and what sounds like every single last antique vase resting on the mantel exploding on the floor.

Well, that doesn’t sound good.

I stretch my arms out, blinking slowly as I try to figure out why four chandeliers are crammed on the low-hanging ceiling. In fact...I raise my left leg, stretching my toes as far as they will go. When they brush the crystal tassel of one, the light fixture sways ever so slightly.

Crash!

I scramble up, adrenaline coursing through my body like electricity. Something slams into the top of my head, and I swear I see stars. Stupid chandeliers.

A chorus of clatters and what sounds like a bookshelf being dragged through the house follows. My first thought is to grab my phone and film whatever’s going on, just so I can prove that it is by no means, my fault.

Rubbing the growing bump on my head, I scan the room for my phone. The chipped and dented wooden floor is bare of everything but a layer of relatively undisturbed dust and the beige cushions piled up around me on the couch hide the juice stains but not my phone.

Wait a second—the house is quiet again.

A part of me hopes whatever has been causing the noises has left but with the way my life works, there’s absolutely no way. The only truly good thing to happen in my life was getting to use the sky blue crayon in kindergarten before all those other brats tried to eat it or stick it in their ears or whatever normal kids do.

Frowning, I lift an eyebrow, straining to catch even the softest of exhales. But the only sound is the staticky noise you hear when you wake up in the middle of the night when everything is so quiet and still it feels like the whole world has frozen.

Think, Harlow. What would a rational person do in this situation? the logical part of my brain prompts.

Cute. But how should I know?

Swallowing, I clear my throat. “Um, I’m going to call the police.”

Silence.

“I have the phone in my hand, and I’m dialing the number as I speak!” I try to slide off the couch, but its velevety fabric pulls at my shirt so I ended up landing in a heap of limbs with a thump.

There, hiding under the couch with half-eaten spicy Cheetos and a crumpled paper cup, is my phone. I grab it and type my passcode with shaky hands.

“Uh, for real! See? 9-1-1.”

The three beeps as I tap the numbers deafen me.

“It’s dialing right now!”

With shaking fingers, I push the speakerphone icon, just so whoever is down there can hear I’m not bluffing.

“I’m sorry, we are currently unable to complete your call at this moment. Please hang up and try again.”

Oh crap. I scramble to end the call, but my hands are trembling so badly I end up knocking it onto the floor. My brain stalls, unable to come up with any other plans besides retrieving the device and trying again. After all, there is nowhere to hide in the small room unless by some miracle I manage to squeeze under the sagging couch; and in my adrenaline-fueled stupidity, I had revealed my location.

On hands and knees, I crawl the four feet or so to my phone. I am fully prepared to scuttle back to the corner farthest away from the stairs but as I lift my eyes, every muscle in my body freezes as my heart skips a beat.

I can’t breathe, can’t move, can’t think. A dull ringing fills my left ear, then my right as numbness spreads from around my eyes across my entire face. Red clouds my vision, a metallic taste flooding my mouth.

The fifteen wooden stairs with a few patches of faded burgundy carpet pinned in place by rusty nails stretch into a hundred. The pile of shimmering silvery-white scales at the bottom is both a few inches and several miles away, the odor of salt, fish, and rotting vegetation slamming into me.

Jaw dropping, the remainder of my air rushes out in a short puff. There is no way this is real.

The screech of metal on metal, like nails on a chalkboard, sends shivers down my spine as the scales shift, changing from white to a pale blue in the dull and flickering stairway light. Slowly, it lifts its head from where it was hidden below the bottom stair.

The phone drops from my hand, bouncing down the stairs one.

By.

One.

It smacks the creature right between his eyes, falling onto the knot of coils--the coils that don’t match its smooth skinned face, sharp nose, and glowing eyes.

With its very human mouth, this...this monster begged, “Please don’t call the police. I can explain!”

“I didn’t intend for her to find out that I lied, but of course, you cant always get what you want” said Coward.

Honorable, shook her head with disgust and replied;

“’Tis the lier, who fears confrontation, therefore is cowedly. ’Tis the honorable, who can face any issue, therefore is fearless!”

Coward replied, “it wasn’t all my fault, Manipulation was there too!”

Honorable, got up and walked away; knowing that Truth, would never approve.

By: Benz

Copyright © 2019

9-3-19

"I didn't intend for her to find out that I lied, but of course, you can't always get what you want." I concluded my tale of woe hoping to get some sympathy, or at least, some understanding for my motives.

I had a crush on Gabe for a long time even though I suspected that he had his eye on Liz. All the guys in my group had a thing for Liz at one time for another. I could feel the vibe between them, even, I suspect, before they did. But still, I spent a lot of time with Gabe and Liz that summer and I was beginning to fantasize about me and Gabe being together as more than friends. Was it coveting what Liz had? Maybe part of it. She was the woman who had it all, great grades, killer dance moves, athletic, and more men after her than she knew what to do with. I needed someone to confide in so I turned to Emily.

Emily was my friend who I met in the dorms that year and she, Liz, and I were planning to room together for our senior year. "So, Em," I began, "I think I have feelings for somebody but I don't know what to do." Emily looked at me eagerly, "So, who is it? I'll do whatever I can to help." I pause awkwardly. I wasn't ready to give out names because I didn't want things to be weird between her, Liz, and Gabe when the inevitable happened. I also didn't want Liz or Gabe to look at me in pity if things got out. Without thinking I blurted, "His name is, uh, Max. Max has been part of my friend group for years and I don't know if he sees me that way."

The lie grew after Gabe and Liz declared themself an official couple. I called Emily upset and heartbroken, "I was right, Max doesn't have feelings for me at all. In fact, he just declared interest in our good friend Tricia. I'm never going to find the one."

Emily was so sympathetic, that she took me out to dinner and let me cry on her shoulder. Then and there, I should have told her that my secret crush was really Gabe and although I was happy with him and Liz, I was also a little bit jealous. But I let the lie fester.

Fall semester came along, and Liz, Emily, and I moved into our apartment. We decided to divide the room situation evenly. For the first semester, I would get the single bedroom and Liz and Emily would share the double. During those first nights, Liz and Emily had long conversation and eventually from Liz's specific stories,

Emily figured out that "Tricia" and "Max" were really Liz and Gabe.

This angered Emily because she saw it as me not being completely honest with her. Instead of confronting me, however, she started giving me the cold shoulder. On one of our breaks, she invited Liz and another woman from our crowd to her family's cabin in the Upper Peninsula and she excluded me. Emily started telling everyone in our group how she felt I was a liar who could not be trusted and as she kept excluding me, others did also. Liz, who was someone I considered one of my closest friends since high school, got married a few years later (not to Gabe). She invited Emily to be in her wedding party but not me. To this day, Emily will not forget my betrayal and has turned my core group of friends against me one by one.

"So you see, Dr. Browning. It's not just anxiety as you are claiming. I really don't have true friends anymore thanks to my stupid decision and Emily's response. I never should have lied to begin with and kept my friend group but as I said, I can't always get what I want and I now have to deal with the consequences."

"I didn't intend for her to find out that I lied, but of course, you can't always get what you want."

The sun shot into my eyes as I tilted my head up to watch the sun rise into the sky shaking the night sky of like a coat.

The smell of last night's rain filled my nose and I looked down to freshly dug dirt and my muddy rubber rain boots.

My orange handled shovel lay next to the makeshift grave that I had dug with my sister Clara.

"Seriously Robert...get over it. She's dead and that means we won't go to jail. If you want to cry on someone's shoulder go to mom. If you want to get shit done come to me but I don't want to hear your shitty inner monolouges. They bring the mood down and I'm planning on having the rest of the day go well."

Clara gave me an exsperated look and picked up our dark green blood spattered duffle bag of supplies.

Her dark brown heavily lashed eyes scanned the forest for the best path to walk as she used her free hand to pull her light pink heart shaped sunglasses on.

Just as she made it about 10 feet infront of me she called back as she walked, "If your intent is to catch a ride with me I suggest you pick your shit up and start walking with me back to the car because we still have a lot of work to do."

So with my shovel and solar charged lamp in tow I followed my sister through the soggy floored forest back to the car and back to reality.

I didn't know what I was going to do...but whatever happens....at least this one night won't change my whole life.

“I didn’t intend for her to find out that I lied, but of course, you can’t always get what you want.” Tara said as he slid down the door in his dorm room.

He sat there and put his head onto his knees. He sighed and heard a knock upon the door.

“Go away.” Tara said as he stood up.

“Oh, okay. I see how it is. Telling your sister to go away when she is here to gather you up for dinner.” Celia said as she knocked on his door again.

He opened the door and he looked at her smiling face.

“I am not hungry. Go eat without me.” Tara said as he closed the door again.

Celia left and he heard something tapping his window in front of his desk. He walked over to the window and opened it. An owl sat there with the letter in his mouth. Tara grabbed it as the owl walked in and stood on desk. He noticed the heir stamp of the Freedom’s. He gulped air as he carefully opened the envelope and took the letter out. He opened the letter and this is what it read:

“Dear Mr. Deira,

How could you lie to me? I thought I we were friends!! Out of all the people I thought would not lie to me, you, YOU LIED TO ME!! Why would you lie to a friend like me?? You put our friendship in jeopardy!! I don’t think I can do this anymore.

Write back to me when you get your life and your ezel* story straight. Just whistle for the owl I sent with this letter. You know what you lied about.

Now Your Enemy,

Deera Freedom”

He sighed and folded the paper back up. He sat down at his desk and he grabbed his quil and ink. He started writing back to her. He got halfway through his letter when someone pounded at his door, scaring him. He stood up as he put his quil down and walked over to the door.

“Who is it?” Tara asked as he straightened his shirt up.

“It is campus security. Open this door.” A guy said.

Tara opened the door and asked, “Why are you here?”

“We heard there is an owl on the loose here and we need to get it off the campus.” The guard said as he walked in and saw the owl on the desk.

“That isn’t real, sir. I whittled it to make it look real, sir.” Tara lied as the guard looked at Tara.

“Alright. Have a good night, Mr. Diera.” He said as he left.

Tara closed the door and breathed deep. He locked the door and walked back over to his desk. He sat back down and picked up his quil again. He dipped the quil and started writing again. He finally got done and signed his letter. He folded it up and stuck it in a fresh envelope. He sealed it with his own seal of a heart and a small set of flowers. He gave it to the owl and the owl took to flight. He wnt to bed as the owl flew for the next few days. The owl flew all the way to Deera’s home and landed on the perch in her room. Deera heard the owl fly in and land. She sat up from her crying and wiped away her tears

“Did he write me back, Bella?” She said as she pet the owl and the owl dropped the letter into Deera’s other hand.

Deera opened the envelope and screamed when she pulled it out. Her sister, Celestial, ran in and looked at Deera confused.

“Where are they, sista? Why’d you scream?” Celestial asked with her spear in hand.

“I... I screamed because Tara wrote back quicker than I thought he would. I am sorry, sister Cece.” Deera said as she looked at Celestial.

Celestial rolled her eyes and walked out of the room. Deera read the letter and this is what it said:

“Dear Ms. Freedom,

I am so sorry for lying to you. Let me explain what happened before what you had walked into with Celestial and I. She was trying on a dress I had bought for YOU to make sure it would fit. She said it was perfect fit but the color wasn’t quite right for it. She went to take it off but it had gotten stuck around her waist and I went to help her take it off so I can take it back the next day. We got it off and you walked in as I went to kiss her on the cheek.

We both yelled for you as you ran out of the room. I set the dress down and ran after you so I could explain what was happening. I finally found you and you ACCUSED ME of having an affair with your sister behind your back. I would never do that to you. Also, to confess, I did date your sister before you. That is why she was there, helping me pick the perfect dress for you. I didn’t want to lie to you but there was no choice in it.

I don’t want us to be enemies at all. Will you please forgive me?

Signed,

Tara L. Diera”

“Hm. I guess I will see him tomorrow after his school day. Father!!” Deera said as she ran down the stairs.

“What, Deera?” Draco said as he sharpened his sword with a stone.

“Are gonna go to the Elven University tomorow to check on things?” Deera asked as she sat on the table.

“Yes. Let me guess, you wanna go also.” Draco said as Death entered the room.

“Well, yeah she does. She is a daddy’s girl after all.” Death said as he opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of soda.

“Shut up, Death!! He wasn’t speaking to you!!” Deera snarled as she glared at Death.

“Alright. Family trip tomorrow. EVERYONE is going.” Draco said as he put his sword into it’s sheath.

Deera smiled and walked back up the stairs as she heard everyone else groan. She went to bed and slept until the next morning. She got up and got everyone’s bags ready. She grabbed everyone’s schedule and gave them to each of them. They flew to the school and Deera ran to her first class which was Advanced Magic, AKA same as Tara’s class. She got there and sat down quickly. Tara walked in and saw her. He was there was no teacher as of yet.

“I forgive you, Tara.” Deera said as she smiled at him.

He smiled back and hugged her. They were good from there on out.

*Ezel- ass in Dutch

I didn’t intend for her to find out that I lied, but of course, you can’t always get what you want. Consequently, this is how trust is broken in a matter of seconds and may take a lifetime to earn back. Sometimes, it never comes back ever, simply because the one's who are deceited never learn to trust again. In their minds, if it happens once, it's prone to happen again.

"I never itended for her to find out I lied, but of course, you can't always get what you want."

Evedia pushed her shining black bangs out of her eyes.

"It doesn't matter, though. I still have her captured- everything will work out."

Jamson and Lemii walked up to Evedia, cackling, while showing of their huge muscles, and flipping their long black hair.

They were flirting with her- they both crushed on her so hard.

"Come on, men. We'll march down the castle," Evedia joined their rutheless laughing, as she turned to her 17-year-old minions. "Gather the others. We must hurry."

Then Evedia ripped me out of my barred cage.

***

They marched me up to the palace, while I pretended to be under her spell.

I held my head high, like I had done when she had tricked me with her lies, getting me to go to her lair.

Then the memory earasing. Ugh.

I was only six then, but now I was eight. Much older and wiser.

I had done that beauty's bidding, thinking she was my mother.

Now, I had figured things out, and she knew.

She always knew.

Evedia's brown eyes, beautiful brown eyes, saw straight into my head.

They were focused on something else, but I didn't push my luck.

I kept my brown eyes, so similar to Evedia's, fixed on Hicka's head.

The scrawny 14 year old boy was the soldier ahead of me, looking powerful with his untidy brown hair past his shoulders, and a long branch in his arms.

Suddenly, we were there.

Evedia charmed the male gaurds with her voice, it was her magic.

Delighted by her beauty, they leaped down and marched with us, admiring her indigo dress and bun.

They were so captivated, they fought of any female gaurd they saw.

I was almost impresed.

The thrown room was full of female gaurds, who must've heard the news.

But Evedia could even charm them.

And me.

"Help," I rasped, but the effects were taking me.

King and Queem, my mom and dad, stared at me.

I waved, and they gasped.

They were so funny! Couldn't they see this was better?

"Give me the crown or the girl dies," Evedia snarled, to smart to try her mind games on the king and queen.

Deep within me, my heart screamed no as I watched the king pick up his crown, ready to throw it.

"No, dad!" I screamed, the voice working through my lips.

Then, I shook my head, smiling gleefuly.

I wondered why I had called him dad- Evedia and Welsi were my parents.

Welsi, oh poor Welsi! Killed by that evil king.

That was why Evedia must rule- she is the best of everyone in the land.

I cheered with the others as the crown fell at Evedia's feet.

To Be Continued