Broken Down

Jasper and his friend, Layla, walked around the streets of Shelldera one fine afternoon. He walked into the street in front of his home and…

BAM!!

A chariot hit him and he laid on the ground, unmoving. The lady got out of the chariot and walked over to him and just stared down at him. Deera ran out of the yard and to the street. Blood started to pour from an unknown point of impact.

“What have you done? What have you done?” Deera snarled as tears ran down her cheeks when she saw Jasper laying on the ground.

“He appeared out of nowhere and I hit him. I am so sorry, ma’am.” The lady said as she took a step back.

Deera stood up and took a step back as Jasper sat up. He rubbed his head and looked at Deera, eyes black as the midnight sky.

“It has awoken to reclaim this world.” Jasper said as he stood up and pointed at Deera.

“Who is it?” Deera asked as she felt pain in her chest.

“IT HAS AWOKEN TO RECLAIM THIS WORLD!!” Jasper yelled as he shook his head and blinked until his eyes were no longer solid black.

“Jasper, my baby. Are you alright?” Deera asked as she just stared down at him.

Jasper’s skin was two different skin tones. His left side was a mocha color and his right side was a creamy white. He walked back toward the house as Deera talked to the woman that had hit him.

“Hello, Jasper. How was your walk?” Tara asked as he never looked up from cleaning the dishes.

“It was fine.” Jasper said as he started to walk up the stairs.

Tara nodded and Jasper walked up the stairs to his bedroom. He walked up to his door, opened it and walked in. He closed the door and walked over to a makeup table he kept in his room.

‘Time to get ready for school.’ He thought to himself.

He grabbed a tube of creamy white concealer and sat down in front of the mirror. He squeezed a little bit onto a small sponge and dabbed it upon his mocha colored skin until his face looked like a normal creamy white face. His eyes were the color of two dark green emeralds.

‘Is this what I have to do to fit in? Why do I do this to myself? Am I that ugly?’ Jasper thought to himself as he set the sponge in a cup of water.

He grabbed his white gloves from the edge of his bed. He put the white gloves on as he walked down the stairs. He grabbed his jacket and put it on as he walked toward the door. He put his hood up as he made a detour and grabbed a biscuit from the kitchen. He grabbed his backpack and thrown it upon his back. He ate the biscuit as he walked to school. Kids threw cans, rotten tomatoes and shoes as he walked. He got to the school doors as he wiped away the rotten tomatoes. He walked in and to his first class where someone else was.

“Layla?” He asked as all he saw was long hair.

“Who’s Layla?” The guy asked as he turned around and snarled at him.

“Oh, s-sorry. Sorry, Rusty.” Jasper said as he pulled his hood down over his eyes.

“Is your sister not here today? Good. That means I can whip your ass!!” Rusty, a long haired Moon Howler snarled as his 3 friends laughed.

Rusty lifted his fist to hit Jasper as he grabbed Jasper by his jacket. Iris walked into the classroom and she cleared her throat. It startled Rusty and he looked up to see Iris.

“M… Ms. Freedom, what a surprise. I was just cleaning his jacket off.” Rusty said as he let go of Jasper’s jacket and brushed it off.

“Leave him alone, Ruben. You know the rules.” Iris said calmly as she looked at Rusty.

Rusty bowed to her and went to his desk. Rusty sat down and started talking to his three friends. Jasper looked up at Iris and smiled. The bell rang for class to start and everyone flooded into the classroom. Iris taught the class some math and science before the bell rang. The bell rang for recess. They got out of the classroom and into the cafeteria. Jasper sat in a corner of the cafeteria as everyone stared at him. He didn’t mind them staring and talking about him. After lunch was over with, all the kids went outside to play. He was playing tag with the other kids when all of sudden, someone pushed him to the ground. He landed face first into the dirt, and it ended up wiping away some of the makeup he had on. Blood trickled down his lower lip.

“Come on coward! Get up and fight me!” Rusty snarled.

“I’m not a coward, Rusty.” Jasper said as he sat up and looked down at the ground.

“What’s wrong, stupid? Too scared to fight?” Rusty asked with a chuckle.

“I am not stupid. I refuse to fight you.” Jasper said as he faced Rusty.

Rusty and the rest of the class gasped as they saw the makeup on his left side show mocha colored skin. Rusty backed up a little bit as Jasper took his gloves off and wiped away the concealer to show his half mocha colored skin.

“What are you?” An Elven girl asked as she stared at Jasper in astonishment.

“I am a Draginucous Hybrid. My momma has mocha colored skin and my daddy has creamy white skin.” Jasper said as he looked at Rusty.

“What are you gonna do, half-wit?” Rusty asked.

“Nothing. I’m proud of my skin. I’m tired of covering my mocha skin to try to fit in. I’m tired of trying to cover up who I am. Either you can like me or not. That is up to you.” Jasper said as he looked at Rusty, who was cowering.

The rest of the school day went by without a hitch. Iris and Jasper walked home with no one to disturb them. They got to the door and walked in. Jasper dropped to his knees just as Iris started up the stairs.

“Are you alright, Jazzy?” Iris asked as she stopped midway up the stairs.

“Y-yeah. I’m alright.” Jasper lied as he stood up.

Iris was satisfied with Jasper’s answer as he stood up and walked up the stairs. He walked into his bedroom and closed the door. The room got dark on its own as he laid on his bed and curled into a ball. His stomach twisted and turned as he writhed in pain and tears slid down his cheeks. Hours went by and there came a knock upon his door.

“Who is it?” Jasper asked as the pain in his stomach continued.

“It is your older brother, Commander Lolo Darius Freedom. Thy family is waiting on thy young Dragon Kin. Will thy come down for dinner?” Lolo asked as the door muffled his voice a little bit.

“Well then, I shall come down and eat with thy family.” Jasper said as he put a hoodie on.

He opened the door to see Lolo standing there, in his white uniform. Jasper looked at his brother in confusion. Lolo led Jasper down the stairs to the dining room where Iris, Tara, and Deera were sitting. Jasper smiled a little as the pain in his stomach never ceased.

“Happy Birthday, Jazzy!” Iris yelled as she made it rain confetti.

“Happy 6th Blood Moon, Jasper.” Deera said with a smile.

“Thy baby has become a child. We shall celebrate this Blood Moon by slaying thy cake!” Lolo said with excitement.

“Thank you all but, I would like to go back to my room. I had a rough day today.” Jasper said as pain seared through his stomach.

“Is something the matter, Jasper?” Tara asked as he looked at Jasper with concern.

“No, sir. I’m alright.” Jasper lied as he noticed that Iris stood up and had her spear.

Jasper pushed Lolo away and took a few strides to the left. Jasper looked at them with eyes as red as the blood red sky.

“No us atreviu a tocar-me, jove mortal. Posa totes les teves armes abans que et destrueixi. Don’t you dare touch me, young mortal. Lay all your weapons down before I destroy you.” Jasper said in Catalan as he pointed at Iris.

“Jasper, baby. This isn’t the time to play games.” Tara said as his spell book and his staff.

“El meu nom ja no és Jasper. Em dic Niramitra, Tara Tarantula. Assassinat Deera, el meu vell amic. Acompanya’m mentre torno a fer-me amb el món. My name is no longer Jasper. My name is Niramitra, Tara Tarantula. Assassinator Deera, my old pal. Join me as I take over the world once again.” Jasper said as he held his hand out toward Deera.

“Aye, Niramitra. Why are you trying to take the world for your own sake?” Deera said as she stepped back away from him.

“Playing hard ball, my dear. Think of the possibilities if you ruled by my side. What do you say, Queen Deera?” He said as a golden crown with rubies upon it showed up within his hands.

“I… umm. I want to but, what would happen to my family and my kids and… Tara?” Deera asked hesitantly.

“The kids would be treated like royalty. Tara, can be used for something. A small king or a pawn would suit him. I give you my word, Deera.” He said as he bowed to her.

“I won’t join you, Niramitra. Tara is my lover and I am his.” Deera snapped at him.

“Have it your way, Deera Safiyyah Freedom!! I shall see to it that you and your family is destroyed!!” Niramitra snarled as the body he used collapsed to the ground.

Jasper sat up and looked at Deera, Iris and Tara.

“What happened?” Jasper asked.

“Niramitra is on the loose. We need to be ready for anything he throws at us. Carry your weapons upon your back so you can counter whatever he sends your way.” Deera said as she grabbed her scythe from her back.