Behind the Eyes

Destiny roamed the grounds of the kingdom, walking through the vineyards and stopping to sniff the beautiful blooming carnations next to a stream. The King had requested she stay for a ball held in honor of the Princess' rescue and rescuer, but Destiny wasn't sure she wanted to be there. Big galas like balls and banquets weren't really her forte', but she hesitantly agreed to attend.
     The sun was high in the sky, the hills were as green as ever, flowers spellbound lovers with their hypnotizing senses, and, yet, Destiny still felt something missing. She stood against a tree, watching the other birds fly above flock together and coming home from a long winter. The young shape-shifter closed her eyes and thought of her family: her three sisters, Mystical, Rose, and Aleta; her four brothers Diamond, Piccolo, Sy, and Henry; her mother and her father. Swift memories of birthdays, first shifts, and spirit ceremonies rushed through Destiny's head in what seemed in like a second and yet, was a lifetime full of visions.
     When Destiny opened her eyes, she found an old woman sitting next to her. "Ah!" She yelled as she leapt up and prepared to fight. The old woman just smiled at the startled young woman and said "My child, do not be alarmed, for I am not here to harm you in any way." Hesitantly, Destiny calmed down and looked at the drab old woman. She wore dirty white clothing, with long gray hair running down her back. Her eyes were yellow like a bird or a cat, Destiny wondered of what species this woman was.
     "Who are you," She asked, suspicious of the woman.
     "I am Nevar, Destiny. I am here to give you news from the west." She replied, standing up and bowing. "I have come to inform you of a disturbance from the Neverworld." Destiny asked what kind of disturbance. "It seems that a statue of some type of monster has arisen in the Forest of Five Faces and many of the psychics have fallen ill, yet, tell of a ‘black evil'. Many of the plants in the forest have died that are near the statue and all the animals have disappeared." The old woman stopped, the lights in her eyes were gone.
     Destiny thanked the old woman. Something is going on, something bad; Destiny thought to herself as she watched the Raven massager fly away. Destiny shifted into an eagle and flew as fast as her wings could take her to the palace.

The King smiled at the sparkling ballroom covered with gold and silver with rich velvet blankets on the rafters between the huge tapestries. He glanced at the dozens of servants scurrying around to have everything set up in time. He chuckled to himself and turned to stroll back to his throne when he saw a large, yet, familiar white eagle flying toward the open window. He watched as the eagle flew unnoticed into the room and changed into a running human. "Destiny!" The King greeted her. "Hello, why are you in such a hurry?" He asked the red-faced woman.
     "Your Highness, I must leave. There is a disturbance that may involve the Neverworld in the Forest of Five Faces. I must ask your men to be on guard for anything that may be from the Neverworld." She told him in a straightforward voice. He nodded and called over his men. "Thank you for your services, Your Majesty. Please take care of yourself and Princess Emily." Destiny said to him.
     "Thank you, Destiny. Or else my kingdom might be in danger as well as my daughter."
     Destiny smiled and bowed slighty. She ran to the window and transformed into a white eagle again, but this time she was headed for home.

Andre' wandered above the ground, hoping from tree to tree. He looked down onto the dark ground. The life seemed to be going away as he approached where many of the people told him the statue was. The young man saw the trees begin to become pale and dead. "CRRRAAACCCKK" Andre' heard under his feet. "Uh-oh." He said, just before the branch he stood on snap in two.
     "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" He yelled, as he fell to the ground, thrashing his arms about trying to grab a hold onto something. The mortal fell onto the ground hard, letting out a moan of pain. He opened his eyes a few seconds later to see a giant monster above him. Andre' gasped and tried get up, but ended up hurting his back again. He flinched as he waited for an attack. He opened one eye to see the monster frozen in its position. What is going on here? Andre' thought.
     A few seconds later, he felt a huge amount of abnormal energy going through his body. His scream could be heard for miles around, yet no one was around to hear it.

The young man sitting at the counter spotted the girl from outside. Her long, white, flowing dress and long blonde hair down to her waist caught his eye first. He smoothed back his dirty blonde hair as she walked up to the building and into the store. He set down his magazine and greeted her. "Hello there, Miss. How are you today?"
     "I am good, young man. How are you?" Destiny responded, smiling, then turning to grab a bottle of water from the freezer. A couple dollars slipped from her long white sleeve when she turned to pay for the water.
     "Very good, Miss." The young man answered. "You're not from around here, are you?" He asked her with suspicion. The blonde haired girl nodded as she handed him the money. "You didn't drive up in a car, so how'd you get here?" He asked again.
     "Uh, I am hitchhiking and needed a drink." Destiny almost stuttered out. The boy had her just where he wanted. His smile became larger as he asked her to go to back room with him. "Um, no thanks, young man. I must be going." She said and started to leave. The boy jumped in front of her.
     His green eyes turned to red. His dirty blonde hair turned black. His face became different, yet so familiar. "MANDOR!" Destiny yelled as she leapt back. She put her hands in front of her, and prepared to punch him. "Ah, so we meet once again!" The vampire said, trying to slick his hair back like The Fonz.
     "Mandor, tell me at once what you are doing here!" Destiny said just as a customer wandered into the small store. As soon as the two immortals saw him, they returned to acting(and for Mandor, looking) like normal human beings. Destiny pretended to look at a Cosmopolitan issue while Mandor walked back around the counter.
     The man, obviously from the South, waved at Destiny, then turned to Mandor. "Hey Boy," The man said in a heavy Southern accent, "My wife's out there on, uh, pump number 3." Destiny was mentally planning what she would do to Mandor when the man left, who was now picking out a beer and a soda and looking at the potato chips. Finally, he came up to pay. "Could I get a couple packs of Camel Lights? Wife says I should cut down because of my health, but I don't see no problem with regulars." He said to Mandor, who just smiled, nodded and took the man's money. Mandor handed the man back his change and his cigarettes. "Well, take care now, boy." The man said to Mandor.
     "All right Mandor, what are you doing here?" Destiny said to him as soon as the man left.
      "Why Destiny, I was just looking for you. You left without saying goodbye." Mandor replied, smirking. "I decided to play look out for you. There's something going around about you saving Princess Emily of Mansfield. Is that where you've been? Saving royalty?"
     Destiny continued to sneer. "Yes, I did save the Princess. But now, I must leave. I must get back home."
     "And why is that, my dear?" The slimy vampire said. "Oh, you mean that monster statue that's been scaring everyone away? Well, then I shall have to come with you." Mandor jumped over the counter after Destiny.
     The blonde shape-shifter turned to the black-haired vampire. "As much as I would like to see you eaten by a monster, I insist you stay here, Mandor. For it is a matter of your own safety." She said. You're gonna regret that, Destiny. A voice in her head said as she ran behind the building to transform.