Minx

Minx

The archway door led into a short hall that branched off to the cellar on one side and the main chamber on the other. They took the hall to the main chamber, keeping their heads down and eyes trained on their sandals as they passed through the airy hall. Light streamed through the open arches that served as windows. The torrential winds had become mere breezes within the palace, gently ruffling the sheer curtains that lined the halls, sending the scent of pipe smoke and perfume wafting to them.

Gabriela had memorized the map Wraza drew them right down to the exact paces. Minx was careful to stick close, watching Gabriela’s sandals glide over the tiled floors.

“Seven more paces, then we turn left.” She whispered. Minx and Sage stood on either side of her while they glided down the hall. “Seven.” She said, and in unison, they turned to the left.

Minx glanced up quickly to see a long, open hall with several Hands and concubines milling about. She adverted her eyes as they continued- carefully sticking to one side and out of the way.

“Sixteen, then right.” Gabriela breathed, her hands fluttering at her sides. Minx reached out, gently placing a hand under her elbow. They had to appear calm and indifferent.

Boisterous laughter filled the hall. Hands were cheering a concubine on as she danced for them. Minx’s gut twisted as she caught the dead look in the woman’s eyes.

The women here had no other choice, according to Wraza. They could starve or go to the mine instead. Most started working at the palace to earn enough coin to buy passage to the Twin Cities, but very few ended up taking the trip. Some became accustomed to the life and the coin, while others got involved with the wrong Hand and ended up lost to the desert.

“Right,” Gabriela said quickly. They turned and came into the main chamber.

A high vaulted dome sailed above their heads- white sandstone and marble with gold leaf accents. Minx caught a look at the ceiling and the dull colors splashed across the stone. It had once been an elaborate mural painted with vivid colors, but time and lack of upkeep had turned it into nothing more than a smear against the stone.

They paused upon seeing several groups of Hands lounging on silken pillows and velvet day beds. Concubines served them wine and food on silver platters. Some were handed coins for their troubles, while others received wanton looks.

Minx felt bile rising in her throat at the sight. There was a reason Wraza knew these halls well enough to draw them a map. She hadn’t learned about it from a book, or stories passed down like she and Sage had.

Wraza had lived here.

The thought sickened and angered her. No wonder the Halifax Maiden wanted this place burned to the ground.

Minx prodded Gabriela with her elbow, urging the girl to keep going before she dropped a seed in the corner. She’d dropped a few as they walked, keeping them to the entrances and halls.

“Stick to the left. Twelve paces to the third column then left.” Gabriela whispered.

They clung to the left side of the chamber, praying the Hands wouldn’t notice them. And if they did, prayed they would leave them be.

Just as they neared the column, a Hand darted out of the hall they were headed for. He was young, barely any older than Minx or Sage, and was followed by an even younger-looking concubine. The girl chased him around the column, her skirt whipping and fluttering behind her as she ran him down. They tumbled to the tile in a fit of laughter.

“Left,” Gabriela said hurriedly, as the commotion had caught the attention of some Hands nearby. They rushed into the hall, where they were led into what had been a large, open garden. It was now bare of plant life and water but had been adorned with furniture and pillows.

A few hands were splayed out over the blankets, and day beds smoking from pipes. The air was thick with the unctuous smoke- a thick, grey-blue layer of it hung low, clinging to the furniture and fabrics.

“What do they even do here?” Sage griped quietly. “They just lie around all day.”

“The mine has over three thousand prisoners,” Gabriela whispered as they passed through the garden. “They take shifts guarding the mine and patrolling the city. If there were ever an uprising from the mine, they would require every single Hand here to respond.”

“So Supreme Capricorn has a mini army here, just in case of that?” Minx questioned.

Gabriela nodded.

“Right.” She said, and they turned a corner.

Gabriela led them down another hall and a set of stairs until they came to a mini palace in the middle of an empty garden.

“There. The concubine’s house.” Gabriela said.

“The Goddess Spring.” Sage mused dryly.

As they walked through the dusty remnants of the garden and spring, Minx recalled the paintings in her books back home. As the thought of the desert lilies entered her mind, she could feel something deep beneath the earth stir.

“Stop that.” Sage hissed.

Minx tutted, “I can’t help it.”

“You can grow your flowers after we’ve demolished this place,” Sage grumbled.

“Speaking of- what do we do now?” Minx asked as they stood before the concubine house doors.

Sage smirked. “What I do best. Havoc.” She glanced around them to make sure no one was watching, then she slipped to the side of the house.

“Kick up some dust for me, would you?” Sage asked.

Gabriela bit her lip, looking unsure as she surveyed the piles of sand around them.

“You got this,” Minx reassured.

Gabriela twisted her fingers, and a small breeze kicked up. She twisted them again, and the breeze became a wind, gathering the sand piles.

“Sweet,” Sage stretched out a hand and a blast of power mixed with the sand- tinging it purple and black.

“What are you-” Before Minx could finish her question, the sand started to form itself into something solid.

“Kade once told me my family could change the very atoms of material and make it into something else. Without my soul, I can’t get that far, but with Kami’s-” Sage stopped, taking a deep breath. “With Kami’s soul, I think I can mix our gifts a bit.”

Minx’s jaw popped open as the sand formed a solid, recognizable figure before her.

“The marshmallow monster from that movie?!” Minx nearly choked.

A ten-foot sand monster in the shape of the marshmallow monster from one of their favorite movies stood before them. Sage flicked her wrist, and the hat appeared atop its puffy head.

“Who you gonna-”

“Don’t you dare!” Minx snapped before Sage could finish the catch line.

Sage chuckled, then slowly walked around her creation. “He’s more of a golem than a sentient being like Kami could make. I have to control him like one of those remote control cars.” She paused, pinching her chin between her fingers.

“Since he isn’t made of marshmallow, he can’t melt. So that’s a plus.” She grinned back at them.

“He is terrifying.” Gabriela squeaked. “His face is creepy- make him stop smiling.”

“Sorry, but that’s a part of his appeal,” Sage said, then frowned. “Can you see his face without the glasses?”

“Unfortunately,” Gabriela grumbled.

“Are you seriously going to send that thing in there? You’re going to give them all heart attacks.” Minx said.

Sage sighed, “It’s this, or your man-eating plants. We need to scare them enough that they will leave this palace entirely.”

Minx groaned, but knew she was right. “Fine. But what about the Hands? You know they’re going to try to fight this thing.”

Sage snorted, then pulled out her whip. Minx blinked in surprise. She wasn’t sure how Sage managed it, but she was always able to hide the dang thing from plain sight. She cracked it, and the marshmallow sandman shivered. Purple streaks of light laced through its body tinged with an inky blackness that gave the impression of shadows.

Minx stepped back, watching as the smiling monster opened its mouth. Purple and black light shot out, searing the ground before her feet.

“Yeah,” Minx said, stamping out the purple flames and black smoke. “That will certainly do it.”

“Besides, Bob here will have us as backup,” Sage said.

“Bob?” Minx said, incredulous.

“Yeah. Doesn’t he look like a Bob?” Sage inquired, circling the monster again.

“Please stop naming the creepy sand monster.” Gabriela pleaded.

Bob groaned, and purple liquid spewed from his smiling mouth. Gabriela squealed and jumped away before it managed to land on her. Minx pinched the bridge of her nose as the liquid began to bubble on the ground.

“Please tell me you didn’t make him vomit acid?” She said, exasperated.

“Maybe just a little?” Sage said innocently. “In my defense, I am still figuring this out.”

Minx sighed, then shrugged. “Alright, we’ll send your monster-”

“Bob,” Sage corrected.

“Stop calling him that!” Gabriela pleaded.

“Whatever- he’s going in now. We need to do this quickly.” Minx ushered for them to move back away from Bob.

Sage cackled, then snapped her whip. Bob groaned as his thick, puffy sand legs began to clamber over to the concubine’s door.

“Alright Gabriela, you’re on,” Sage said, giving her a wink.

Gabriela sheepishly took a step forward, her hands fluttering to her braid. She tiptoed around Bob, keeping her eyes on the ground until she came to the doors. Gabriela cast them a concerned look over her shoulder, but Sage waved her on.

“Remember- deep breath, and sound scared,” Sage said.

“I don’t think that will be a problem,” Minx muttered, rolling her eyes.

Gabriela took one last look at Bob, her face turning pale before she threw the doors open and rushed in; her pink skirt flying behind her.

“Monster! There is a monster loose! You must leave the palace immediately!” She squeaked. Minx couldn’t see inside the doors, but she felt the stunned silence that met Gabriela.

Before the concubines had a chance to react, Sage sent in Bob, and all hell broke loose.