Creative Writing and Expository Essay (Fernanda)

Creative Writing. The School for Professional Assassins, Chapter 2. A book I´m writing.

Chapter 2: Wolf Town

‘Aren’t you glad it’s the weekend Kath? You know how much I love weekends! But do you know why?’ asked Crystal.

‘No, I’m not excited and yes, I do know why…’replied Katherine almost as if she were bored of the question.

‘And…’ said Crystal while trying to be patient.

‘On weekends we’re allowed to go to Wolf Town’ responded Katherine. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Wolf Town or shopping for that matter, it just brought bad memories, after all that was the place in which it had all happened, everyone around her called it either an accident or an achievement. Her uncle was one of those who called it an accident, Principal Gray and Crystal called it an achievement. Katherine simply called it murder.

‘Exactly! And this time Erica won’t come! So let’s go! Our horses are waiting’ Crystal dragged Katherine out of the room and into the school’s stables located at the east part of campus.

Crystal’s horse was called Meredith a unique ginger horse, it had a very powerful posture and was a very strong horse. Katherine’s horse was also very strong however it was a light shade of black instead of being ginger and her name was Stella. The main was white but the tips burned in glorious red, people often asked Katherine how she had managed to do that to the hair but Stella was born with the hair like that, Katherine didn’t quite know why. Stella had been a gift from her mother, it was the only thing that Katherine kept from her mother, that and her wedding ring, but that was a family legacy so she couldn’t just throw it away. Crystal and Katherine mounted their horses and with the rest of the school, they set off to Wolf Town.

Wolf Town was a very peaceful place, if you didn’t count all the businesses that took place there, there were a couple of shops dedicated only to torture instruments, potion shops, restaurants, libraries, and the most important for Crystal: boutiques. In the middle of the town square there was the execution throne, for a town full of assassins, the throne was very rarely used, it was only used in case of treason to the royal family ‘The Evans’, if offered a job as to even touch them you were to report it immediately to the Hunters, there would be a trial and if the person was found guilty, well, let’s just say that the execution throne was used.

The whole school dismounted their horses in the town’s stable and went their separate ways to the different shops.

‘Let’s go Kath! I don’t want all the cute outfits gone!’ demanded Crystal.

‘Hello Katherine’ said a very familiar voice.

‘Uncle!’ exclaimed Katherine, the instant she heard her uncle she jumped up and embraced him ‘I knew that you’d be here but I didn’t realize…’

Derek James Black was a tall dark haired man. He was thirty years old and witnessed his brother’s assassination. He promised his brother that he would take care of Katherine and, so far, she thought that he was doing a pretty good job. He was a single parent, he could never settle only with one girl, because to him it didn’t seem right to leave all the girls just wanting more and he was the military adviser for The Evans, not only this but he also happened to have recently been crowned a Lord, a tittle which very few got. Katherine had inherited the title of duchess, thanks to her mother, however her father had only been a Lord. His uncle unfortunately didn’t get even that, since he was the second born in the family until Queen Esmeralda stated otherwise.

‘Its fine Katherine,’ interrupted Derek ‘Crystal, I’m afraid I’m going to have to kidnap this lady for an hour or so, only if that’s fine with you of course.’

‘That’s fine with me, I’ll buy you a dress Kath! The kind of dresses they wore on the tales? Yeah, they are in this season. See you later!’ Crystal bowed to Derek as he bowed back, hugged Katherine, and disappeared into the boutiques.

‘She’s always so optimistic’ noticed Derek.

‘Yeah, just wait until you make her angry’ said Katherine with a smile ‘where are we going?’

‘To the castle, the royal family wishes to see you.’ Just as soon as her uncle said this her beautiful smile escaped her face.

‘Do I have to go? ’

‘They do not wish to discuss the accident.’

‘They don’t?’ Katherine was surprised to hear this since that was the only reason the royal family ever spoke to Katherine. Her uncle was the mind behind the country’s war plans so he knew the family better than she did. Walking around Wolf Town was one of Katherine’s favourite things to do, it was a calm peaceful place.. Every building had a different style, some were to pay tribute to the goddess, others were based on tales about a world of corruption in which being an assassin was prohibited and you would go to a place called ‘jail’ for years and years until you rotted and died if you killed someone. Her uncle often told her stories about that world, they seemed to be servants of ‘computers’ whatever that is, and they used to hate every one of their kind that looked or sounded different, that made Katherine really angry but she knew that they hadn’t really existed. However the walk to the castle was dreadful, every step seemed heavier than the last, every street looked menacing instead of welcoming, she couldn’t help it. 

At the start of every street there would be a white rose engraved to the floor with a crown on top of it. The symbol of Andromeda, the capital of the ten worlds. After what seemed like an eternity they finally arrived. The castle was a beautiful structure, completely made out of white marble with gates of gold, there were at least a thousand guards spread around the castle. A grumpy looking guard was looking at them as if he’d never seen anything more disgusting than the Blacks but that didn’t bother Katherine, she was too used to it.

‘What´s your business here Derek?’

‘I’m here on orders of the King and Queen of Andromeda they wish to see my niece Albert.’ Her uncle didn’t seem concerned at the way Albert was looking at them. Albert was sorting through a pile of scrolls until he found the one he was looking for. ‘Prince Jeremy II Lord of Andromeda of the Evans House of the White rose and future king has requested to see Lady Katherine Elizabeth Black, of House Black of the Black rose, Duchess of Andromeda, owner of the Black troops and server of the kingdom in the absence of her mother, Christine Giselle Black and future assassin, you may come in.’ Albert opened the gates very reluctantly and let them in.

They were walking through the castle and memories where flooding through her head, the corridors seemed the same, if not, smaller than when she last was here. Portraits of past Kings, Queens, Princes, and Princesses. There were also portraits of friends of the royal family, pictures of her mother and the Queen Esmeralda, next to it she had found a painting of herself and Prince Jeremy when they were about six years old. She was suddenly drowning in sadness and guilt, she hadn’t visited him for years because she just couldn’t bear the thought of her parents’ funeral which had taken place here. She stopped in front of the painting and her eyes began to water, but she didn’t cry, she wouldn’t cry that was a promise she had made to herself years ago.

‘It brings back old memories doesn’t it?’ asked her uncle standing behind her.

‘The last time I was here, I had to say goodbye to both of my parents, Jeremy has been my friend for a very long time, but I couldn’t bear to come back here not unless there was a good reason for it.’

‘You know it wasn’t their fault, Queen Esmeralda was your mother’s best friend, she just wanted to say goodbye in the best way possible.’

‘Right’ murmured Katherine ‘So many things have happened since, I don’t like looking back at the past, it’s too painful.’

‘Yes, pain is hard but it is the thing that gives value to our survival, why live if not to love? And love most of the time brings pain, it is a part of who we are. Pain is what made our ancestors wise and it will make you wiser‘ That word, that word made Katherine think of what her goddess had spoken just a couple of nights before ‘your wisdom will be your strongest weapon’ was that what her goddess had meant?

‘Derek! It’s good to see you!’

‘Hello Bertha’ Katherine could’ve sworn that she saw Bertha flush when her uncle bowed slightly and kissed her hand , but Katherine was used to that. Her uncle was a very handsome, single, rich, young, a lord and a gentleman, he’s the real image of the perfect guy. It still grossed her out though.

‘Are you here to see the Evans?’ Bertha asked, not even for a second did she glance to see Katherine, it was as if she were being hypnotised by her uncle’s eyes, which could be very possible because top level assassins like her uncle mastered that skill.

Katherine had totally forgotten that the Royal’s family’s name was Evans, only people close to the Queen, King or Prince are allowed to call them by their last name, Katherine was one of the few with that privilege but she never used it. Katherine had to admit that she was kind of surprised when Bertha used it, she didn’t mean to sound like an elitist but Bertha didn’t seem very high class, she was wearing what all the peasants wear these days, jeans and a t-shirt, in Bertha’s case it was a black one. Katherine then realized something that she hadn’t before, there was a pin on her t-shirt, the pin had two swords crossed behind a white rose with a crown on top, the white rose was treated as symbol for death and purity. That’s when Katherine understood that Bertha was head of Royal security, highest rank of our Hunters.

‘Yes, Bertha they’ve asked us to come’

‘Okay then, you know the drill, we have to search both of you before you go in’ Katherine was wondering why Bertha hadn’t looked at her or directed a word to her, rude much? Then two other guys dressed like her, obviously hunters too, started looking for any weapons hidden by them.

Katherine knew the drill alright, when she used to play with Prince Jeremy she would have to get searched, yes a four year old kid had to get searched in case of any weapons that could be used to kill the prince, its happened before, but that’s another story.

‘Okay, you may go in’

It had been six very long years since Katherine had been in the presence of the Evans, but they looked at her as if it was nothing new. The Blacks bowed down to the Evans as a respectful hello.

The throne room was nothing less than spectacular, glass ceiling and red walls decorated with different weapons. A few steps up were three beautifully decorated thrones, the central one was the biggest covered in emeralds and spirals, the left and right ones were a smaller version of the central throne with the same spirals and instead of emeralds were turquoise stones.

‘Katherine, how you’ve grown! Your uncle has done a fine job raising you’ smiled the queen, it was more of a forced smile to be polite, the Queen never talked about the murder, after all, Katherine’s mother had been her best friend.

A thing you should know about Andromeda, girls rule, very literally, Queens have the last word, and guys are seen as only warriors to help in fights, however the girls are the ones that get the highest positions whether it be royals, hunters or peasants. I mean, we honour Artemis the goddess of hunting, wilderness, wild animals, the moon in its very essence, she favoured women over men, so it is to be the same in a society in which she is worshipped.

‘She did it all on her own my Queen.’ replied Derek

‘Katherine, we know you rarely get out of school so we are terribly sorry to take your time but this is a very important matter, but I think its best that Jeremy tells you’ insisted King Richard.

Katherine hadn’t heard the prince’s voice in years but the minute he spoke to her, she remembered every memory they´d ever shared, the sweet melody coming from his mouth, a sacred sound to all who listened. She couldn’t help but feel guilty about not having visited him all those years.

‘Alright, I have decided that I will go study at your school, in order to make allies and friendships as they may be useful in the future, the King and Queen were reluctant at the start but they agree with me that  a man should know his people.’ He had a cold tone, and spoke with little emotion, this hurt 

Katherine more than a stab with a knife and she knew exactly how much that hurt.

‘We would like you to take care of him while he’s at your school, show him around, that would make us feel better about him leaving’ announced the King.

‘Of course, we’ve agreed to give you some time to think about it, and maybe if Jeremy spoke a little to you about it it’ll help you decide’ immediately the Queen got up with the King next to her ‘We’ll give you two time to catch up, I have to speak to your uncle about Andromeda’s plans either way, we’ll come back in a while, and remember Katherine, this is and will always be your home.’ 

Katherine could almost touch the sincerity coming out of the Queen’s mouth.

Katherine’s uncle followed the Queen and King out of the room while Jeremy and Katherine just stood there, silent. Only after an eternity of silence did Jeremy speak.

‘It really is good to see you, and see that you’re doing much better than the last time we were together. You grew to be a very fine woman.’ His tone was full of sincerity speaking from his heart but Katherine knew there was more he wanted to say but didn’t dare.

‘Thank you my Prince, I must say that you too have grown into a fine man, a true ruler, however, a terrible liar. I know the real reason why you want to go to my school.’ Katherine caught him by surprise.

With a genuine smirk he said ‘You always know everything.’

‘I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing.’ smiled Katherine.

‘Both.’ and for the first time in years they laughed together the way they used to. ‘I’m glad I could make you smile, I haven’t seen you smile in ages, actually I haven’t seen you in ages’

‘You always could, make me smile I mean, and I have to admit it’s my fault and I apologize for not coming to visit you but it was a rough time, we both know that. However, I do not wish to go back and re-live those memories so, back to you, the real reason you want to study at the school is because you just want to feel normal. That’s the only thing you’ve ever really wanted. I do hope you realize that it won’t be possible, you’re prince Jeremy Evans II, and no one will forget that, no matter how hard you try, you know that I’ll support whatever decision you make, I’m just urging you to think about it carefully.’

‘I know people will still treat me differently, and I’ll get favoured, but I just want to know or at least have a rough idea of how you grew up, I want to at least try to be normal. This is the one thing I’ve thought of various times, and I assure you Lady Black that I want this more than anything in all the ten planets of Andromeda.’

‘If that’s the case your grace I will stand by your side and guide you through this experience. I will take an oath.’

‘You’re the one person I knew I could count on to be on my side.’

‘I’ll always serve the Evans until the day I die.’

That instant the Queen, the King and Derek came back to the throne room wearing masks, they looked neutral, but in school they teach you that this means something is terribly wrong.

‘So have you decided yet Katherine?’ asked the King

‘I have, I’ve decided to take the oath’ Katherine saw on the corner of her eye that her uncle looked rather surprised.

‘Very well, you must kneel before your Queen and recite the ancient words’ Katherine immediately kneeled before the centre throne and it was as if the spirit within her took over her body and words came easily, from the back of her throat on a journey to the tip of her tongue. ‘My dear angel of the night. When there’s no tomorrow left for me, I come to you so that you aid me, in my task of eliminating what I do not need!’

‘In this sacred day, I’m guided by our true goddess, Selene, Diana, Phoebe, Artemis, the moon, who lives fully at night but who also lives within the shadows at daylight. She’s our protector and our witness, I hereby decree that I will dedicate my life for the protection of Prince Jeremy Evans II from this day on forth’ Sapphire turned the colour of the night sky reflecting some of the stars in the galaxy, she settled on Katherine’s shoulder and a fire of pain spread through her right arm, suddenly, the mark of a half-moon appeared next to two roses, a black one interlaced with a white one, that’s when Katherine knew it was done, she was now bound to her oath by the ancient ritual.

‘GRATIA AGERE’.

Expository Essay.

After many years of generations worshiping H.P. Lovecraft's creation of cosmic horror, it is only safe to agree that his works are one of a kind. However in the two articles presented to me, they disagree with this statement. Clearly there were better writers than Lovecraft even more so during his time period, so what made him so popular? Most would argue that it is because he is the creator of this new type of genre but that's not what the articles state. Apparently Lovecraft was not the first author to use cosmic horror, but we treat him as though this new creation was his. Maybe its because of all of the fame that the Arkham's publishing company gave him, maybe because he had contacts but that doesn't  justify the fact that he took some one else's work.

Lovecraft however, did do something that merits recognition. He might've not created cosmic horror but he was the one to 'upgrade' it. He mastered the skill of this new genre and he used it for his advantage. His works are the 'perfect' version of cosmic horror.

One thing that I can give Lovecraft credit for is the way he described the atmosphere, the way he could make the reader feel included during the thrilling saga. I believe that maybe it was so realistic that that's why it caused fear. Fear that someday you might get caught in the same situation as Lovecraft describes. This is maybe the only reason why any of his works should've survived the times. Because it is in our nature as humans to fear what we feel so close to us.