• The Mission

    “Well would you look at that.” She said in awe. “They sure weren’t kidding when they said you weren’t no ordinary gem.” She said, hanging upside down from the rafter of the treasure room. Her hair kept falling into her eyes, and she was unable to see the ruby. “Curse this wretched hair! Why must I have it so long!” she complained. “I swear, as soon as I get back home, I’m taking my dagger and cutting it all off!” she said irritably.
    She ducked her head down and swung her body around the rafter and jumped down after landing a somersault in the air. “Man, I’m such a showoff…” she said proudly in her head. She swayed her arms back and forth and danced as she went down the walkway through the room. Music from upstairs was finding its way down to the palaces’ treasure and found its way into Reinore’s ear. She held her arms up as if she was dancing with a partner, one arm up in the air and the other at about her shoulder height. She danced in circles and swayed across the floors as her skirts danced about her bare feet and ankles.
    Ricky was always telling her to wear some kind of shoe, but she always told him it was much quieter without them. He was always nagging her about her long skirts too. “you shouldn’t be wearing such long skirts, you could very easily trip and fall in a run, or if your pursuers ever got to close to you, then they could step on them and you’d either be stopped, or running half-naked through the woods!” he always growled. “Oh Ricky, you’re such a worry wart. You really need to calm down. Loosen up now and again. Besides, this is the traditional female thieving garment and yes the skirt is a little too long but I don’t have the money to pay for a tailor and, I can feel beautiful every now and again, can’t I?” she always teased.
    She smiled to herself as she thought of the familiar memory. She closed her eyes and danced a little faster down the aisle. She reopened some other memories as well, some of her parents before they died, when her father danced with her that night at her birthday party. She remembered that night all too well. She remembered the music being played and everyone dancing. Everyone there was a thief but they all were dancing and having a blast. She remembered looking up into her fathers’ eyes and smiling up at him as she stood on his feet and he danced in circles. She was having so much fun, and her father looked down into her beautiful eyes and told her how much he loved her. His little jewel he called her. He called her that because her eyes were as purple as an amethyst. Her smile just got wider when he said that. She remembered how bright the moon was that night. She remembered the smell of the woods; the whispering of the trees. She remembered that last words she ever heard from parents again. “I love you….”
    She flung her eyes open and immediately froze. Furiously she rubbed tears away from her face. She was furious with herself, for letting her guard down and letting such horrid memories into her mind. She hung her head and stared down at the ground. There was nothing there but a few pebbles, which was all that was in the room. Dirt, pebbles, and the ruby up on the pedestal. She kicked one of the pebbles absently and realized the music had stopped playing. She immediately lifted her head and quietly ran to the center of the room to the ruby. If the music stopped then that means that they’ve realized that some of the guards were knocked out. Reinore flew to the center of the room up to the ruby and froze.
    Why didn’t she realize it before? The ruby was called “The reminder”. It was obviously the cause of those random memories. Of course she didn’t believe in any of the rumors about it having powers, but even if she didn’t believe them, she still couldn’t tear her eyes away from it. Her face was reflecting off its’ icy skin. The crimson of the gem sent her memories reeling backwards in time to her most dreaded memories, painful memories that struck her heart and forced her to her knees in mercy. She still couldn’t look away. She was breathing much harder now, as if she had just been strangled. The blood soaked ruby was vicious and would not let her go from its cruelty. Her breaths came out in painful rasps and becoming harsher. She was so consumed in her thoughts that she didn’t notice the guards coming from the entrance. It wasn’t until they were right behind her did she notice.
    “Well, well, well, look what we have here. I guess even the queen of thieves is unable to fight the power of the gem.” Said the head guard.
    Reinore spun around to look at him, with horror in her eyes. All of the guards laughed.
    “Looks like we’ve finally caught you.” He said and signaled his men to restrain her. She sat there for what seemed like forever staring at her own reflection in the armor of the guard. She was a wreck. Her long brown hair was matted with sweat and stuck to her brow. Her face was stained with tears and eyes dyed red with anguish. The sleeve of her shirt was falling off her shoulder, and her chest was red from her hands pressing so hard against it.