Depending on the Kindness of Strangers

-"Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.", Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire"

I jump off the dragon, and I land, my naked feet curl around soft grass, and I inhale the prominent smell of roses and cherry blossom. I was in heaven! I look up; I was standing on the grass, away from a marble white footpath, or was that pearls? It was hard to tell, the path ran in a straight line in front of me, flanked either side by cherry trees and roses. And there, large as life was a golden palace- complete with turrets and a banner. The emblem of the flag was a rose with a skull.

I run towards the gate, the beautiful floor was smooth and cool on my sore feet, once I was inside I couldn't help but glance back and watch the gates close, and I felt like it was cementing some unknown fate. I turn back, men in uniform stood with their legs apart and their arms crossed behind their backs. Their eye-line was vacant, I was glad for that. I wasn't in the right attire to see the master of this house.

Standing on some pearly white steps was that girl; she had removed her overcoat and now stood with her back facing me talking to a fat lady who looked very familiar for some reason. Stranger danger, my instincts kick in. I march up to the girl, who was holding now only one sword. It lay limp in her grasp, I yank it out and press it in between her shoulder blades, for any normal person this action would've cut their gloves and palm open… more blood.

"Who are you?" No one moved.

The bleeding never came, maybe her gloves had extra padding, or she was one of those Mythical Creatures that healed very quickly. Also, no one panicked, for Christ sake I was holding a sword at someone's back with the intention to ram them through if they didn't answer.

…

"Oh, of course. Where are my manners…?" She removes her scarf and drops it with slow precision onto the ground. Her sunglasses follow, so does her hat and from that cascaded midnight blue hair. I felt like I was an animal standing in the headlights of a car, terrorized; hence her slow and deliberate motions.

Then she turns around to face me, the blade falls to the ground as a familiar face is revealed to me.

"… I am Rosejamacara Elizabeth-Mary- Anne Verlain Fior Hathaway." She watches me, with amusement.

No, no, no. Rosejamacara was dead. Yes, I know she was dead; I had been in prison for her murder. So why was she standing in front of me alive, and older? And she had a palace! She was dead, she had to be dead. Otherwise, all those torturous years in prison were wasted!!! My best years of youth, gone… and she hadn't even been dead!

"You done? Drama queen." I stare, incredulous. How dare she be alive! I pick up the sword and ram the sword in, everyone takes a sharp intake of breath. She stands there with a sword in her, she looks mildly uncomfortable at best but she wasn't collapsing or dying for that matter. Ah, this was awkward!

"Yes, I agree." I look up shocked as her solid form becomes ghost-like and she disappears only to reappear behind me, the sword clatters to the ground noisily, I felt her gloved fingers hold down pressure points on my neck.

"In my house, to point- or shove a sword- at someone/in someone is very rude. It's blatantly insulting my hospitality. Also, it sends the wrong message, do not try that again. Violence in my house is only accepted if I am the one to initiate it or if I'm training you. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Rosejamacara, crystal."

The big, fat woman waddles over to Rosejamacara' s side and pulls her away gently while speaking in a loud whisper.

"I am not housing a convict and a murderer in my house. She tried to kill you!"

"Ugh? Fat Lady, it wasn't exactly willing you know?! She broke in and broke out with me and she's alive… see!" Seriously, had no one realised the most important fact here: the one where she was alive and healthy, living in a gigantic palace.

Rosejamacara turns to stare at me.

"One: manners. 'Fat Lady' is not her name. It is Martha. Second: I am called Rosealinde. Third: no one else knows I'm alive and let's keep it like that." She turns back to the fat lady, I suddenly felt something hit me on the side of my face. I stagger back holding my cheek, Rosealinde had not moved from where she was standing, but the look she levelled at me said it all.

Bitch, it had been her. She had somehow slapped me!!! From that far a distance.

"Martha, please put up with this for a bit, until the consent form comes back. You can do whatever you please to ease your mind, put her in the stocks make her work as a servant. I don't care, just keep her healthy and fit." She turns to me.

"As for you, I will not tolerate any forms of meanness towards the staff including Martha. Martha feel free to knock sense into her." Consent forms? Work as a servant? The stocks? Was this freedom, or a different type of imprisonment? I had to escape!!! I ignore the pain in my ankles and run, no one runs after me.

I run across the soft grass which was on either side of the white path, I feel myself losing control of my own limbs, my feet twist in and I land on the ground. I scramble back onto my feet; I am getting out even if it kills me! The gates are further away than I had anticipated but that only fuelled my need to leave. Whoever the old princess had become, she was scary and quite ruthless; maybe ridding the world of her had been a good idea. Also, this felt familiar, like I had dreamt this or something… it felt like deja' vu.

I finally made it to the gates, they automatically open and I run out laughing in my head.

….

….

I stop dead.

…

Outside the gates the palace was surrounded by white puffy clouds, I jumped up and down. It couldn't be clouds, it was supporting my entire weight; that wouldn't be possible. I notice there was a hole in the clouds, I jump/fly/dance towards it, and peer down, the gravity wasn't as strong up here hence my movements were slow and sluggish, it had only affected me outside the gates of the golden palace though… interesting.

I was above a town, moving at quite a fast pace. I stare; I could feel my jaw hanging open.

"Impressed?" I turn, Rosealinde stood a bit too close for comfort. She could push me off, this thought perturbed me and I try to move away from her but she doubled, and tripled, and quadrupled herself. Copies of her blocked my exit, I resume staring down at the scene below me.

…

…

"Just kill me already!" I blurted out spinning around to look up at her. She actually had the audacity to look shocked.

"Why in the world would I do that?" She cries, for the first time her voice held some kind of emotion. I think it was frustration.

"Isn't that what you want to do? Make me work till I break, or throw me in the dungeons till I rot?"

Rosealinde continues looking frustrated, she actually ran her fingers through her hair, and she had very long hair, it was longer than her waist. The harder I looked, the more she looked like less human, normally that applied to many superhuman (however often, they had once been human so they still looked human), but there was something… alien like about her features. It could be the fact her eyes were too big, the irises too large and the colour too intense. Or the small aligned nose, she also had strange freckles on one cheek. It formed a half moon, and she had another beauty mark on her top lip, her hair looked too shiny and just in general… she was miles too tall for a human girl. I was noticing how she had been taller than her footmen.

"Stop examining me, it's unnerving." She speaks, and I watch the way her mouth doesn't move, also she doesn't seem to breathe.

I lean back, using her leg as a prop and stare up at her. I feel my back burning; she must run on a very high temperature compared to everyone else. Her skin was hot, I jump back shocked. Hands caught me from falling down the hole, where I had been leaning her trousers were burnt as if someone had set fire to that area.

"Sorry, about that." She was apologizing?

For what, I was the one who seemed to have burned her skin; it was hard to say what happened to it. But it looked very painful. To my horror, the scarred skin started to flake, and like a snake underneath her once charred skin, was new and flawless flesh.

"You want to know why I let you out." She asks kneeling down, no, not really, I was wondering what you were; but yeh, that also crossed my mind.

The sides of her mouth pulled up, she smiles at me. I secretly examine her teeth, she wasn't giving me a full view but from what I could see her upper and bottom canines were long and pointy as were their neighbours. She stopped smiling when my gaze lingered for too long. She was eerily beautiful, I couldn't help but appreciate it and I could feel myself blushing too.

"I really wished you would stop that!"

"What are you?" I ask poking her cheek, I watch in utter horror as her skin turns red then starts flaking. The flakes drift away; I didn't want to think of it as dead flesh but that was the only explanation. She had winced slightly when I had touched her; apart from that, she seemed unaffected by her skin burning off.

"Well, now that would be telling. Now get inside, and let the medical crew heal you. I have to go and kick someone awake. Believe me, Myths aren't as scary as we seem. There are very few people in my house who are Mythological; many of them are just immortal humans."

"Oh, well that's boring. I guess it's a good thing you live in the clouds then." I say shrugging and gazing a while longer into her eyes.

She chuckled, and then she holds out a hand. I eye it wearily; I really didn't want to see her flesh being burnt again.

"Don't worry I've got it under control." She assures.

I look into her green eyes; I relax when all I see is a silent promise for a better life. Whoever she was, she was powerful enough to break into another dimension, live in the clouds and survive constant burning. She could help me, and she seemed to know what she was doing… speaking of which…

"Why did you let me out?"

"Too late, I am not in a sharing mood. You have missed the opportunity." She smirks.

I glare and grab her hand… strange… she was no longer boiling hot. Her temperature was normal, and I was grateful for the support I couldn't actually stand. I relied on her, she moved with ease and grace, something I had always lacked. I moved like an old woman (hobbling and hunched), it was embarrassing! I suddenly feel her sweep me up, my arms encircle her neck and she carries me bridal style back through the gates. I decide not to point out to her that this was awkward and wrong on so many levels.

She hums, I examine her again. She was the picture of perfection and alien, the mixture made her look very different. It wasn't noticeable; it was only after you spent full minutes staring at her and if she was standing close enough for you to notice the small yet drastic differences. Could you realise that she didn't look like anything human or Earthling like, but it was attractive? Her skin wasn't pale, and she had strange tattoos covering the side of her neck. They disappeared into the collar of her shirt, but the visible ones were just strange hieroglyphics.

"My language." She says.

"So you are an alien!" I pound my fist in the air, this proves to be too much and my head spins.

"Take it slow, you're not well." She says. I find myself being lowered. I look down, and a soft bed met my tired body.

"I'll tell Martha to wake you up in several hours' time. Sorry about the Doctor, his bedside manners are appalling but he is very good at his job." Then she walks away.

I close my eyes, glad for the sleep.

∞

…She's been asleep for too long. Sure Miss hasn't dragged in another drowned rat?...

Doc!

Don't Doc me, I don't attend to dead patients, that isn't in my contract.

Voices begin to slowly register to me, I was painfully sore and the light above me was harsh. I squeeze my eyes tighter.

Doc!

Oh, now what is it? Has she moved a nose hair again Isabel? I keep telling you, it is because of that damn fan you carry around with you.

Rosealinde was right, this man had no manners. It was probably why she liked him.

"ARE, YOU ALIVE?!!!!!!" I was shocked awake when a bucket was thrown over me and the strange Doctor yelled at me over the roaring of the water.

"No, I'm dead!" I snap at him. I notice, I was connected to an EKG and a drip fell from the ceiling, standing either side of the bed was a nurse who I presumed was Isabel and the other one was obviously the doctor… who wasn't human.

He looked like an octopus in white overalls, his head was bloated and he created goo every time his tentacles slid around the floor. To my amazement, he transformed into a human.

I raise an eyebrow.

"Miss Rosealinde said I was not to frighten you. But you've already seen me, I had to get rid of that neuron-tracker. Sorry about the tattoo… Missus orders. Says it's a keepsake… though why you would-"

"-Wait, wait!!! Hold up. I've been here before?"

"Yes, that's what've been telling you isn't it? Keep up, one air head is enough." We both look over at Isabel who was staring at her hands with wide eyed curiosity.

"Yes, sorry about her. She's a bit dim. I think Miss took pity in her as well. So unfair though, she dumped her with me. I've been considering replacing her brain with a tencles…"

"…a what??"

"A tencles is a: smart, efficient, intelligent, alien creature. They are alien though so Rosealinde probably wouldn't allow it. But I think it'll be worth it. What do you think? Fancy a trip out of the milky way to go and look for one?"

"You're… the doctor…" I marvel. I prod his skin, which was unpleasant to touch. And he had three eyes instead of two, his hair was gelled up into a Mohawk and he wore round glasses. All in all, it wasn't human… nice try man.

"Yes, well I haven't had much practise."

"In being a doctor?" I edge away from him.

"Oh, no. The human masking thing, everyone else around here doesn't mind. As for being a doctor, yes this is my hundredth anniversary. Not very long. Where I come from-"

"-You're an alien as well?"

"Yes, of course I am. Where was I… ah yes. I've only been a doctor for a hundred years before that I was Healambiquei. Which means special healer."

"So, you are a doctor." I clarify. He frowns at me, his third eye rapidly blinks and his glasses start to fall down his nose.

…

He inhales sharply and his glasses climb back up to the bridge of his nose.

Awkward silence.

"Doc, is the girl awake?"

"Ugh, the fat cook is here…" He mutters; I snigger. So it wasn't just me, he didn't like her either.

Isabel looks up from staring at her hands.

The doctor pointed at her and mouthed 'I'm not here'!

"He's not here Martha." Says Isabel sticking her head out of the door. The doctor and I relax.

"Are you sure??!!" Replies Martha speaking to Isabel as if she were a child.

"Yes, he just told me to tell you." We groan in unison.

"I will help you find a tencles," I tell him, I swing my legs around and walk out of the room. Just outside I find Martha wearing a cooking apron, her arms were crossed as was her face… I mean to say she looked very crossed.

"Rosealinde wants to see you." She tells me sourly, the feeling's mutual woman.

"Lead the way." I wait for her to move, but her face deepens.

"You are not presentable." I choke and look down at myself. I was wearing a hospital gown and I didn't have anything else. It wasn't like I had time to nip back to get another one… maybe one with sparkles…?

"Well, this is all I've got. This or naked." Martha stares at me shocked.

"Rosealinde said you can use her room, to freshen up in."

"That's nice of her, but I'd rather-"

"-YOU Ungrateful little brat! You will clean yourself up for the master of this house. She sprang you from prison-"

"-I didn't exactly send her a secret telegram-" We were interrupted by a powerful voice and presence.

"ENOUGH! BOTH OF YOU!! You- go and wash up, and you. Martha, why isn't Maya up yet? I went to shake her awake three hours ago yet there is no sign of her. If both of you can't be nice, avoid each other. AM I CLEAR????!!!!!" We both cower away from Rosealinde. But nod. Damn, girl acted like she was on her period... constantly. Did she even get them?

"Martha, show her there. Tend to her first. Then get Maya up. If that ungrateful thing isn't awake please give her some chores to do. Mr Ramsbottom has gone up again" She looked up at the ceiling as if she could see through it. I blinked and she was no longer there. We both glare at each other but keep our traps shut.

"This way please." Says Martha sugar sweet-like.

"Why thank you," I reply through gritted teeth… this is painful, why must I be nice to this insipid woman? She's just a servant!

Rosealinde's palace was bigger than it looked like, but the outside was big as well. So put two and two together, it was gigantic. The floors were tiled with black and white mosaics, the odd tile had a logo of some sort, the hallways were covered in thick red carpet with more designs. Persian rugs, I think to myself. Rosealinde's palace was a reflection of her wealth, and by the amount of gold, and silver and other precious stones and artefacts: she was very rich. The walls had banners and portraits of Rosealinde, in different period clothing with another man… strange. I was led up the big staircase that split in two, I look and count the staircases above me.

"There are fifty-seven." Says Martha less grumpy-like. Was I growing on her? Oh, I hope not; I hated when I didn't like someone and they liked me because then I would feel very mean and self-conscious of what a bitch I was.

"How big is this entire house?"

"Mhh… hard to say, I've been here seven hundred years and every day I discover a new room or a new artefact or a completely deserted level of the house."

"So… it's infinite?" I say staring up at the ceiling; this had putti angels circling around the magnificent chandelier.

"I don't know. Why don't you ask Rosealinde she's quite accommodating to stupid questions." Nope, she hadn't warmed to me. That was a relief.

"I suggest not wearing a dress, I have a feeling Rosealinde is going to put you straight to work."

I stop moving, Martha hadn't even been walking, to begin with. I watch as the footmen somehow shot from one side of the room to the other under a second. Martha watches me observe the room.

"Rosealinde is a creature of immense power, listen to me when I say: to have her on your side is better than having her against you." Martha then stomps the ground, she grabs my arm and we both whiz past rooms, halls and god knows what else. But it was hard to hear so that removed the possibility of speech, also I was glad Martha was holding onto me, I nearly lost my balance and nearly fell off the moving piece of stone/floor- carpet? Whatever it was. It was just amazing it could move at such fast pace and by itself, god this place was awesome!!

We arrive in Rosealinde's 'wing of the house' as Martha had called it. It wasn't a wing so much as six floors including private kitchens (four) and other amenities that were reserved for Rosealinde only and a selected few servants. There wasn't a pass, but if Rosealinde was so powerful I was sure some blocking system was in place.

"Why does Rosealinde live like this?" I question Martha as she pulls off the silk… I had been wearing silk? Woah, I had never ever, ever worn anything so expensive! Hospital gown over my head.

"Do you mean the power or isolation." I frown, I had never thought of it to be isolated.

From what I could see she had workers crawling the place like ants, she seemed to go around and talk to them. She respected her servants, as they did her- but then again I didn't know their story, but if it was similar to mine: obviously not the part where I attempted to murder her or go to jail for it to then stab her again on her own grounds. But the part where she had saved them from horrible situations, then they must be feeling grateful. As I think, would anyone… right?

"Isolation… I think it's a habit of hers really when I first met her she was trying so hard to fit in and find friends. But I think she realised that having, even immortal friends, they would still die. Eventually, everything gets killed, somehow though… she doesn't die at all you see, ever, so she avoids contact with the outside world." Martha was just musing out loud, or she could be answering her own question… she's not too bad.

She's more like Rosealinde's mother than her servant. Maybe she's an overprotective mother hen… haha! That's so funny!

"As for the power, this… Dearie doesn't even scratch the surface. It doesn't even touch the surface. She's way more powerful, I heard her being referred to as –roughly translating- 'god'; I don't know the extent of her power but she can hear conversations when she's not even in the same galaxy. But at the same time, she's considered the devil, so you better watch it. Whatever she needs you for, just do it okay. No questions asked. If you have a complaint come to me, I seem to be one of the few who she would never think of raising her hand or disobeying" Mother hen is showing all her feathers.

I nod.

Then Martha shoves me into a gigantic bathroom to wash up, and this like everywhere else was opulent, extravagant and over the top. To begin with, the size of the bathroom was so big I couldn't even see where it ended, and the area closest to the door had green/blue/golden tiles. The only light came from crystal panelled walls that illuminated the room with natural light (obviously Rosealinde had had them made specifically so as to make sure harmful rays bounced off; unless of course they didn't affect her maybe). It was really breath-taking, the further I went in, I found myself sinking slowly into the water. I went to the side where there was a lion's head. Martha said that the lion's head was like a showerhead, I should've asked her how to work it! Maybe it wanted to be scratched..?

"Are you going to ask me to open my mouth or not?" I jump, the tap spoke, okay… the tap could speak… I nod limply… it was a lion and it could speak.

Well, this was a palace in the sky, it was only natural the master bedroom had nymphs playing around in its bathroom and opulent lion faucets...