Run. Live.

Zee's little family was in the earthly meadows. A cosy mansion in the distance watched over them. It was acquired by Zee, prepared and ready to move into. However, Zee didn't take Celine there yet. It was a surprise to be unveiled in 3 days when she and Lee finally move to Earth with him.

"Here's the stud for Lee.", Zee said, putting a *glow-sap stud earing in Celine's palm.

**(Please Note: Glow-sap is a priceless mineral resource tapped in the Mangrove Forests of the Green-haired Kingdom. It is the only mineral in the Old World that has the ability to store spiritual energy. It is mainly used by the Green-haired Curers as a healing serum.)

Zee ruffled Lee's hair, and continued, "It's safer to wear the stud than the amulet brooch. Like the amulet, the stud holds the ability to disguise oneself (shape-shifting). I also included a little self-defence mechanism. Put it on Lee when you get home. No one will be able to take it off other than you and Lee... I'm honestly surprised no one has discovered his green stripe yet."

Celine examined the stud earring between her fingers. Its solidified, crystal-clear glow-sap stone sparkled in the sun.

"Extraordinary...", she whispered.

"A kid pulled the amulet off last week at the playpen, but I restored it fast as I could. No one else was around, but I requested the stud just to be safe." Celine informed her love.

"Are you sure no one saw?", Zee asked.

"I didn't see anyone looking.", Celine replied.

With a sigh, Zee pulled his beloved wife and son into a warm embrace. He kissed her forehead. "I wish you'd wear an amulet for protection. I don't know what I would do if you ever get hurt."

"You know I want a normal life. I just didn't envisage falling in love with the Old Soul." Celine giggled...

Their love bubble lasted in the meadows all evening.

At night, a tired little Lee lay fast asleep, snuggled in the heavy coats. Zee and Celine lay in the grass, watching the stars in the night sky, and then the stars in each other's eyes. Soon, they were in each other's arms.

The atmosphere turned magical. Celine's mind went blank from the tingling sensation of their merging skins in the cool air of the night. Her lush lips found his. Her fingers curled in his silky green hair. Her legs straddled him. Zee's hands wandered, caressing his love, to arouse a passionate session. Soft moans filled the air, intensifying with desire...

...

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...

(Author's little interception)

Please Note: Here's the hierarchy of power in the Old World:

-> The Author (the all-powerful, unseen creator and god of the Glow-beings.) That's me. *wink

-> The 'Old Soul' ( a glow-being who I choose once in a century and gift enormous powers to protect the Old World)

-> The Ancients (4 sages who train and provide wise counsel to the Old Soul at Author's Peak) &

The Great 5 (the Kings of the 5 Glow-being Kingdoms)

-> The Oracles (random glow-beings who I gift powers of a seer. Very rare.)

-> The Disciples at Author's Peak ( Sacred Temple of the Glow-beings)

-> Specialized experts of each kingdom e.g.,

- 'The 21' (recognized combat specialists of the Yellow-haired Desert Kingdom).

- The Curers ( glow-beings of the Green-haired Forest lands, experts in medicine.)

- The Scientists (of the Silver-haired Utopia)

- The Flame (Assassins of the Red-haired Ice lands)

- The Merchants (of the Blue River Dwellers)

** Only the Old Soul, Oracles and the Striped have spiritual energy.

** The Striped are mixed blooded glow-beings. They are geniuses in different fields.

Alright, back to our story.

...

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...

Dawn came.

Celine awoke to find herself and her son, cosy in bed, in her petit house. Zee had returned his sleepy little family to the house in the dead of night and then headed to Author's Peak to wait out the 3 days.

Celine smiled warmly as she thought of him, her fingers subconsciously caressing her lips. His taste lingered. She couldn't wait to be with him again. In a dreamy haze, she played with the diamond engagement ring hanging down her neck.

...

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Heavy knocks on the front door interrupted her daydream.

A flood of banging followed.

Startled, Celine got out of bed in a rush. On high alert, she approached the sitting room, careful enough to stay away from the front door. She cautiously peered through a small gap in the curtains, making sure she wasn't seen.

It was the Palace Watch!

Bam! Bam! Bam! They banged the door again and yelled, "The Palace Watch! Come out now and hand over the green-striped child!"

Celine froze

"No!", she whispered.

Immediately, she ran back to her bedroom, shutting the bedroom door behind her.

Bang! Crash! She heard the front door shatter as the Palace Watch kicked their way in. "We know you're in here! Get out now!", they yelled, trashing the place.

Lee was stirred awake. "Mama... what's happening?" he asked, rubbing his cute little eyes and clutching his mother's nightdress. Celine lifted him from the bed, her heart racing, her eyes wildly searching for an escape route... 'The window!' she thought.

Crash! The bedroom door came down in bits and pieces. Six officers of the Red-haired Palace Watch entered the room. Behind them, her cowardly neighbour stood, watching.

Celine's gaze locked on the neighbour.

"Pearl!?... But why? I've only ever been kind to you...", she asked, confused.

"I know he's a freak. I saw him that day at the playpen. You broke the law. Striped scum are forbidden! A curse to all glow-beings! No proper citizen would keep shut. Hand over the child!" The neighbour yelled back.

"No, you just want the bounty. Is business really that bad?" Celine smirked. Her words hit a nerve.

"Shut up!", the neighbour yelled, stomping in anger.

In the blink of an eye, Celine made for the window! However, Fushi, the leader of the officers seized her as she tried to run. He roughly grabbed Lee from her arms and tore the amulet brooch off his clothes.

Lee transformed into his real self, a handsome little Red-haired child with a green stripe of hair right in front of his mass of red hair, and the loveliest emerald green eyes!

"No! My son! Let him go!" Celine cried, fighting the leader unsuccessfully. He kicked her in the gut. She fell, breathing heavily.

"Filthy whore!", Fushi spat in fury. He picked her up by the hair and ruthlessly slammed her down upon a stool in the house. The stool was smashed to bits. Celine spat blood from the impact and collapsed.

"Mama!" Lee cried, seeing his mother flat on the ground, stunned and barely conscious.

"Kill the boy!", the leader called in a husky voice.

"No!" Celine, with an unbelievable jolt of adrenaline dove upon the Palace Watch officer charging towards her son. She stabbed him with a hidden dagger she had sneakily stolen from Fushi during their struggle, pushing it deep into his heart with all her might. He fell with the dagger still fixed to his chest, rapidly losing blood.

Celine quickly lifted her son to the window as the officers tended to their dying friend.

Fushi noticed her. Roaring in anger, he swung his giant mace powerfully, meaning to crush the quivering 3-year-old, but Celine got in the way, taking the fatal hit! The mace hit her back, crushing her spine. The spikes and blades on it sunk deep, ripping her skin.

Blood gushed.

Celine, with all the resilience she could muster, held unto the window seal for support.

With her last breath, she pierced Lee's ear with the stud. "Run. Live.", she said and pushed him out the window.

...

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...

Meanwhile, at the Yellow-haired Desert Lands

The Yellow-haired Desert Dwellers with shiny locks lived on the edge of the harsh deserts of the Old World. In spite of the severe conditions of the scorching sands, they survived on water from the Miracle Oases and prospered from their trade with the Blue-haired Sea-side Dwellers, and their rich "zinari" deposit...

Oh right!, You're earth dwellers, so I need to explain what "Zinari" is. It's a super valuable mineral just like gold (with the same uses), mined in the deserts of the Old World. Got it? Great! So back to our story...

Yeah, the Yellow-heads prospered and built grand and beautiful cities in the desert. Their Great Dome Palace was magnificent. It was so richly decorated, it looked like the great palaces of Imperial Russia, only more magical.

Today, in particular, there was a huge buzz of excitement in the Yellow Lands. The Princess of the Yellow-haired had just turned 1, and a grand Naming Ceremony had been arranged for her. She would officially be presented to the Kingdom today. 'Odo', the Capital City was bursting with joy and celebration. It was an extraordinary occasion.

Amuma, the Oracle of the Yellow-haired Desert Kingdom looked down her balcony at the massive parade procession slowly making its way to the Yellow Palace. She was a hundred years old but didn't look a day over 30. Not a single grey hair or wrinkle. Her breasts stood firm, face and curvaceous body were still crazy hot! Her white chiffon dress made her look even more glorious with that plunging neckline and waist-high slits on both sides.

She held her aching head.

'That crazy nightmare again. I haven't had a good rest in 3 days! Something's definitely up. What do I do?', she thought.

"High Priestess, the parade is almost at the Palace. His Majesty requests your presence to perform the ceremony for the princess.", a servant called, his head bowed low, awaiting her response.

"I'll be right there", the Yellow Oracle replied. Her priceless jewellery jingled with her graceful movements.

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