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Part X – Crimson
Secrets
Threa’s
setting sun cast deep shadows across the land thanks to the jagged dwarven
mountains and the sun elf floating city, whose own shadow extended out to the
North Mizuki Ocean. The sky was painted in shades of dark blue and orange. The
twin moons circling the planet were pale crescents suspended above the heads of
the two police officers. Sergeant Hoplow and Major Rufap stood on the doorstep
of the sun elf royal family estate. They had no trouble getting past the front
gate after flashing their badges. Now a butler stood blocking the entrance into
the home.
“I’m sorry but the lord and lady of the manor are not
here at the moment,” said the butler.
“We’re not here for them,” said Sergeant Hoplow.
“We’re here to see the princess.”
“What possible reason could you have to visit Princess
Clairal?”
“That’s confidential,” said Sergeant Hoplow. “Just let
us in so we can talk to her.”
“I’m afraid I can’t--”
“It’s okay Jarvis,” interrupted a soft voice from
within the home. “Let them in.”
With a nod, the butler stepped away from the door as
he eyed the two police officers up and down. Stepping inside the lobby of the
home, they followed the princess into a side room where they sat across from
her on a large, plush leather sofa.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from our
fine sun elf police force?” asked the sun elf princess.
Despite the two sun elves sitting next to each other
who were each well over five hundred years old, the princess was less than half
that age yet they were uncomfortable addressing the woman that would one day
rule over the entire United Elven Kingdom. The princess had dark golden skin
that sparkled with a luxurious sheen. She wore a skin tight black dress with
long sleeves and a long flowing hem that obscured the high-heeled shoes.
“I’m not sure exactly how to say this your highness
but…” Sergeant Hoplow paused with a nervous energy that he tried to contain.
Major Rufap spoke into the uncomfortable silence.
“We’re searching for a killer,” she said.
“And how could I possibly help in this search?” asked Princess
Clairal.
“We have rumor to believe that you may know someone
named Momotaru,” said Seargent Hoplow. “He’s believed to be a highly skilled
martial artist and might be the illegitimate son of the human chancellor.”
The small, polite smile that the princess wore quickly
turned to a frown.
“According to some of the info we’ve found,” said
Major Rufap. “We believe that you may know how to contact him.”
“And what info did you find that makes you think
that?” asked the princess.
“Look,” said Major Rufap. “I’m just going to come out
with it… we believe that this man is half human and half elf… is he your son?”
Before anyone could respond, the butler came into the
room with a tray of drinks that he set on the coffee table between the two parties.
The princess shook her head slowly and giggled to
herself. “How many other people think that they know the truth of this
information?”
The two police officers looked at each other and
swallowed a huge lump in their throats.
“If we don’t report back people will come looking--”
The princess let out a deep throated laugh and held up
a hand to forestall the panicked response from the officer. “Don’t worry,” said
the princess. “I have no intention of killing you. I would just like to know
how many people know about our dirty little family secret.” She laughed again,
throwing her head back as she looked off into the distance once she completed
her laugh. “Oh man, Father was so upset when he found out. I wasn’t allowed to
leave the house for the entire nine months. Then when he found out who the
father was…” she laughed again. “He nearly went to war with the humans.”
“So…” Sergeant Hoplow leaned forward from the edge of
the sofa. “You know where he is?”
“If you think I’m the kind of mother who would turn on
her son,” said the princess, suddenly growing deadly serious, eyes narrowing to
dangerous slits, “then you’re sadly mistaken. But I will tell you this. I’ve
had very little to do with the raising of my own son. I had to give him up for
adoption after only a few years in order to keep his royal blood a secret. You
can imagine how many people would strike at my family through him if they found
out who he really was. Anyway, if you want to find him then find another
martial artist known as the Butterfly Samurai.”
The two officers gasped as they briefly looked to one
another and then back at the princess.
The princess continued speaking. “She was a friend of
his when they were younger. They trained under the same martial arts master. If
there’s anyone that can find my son it’s her. Trust me, if Momo doesn’t want to
be found, he won’t be.”
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