The True Enemy Read online

  Chapter 2 - An Offer

  That night as I entered the bathroom I found Morgan looking through my medicine cabinet. She had the door open and pulled out my deodorant. Morgan turned and showed the deodorant to me.

  “Dear, why are you using a bargain brand deodorant? You were once a queen! Haven’t you ever heard the saying: never let your people see you sweat?

  I walked up to Morgan and grabbed the deodorant from her. “That works just fine, thank you very much.” I placed the deodorant back on the shelf. “Besides I don’t mind a little sweat. It shows people I am real and a hard worker!” I insisted. I groaned. “You know for a world-famous talk show host and reality star, you spend a lot of time with me!”

  Morgan leaned into me and sniffed me. She smiled. “Yes, it does work.” She straightened herself, “And yes I am interested in you. Together we will take on my mom and then you will be my intern. The world will be a better place.”

  “Morgan I do NOT need you to take on your mom. And I’m not totally sure your mom is the bad one here.”

  Morgan winked at me. “Oh honey, you so aren’t and she so is.”

  Shaking a fist at Morgan I told her, “Don’t you dare underestimate me!”

  Shaking her head, “Honey, I am so not. I just call it like I see it. You have great raw power and nice skills in leadership. You are like a younger, but not as pretty, me. But you so aren’t ready to take on Kristi.” She paused, “At least not without me. You and I together we can do it all and have it all.”

  “I thought you already had it all!” I countered.

  Morgan grinned. “I admit I have a lot. But, I don’t have it all. Not as long as my mother and I fight for control of minds and wills.”

  Thrusting a finger in her face, “Look…”

  Morgan interrupted me, “It’s impolite to point!”

  I found myself standing on an old dirt path. I sniffed the air. It smelled funny, dirty. Not from the pollution of cars but from the stench of death. I was in the past.

  A knight dressed in dark armor slowly approached. He rode on a huge black steed also covered in dark armor.

  “Let me guess, the black knight?” I said.

  “What gave me away?” his voice echoed from behind his helmet. “My sunny personality?” He looked down, sizing me up. “So once and future queen. You look so different. Yet your eyes still have the same fire. I am glad.” He jumped down from his horse and took his helmet off. He was obviously not threatened by me.

  I found my staff in my hand.

  The black knight put a hand on his sword. He drew it. “Sword versus staff does not bode well for you.”

  I decided to try a new trick. Something Merlin convinced me I could do if I worked at it. I, of course, hadn’t worked on it but figured to try it anyhow.

  I pointed my staff at the knight and yelled, “Fora!”

  A ball of fire fired from the tip of staff and flew at the knight. He deflected the flaming red ball with a flick of his sword.

  He laughed. “Now that was different!” He blew a few embers off his sword. “Not really effective, but different.” He glanced down at me. “My dear girl, I have had centuries to prepare for battle.”

  “With me?” I asked.

  He laughed. “No, of course not, young pup. I have been preparing for the one now called Morgan. I will stop her.”

  “So we are on the same side?” I asked.

  He laughed again. “Technically, I guess. I am on nobody’s side, except for the one true leader of the world. And I will always stand by her side.”

  “Let me guess, Kristi,” I said.

  His face beamed. “Yes, the voice of an angel the mind of a demon. The perfect woman. At least to me.” He pounded his chest armor to reinforce the point. He looked down at me. “I am surprised her whelp of a daughter, the demon child, would send you after me.” He leaned over and sniffed me. “You smell pleasant.”

  “Ah, thanks,” I said.

  “But you are not ready for me, child!”

  Hands on hips, I said, “How can you be sure?”

  He laughed at me. “My dear kitten, I have had centuries of battles. You have had days?”

  “Years!” I said angrily.

  He waved me away. “Go, go back to where you came from. I may be evil but I do not fight children. Especially those with whom I have no quarrel.” He stared down at me.

  I stood there.

  “You are still here! Why?”

  “I really have no idea how to get back,” I admitted. “Do I click my heels together and say there is no place like home?”

  The giant knight shrugged. “I do not understand your reference but I do not believe it works that way.”

  “Look, my young lady, for some reason I respect you despite your young age. You did try to fight me that takes great courage. Truthfully, I always thought your husband was a full-blown twit. So noble and righteous. He got on my nerves. He was all sword and no talent. His knight that Lancelot guy now that was a man who could fight...kind of dim-witted but a fine knight and person. I would have preferred him as leader. But it is what it is.”

  “Truthfully I have no idea why Morgan sent me here,” I said. “I have no fight with you either.”

  “My guess is you were meant to be a distraction,” he said calmly. He drew his sword and spun around. He deflected a bolt of lightning with his sword.

  Morgan stood there finger crackling with energy. “Not bad old man!” she laughed. She waved her hand upwards. The knight's skin melted from his face. It looked like candle wax melting, revealing an aged withered man. “Your time has passed!”

  The black knight sighed. He lifted his sword. “You can’t believe the number of times I have heard that!”

  “You have one chance, black knight, swear your allegiance to me!” Morgan shouted.

  The old knight laughed. “I will not. Foolish child, you know your mother’s magic has made me immune to yours. You cannot simply snap your fingers and turn me into a chicken. You cannot control my mind or my actions. I will destroy you and then rule this world by your mother’s side.”

  Morgan snickered. “Fool, my mother has no room by her side for anyone. She is just using you to do her dirty work. To haunt me. Or perhaps distract me. But I am not so easily distracted.” She paused for a moment. “But you do serve a purpose for me. You can show Gwen here that I am a being of mercy and kindness. You surrender your sword to me and I will let you live. You will be free of my mother’s control.”

  The black knight spit on the ground. “Never I can betray the woman I love.”

  “She does not love you. She is incapable of love.”

  The black knight stomped down his foot. “She loves me!”

  Morgan blew on her fingernails. She examined them. “Perhaps as a pet…”

  “That is not true! Your mother is a goddess amongst mere mortals and she chose me to reign by her side. Her word will bring freedom to all. Her words will turn them into her humble slaves.”

  “She has no right to enslave the humans!” Morgan said calmly.

  “She does it out of love. They have little brains,” the black knight said. He turned to me. “No offense.”

  “Some taken!” I said.

  The black knight laughed. “Her love will soon touch you like it has me. Her love will touch the world.”

  Morgan gave the knight a smile of pity. “Foolish man. She cannot love. Look at me her only flesh and blood and I stand as her sworn enemy. The one that will stop her from ruling this realm and other worlds.” She thrust he finger at the knight. “Now back down!”

  The brave knight continued towards Morgan. He held his sword tight with both hands. “I will slice you in half!” He charged and swung down at Morgan.

  Morgan disappeared in a puff of black smoke. She reappeared by the knight’s huge black horse. She rubbed the fine steed.

  The black knight stalked towards her again. “I can play this game all day. Nothing you can do can hurt me.”

/>   The black knight placed the tip of his sword under Morgan’s throat. “You are braver than I thought, Morgan. Do you see the folly of your way?”

  Morgan snapped her fingers. The knight's great horse kicked him in the head. The knight frowned. He dropped his sword. He froze.

  “Silly knight I might not be able to harm you but your steed could,” Morgan said.

  The knight turned to dust and crumpled to the ground. Morgan pet the great horse. She looked at me. “Silly ancient man, just because I couldn’t harm him directly did not mean I could not harm him,” she grinned.

  “You killed him!” I said.

  She shook her head. “Nope, the horse did. The fool had been alive for centuries. Animated by my dear young mom. You see Gwen she is bad news. Do you remember the black knight? He was a noble knight who fought for justice. She turned him into that. Next to Lance, he was perhaps the greatest of all knights and she made him her slave. I gave him freedom.”

  “Now Gwen, heed my words. I want to guide your world not destroy it! Together we can take on my mother. You haven’t reached your full strength yet. But that is a good thing. It means my mother won’t be wary of you! She might let you get near her. Then we can both strike.”

  “What about my knights?” I asked.

  Morgan shrugged. “I am sure they will make a useful distraction. A sideshow, if you will.”

  “What about the fairies?” I asked.

  Morgan stood there in deep thought. A smile stretched across her face, “that my dear is a good question. They have power. Especially Nimue. We must get them on our side.”

  “Kind of soon to be using the word, our!” I said.

  Morgan shook her head. “Gwen like it or not, you and I are in this together. Neither of us can take down my mom alone. But together we can.” She paused. “Look at it this way. We take her out and then you can decide if you want to tackle me or work with me. Alone, you don’t have any chance against both of us.” She paused to let her words sink it. “Admit it you know my way is the best way.”

  Sadly I had to admit she was right. Perhaps my best chance was to take down Kristi and Morgan one at a time. The trick was, I really still couldn’t totally be sure Kristi was as evil as Morgan said. I wasn’t even totally sure she was actually Morgan’s mother. Sure I saw it in a weird time-space dream state but that didn’t mean it had to be right. Did it?

  Morgan snapped her fingers. I found myself back in my bed.

  My Notes:

  I still can’t be sure what’s right and what’s wrong. I want to stop Morgan. But if Kristi really did convert the Black Knight like that. ? If his words truly were his words, then Kristi was a true danger to everyone. Wow, could Kristi really be a bigger and worse threat than Morgan? Looks like I will have to meet her in person to find out. The question was how?

  Chapter 3 – Conversations

  The next morning, I woke up with Merlin sitting on my stomach. “About time you woke up!” Merlin complained.

  “Sorry, school doesn’t start for another hour and a half,” I told him.

  Merlin sniffed me. He waved his tail to Fern. Fern flew over and sniffed me.

  “Guys, why the sniffing?” I asked.

  “You smell like magic,” Merlin said. “Powerful magic!”

  Fern nodded his head. “Agreed, very powerful mojo!”

  “What happened?” Merlin asked.

  “Morgan sent me to meet the black knight,” I sighed.

  “The black knight!” they both said. Fern put his wing over his heart.

  “So you’ve heard of him,” I said.

  They both nodded. “Of course, surely you have too!”

  “I have I always thought he was a legend something to spook the kids,” I admitted. “But I met him and battled him,” I said.

  “Gwen you are good, but not ready for the black knight yet. For some reason, he is nigh unbeatable. Only Lance could fight him to a draw. But that was centuries ago. Now the Black Knight has centuries more experience. Plus he has powerful magic on his side,” Merlin said.

  “Had,” I said bluntly.

  “What are you talking about, girl?” Merlin said. “Why are we talking about the Black Knight in the past tense?”

  “Did you beat him?” Fern asked.

  Merlin shook his head. “No way. Not one on one. Not yet.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I said.

  “Just stating a fact, only Excalibur could harm him. And Morgan has Excalibur and I still doubt that sword would let her wield it yet,” Merlin said.

  “He is dead, turned to dust,” I said.

  “How?” Fern asked flying into my face.

  “Morgan did it. Kind of. He was immune to her magic, but she got his horse to kick him in the head and he turned to dust.”

  “Clever!” Merlin said.

  “Wait he was even immune to Morgan’s magic?” Fern asked.

  “Apparently he worked for Morgan’s mom. And get this...she claims that her mom is Kristi Quick,” I said.

  The two of them just looked at each other.

  “Okay guys, what can you tell me about Morgan’s mom?” I prompted.

  Merlin and Fern looked shocked. They turned to me. They shrugged. “We don’t know much…”

  “I need more guys!” I insisted.

  “They say she’s been alive longer than forever,” Merlin said.

  “Wait how is that even possible? Longer than forever?” I asked.

  They ignored me and went on.

  “They say she is as evil as they come. And that her power knows no bounds,” Fern said.

  “That really isn’t all that helpful,” I said slowly. “Could she have imprisoned the Black Knight and made him live forever?” I asked.

  They both looked at each other again. “If anybody could...it would be her.”

  “We guess,” Fern shrugged.

  They looked at each other again. They started talking in cat and bird.

  “Meow, me ow, mee ow, me me ooow meow me ow!”

  “Chrip tweet tweeeeet tweet chip cluck cluck burg…”

  Pretty sure the burp was an accident but outside of that they were talking about something they didn’t want me to understand. That really bugged me.

  “Look, guys, I am your queen you’re not supposed to talk behind my back like this!” I told them.

  “We were talking in front of you!” Merlin said.

  “I mean you are not supposed to talk in a language I don’t understand,” I said.

  “So you don’t speak cat and bird?” Merlin said.

  “No, of course not,” I said.

  Merlin sarcastically replied, “A good leader speaks many languages.”

  “Guys!” I said in my firmest voice. “I order you to tell me what you are talking about!”

  “We were talking about how a queen should speak many languages,” Merlin told me. “You really should pay attention!”

  “I meant before that,” I said.

  “How much before that?” Merlin asked.

  “What were you guys talking about when you were talking cat and bird?” I demanded.

  They both exchanged a glance.

  Fern looked down. “We don’t know,” he admitted.

  “Okay, why didn’t you just say so?” I asked.

  “Because we are supposed to know this kind of stuff,” Fern said.

  “You sure you’re not hiding anything from me?” I asked them, looking into their eyes.

  “She’s a goddess,” Fern blurted.

  “Maybe,” Merlin added. “That’s just a rumor.”

  “But a rumor that may be true,” I said.

  “We just know she has vast power. Perhaps even more power than Morgan,” Merlin admitted. “She is not one to mess with!”

  “Could she be Kristi Quick like Morgan tells me?” I asked.

  They looked at each other again. They looked back at me.

  “The annoying pop singer who claims to be the queen of all music?�
� Merlin asked.

  “Yes,” I said.

  “She is really pretty,” Fern said.

  “So it’s possible,” I said.

  “Yes,” Merlin said.

  “And she could be worse than Morgan?” I asked.

  “Very possible,” Fern said.

  I needed the help and opinions of my knights. After all, this was a big deal.

  I raised my arms, “Knoghts cima!” I chanted.

  An orb appeared in my room. The orb took the shape of a door. First, Mika walked out. Then Sebastian. Bart and Brett followed. Next came Gail. Percy came through. Finally, Lance walked in.

  Lance looked at the magical doorway. “So frosty.”

  “Dude you mean, cool,” Brett corrected.

  Lance shrugged. “If you say so…”

  “Why the emergency summons?” Mika asked.

  Sebastian looked around, “And where’s Art?”

  Looking over at the orb door it remained open. We could all see into Art’s room. Art stood in the doorway contemplating.

  “Art, please come,” I said.

  Art walked through the doorway into my room. He looked around. “Man, you are going to need a bigger room.”

  “I’ve called you all here for a reason,” I said.

  “Yeah we kind of figured this wasn’t for a party,” Bart said.

  I shot Bart a look. He took a step back and lowered his head.

  “I am thinking about working with Morgan,” I said slowly.

  “What?” Art shouted.

  Bart and Brett also started to grumble.