BRRL Gen 10 Chapter 1

8/8/2019 BRRL Gen 10 Chapter 1

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As the morning sun rose higher overhead, Lily stretched and basked in it,

enjoying the warmth on her skin. Rubbing her stomach, she felt the intense

craving for a grilled cheese sandwich and realized she had better make her

way into the small, peaceful village known as Desiderata Valley.


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She had precious little money left, really not enough to even rent a place,

not that there were any apartments in the valley to rent. She was lucky

enough to find the small, quiet spot in the wooded outskirts of town where

she put up her small tent and set up camp.


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She had chosen this place specifically because of its seemingly bright and sunny

disposition. She had spent some time traveling and exploring after leaving the

dark anonymity of Sim City and had finally decided on Desiderata because it

represented a drastic change. Her past was a story better saved for another day.

One someone else would have to tell.


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Her first order of business was to find some form of

employment to replenish her bank account and she

headed into town with that end in mind.


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From his secreted vantage point, he watched her moving

around the impromptu camp in the woods outside of

town proper.


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She was so unusual. So unique. He had never seen or met anyone like her.

Her hair was what really caught his attention though. It was long, silky,

beautiful, and the copper color glinted in the sunshine. He closed his eyes

and imagined the feel of it as he pulled it through his fingers.


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Shivers of anticipation tingled up his spine. She was so unlike the girls

he had sought out before. It had been so long since the last girl. Had

it been so long? It would take time, but she would be his. He was

sure of it.


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As Lily explored the town, she made a mental note of

The Frippery Frock and the small art museum.


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The idea that it was a castle full of fairy tales and dreams that come true fueled

her imagination as she walked up the steps to see what it was. She noticed the

small block letter sign in the window that said Help Wanted. Inquire Within.

and felt lightness in her step as she opened the door and walked in.


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It was love at first sight. Or maybe love at first sound would be a better

description. The bubbling sounds of children at play mixed with the

colorful carpets were like a beacon to her.


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Can I help you? a smartly dressed woman in a colorful

apron asked as she approached.


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Uhm, I saw your sign in the window. I was wondering if

you were still looking for help?


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Miss Molly, Miss Molly! a small dark haired boy

interrupted, tugging at the other womans apron.


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Alistair has burnt another muffin! Im sure the oven shall catch fire now!

Excuse me a moment, Molly Jones said as she turned to address the boy.

Lily noted that her smile extended to her eyes as she talked to him.


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Now Alfred, you are interrupting. I know you have a valid concern for the safety of the

other children, but we discussed this the last time Alistair burnt a muffin. The oven will

not catch fire. It is a safety oven, otherwise we wouldnt allow it in the building. If you

would like, you can stand watch and I will come take a look in a moment. She paused

thoughtfully, I did notice that Mario over at the activity table is having some trouble

with his block tower. Perhaps you could help him instead.


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The boy Alfred considered both suggestions and

eventually meandered over toward the activity table to

help the younger child with his blocks.


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He means well, Molly explained as she turned back to Lily. He is

an extremely cautious child, but he looks out for the others and

would do anything for them, she explained with affection in her

voice.


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Now, about that job, she trailed off as she made her

way toward a small office hidden at the back of the

kitchen, indicating that Lily should follow.


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Im Molly Jones. My husband Desmond and I have run the Castle for the last five years.Ill be honest, its a small town. Youre the only one who has inquired in the three weeks

since I posted the sign. You pass the background check and youre hired. The hours are

Monday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm. Theres not really a lunch break, we eat with the

kids. It calms down at nap time, but we still have to be here to watch them as they sleep

and not all of them do. The salary is $10 per hour. I can pay you daily or weekly, your

preference. Still interested?


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Lily smiled and nodded her head. I would love the opportunity, she

replied. Its been awhile, but I have some experience with children and

enjoy being around them. It never gets old, watching them as they figure

out how things work, or watching their imaginations grow.


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They moved into the kitchen and Molly went through a

small barrage of questions, gauging how Lily would react

to different situations, and observed her as she

interacted and played with the children for a short time.


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After reading the children a story, Lily settled into a chair at one of

the lunch tables and filled out the necessary paperwork. She

walked over and handed it back to Molly.


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Molly looked over the paperwork and gathered the older children, leading

them all outside.

Everything seems to be in order. The background check should come back in

the next three days. Ill see if I can push it through any faster. You can start as

soon as I get that report.


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For the first time since she stepped in the door, Lily felt

some apprehension. I dont have an address yet. I


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Where are you staying? Molly asked before Lily could finish.

Lily looked sheepishly at the ground, Ive set up a camp on the outskirts of

town in the woods. I can stop by in a day or two and check on the results


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Nonsense! Molly huffed as she got up and headed

back inside the Castle. Wait here.


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Butbut I dont have the money for rent, or anything,

Lily explained.


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Well come to an arrangement. The place really is a

mess. You can stay there rent free for three weeks. If

the job is a fit, Ill charge you rent. In the meantime, you

clean it up for me. Make it livable.


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Lilys city girl mindset started to kick in and she weighed her

options. Were there unseen strings attached? She didnt think so.

She held out her hand, sounds like a deal.


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He could barely contain himself as he made his way back to the

campsite. The excitement built and he trembled in anticipation.

He wondered if her skin was as velvety smooth as the others, and if

her eyes would be as expressive.


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His elation faded quickly as he realized she wasnt there and was unlikely to

return. Angrily, he kicked at the dirt surrounding the cold fire ring. It hadnt

been used since early that morning. The tent was gone as well as all of her

gear. She must have come back and packed everything up.


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Frustrated, he turned and began to make his way back to the road. Oh, he would find her,

he had no doubt. This was definitely a crimp in his plans though. It would take a little

more planning. Better planning. Something more cunning. But he would find her, and

she would be his. After all, the chase could be exciting too, couldnt it?


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Lily pulled back the newly washed sheets and comforter

from the bed and climbed in with a sigh of relief.


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Molly had not been exaggerating when she said the small cottage was a mess. After

she had left Kiddie Care Castle, Lily made her way back to camp and repacked herthings. Her second trip down the hill into town took her past Gustavs Grocery where

she used the last of her money to pick up the items required to make grilled cheese

and a bag full of cleaning supplies, including a sturdy broom and a good mop.


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She had spent the better part of the afternoon and most of the evening cleaning,

dusting, mopping, sorting and rearranging until she was satisfied with how the small

cottage looked.


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She had worked hard, but she had

also taken a few breaks. Mostly to

build sandcastles.


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And she was finally able to make

grilled cheese.


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Dada, Dada!! Youre home!


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Im great Dada. But Alfred will probably tell you that I tried to burn down the Castle the

other day. I didnt though, I was makin a muffin. And Nanny Mallory took us to the park

too, and I finally got to slide down the pole when Alfred wasnt looking so he wouldnt

tattle on me, and I made some drawings for you too, Alistair finished a bit breathlessly.


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Alfred Mole stood back on the porch, patiently waiting for his turn with his

father. He loved his twin immensely, but had learned long ago to stay out of

his way when he was running for something. As the pair came closer, he

stepped into the full light and hugged his father.


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Hi Dada. Im glad youre home.

Me too son, me too, John said as he hugged him back.


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Come on, John smiled, putting an arm around each

boy. Lets get inside and you can tell me all about your

adventures while I was gone.


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Something was wrong. Very wrong. Rick Contrary

swung the door open and found a toddler sitting in a

dirty diaper, crying.


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Swooping her up into his arms, he carried her to the changing

table. He changed her diaper and picked her up again to head into

the kitchen for a bottle.


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He was surprised to feel her small hands grasp his neck as she snuggled her

head close to his chest. He patted her back and comforted her as best he

could, then put her in the crib, hoping she would fall asleep quickly.


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His next task was a phone call to the police. The glimpse he had of the other room as

he picked up the child and put her to bed was quite gruesome. They would need to

gather evidence. The third thing he did was call John Mole, who was a close family

friend. John would know what to do. Rick wasnt sure how he knew, he just did.


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Who was the baby? His relationship wasnt that great with his parents, he hadnt spoken

to them in months, but he never imagined that they would keep a secret such as this

from him. He wandered the house aimlessly, only now noticing the baby toys and

pictures scattered about. He had a sister? A sister with no parents. Not any longer.


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He called the Registrar, and in a numb monotone, informed them

that he would not be returning to school. He didnt even feel the

sparkles as he transitioned into adulthood.


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Heya Dad, Violet Jocque greeted her father Marcel as she made

her way from her bedroom to the bathroom.


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Mornin Punkin. When did you get home? Marcel asked

absent-mindedly as he considered his next chess move.


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Oh, it was the wee hours of the night. I didnt want to wake you and Mom on

my way in. Ill be right back to talk to you a bit. I gotta use the little girls room

real quick, she said as she rushed into the bathroom and closed the door.


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A few moments later, she appeared again. Mind if I join

you? Wheres Mom?


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I was hoping you would. She left for work early this morning. Shell be back

this afternoon. Wants to have a family meeting. You know what that means.

Hope I didnt do anything to get in trouble, he grinned conspiratorially.


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Well, it wasnt me. I havent been home long enough to get into trouble,

she grinned back. Whats with the paintings in the living room? They

werent there when I was here for my last visit.


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Meh. Theyre your mothers. Some kind of heirloom or something. She

put them in there a few weeks ago. Took forever to hang em straight,

he shrugged. You can ask her about them at the family inquest.


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He gave another grin. Hows your room? Mom figured you wouldnt want to come

home to the little girl sports room you had before you left for college. She agonized a

bit over the bedspread.

Its gorgeous. The new bed is comfy too. I slept like a baby, she told him.


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Good. Got any plans for the day? he asked.


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Not really. Just a little workout, then gotta hunker

down and work on my resume so I can get to looking for

a job, she said. Nothing too pressure filled.


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It was late afternoon when Sophia Jocque returned home from work.

No one was quite hungry enough for a meal and so she called to

Marcel and Violet to join her in the living room.


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She waited until they had settled comfortably and with some trepidation began.

I have something to tell you, and Im not sure how youll react, but let me preface

everything by saying that I love you both very, very much and would never do

anything to intentionally hurt you.


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Mom, what is going on? Are you sick? Violets imagination

kicked into overdrive.

No, Im not sick. Its a long story, and its well past time that it

should be told.


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However there were those who were the exception. Half human, half elf children

were born, something that was not tolerated in the North Forest. Many children

were killed, their parents exiled and shunned. There was one though. One who

escaped. Her name was Carli Doran. She was the first whose life was saved, but

more importantly, she symbolized hope for others.


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It was long ago, but her line has survived and become strong, if cursed. For a

long time, her descendants were followed, attacked and persecuted as an

abomination. Elves were encouraged to destroy them and any other half

breeds they came across. This was the way of the Elves for a long time.

However, a few generations later, things started to change.


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You are probably curious about the paintings Ive hung in this room.

They are The Three. Thea, Stanlina, and Edwina. All three were the

best of friends. All three fell in love with humans at the same time.


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Thea and Edwina gave birth to half breeds. The time was very

dangerous for them and their children, and with great sadness, they

sent them to the humans to be raised in peace.


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Their portraits were created as a talisman to protect the children

from the North Forest Elves, a glamour if you will, to hide their

elfin features. As long as the children were in possession of the

paintings, no harm would befall them from the Elves.


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The Three were not ones to sit idly by and allow the persecution of half breeds to continue.

Fueled by the hope of Carli Dorans story, they began an underground movement to rescue

as many as they could. Humans had always welcomed the half breeds, and there were

even documented cases where they were adopted, given a home, and raised as family.

Over time, their movement grew. More of the Elves came to light who did not agree with

the termination policies of past elders.


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The last Elf Queen, Ariel, was a follower of The Threes philosophy.

Even so, as she came to power, she had to be careful. She gathered an

elite force and sent them out in disguise amongst the humans. They

were to observe human behavior towards those who were different

and report their findings.


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Sophia looked at the floor and her voice grew very quiet, some of us went

beyond what was asked. We fell in love and had children of our own.

She looked up at her beloved husband and daughter, tears glinting in her

eyes, hoping for understanding instead of rejection.


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Marcel took her hand in his, My love, nothing you could say or

do would ever change the way I feel about you, he told her.


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Mom, Violet began, does this mean that you are an elf? Im a

half breed? Cool! Do I have magical powers or anything?


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Sophia blinked. Then smiled, then laughed, I dont know why I ever

thought this would be a difficult thing to tell both of you. Turning to Violet

she said, The only power you have, my dear is the power to make me love

you more than I ever thought I could.


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Sobering up a bit, she continued, Theres more I need

to tell you. Part of the story is yet to be written.


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There was a battle. It was a terrible war between many supernatural creatures.There are still Elves who do not wish to accept half breeds and who will do all in their

power to destroy them and those who support them. They joined the battle and

fought against followers of The Three.


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The portraits provide some help, but we are not the original recipients of the wards,nor are we descended from their bloodline, and they are not strong enough. On the

day I age to elder, my physical elfin characteristics will no longer be hidden and we

will be exposed, she finished.

So, what do we do? asked Violet.


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Ive been in contact with the others. They will do their best to keep

our enemies off our trail, but there are no guarantees. Regardless of

the danger, the work must continue. We have to keep working toward

acceptance of half breeds by the Elves.


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How do we get involved? Marcel finally spoke up,

leading them to an intense discussion lasting the

remainder of the evening.


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I think well stop here as Lily contemplates her future.

Giving credit where credit is due, much thanks goes to:

Dicreasy for releasing the paintings of Thea, Edwina and Stanlina and allowing me to incorporate them

into the plot bunnies running around my head.

Smoothiequeen87 for the picture of Carli running away.

BRRL Gen 10 Chapter 1

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Transcript of BRRL Gen 10 Chapter 1