Empress Avery

The hero didn't snap when the villain killed her family. She didnt snap when the emperor exiled her and turned her friends against her (or so she thought). But the person in the front of her at the tavern has been deciding what to order for fifteen minutes now, and all hell is about to break loose. She has spent entirely too long taking orders from others, and waiting for this man to decide what he wants to drink has turned into the last straw. Avery grabs the nearest tray and slams it into the unsuspecting man. At this point, the whole tavern is turned to her. Couples begin to whisper, "Isn't that the woman the emperor exiled from the town over?" and "I heard she killed ten guards with her bare hands and a toothpick."

The chatter caused Avery to chuckle. "Is that what they're saying? That I only killed ten guards?". After that, the room becomes dead silent.

"You would've done it too. Imagine watching the look on your mother's face as you sit there tied up, watching your baby sister's blood drip down the drain as a mad man chops her into tiny little pieces. And then they turn to your mother, who is sobbing uncontrollably while your father is begging for her to be spared and to take his life instead. Imagine paying for the sins of your father because he thought business was just business while he is walking as a free man because he decided that my life was less valuable than his own." she grins as she surveys the room.

"Now. May I order?" Avery says in a calm, collected voice. Avery didn't realize that she had snapped. After all, to her, this is normal behavior. Every movement was carefully calculated to lead her back to the emperor.

"Y-yes ma'am. What can I do ya for?" the man behind the counter stutters.

"A gin. Straight." Avery replies, not missing a beat. Chatter returns to the tavern as everyone periodically eyes Avery except a tall, dark figure in the back. She seemed to be minding her business, and this seemed odd to Avery.

She carefully moves through the tavern to sit as far from the dark figure as possible. She takes shot after shot while surveying the room. Finally, she realizes the mysterious individual was missing from the room, which was her cue to disappear.

"How much is my tab?" Avery inquires.

"Zero. The mysterious individual paid for your tab before leaving," he replies.

"Okay. How much is the tab of the tavern then?" Avery asks curiously.

"Well...ma'am, tonight is a slow night, so barely a few hundred." he replies regretfully.

"And a good night?" Avery asks, reading the man's reaction.

"A-a good night would be at the very least a thousand." he replies nervously.

"Here." Avery says as she hands him a few thousand and walks out.

Perplexed, the man does not question her and announces, "The woman who was just in here paid for all your meals and drinks.".

Chatter fills the tavern as Avery slips out of sight. She mounts her horse and rides off into the sunset. However, I wish that was the end of the story, but it's not. The mysterious figure corners off Avery.

"What do you want?" Avery demands.

"I want to help you." the woman replies.

"Help me what?!" Avery snaps, removing the hooded cape from the woman. To Avery's surprise, it was her mother.

"You-you're dead." Avery tries to say, compiling her feelings.

"You aren't real!" However, she was real, well, sort of. A powerful sorcerer brought her mother back to life with a simple price to pay. Once her death is avenged, she must return to the grave. However, this time she may pass on.

"Your face....it looks like you have been burned to death. What happened to you?" Avery cries out.

"When they took you away they tied me to the center pillar of our house and lit it on fire." her mom replies, ashamed.

"But...how did you get out alive?" Avery asks, concerned.

"That does not matter. What matters now is that we avenge your sister. Your father lives in the palace with the emperor as his equal while you have been thrown to the wolves." she replies angrily.

"What are you purposing?" Avery asks sheepishly.

"Have you any friends?" her mother asks.

"No. The emperor has caused all my friends to turn against me." she says, remorseful.

"I hardly find that to be true. However, may we return to the tavern? I am starving and haven't ate in what seems like fifteen years." her mother replies.

"Um...sure. I don't see why not." Avery replies while thinking about how it has been fifteen years since her mother was pronounced dead.

Upon returning to the tavern, the whole place returns to silence.

"Ma'am are you sure that you wanted to pay that much?" the server asked.

"Yes. I would also love to buy my mother some food." Avery says confidently. The man notices the burns all over Avery's mother. Avery catches him staring and gives him a stern look.

"My apologies." he whispers for only Avery to hear. A couple with three thin, frail children approach Avery.

"Thank you so much Miss. We rarely eat and when we do it isn't enough. He told us you said we could eat here every day for the next month based on your payment. We are forever greatful. How ever can I repay you?" they say while hugging her.

"Knowing you are eating is thanks enough." Avery replies, returning the warm embrace. Avery hadn't had positive contact in so long she broke down crying.

"See.. you aren't alone." her mother whispers in her ear.

One after one, families, couples, and individuals tell Avery how much this gift will change their lives. One by one, they ask her how they can ever repay her. She gracefully tells them that she wants nothing in return; however, they look at her mother. Avery wasn't aware that her mother was using the power she was granted to let each of them see what Avery has witnessed. What her father had done to her and so many others.

Family after family leave after thanking Avery and hugging her. Avery and her mother sit down and have dinner together for the first time in fifteen years. As they are finishing their dinners, the men from the families appear with guns, axes, pitchforks, and any other weapon that they could find. Avery becomes uneasy and attempts to stand up; however, her mother grips her arm hard, pulling her back into her seat.

"We want to help you. We know what your father has done to you and that is enough to want justice. He is a dead man!" one of the men informs Avery.

Stunned, Avery catches her breath. "It is not your problem though." Avery replies.

"That matters not, Miss. You do not deserve to live this hell day in and day out." another man replies.

"Come. See." he says as he motions for her hand. Avery takes his hand hesitantly and follows him out of the tavern as Avery's mother follows silently behind, graciously thanking them with her mind-reading powers. To Avery's amazement, the whole town is outside preparing horses and carriages.

"The emperor is planning a massive ball. Every city is invited. We will all be going, and he will not suspect a thing. It is a costume party so we all will be going in masks. That is how we will be getting you in, Avery." a woman says as she hands Avery a beautiful ball gown and mask. They all rode to the palace as Avery's stomach floats into her throat.

"You will be okay my dear. I promise." her mother whispers as she fixes Avery's mask.

They arrive at the palace, and Avery is ushered in without an issue. However, when her mother enters the palace, she notices the scars disappear, and her appearance changes to a different woman.

"Mom!" Avery gasps.

"Hush dear. It'll be alright." she replies with a smile. Avery watches as her mother makes her way to the emperor and bows. The emperor is bewitched by her beauty and asks her to dance. She gracefully smiles and accepts.

A man grabs Avery by the arm, and a searing pain goes up her arm. "Ouch!" she yells out.

"Hush. Your father has spotted you and is on his way to dance with you. However you do not seem to look like you. I will pretend to be your husband. Now is not the time." the man replies. Avery and the man dance around the ballroom.

"May I?" asks her father.

"I am sorry sir this is my wife and we respectfully decline." the man replies.

"Fair enough good sir." her father replies and walks off.

"I have my men collecting him after toasts. However you must let your mother kill him or she will suffer." he informs her.

"What do you mean suffer?!" Avery asks in disbelief.

"She hasn't told you has she?" he asks remorsefully.

"No." she mumbles with her head in thought.

"Trust her Avery. It will be okay." he whispers in her ear. Avery is unaware that this is the sorcerer protecting her, nor does she know that the palace has a sorcerer.

"Tonight the emperor will fall and the people will turn to you. In due time this all will make sense." he notifies her. "Time for toasts." he insures her as he leads her to the front of the ballroom.

"My good people," the emperor begins, "it has been fifteen years since we freed our next in line." he continues as he motions to her father. Avery goes to step forward; however, the sorcerer grabs her arm even tighter than before.

"Trust me." he whispers into Avery's ear, putting her in a trance. Finally, the emperor finishes his toast, and her father bows to the room.

"Lets go." the sorcerer says as he leads Avery out. She hadn't noticed that her father was taken in a carriage to the tavern.

As they head down the mountain, the trumpets sound, and people begin to scream, "THE EMPEROR IS DEAD!" and "ALL HAIL EMPEROR KINGSLY!". At this point, Avery realizes that this is her father, and she is angered.

"How could you let this happen?! Who are you?" Avery asks angrily.

"That matters not. I am taking you back to the tavern to your mother. You must say your goodbyes. The deed has been done and she must go Avery." the sorcerer says confidently.

As they arrive at the tavern, Avery jumps out of the carriage before it is even stopped. She can feel the sting of her tears in the cold night stream down her face.

"Mom!!" Avery shouts. However, she sees her father lying there lifeless.

"I'm sorry Avery. I know that this was the price you wanted to pay however I cannot move on if he lives."

"Mom no. Please." Avery pleads as her mother holds her one last time.

"I love you Avery." she replies, and at that moment, her mother turns into a bright, beautiful light. The light goes through Avery's heart and into her chest.

Avery instantly feels happiness and completion. She turns to the sorcerer, and she thanks him. "ALL HAIL EMPRESS AVERY!" he bellows.

The whole tavern repeats, "ALL HAIL EMPRESS AVERY!!".

"What?" Avery asks, puzzled.

"Since your father was the emperor, you were next in line. Since he is dead, the throne is yours. All has been restored Avery. You are free." the sorcerer says as he lays his hand on her shoulder.

"We must get the empress to the palace. Peace can return at last." a woman says from the back of the room.

"I shall deliver her to the palace. It would be an honor." the sorcerer says as he bows to Avery.

"Okay. Please stay by my side noble sorcerer." Avery says with a grin as she took her seat at the throne and ruled as the first single empress in history.