Rune

Rune watched as Vinnia clasped her hands tightly around her mug of coffee. She looked as though she wasn't experiencing any inclination to speak, which caused a bit of anxiety in Rune. What if they were never to find out what exactly had gone on in that gathering?

Trace took a seat beside Vinnia and wrapped an arm encouragingly around the Singers' Trainer. The room was silent as Vinnia contemplated her words.

Finally, Miss Valdeza raised her head and met Casady's eyes. "Can I trust you to keep this under control?"

Offended that Vinnia hadn't directed the question at him, Rune looked over to see Casady's reaction. Ah, well - it did make sense. Casady was the most level-headed of the three.

"You have my word, Vinnia."

Vinnia tapped her fingernails on the side of the mug, a habit which didn't seem to fit her put-together appearance. "I'll spare you all the backstory," she began, "but suffice it to say that my past hasn't exactly been rose-colored. I've been through things that sometimes even I can't imagine. I found ways to cope, ways that the Force frowns upon."

Trace reached across the table and laid his hand on Vinnia's, his eyes filled with concern. Rune glanced at Morgance and Casady to see how they were taking in the situation. Both looked transfixed by Vinnia's words.

"I...I won't tell you everything, but at tonight's gathering, the Force found out about the secrets I've been trying to hide. I then left the room with a rather rebellious statement. I hope to Heaven that I haven't put you all in trouble."

"What exactly did you say?"

Vinnia shook her head. "I don't want to give any of you ideas," she said, but her voice was unsure. "Just trust me when I say that you should all lie low for a little while. It's in everyone's best interest."

"By 'lying low,' do you mean I ought to Sing?" Morgance asked, her well-shaped eyebrows rising. "Because nothing you say can convince me!"

Removing her hand from Trace's grasp, Vinnia leaned forward and looked Morgance in the eyes. "That's exactly what I mean," she said. "Morgance, you've got to Sing. I don't know what good you think you're doing by refusing to Sing, but it's selfish. It's entirely selfish and will only result in problems for the rest of us. I suggest you get off your high horse and start thinking of someone other than yourself for a change."

Morgance stood. "Oh, so I suppose you unspecified ways of coping were selfless?"

"Don't judge me when you don't know the situation, Morgance."

Rune stood and tried to get Morgance to sit back down, but Morgance wouldn't have it. "Don't you judge me!" Morgance's voice rang out. "You have no idea what it's like to be forced to sing, do you? All your life, you've exulted in Singing! You have no idea what it's like to have people use your voice for their own vile purposes!"

Rune wondered if Vinnia ever lost her temper, because she simply watched Morgance rant and rave. When Morgance's tantrum was finished, Vinnia nodded back to Morgance's chair. "Sit down, Estella," Vinnia commanded quietly, referring to Morgance by her last name.

Morgance sat.

"If you had any idea how many false accusations you've thrown at me, you'd be shocked. I have every right to put you in the Force's jails, just for not Singing. You have no idea how many favors I'm doing, just for you. I have the power to put you in your place, but I'm not. I'm not, because I see potential in you. Not just potential to Sing, but to go further than that." Vinnia met the eyes of everyone in the room, including Trace. "Are you with me?" 

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Note: Because readers have been rating without explanation, I'm disabling the ratings. My hope is that this way, the readers will be encouraged to comment and tell me how to change my story so that it's the best it can possibly be! Thanks, y'all! :)

Dedicated to Jessie Rose and Ramona Maria, two dear friends who mean more to me than any dedication could possibly convey.

Do you know what the Songmakers Force is?

That's alright. Nobody does, really. The most I can tell you is that the Songmakers Force is an underground community that specializes in selling a commodity most unheard of: Song.

Kidnaping young adults in order to train them to be powerful, breathtaking Singers, the Songmakers Force is top-secret and will stop at nothing to make sure their Singers cooperate. Their goal? To produce Song that is more beautiful than any other in history.

Casady Conlin, Rune Pipher, and Morgance Estella are three young adults that have been selected to serve the Songmakers Force. But their Head Trainer, Vinnia Valdeza, has other ideas...other ideas that swell with rebellion and, ultimately, freedom.

Character Bios:
CASADY CONLIN
Age: 22
Appearance: Tall, lean, dark blonde hair, bright hazel eyes, somewhat fair complexion, extremely handsome

RUNE PIPHER
Age: 21
Appearance: Short (for a man), stocky, dark brown hair, bright blue eyes, olive-tone complexion, also handsome (though in a different way than Casady)

MORGANCE ESTELLA
Age: 19
Appearance: Quite short, curvy (if not just a little plump), purple hair (dyed, of course ;) ), dark brown eyes, very dark complexion

VINNIA VALDEZA
Age: 29
Appearance: Waist-long, straight silver hair (dyed), extremely pale skin, large blue eyes, very tall, very slender

updated 25 days ago by cassandramorrow