Chapter Three: Dicentra

They’re laughing at me. They’re laughing at me. Why are they laughing at me?

‘Because you’re a failure,’ says Cendra.

‘Shut up,’ I reply, ‘you’re not any better.’

‘But I am,’ it continues simply, ‘Technically I’m not the one who didn’t fit in, am I?’

Didn’t fit in…

‘Why are you bringing it up again?’

‘You tell me. I wasn’t the one sobbing about something that happened God knows how long ago.’

‘I wasn’t sobbing,’ I snap, trying to ignore its crude remarks.

’Well you may not be now,’ Cendra muses, its tone growing judgemental, ‘but you certainly have in the past.’

The past.

‘Can you just go away?’ I ask.

‘You mean leave the home we both share? I think not.’

‘It wouldn’t be your home if I had somewhere else to put you,’ I mutter, but if it hears me it doesn’t say anything.

‘Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting right now?’ it says, changing the subject.

‘What are you talking about? I don’t remember-’

‘Then your memory sucks,’ it says impatiently, ‘now get the fuck out.’

‘Mistress Dizzy.’

Blazing lights glare at me from all directions, and it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust.

‘Mistress Dizzy,’ the stubby man next to me repeats, a hint of urgency in his voice, ‘What is your verdict?’

‘My verdict…?’

All around me are rows and rows of seats, filled with numerous Marionettes of different skills. The constant buzz of chatter bounces off the walls, an unusual excitement gracing the court. Hints of red and gold shimmer like the sea, embracing the room in an orange glow. The plush velvet of the seats captures the rich colour of the finest wine, subtle silver accents shining like the stars at night.

In the centre of the room, hunched over and shivering, is an E-Marionette. His eyes flick around the room rapidly, glistening with ripe terror.

‘Stand up, you useless pawn.’

A hush falls upon the room, and the E-Marionette* raises his head slowly,

‘Your Honour,’ he begins desperately, ‘If I may-’

‘You may not,’ I interrupt, the details of the case coming back to me in a rush. ‘Threatening your puppets? Torturing them to the point of insanity?’ I chuckle, slightly amused, ‘I must say, for someone in the entertainment industry, you sure seem to know a lot about the Cruelty techniques. Care to explain?’

He looks down again, shrinking into himself. ‘I was learning… I was learning how to–’

‘Not interested.’

The pudgy man next to me, Philus, looks up at me with a sort of admiration, but straightens up and asks, ‘How are you going to sentence him, Mistress Dizzy?’

If the room can get any more silent, it does. The sound of the E-Marionette’s rapid breathing echoes around the court, and I fix him with a deadly glare.

‘I sentence you to twenty-five… no, to fifty years on the human planet,’ I say, revelling in the look of horror that replaces the fear on his face, ‘I think maybe St Petersburg will do the trick.’

Conversation breaks out among the court members, all discussing the harsh punishment that the poor E-Marionette is facing and humming with excitement at the day’s events.

‘Good job, Mistress Dizzy,’ says Philus, ‘You brought that circus scum to justice.’

‘It’s what I have to do,’ I say coldly, his presence irritating me.

‘Of course, of course, but what I meant to say was-’

‘Court dismissed!’

As the crowds of Marionettes disperse, I stare at the convict one last time, and see his expression change from dread to utter loathing.

‘This isn’t over,’ he mouths.

But I just smile at him as he gets dragged out the doors.

Because he’s right.

This game is far from over.