1.2 Two Harpies with a stick is better than ten on a broom?

Vampires, witches, werewolves and mummies just to mention a few. Iva wasn't impressed, but if her publisher said so, he probably had a point. Most of their so-called powers were long gone and quite useless anyway. Irritating none the less. 

Jericho might be an old city, but more than modern enough to fight against racism. It hadn't gotten supernaturals to flock to the city, but atleast the few who lived here was generally not discriminated. She chose to forget the cliche- filled rasicm that filled her own book. After all, there were far more dangerous and scary things in this world than supernatural powers.  

You should lock the door. Jericho's a dangerous city for little girls. The low, icy voice was enough to leave Ivas mouth dry. Speaking of scarier things....

Adela, one of her two older sister stood in the doorway to her bedroom. That could only mean one thing

Her other sister, Valerie, followed close behind. Throughout Ivas  childhood, those two witches had tormented the entire family, neighbourhood and school. And witches they were, in every term of the word. Iva had, tohether with her brother and their parents, been relieved when the sisters had left at their age up. The witchcraft was a heritage from their father, and he claimed they couldn't help beeing mean. It was a part of it, he had said. 

Neither Adela or Valerie seemed impressed with her home. Though beeing polite wasn't their style anyway. The sisters still sent shivers down her spine, but to Ivas surprise the fear was gone. After all, they couldn't kill her with their witch magic. And if they tried any of their useless curses, well. Their dad was a more competent witch than either of them. 

Well, if it isn't my darling sister, Ivas voice was sugared as she talked. Why Valerie, you look absolutely smashing! Like a super villain from one of dads first movies. I guess that makes Adela the villains harlot. She served a smile with the words.

While Iva was quick to temper, the same couldn't be said about her sisters. Against normal, Valeria took charge of the situation. Oh, our little sister has finally grown up. The little writer will get far with her superior vocabulary. No wonder you're such a critically acclaimed writer. Her voice was as sarcastic as Adelas face. You should thank us instead of being so hostile. Why, you never know who will walk through the door in this city. Atleast in this part of town. No use arguing at that. They had all grown up in a priveliged home, on the "right" side of town. 

You've changes your familyname, Adela took over the conversation. We all know your not bright, but that's a dumb move. We Ichiro have much influence tied to that name. And money. It will get you far and quickly too, not to mention out of trouble. And what type of name is Sleitinn anyway? A bit exotic for you maybe?

It has a nice ring, Iva snapped at Adeal. Eventually she was going to write under her real name, so an artistic one was a great idea. But she had no intention of mentioning that to them. Besides,neither of us are ethnic enough for a name like Ichiro. We're a bunch of pasty whities, as my new surname fits that. 

Iva felt her temper boiling. Their father was a movie star, their mother a famous musician. But that was all she knew. The family history had died with their grandmother Isobel. And their mom told nothing, no matter how much she asked. It was what got her to be a writer in the first place. She wanted to investigate, to find the history of her family. And it was her passion in life, to write. But she wanted to make it on her own, not because of who she was. So she left her name and family fortune but not the town itself. She wasn't that needy of beeing on her own. Unfortunately her sisters was also here. She had hoped to avoid them in the large city, but no such luck.  

Maybe I could have kept the damn familyname if it weren't for you two hags! Why the bloody hell would anyone sane want to be related to the two of you? Your the most notorious criminals in town and everyone knows! She screamed the last part.

They weren't just ordinary criminals either. Every police in town knew they were going for leading the darker side of Jericho. Smuggling, trafficking, drugs and corrupting the town hall to mention a few, leaning on their family name while doing so. Though those two probably would have made it either way. But still, a bad reputation was starting to form behind it. A once proud name, slowly starting to wither. Iva had no plans to be a part of it.

You little bookworm, do you think you can escape that name? Reach for the stars as much as you want nerd, but your blood is as tainted as ours. I'd thrice curse you, but i doubt there's any need for that. She didn't raise that icy voice one bit. As Iva was to shoo them out the front door, Valerie turned around and gave her a parting gift, and said: Hope you'll lose your lust for icecream. 

D-d-d- damn h-h-harpies and their s-s-sticks. Iva snarled to her sistes as they walked out in silence. Leaving her shivering in the cold. 

Iva was used to it though. She had been blasted with fire and ice, turned into a frog and cursed with diseases. She'd still never been seriously harmed. Unimpressed, but still cold, she warmed herself to get rid of the chill in her bones. It should be unecessary on such a lovely day, but this was no ordinary cold.  

After the cold left her bones, she decided to get some groceries. 

But one of Jerichos many foodtrucks tempted more than going home to cook a meal of her own. So instead she ordered a burrito, hoping it wouldn't make her sick. It didn't. It tasted as good as it smelled, leaving her with a happy stomach and slightly guilty mind.  

With a full stomach she decided to go to the summer festival, but few people has showed up. She sat in their lounge and started reading the paper. Just to get interrupted by the phone. 

It was an old friend of hers from school. Or more correctly, her brothers friend. She had pretty much been forced out with her brother in her child and teen years, and ended up befriending some of his friends. The guy on the phone; Gard, was one of them. But this wasn't just a call to chat up some old friends. As soon as she answered he asked if she read the papers today. No, I was just about to when you rang, her tone beeing humours. Noras dead. Gards voice was just as calm as usual. Nora was his younger sister. Or, one of them.

Iva was terrible at dealing with sorrow. She didn't know what to say or do, and had an uncanny knack for making things worse.Ofcourse she blurted out the worst thing someone can say in a situation like that: What? When? How? But she's just a teen. Iva had met the girl several times, but never really talked to her. She was like Gard. A quiet nerd and bookworm. A long silence followed. She was murdered, I don't really know a lot more at this point. It was just a tiny hint of his voice cracking up at the word murder. Who would want to kill your sister, she was so sweet? Even Iva realised that wasn't the right thing to say. She was a terrible friend. I don't know Iva. He sounded tired, and slightly irritated.

She desided to tell the truth. I'm sorry Gard, I don't know what to say. It's just such a shock. She kept talking withouth thinking things through. Nora was just so... lovely and innocent. You know, a delicate little flower you just want to protect and nurture. I just can't believe that little petal's gone. Only thing left in Jericho now is concrete and toxic vaste.

A long silence followed, leaving Iva desperate for words again. She just couldn't say anything right. And she was aspiring to be a writer? I called because I need a favour. Jericho daily wanted to write some words of memory about her. We didn't want to talk to some stranger, so we told them we would do so ourselves. She heard him draw a deep breath on the phone. Iva begged to herself that his next words wouldn't come. 

It was harder than we thought. Could you... He cleared his voice.. would you do it for us? Damn it. How the hell could she say now to such a request? Ofcourse, she said with a sympathetic voice, while cursing internally. How about we meet up later, and talk about what your family want to share? They agreed that he would call later, after discussing the matters with the rest of the family. Apperently the newspaper wasn't going to print it just yet. They were waiting for the police to investigate further, before releasing the detailed version of the tragic news. Awefully kind of the media, so clearly they had struck a deal with the police. 

Nothing beats beating up someone else when desperation strikes, and Iva was no exception. She preffered to whack a witch, pretending it to be Adela and Valerie. She was nowhere crazy enough to smack the terrible twosome around for real, but this was close enough. Iva was so consentrated she didn't hear someone sneaking up on her.

Well look at that! It's the lost daughter. The one who changed her name. Left the stars to be a star. Mom is furious! She turned around, looking at her twinbrother Marek. Good thing she wasn't the only one in the family that was bad with words. He had just joined the army, aspiring to be an astronaut one day. Marek was a great brother, and everything she wasn't. Athletic, kind, brave and loved beeing the center of attention. They had been close as kids, and would hopefully stay that way. He still lived with their parents by their wish. Someone had to take over the house, and family fortune, and he had accepted the task. As lightly as he accepted everything. It was just like him to stop by at the festivale, probably hoping to run into someone he knew. Or to meet someone new. Iva wouldn't have a friend in the world if it weren't for him. 

As any normal twins they desided to play a game of horseshoe together, pretending to catch up on the latest gossip. In reality they were competing. It hadn't excately been long since they last met, but life changed fast. Their mother was angry at her for the namechange, their dad didn't seem to care. And ofcourse Marek had a new girlfriend, Ingrid. Iva knew well who she was, quite the tart apperently, but she wisely kept her mouth shut. After all, it wasn't MAreks style to judge a woman for something like that.

Have you spoken with Gard recently? Marek dropped the seemingly innocent question just as Iva was to throw. 

Argh, damnit Marek. Now I missed. She knew he was grinning. Yes, yes I've talked to him. Silence followed as usual, waiting for her to say more. Don't worry Marek, he already told me about Nora. He asked me if I could write something about her for the newspaper. I know it's sad and all, but I don't get why the paper is so interested in this particular case. 

There was no following silence this time. Well, police found her in the trunk of a car, so it's not really that strange. It was Ivas turn to be quiet this time. Gard didn't tell you? They had a routine stop of a car, and got suspicious of the guys in it. The cop checked the trunk, and found the body. He continued to tell her more of it. The girl had been gone a couple of days. Since she was supposed to spend a few days at a friends house, no one had thought it strange she didn't call her family. It was first when she hadn't answered her phone, suspicion had risen.

Iva looked at her brother. You said guys, there was more than one? He nodded as he took her place at the game.  

But, they still had eyecontact, why would they need to be more that one to get rid of a body? She wasn't a big girl. It sounds a bit odd that a murderer would take the chance of involving more people. Marek gave her a long stare, looking at her like she was daft. Hah! You missed, she laughed as the question made him unfocused.

They were probably in it together Iva. Iva's mind worked hard this time, but it still didn't make sense to her. But, it can't be so difficult to kill Nora, she was tiny. Was it a robbery gone wrong or something? Marek quit throwing the horseshoe, and put his arms on her shoulders. Iva. He said. What do grown men usually do to teenage girls, that would make them want to kill? 

She thought hard about her brothers words, while he looked at her. Waiting for the lightbulb to shine. Fortunately she got interupted by the phone. Her publishers sleasy voice was at the other end. Iva, sweety, how are things going? She mumbled some polite answer. I read the chapters you sent in, and sweety, the kids are going to love it. She pulled a face he couldn't see, and was able to get out a «great» comment here and there.

I've been thinking a bit. How about we make the book more adult and sexy. Oh no, she thought, but answered differently. What did you have in mind? He let out one of those laughters, that all semi-old men did when drooling over teenage girls. 

Well, how about we make the villain let loose his passion on some young girl. Like that little cutie they picked up from the trunk here the other day. She wasn't surprised that he knew, even if it weren't official yet. Rumors runs fast, even in big cities. Atleast now she knew what her brother had meant by his words. Sick to her stomach she didn't agree to anything and hung up. She then excused herself to her brother. Poor girl, she thought. No wonder Gard hadn't said anything about it. 

She was supposed to go home, but seeing her mother Lek, rollerblading, gave her a deep want to talk to her. Iva was close to her parents, but obviously her mother was more than furious at her for denying her name. To bad, she really could use her mothers comfort.  

As she sat down on a bench she was glad to find that atleast someone in the family cared, Rosalind. Her parents cat jumped up on her lap with no care in the world, demanding to be cuddled like only cats can. Poor girl, she thought to herself again, with the purring cat on her lap. She must have been terrified. What a horrible way to die. And that creepy publisher dared called it sexy?

Iva noticed that all to familiar anger boiling in her, focusing not to pet the cat to hard, she bit it back. She wanted to call him back and yell at him, but reason won. She couldn't afford him getting angry at her. She was comletely broke. Sighing she went home to write more.  

Only to find her own little kitten in desperate need of beeing hugged. She sweet talked Fatty, before putting her down on the floor.

  ..cutting her finger while cooking....

And trying not to think about the so-called sexy things her publisher wanted her to write into the trashy book. Next time, she was going to write a good old fashioned slasher novel.  

--------------------------

Long story, a lot of information. I have a confession to make: I kill sims all the time. Not to be mean, but to keep population down, and decrease inbreeding. So I was completely taken by surprise when Ivas friend called, and the tombstone- bubble appeared. It became a big part of the story, since it happened and seemed natural. As of now, what happens in the game, gets in the blog. 

As for the mean sisters thing, it's a cliche. But I tried a new gamestyle for this generation. I rarely ever controlled Ivas siblings, and the witch- sisters were really terrible. Everyone in the family have them in the red. Marek and Iva always got along well, so they did a lot together, since it seemed natural that way. 

Last, I don't know anything about books or authors, so the sleasy publisher isn't real. It just seemed fitting.