by H. E. Barnes
“Would it not be best to bring them here?” Quinn asked looking to Brey.
Brey shook his head. “King Quilo didn’t want that.”
“The king is dead,” Quinn said as if he needed a reminder. He did not. He thought about the dead king often. Especially when dealing with the queen.
“His laws still remain.”
Quinn took a deep, audible breath. She let it out harshly. “Please explain to me the purpose of his laws? What good was it to send them away?”
“Did the king not tell you himself?”
The queen stood. She put a hand on Brey’s shoulder, bearing down. “If he had, do you think I would be asking you?” she said through gritted teeth.
“Very well,” Brey said.
Quinn removed her hand from his shoulder and went to her closet. The servant girl quickly threw
the glass in a bin and followed Quinn without so much as a beckon by the queen. The girl knew her place, and it was wherever the queen was.
“Season is weaker, and has been getting weaker with each term of the Four. King Quilo decreed his Four would be sent away in hopes of making them stronger, self-sufficient.” Brey said, turning away from the closet as Quinn undressed.
“Did he not realize he was naming himself weak?” Quinn laughed. She bent forward as the servant helped her into a new gown.
“He did. Because he was.” Brey said. King Quilo was unlike any other king or queen Season had. He was able to see the weakness in himself and in Season. And he was unafraid to call it out.
Quinn rolled her eyes at the admiration in Brey’s voice. A weak king had never garnered so much loyalty as king Quilo did.
“King Quilo wanted to give Season it's best chance. And it’s best chance is his four daughters.” Brey paused, thinking back on the many conversations he had with the king about his new law. As he looked lovingly on his four daughters playing around him, he made the hard decision to do what was best for them and Season. “He was selfless, and it seems to have paid off. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes, I suppose so. The Daughters are strong. But they are unpracticed and unfamiliar.”
“That is easily fixed.” Brey replied.
“Then so be it,” Queen Quinn said coming out of the closet in a tight-fitting gown. Her servant girl followed close behind her. “But if they fail, and Season dies, it is on you and the king.” She said staring daggers at Brey.
“I’d have it no other way.”
Chapter 17
In the land of Texas
Orla jumped back from the shattered window. She watched as a frenzy broke loose. Students ran away from the broken window and towards the cafeteria doors.
In the back of the cafeteria, Orla saw a small black haired girl staring at the tree branch on the table. “Aviva?” Orla called pushing through the crowd of people to get to the other side of the cafeteria. “Move, get out of my way,” she said over and over again as she waded through the crowd. Finally, she made it out and to the back of the room where Aviva sat alone.
“Aviva?” Orla said again, coming up to her side.
Aviva didn’t break her stare with the tree branch. Zach was frozen, still standing amidst broken glass.
“Hey,” Orla said shaking Aviva’s shoulder. Aviva finally looked up.
“Orla?” she blinked. Aviva’s voice was different than Orla thought it would be. Instead of being soft and shy, it was strong and powerful. Aviva wasn’t a little girl anymore. She had already changed so much from the first time they met.
“Yeah,” Orla said awkwardly. “I didn’t know you went here.”
“Just started this year.”
They both turned towards the cafeteria doors. The principal came strutting in, all high and mighty. He investigated the window, as if to see if it was actually shattered or if the students yelling was some kind of joke. He looked angry as he turned and stalked out of the cafeteria, the blood boiled up to his cheeks.
“Was that you?” Orla asked nodding towards the fallen tree branch.
“How could it have been?” Aviva asked with a raised eye.
“Trust me, it could. Weird things are happening. At least to me.” Orla admitted. Aviva wanted to agree, but she wasn’t sure if it had been her. It could’ve been a coincidence, just the right timing. But, she had felt an immense surge of power. The kind of power she’d felt when the light from her father’s body exploded in the air.
Principal Thomas stomped back into the cafeteria. Students made a huge path for him to get through, not wanting to be close to the seething man. He held up a megaphone. “Classes are cancelled for the rest of the day. Go home,” he yelled into the megaphone.
Students erupted in cheers and high-fives. Glad to have an excuse for a half day.
“I don’t want to go home,” Aviva said. The words slipped her mouth before she realized it.
Orla glanced at her, but Aviva wouldn’t meet her eyes. “You can come to my house,” she shrugged. “My parents won’t be home for a while. And I can text Idalia to see if anything weird has happened to her.”
“Yeah, okay,” Aviva nodded. She guessed it would be okay. As long as she was home at the same time as normal. Ted wouldn’t know she’d gotten off earlier. It’d be just like any other day. “Okay,” she said again.
Idalia knocked on the door and waited. She could hear the rustling from inside as the lock unclicked.
Idalia was expecting to see Orla standing in the doorway; but instead, Aviva opened the door wide. “Oh, hey,” Idalia said in surprise.
“Hi,” Aviva said, letting Idalia pass by her. Aviva locked the door behind her and then walked back into the living room. “Orla’s using the bathroom,” Aviva said, awkwardly filling the dead air. She took her place back on Orla’s couch.
“Okay,” Idalia said. She walked around the living room looking at all of the family pictures hung on the wall and frames set out. It reminded her of her house. And how long it had been since she went home.
“Embarrassing, right?” Orla said walking into the room.
“It’s nice,” Idalia said.
Aviva made a note not to look at the pictures. She didn’t want to hope for something she’d never have. And she couldn’t relate to doting parents. Only fake ones.
“You got here quick. Thought you might be in class.” Orla said sitting in the recliner. Idalia took a seat on the opposite end of the couch from Aviva. It still felt odd to be around each other. Knowing they were sisters didn’t help matters. There was a great expectation looming over their heads to get along and be close. But, they didn’t feel it. Not yet.
Idalia shrugged, “I skipped.”
“Can’t wait to be able to do that,” Orla said leaning back in her chair and sighing. Daydreaming of her life in a year. Going to college. Only having a few classes a day and then being free to do whatever.
“So what’s going on? You didn’t really explain in your text.” Idalia said.
“Strange things have been happening to us,” Orla said pointing between herself and Aviva who sat quietly staring at anything but the other two girls. “Anything strange with you?”
Idalia sat still for a moment. She didn’t know whether or not to tell Orla about Ren. They weren’t that close, and she wasn’t sure how she’d react. “Uh, kind of, I guess,” she said slowly.
Aviva looked up from the carpet. “Like what?”
Idalia scratched her head nervously. “I kind of, um, burned this guy’s hand. Well, wrist. I got mad because he wouldn’t leave me alone. And before I knew it, he had a hand sized blister.” Idalia couldn’t meet Orla’s eyes, though she could tell she was staring at her.
“Really?” Aviva asked, her voice spiking in excitement as if burning someone was a good thing.
“Yea? What about you guys?” Idalia asked.
“I made a tree branch crash through a window next to a group of bullies,” Aviva said. “At least I like to think I did.”
“And I blew three men away who were try
ing to attack me last night,” Orla added.
All three girls grew silent. Thinking. What was this they were experiencing? And why?
“Anyone know how to reach Eira? Maybe something happened to her too?” Aviva said.
“No,” Idalia shook her head. “She hasn’t really been forthcoming with personal information.”
“Do you think this has to do with the shot of light at the funeral?” Orla asked. She knew they must all be thinking it. It was the only logical explanation. Though nothing about any of this was logical.
“It must be,” Idalia said. “What else could it be?”
“But Brey never said anything about powers. And neither did Queen Quinn.” Aviva said.
“They haven’t said anything about a lot of things.” Idalia said, shaking her head.
“Do y’all know how weird this is? We’re talking about powers. And a queen of some far away land. This is crazy.” Orla said throwing her hands up in defeat.
“You got that right.” Idalia said, leaning back into the couch.
“Can I use the restroom?” Aviva asked Orla.
“Yeah, sure. It’s just around the corner, down the hall.” She said motioning to the hallway. Aviva disappeared around the corner. “Third door on the right. No, the left,” Orla said with a hiccup of a laugh.
Orla turned towards the TV, flipping through the channels. Idalia sat uncomfortably in her presence.
“Hey, so,” Idalia started, not sure exactly what to say or how to say it. Orla turned to look at her with her brow raised. “That guy that I burned, that was Ren.”
“Ren? As in my boyfriend?” Orla asked, her interest piqued.
“Yeah, he’s been hitting on me or whatever. It’s kinda creeping me out, to be honest.” Idalia said rubbing the back of her neck.
Orla’s face went blank. “Hitting on you?”
“Yeah. He ran after me after I left the coffee shop the other day. And, found me in the cafeteria earlier. I just thought you should know,” Idalia trailed off.
Orla’s face turned red, like she was holding her breath. “You really think my boyfriend would be hitting on you? You must have the wrong guy,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
“No, Orla, I’m sure.” Idalia turned away from Orla. “We actually met each other earlier this year, at a party,” Idalia trailed off, her voice shaking.
“At a party?” Orla asked, laughing. “Ren doesn’t go to parties.”
“Yes, he does. All the time, Orla,” Idalia said gently. She reached out a comforting hand, but Orla ducked away.
“You don’t even know him. Hell, you don’t even know me,” Orla said, her voice inching louder and louder.
“Turn that up,” Aviva said coming back into the room. She was staring at the TV watching the news channel Orla had stopped on.
Orla clicked the volume up.
On the screen, was a reporter reading from a script. And to the side of her a picture of a girl. Blonde hair, blue eyes.
“This just in,” the reporter said. “Eira Brown, suspected of murder, broke out of county jail last night. If you see this girl, do not engage. She is dangerous.”
Aviva, Idalia, and Orla leaned in closer to the TV. “Cell bars had been frozen off and forcefully removed. We do not know at this time if she has an accomplice,” the reporter said.
“Well, I guess something happened to her too,” Aviva whispered.
Chapter 18
In the land of Season
“Welcome back,” Brey said to the girls as they appeared before him. He gave them a moment to settle in.
“Do we just randomly disappear from Texas when we’re here?” Eira asked as soon as she could get her mouth to work.
“Yes, in a way.”
“Oh, that’s perfect,” Eira said, a broad smile breaking out on her face. She might just have to stay in Season. Then, she’d never go to jail. And never have to think about her old life again.
Idalia, Aviva, and Orla shared a knowing look. Of course the murderer wanted to disappear, they thought in unison. But they didn’t say anything. Instead, they waited for Brey to speak. To say why they were in Season again. Why they had literally been ripped from Orla’s living room.
“We’ve been watching you,” Brey said gesturing to Queen Quinn who sat on her throne at the head of the stone table.
“Because that’s not creepy,” Eira laughed. She made her way around the table to the plush blue chair. The other girls found their seats.
Everyone ignored Eira’s snide remark.
“We see that you’ve come into your powers,” Queen Quinn said. Her voice was proud, but her face showed no emotion.
“No one thought to mention we would get powers?” Idalia asked. “That would’ve been nice to know ahead of time.”
“Yes, well, there is a lot you do not know. It is what King Quilo wanted.” Brey said.
“That’s kind of stupid,” Eira said. Queen Quinn silently agreed with her.
“King Quilo hoped to have four strong, independent contenders for the throne. And, I believe he will. But first, you must practice.”
“Practice for what?” Aviva asked, speaking for the first time in Season.
“Why the Showcase, of course,” Quinn said, rolling her eyes. Never in her life had she been so pestered with silly questions. Questions the girls would have known the answers to had King Quilo let her raise them. But, no. He said she would be too kind to them. And they needed to be tough.
“Showcase?” Orla asked for all of them.
“Yes,” Brey answered. “A showcase of your strength and power. The people of Season will come out to watch each of the five trials. And by the end of the Showcase, Season will have its queen. Undefeated and uncontested.”
Silence filled the grand room.
“Come,” Brey said with a wave of his hand as he headed to the door, “we must prepare.”
Brey led the girls out of the room, down the staircase, through the back of Conformity Castle, and out into the garden. They trekked through snow, across a bridge, to a wide open arena. In the middle of the arena was a huge, glistening golden tree. The tree looked familiar to the girls. They each felt a pull from it, beckoning, and a promise of great power.
“The Tree of Season. You know it well,” Brey said nodding towards the girls as they looked at their identical necklaces.
The Tree of Season had four large roots sticking up from the ground, each in a new direction. The roots divided the arena equally into four parts. “It divides the arena, but it also divides all of Season.” Brey said going up to the tree and rubbing its golden trunk.
The girls stepped up beside Brey and placed a hand on the Tree of Season. It was warm under their hands, diverting the chill of the air. The necklaces they wore warmed up as well, energy flowing from the tree, through the girls, to the necklaces.
“Wow,” Idalia whispered staring down at her chest where her necklace laid. It was shining brightly. She took her hand off the Tree of Season and the light from her necklace slowly inked away.
“The Showcase is made up of five trials. One for each of the four seasons and then the Finale, which will lead to the Changing Ceremony. But we can get into all of that at a later time. Right now, we need to focus on the first trial. The Trial of Autumn.” Brey stepped over a tree root. The girls followed.
“If you were to ride that way,” Brey said pointing forward, “passed hills that turn into mountains, you would reach Autumn.” He paused, imaging a place he hadn’t been to in years. “Orla, you were born of Autumn; and therefore, lay claim to Autumn and its people. You are queen. As each of you are queen of your own part of Season,” Brey said turning away from the scenery and back to the girls.
“Who has been ruling the different parts of Season if we haven’t been here?” Orla asked.
“King Quilo, your father, ruled over all of Season. But, now that he has passed, the people are eagerly awaiting your return.” Brey started walking away from the Tree of Season and out in
to Autumn. The girls followed without a sound. They were entranced. And confused.
“You each have a power given to you by your season. We will work on honing that power, controlling it. So that you can use it to pass the trials.”
“Okay, now we’re talking,” Eira said rubbing her hands together.
“For the Trial of Autumn, you will compete with air.” Brey told them. “Here, we can stop here,” he said finally coming to a halt. The girls were sweating, gladly. They were no longer frozen to the bone.
“I want you to conjure up your elements,” Brey said to the girls. They stared at him, unmoving and unspeaking.
“How?” Aviva finally asked.
“I forget you are all very new to this,” Brey said with a shake of his head. “But feeling the elements is something only the Four have the privilege of experiencing. Your father once tried explaining it to me, but it was lost on deaf ears.”
The girls looked at one another, and then quickly looked away. Idalia and Orla remembered the harsh words passed between them just moments before being summoned to Season. Aviva remembered seeing her long lost sister on TV wanted for murder. Eira remembered she didn’t care about any of them.
“I suggest you figure it out quickly. Autumn is coming for you,” Brey said and walked away briskly, leaving the four girls staring after him.
A few moments later, the sun dwindled and the light faded. The girls were thrust into a darkness so black they couldn’t see in front of them. The crunching of leaves sounded around them, far away but readily approaching. Brey was right. Something was coming for them.
The girls took off running, in opposite directions, away from one another.
Orla ran, her breath coming fast and hard. It sounded heavily in her ears. She couldn’t see anything in front of her. But she ran nonetheless.
Her foot snagged on a fallen branch and she went flying through the air. She landed face first in the snow. She rolled over and exhaled. It hurt to breathe. She tried getting her feet under her but a gust of wind knocked her down again and again.
