by H. E. Barnes
“Hush,” Orla said pulling Ren down the stairs and out of the bleachers.
“So where are we going?” Ren asked as Orla led him passed the concession stands and towards the restrooms.
“You’ll see,” she said turning to wink at him.
“Oh,” Ren said finally catching on. He broke out into a huge grin. She let her pull him easily passed the restrooms and down the side of the school. It was dark behind the school, out of the floodlights on the field.
Orla pushed him up against the wall and started kissing him. He eagerly kissed back. He slipped a hand around the back of her neck to deepen the kiss and brought her body into his.
“I missed you this week,” Orla mumbled against his lips.
“Yeah, me too,” he said. He wound his other arm around her waist.
Orla traced the length of his arm with her hand as they kissed.
Ren pulled back. “Ow,” he said holding his wrist with his other hand.
“What’s wrong?” Orla asked.
“It’s nothing,” he said trying to kiss her again. But she pulled back. She took his injured wrist and held it up. She slid his sleeve down and exposed the hand-shaped burn. Orla’s skin crawled.
“What is this?” she asked even though she had a feeling she knew the answer.
“I burned myself, so what?” he said defensively.
Orla backed away from him. A bad feeling washed over her. Her stomach dropped and she couldn’t get her words to form on her lips. “Idalia told me you hit on her,” she said slowly.
“Idalia?” Ren asked, a confused look crossing his face. “I haven’t even seen her since the coffee shop. But, I definitely wouldn’t hit on her.” Ren lied.
Orla took a step back. Ren reached out to her, but she dodged his hands. “You’re lying,” she said.
“Okay, okay,” he said throwing his hands in the air. “I did see her again. But I didn’t hit on her, trust me,” he practically cried. “She came onto me. I turned her down, but I didn’t want to tell you because y’all are friends.” He was talking fast, too fast.
Orla could barely understand what he was saying. Her head throbbed, especially where she had cracked it on a rock not too long ago.
“I can’t take this,” Orla said backing away. “I’m going home.”
“Orla,” Ren called after her, but she had already stormed off.
Chapter 23
In the land of Season
Brey walked out on the terrace overlooking the gardens of Conformity Castle. In the distance, he could see the gold shine from the Tree of Season. The tree used to illuminate the whole path from Conformity Castle to its trunk. But over the last few days, its glow diminished.
Season was sick.
The snow was no longer sticking to the ground or falling from the sky. In a single instant, Conformity Castle would be surrounded with great winds, blistering heat, and then frigid air. Their beloved Season didn’t know which season to remain.
King Quilo was dead. And with him, so was winter in Season. And now, it fought to choose the next season. But, it couldn’t do that. Not with the Daughters fighting each other.
Brey went back inside, to his chambers, leaving the confusion of the seasons.
A knock sounded on his doors. He quickly crossed the room and opened it. Talia, Queen Quinn’s servant girl, stood before him. “Sir,” she said meekly. “The queen requests your assistance with the people.”
Brey nodded. “Very well,” he said throwing a cloak over his shoulders. He followed Talia down the spiraling staircase to the bottom landing. Queen Quinn sat on a throne mounted high above the sea of people below her.
The people of Season crowded into the entrance hall waiting to be heard. They pushed and they shoved until they reached the front.
“Winter is to be heard first,” Quinn called out over the crowd’s murmurs. “In recognition of King Quilo.”
The people of Autumn, Summer, and Spring stepped back allowing the Winter nation to move forward. A spokesperson stepped out of the crowd of blue. “My queen,” the bearded man said with a bow. “Winter is dying. It is too hot, our shelters are melting. Our crops are burning. What are we to do?” the man cried out.
“My good sir,” Quinn said looking lazily at him. “There is nothing to be done. It is expected that Winter is dying as the king no longer lives.”
“What about the Princesses?” someone from the back of the crowd called.
“Unfortunately, the Princesses are untrained in their powers. My dear husband did not think of the repercussions Season would face without its Princesses.” Queen Quinn said.
“But have faith,” Brey said, looking sideways at Quinn. “The Daughters are training. The Trial of Autumn is coming upon us soon. And a new queen will be named within the new year. All is not lost.”
“Your Majesty,” a Spring folk cried out waving her hand crazily in the air.
“Yes?” Queen Quinn said turning to look at the lady.
“Just the other day, a fire blazed through Spring cutting down our gardens. Are we to do nothing?” the lady asked. Cheers erupted behind her.
“Do what you normally do. Rebuild.” Quinn said with a dismissive wave of her hand. She stood up from her throne and turned her back on the people. The crowd exploded in cries and shouts. Quinn looked at the chaos below her, a smile spreading across her face. “My children, what is done is done. All we can do from here is prepare. Prepare for hard times. Save what you can, store what you cannot. A new season will be here soon.”
Quinn tossed her hair over her shoulder and followed guards up the stairs and into her chambers. The screams of the people followed her all the way.
Brey raised his hand, calling for attention. The people quieted. “With each passing of a king or queen, Season loses its power. We know this. We have lived it several times before.”
“But never this long,” a man said.
“Or this harsh,” a girl spoke.
“That is true,” Brey nodded in agreement. “But King Quilo paved a new way for us. He has ensured Season will be its strongest after the Changing.”
“If we make it to the Changing,” the Winter man said.
“The Daughters have only just learned of Season. Give it time. Give them your faith. Like you did King Quilo. He will not let us down, and neither will his daughters.” Brey said in a booming voice.
The people nodded and finally emptied the entrance hall. Brey had spared more time, but not enough if Season continued attacking itself.
He hurried upstairs, back to his chambers. He went to his table where a piece of leather lay. He etched a message into its skin and folded it into a scroll.
Brey laid his pendant on top of the table, waved his hands over it. Light filled his room, blinding him. “I call on the Daughters.” Yellow, blue, green, and red stones lit up, opening the portal wide enough for Brey to drop the scroll into. He watched it disintegrate. Hopefully, the girls would get the message. If not, they may not have Season to go home to.
Chapter 24
In the land of Texas
Aviva stared up at the ceiling of her dark bedroom. It was quiet in the house, too quiet. She wanted to leave her room, go to the living room, and maybe watch TV. But she knew she couldn’t. She didn’t want to wake up Ted and Kathy.
It had been a few weeks since she’d been beaten, and she’d like to keep it that way.
So, instead, Aviva laid awake for hours. Trying to force herself to sleep but failing. She hadn’t seen her sisters in a while. Even Orla managed to avoid her at school.
Aviva sat up and leaned against her headboard. She reached a hand out in front of her. A tree branch peeked through the open window. She twisted her arm in a circle and watched as the branch extended itself to meet her open palm.
Aviva laughed at the tickling sensation.
With all of her solitude, Aviva had gotten pretty good at wielding the earth. Trees were her favorite. They were friendly creatures. Way more friendly than anyon
e at school or home. Even more friendly than her absent sisters.
She heard movement down the hall. She threw her hand away from her body, repelling the tree branch back outside. She hurriedly threw her comforter over her shoulders and burrowed down into the bed.
The door to her room creaked open. She squeezed her eyes shut, faking sleep. Hoping whoever it was would go away.
Aviva felt the warmth of a body sit on the edge of her bed. A hand patted her leg. “Ah,” Ted exhaled. The stench of alcohol leaked into Aviva’s room. She didn’t move. Her body was frozen in a ball. She could feel her heart beating hard against her chest. She hoped Ted couldn’t hear the pounding of blood rushing through her veins.
“I sure have missed you,” Ted said. His words were slurred and almost unrecognizable in his drunken stupor. “Hey,” Ted said, his voice rising. He shook her leg hard. “Wake up,” he said.
Aviva stayed still. She was squeezing her eyes so hard together she started seeing colors beneath her lids.
“Girl,” Ted said grabbing the comforter and ripping it from Aviva’s grip. He shook her shoulder. When she still wouldn’t get up, he slung her onto the floor. Her forehead cracked against the nightstand. She raised a hand to her head. It was covered in blood.
“Get up,” Ted said pulling her to her feet.
She tried to pull away but he was stronger than she was, even when he was drunk. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. His beer breath suffocated her. “When I tell you to do something, do it,” he seethed.
“Get off me,” Aviva said, kicking and pushing at him. It was the first time she’d ever fought back. The first time she tried to stop him. She had always thought it was easier to give up. But, she wasn’t the same girl anymore. She was stronger.
“I let you live in my house, and this is how you treat me?” he asked throwing her back against a wall. Her head throbbed in pain. And her vision scattered. She tumbled to the ground.
A sparkling ribbon caught her attention from under her bed. She grabbed at it, and shakily stood up.
She threw her arms up in front of her face as he charged her. But, he never made it to her.
Aviva opened her eyes to see Ted looking terrified. A wall of rocks floated in the air in front of Aviva, acting as a shield. She threw out her hands and the rocks went flying towards him. He cowered, putting his hands over his head and falling to the ground.
Aviva took the chance to jump out of the window and run away.
“Don’t you ever step foot back in this house,” Ted yelled into the night, poking his head out of her window. His voice echoed down the empty street.
Gladly, Aviva thought.
Chapter 25
Orla rubbed her eyes sleepily. She rolled over in bed, covered her ears to try to drown out the constant clinking noise.
“Orla,” she heard her name whispered from outside her window.
She sat up quickly and looked around in the dark room. Outside her window was a dark figure. She couldn’t see who it was. She raised her hand, a whistling sound filled her room.
The figure threw up their hands. “It’s me, Aviva.” She said.
Orla dropped her hand. She went to the window and slid it open. “What are you doing here?” she asked with a furious whisper.
“My foster dad, Ted, he uh,” Aviva stumbled over her words. “I didn’t know where else to go,” she admitted.
Orla shined her phone’s flashlight at her. A shiny, bright red strip of blood slid down the side of her face. A bruise was already forming beneath the gash. “Come on,” Orla said helping Aviva over the windowsill and inside her room.
“Thanks,” Aviva said awkwardly standing in the middle of Orla’s room. Orla closed the window and locked her bedroom door.
“What happened?” Orla asked looking at Aviva’s forehead again.
Aviva lifted her hand to cover the wound. Her fingers came away with blood. “Not everyone has a great home life,” Aviva shrugged.
Orla didn’t push it. Instead, she walked into the conjoined bathroom and wet a towel. She handed it to Aviva and sat on the bed while she cleaned her face. “You can take a shower if you want. And borrow some clothes since it doesn’t look like you have any,” Orla said with a shrug.
“Thanks,” Aviva said disappearing into the bathroom.
Orla laid on her bed, her eyes fluttering shut with the splish splash of the shower running. She was so tired. Mentally and physically. But it couldn’t be any worse than Aviva felt, she tried telling herself. She didn’t like the weird feeling in her gut, the one that squeezed her stomach so tight she felt she might puke all over herself. She had a good life. No, a great life. While Aviva had to deal with things she couldn’t even imagine.
Aviva came out of Orla’s bedroom a few minutes later with something in her hand. “I found this in my room before I left. It’s from Brey,” she said holding up the tied scroll.
Orla grabbed it from her. She slipped the knot free and unrolled the scroll. The soft leather held steady in her hand as she read.
The fate of Season lies in your hands, and Season is dying.
Brey
“Dying?” Orla asked aloud. “What does he mean dying?”
Aviva shrugged looking at the scroll over Orla’s shoulder. As if something else would appear. “Hey, look,” Aviva said grabbing an identical tied scroll from the ground beside her bathroom door. She handed it to Orla.
Orla opened it and read the same words. The fate of Season lies in your hands, and Season is dying.
“If Season dies, do we?” Aviva asked. Her voice shook in fear.
It was Orla’s turn to shrug. “We’ll figure this out in the morning,” Orla said. “It’s late and we have school tomorrow.”
“Will your parents mind?”
“They shouldn’t. I’ll ask them if you can stay awhile after school.”
Aviva nodded. She looked around the room, searching for something.
“You can sleep on the bed, or I can get our blowup mattress.”
“Yeah, okay.” It took a minute for Orla to find the mattress and extra bedding. She set it up on the floor next to her bed. Thirty minutes later, both of the girls were wide awake staring into the darkness.
“Thank you,” Aviva whispered.
“Of course, you are my sister after all.”
Chapter 26
Idalia’s phone buzzed in her hand. She looked at the screen. One message from Orla. She clicked on it.
Hey, so I know it’s been a while, but we need to talk. Can you meet at my house after school?
She texted a quick sure and went back to halfway listening to her professor explain a math equation. She hated math, but at least she was good at it. The class lasted another forty-five minutes. The whole time Idalia fought to keep her eyes open.
Idalia dropped her bookbag off at her dorm before heading to Orla’s house. Sitting on her pillow was a brown leather scroll tied with a golden ribbon. She pulled the ribbon and the scroll unfolded.
The fate of Season lies in your hands, and Season is dying.
Brey
Idalia stuffed it in her purse and went to the school’s parking lot to get her car. She drove the five minutes to Orla’s house.
“Hey,” Orla said answering the door.
“Hi,” Idalia said uneasily.
“I’m sorry I freaked out on you about Ren.” Orla said letting her pass by her to go into the house.
“No, it’s fine. I totally understand. Some stranger tells you your boyfriend might not be who you think? Completely understand where you were coming from.” Idalia said heading into the living room.
“You’re not just some stranger, though. You’re my sister, and I should’ve listened.” Orla said coming in behind her. She kept walking deeper into the house. Idalia followed her to her room. Aviva was sitting on a blow up mattress on the floor.
Idalia raised her eyebrow. “I wasn’t invited to the slumber party?” Idalia laughed.
“Didn’
t have time to send out invites,” Aviva said with a shrug.
Idalia reached into her purse and pulled out the scroll. “So, I’m guessing this all has to do with this?” she asked.
Orla and Aviva nodded pulling their identical scrolls out. “What do you think it means?” Orla asked.
“Well, Brey did say we have to work together for the trials, right?” Idalia said.
Aviva nodded. “Until the end.”
They grew quiet at the thought of what the final trial had in store for them. But they had to make it through the Trial of Autumn first. And, to do that, they had to work together.
“How do we do that though?” Orla asked. “And where’s Eira? She’s got to be here too, right?”
Idalia and Aviva shrugged.
“I don’t know,” Idalia said.
“Eira’s running from the cops. She’s not going to be anywhere near here, probably.” Aviva said. “So what can we do?”
“We have to get a handle on these powers. I’m not taking another beating like we did the first time,” Idalia said, balling her hand into a fist and concentrating. Her fist exploded in flames.
Chapter 27
In the land of Season
Eira landed on a bed of snow, looking up at Conformity Castle, barely able to see it as her eyes failed her. “Finally,” she managed to call out before she succumbed to the darkness.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she was shaken out of her daze. She blinked several times, trying desperately to see something. But she couldn’t. Her eyes were too weak, and she was too tired to focus on anything for long enough to form an image.
“Guards,” she heard a familiar voice ring out around her.
Eira felt her body being lifted into the air and carried across the garden. She floated along, not able to tell which direction she was headed. Or in whose presence she was in. All that mattered to her was that she was in Season. Finally.
