by H. E. Barnes
Professor Hendrix shook his head. “It’s definitely interesting. If you want to use it for your final project, I approve.”
“Yeah, okay. Thanks,” Idalia said. “I gotta go.”
“See you in class,” Professor Hendrix said pushing open the door for her. She walked under his arm, her body revolting in shivers, and headed to her dorm.
Orla and Aviva were already there when she arrived. “Hey,” they said when she walked up.
“Hey,” she said unlocking her door and stepping inside. They followed her into the living room. “So what’s going on?”
Orla pulled out the letter and showed it to Idalia. Idalia nodded her head as she read. “Honestly, I kind of suspected it.”
“Why?” Aviva asked.
“I don’t know, she just never seemed to fit with us. She has a lot in common with Quinn,” Idalia shrugged.
“I guess,” Aviva said.
Orla nudged Aviva. “Tell her what you found,” Orla said.
“Oh, yeah. So I was trying to figure out why the cops are after Eira since the news never really said anything. I found some old articles talking about a foster situation. Apparently, a foster sister was thought to have killed her foster brother.”
“Eira killed her brother?”
“That’s what I think,” Orla said.
Aviva shot a hard look at Orla. “It was self-defense,” she said. “She was trying to protect her foster sister, Heather.”
“That’s what you think,” Orla said looking at Aviva. Aviva only shrugged.
“That’s really not important right now. What’s important is making it through the Trial of Autumn. And according to Brey, we aren’t going to if we don’t work together,” Idalia said, frustration oozing from every word.
“We need to talk to her,” Idalia finally said.
Aviva looked to Orla and then Idalia. “How? She’s in Season.”
“We’ve been called to Season. Why can’t we call someone from Season?”
Orla and Aviva looked at each other and then nodded in agreement. “Okay, let’s do it,” Orla said.
They sat in a circle, their knees touching. They placed their necklaces in their hands. Each necklace began to glow, giving off a bright light that shot up onto Idalia’s ceiling. “We call Eira to us,” Idalia said looking up at the bright light.
Orla’s and Aviva’s laughter broke Idalia’s concentration.
“What?” Idalia asked breaking her stare from the ceiling, but they couldn’t answer her. Idalia rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what else to say. Just repeat it,” she said.
Orla and Aviva breathed in a deep breath, calming their laughter. “We call Eira to us,” they repeated.
The bright light got even brighter, blinding them. The ceiling eroded, piece by piece. A swirling portal ate at the plaster. Dust rained around the girls. The portal opened, and Eira fell from it. She landed in the middle of the circle.
“What am I doing here?” Eira asked through gritted teeth.
“We need to talk,” Idalia said.
Chapter 37
Eira sneered at the other girls. She didn’t want to be in Texas. She wanted to be in Season, where she belonged.
“Talk about what?” she asked, stepping between Idalia and Aviva to get outside of the circle.
Orla stood up, breaking the circle. “You’re working with Quinn now?” she asked. Eira only shrugged while walking around the room, surveying it as if she hadn’t been there before. She kept her back to the girls, her gaze never meeting theirs.
“You know she’s only using you, right?” Idalia asked.
“Using me for what?” she asked cooly, running her hand along Idalia’s dresser.
Idalia threw her hands up in the air, frustration seeping all around. “To get the crown, obviously.”
“She won’t get the crown,” Eira said simply, still refusing to meet their gazes.
“What makes you say that?” Aviva asked. “That’s all she wants.”
Eira rolled her eyes and finally looked back at the other three girls standing in a broken circle in the middle of Idalia’s dorm room. “You of all people,” Eira started with a glance towards Aviva, “should know that you don’t get everything you want.”
Idalia stepped towards Eira. “We have to work together to make it through the Trial of Autumn. Brey has said it a million times,” she stressed.
“Well, what if he’s wrong?” Eira said. “Quinn said that’s how it used to be, but who knows about now. King Quilo changed everything when he sent us away.”
“Of course she wants you to think that; she’s trying to kill all of us,” Orla exclaimed raising her voice. A gust of air shot through the room, riding the wave of anger Orla felt.
“You better watch out, Orla,” Eira said with a wink, “or you’re going to kill all of us.”
Orla clenched her hands and took a calming breath. “None of this makes sense.”
“What doesn’t?” Aviva asked, her voice small and withdrawn.
“Quinn. She can’t even become queen, can she? So why is she trying to?”
“Like I said,” Eira started with a roll of her eyes, “things changed. Anything can happen. But, I’m not going to sit around and listen to y’all go back and forth. I’m going back to Season.”
“So you’re not going to help us?” Idalia asked.
“I’m going to do whatever I want to do,” Eira said.
A portal opened in Idalia’s room, a huge swirling mass in the middle of the room. Papers fluttered, books were thrown against the walls. Idalia’s bed screeched against the wooden floor.
The girls looked to Eira. “I didn’t do that,” she said in a low voice.
The girls each felt the pull of the portal. Their feet slid across the floor. Eira grabbed a hold of a dresser, but it was no use. The portal was too strong. And, they went spiraling through it.
Chapter 38
In the land of Season
“It is time,” Brey said to the crowd of people standing before him. The people of Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer huddled around him in the open field surrounding the Tree of Season.
The crowd shifted nervously, waiting for their princesses to arrive. They knew the future Queen of Season would be amongst them. And, they would stand outside in the mix of seasons just to see the first test. To watch their princess pass or fail.
An eerie silence filled the air. Nothing was heard for miles. Nothing except for the soft hum of the portal Brey was opening.
The Daughters landed in the muddy grass in front of the Tree of Season. They stood up straight, shaking off the rough portal entrance.
“Welcome back,” Brey said. The girls were no longer the unfamiliar girls he had brought home the first time. They didn’t look confused or scared. They looked like they belonged. Like they were sure of themselves. Brey was proud.
“What’s going on?” Idalia spoke up.
“It is time for the Showcase.”
Orla, Aviva, and Idalia huddled closer together while Eira stayed to herself, off to the side. The clinking of metal turned the girls’ attention away from Brey and to the outskirts of the crowd. The people of Season created a pathway, scooting hurriedly away from the center of the crowd. A horse-drawn carriage sauntered through the mass of people, stopping only when it reached the front of the crowd.
The golden carriage sparkled in the sunlight, blinding Brey and the Daughters. But it didn’t compare to the shine that came off Queen Quinn as she stood up in the carriage to overlook the crowd. “The Showcase is a test of strength, survival, and skill,” Queen Quinn said, her voice floating easily through the crowd. “My four daughters,” she said, turning to smile at the girls. It was a proud smile, but it was fake. Brey knew it as did the girls. “King Quilo’s daughters are here to show us their power. This is only the first trial, and it will not be their last. Only one will be Queen of Season. Let us watch as they take their first step on the journey to queendom.”
The cro
wd erupted in deafening cheers. Their hands gathered in a thundering clap.
Queen Quinn sat back down in her carriage. Her horse galloped a few feet away and turned in a circle. She slowly stepped down from the carriage.
Brey faced the girls. “We,” Brey said looking at Queen Quinn as she walked towards them, “cannot interfere or stop the trial. The trial stops only when you have passed or failed.”
“How do we know if we pass or fail?” Orla asked, breaking the silence that had fallen on them.
“If you fail, you’ll all be dead.” Queen Quinn said with a flip of her hand. “I suggest not dying,” she said.
“Do all that you can. Work together. And be strong,” Brey said.
The Daughters nodded their heads in agreement. “We will,” Orla said quietly.
“Now, go place your hands on the Tree of Season and stay alive.” Brey said motioning for them to go to the tree. He turned and held out an arm for Queen Quinn. She wound her arm through his and let him lead her away.
The girls stood still for a moment, frozen.
Eira made the first step towards the tree. The others followed, leaving the people of Season behind and staring off into the distance as their princesses headed to battle.
Chapter 39
Orla stepped up to the Tree of Season. She placed her hand on the trunk. The tree was warm under her touch. And the necklace that hung around her neck glowed with heat. She saw the other girls place their hands on the tree. A blinding light shot out from the trunk, but none of the girls let go.
Orla shielded her eyes with her other arm and turned away from the smoldering tree. Leaves fell around them in spirals, turning from a luscious green to a dead brown. Through the haze of leaves, Orla could see the people of Season on the outskirts of the arena.
A wall of glass erupted from the ground separating the girls from the crowd of onlookers. The tree quivered. Its roots burst from the soil and snaked away from the tree, going and going for what seemed like forever. Orla couldn’t take her eyes off the roots as they slithered in the grass across the arena. They didn’t stop when they hit the glass wall. Instead, the roots pushed the wall further and further away until the people of Season disappeared.
“What’s happening?” Aviva screamed from the other side of the tree. Orla could barely hear her through the falling leaves.
Before anyone could answer, the tree began to spin. The earth gave way, and Orla’s feet came off the ground. The only thing stopping her from being thrown around was her hand connected to the tree. It was as if there was glue holding her hand to the trunk. She was thankful for it.
“Hold on,” Orla heard Idalia yell. But the roar of the wind kept her from responding.
Orla closed her eyes and held her other hand to her mouth. She was going to be sick. But then the tree stopped and the glue holding her hand steady disappeared. She was launched into the air. She couldn’t stop the scream coming from her mouth. Couldn’t keep the ground underneath her and the sky above as she toppled across the arena.
She covered her face with her arms and fell towards the grass. Her arms and legs burned as she slid onto the ground. She rolled over, on all fours to catch her breath. Her stomach revolted from the sudden stillness. “Ew,” she whispered, wiping her mouth and moving away from the foul smelling vomit.
Orla stood up on shaky legs, no longer used to being upright. She turned in circles. The forest surrounded her on all sides. And she didn’t see her sisters.
“Idalia?” she called, her hand cupped around her mouth. “Aviva?” She waited a beat but heard nothing.
She felt a tickle on her leg and looked down to see a gaping hole in her jeans. She brushed off her knees and winced in pain. Underneath the dirt was a nasty skidmark on her knee. Blood dripped down her leg, soaking her torn jeans.
“Idalia? Aviva?” she called again. “Eira?” she yelled. But no answer.
A blinking light in the sky caught Orla’s attention. She looked up, holding her hand above her head to block out the shining sun. The light blinked on and off, beckoning her. She started walking, hoping it was in the right direction.
Chapter 40
Eira was prepared for the launch. She landed gracefully on the ground. It was as though she spent the majority of her time being catapulted across arenas. Her boots slid across the grass, kicking dirt up around her. Her eyes welled with tears, and a fit of coughing wracked her body. She waved her hands in front of her to clear the air of dirt.
Eira knew she had to find Autumn, a helpful tip from her mother. So she took off in the direction of the blinking light overhead, heading deeper into the woods.
Despite the cool air flowing around her, Eira broke out in a sweat. She didn’t know how long she had been walking, but her feet ached and her face was drenched. She was used to it, though, from all of her time walking around in the Texas heat.
She waved her hands out in front of her conjuring up a gust of snow. The sweat froze on her skin, and she breathed a sigh of relief. A snowball formed in her palm. She brought her palm to her mouth and breathed into the ball of snow. It slowly melted. She gulped the water down and wiped a hand across her forehead.
She was getting closer to the blinking light in the sky. It was almost directly overhead, and through a gate of trees, Eira could make out the beginnings of Autumn.
She picked up her pace, her aching feet pounding against the ground one after the other. By the time she reached the town’s center, she was out of breath. She bent down, with her hands on her knees, trying desperately to steady her breathing. But, she didn’t have the luxury of time. She knew the other girls were going to be coming soon. She needed to hide.
Chapter 41
Aviva rolled against the ground, her shoulder slamming into a fallen tree. She couldn’t get up. She was breathless. Her stomach was lurching in all kinds of directions. Her vision was black with pain. She knew this pain well, had felt it several times before. She was broken, but she had to get up.
She crawled to her feet, her arm useless at her side. She clutched at it with her other hand and pulled it across her chest. She summoned the earth. Vines spread beneath her feet, slithering up her body until it secured her arm in a brace. She shook her body, shaking away the pain and dizziness.
Faintly, she heard her name. She turned in circles, trying to figure out which way it came from. But the forest was dense and her name seemed to echo between the trees.
“Orla? Idalia?” she yelled, hoping one of her sisters was near. There was no answer.
The twinkling light in the sky caught her attention, and she took off in the direction of it. Her pace was slow but steady. Every now and then, she heard her name. She tried to respond, but her answer was lost in the wind.
“Aviva?” she heard from behind her. She whipped around to look. Idalia staggered up to her. “Finally,” she whispered. Aviva could barely hear her despite being an arm’s length away. The wind had picked up. It roared all around them, lifting and shaking the leaves all around them.
“Are you okay?” Aviva asked Idalia, stepping up closer to her.
Idalia nodded. “For the most part.” Idalia looked Aviva over. “Are you?”
“I had a bit of a rough landing,” Aviva said with a shrug.
“You’re telling me,” Idalia said with a shake of her head. “It would’ve been nice to know we were gonna be thrown from a tree.” Idalia rolled her eyes.
They huddled together against the onslaught of the wind. Idalia lifted a flaming hand, warming them up instantly. Aviva hadn’t noticed how cold it had gotten or that she could barely feel her hands and face. But with Idalia’s flame, she began to thaw out.
“Have you seen Orla?” Aviva asked. Idalia shook her head. “What about Eira?”
“No, I haven’t seen anyone.”
“What do you think we’re supposed to do in here?”
“Who knows?” Idalia said. “They really didn’t prepare us for this.”
Aviva nodded in agreement. T
hey hadn’t been prepared. Not for any of it. Not the powers, not the trials. Nothing. But, now they were stuck. And they had to survive.
“We need to find Orla. She’s probably freezing,” Idalia said.
Aviva only nodded. She started off in the direction of the light in the sky. It shone brightly against the darkening night.
Chapter 42
Idalia was thankful for her flame, the warmth she was able to bring at a moment’s notice. Without it, she was sure her and Aviva would’ve froze to death. And gotten lost.
As they walked, the forest grew darker. So dark they could only see a few feet in front of them. Even with Idalia’s bright flame shining around them.
“Orla,” Aviva called again. Her voice grew hoarse from yelling over and over. There was no sign of Orla. They could only hope she was following the light in the sky as well. They were getting closer to the light, finally, after what felt like forever. Idalia’s legs were numb. And she didn’t know if it was from the cold or from the miles of walking they’d done.
“Look,” Aviva said pointing straight ahead.
Through a break in the treeline, Idalia could just make out buildings. She looked from the buildings to Aviva and back again. “Where are we?”
“Let’s find out,” Aviva said. She took off running towards the buildings. Idalia had no choice but to run after her.
Just as she was about to reach Aviva and the edge of the forest, Idalia tripped. She went plummeting into the earth. Her flame died and blackness surrounded her. She sat up, angrily wiping muddy snow and leaves off her face. She stretched out her hand, feeling the familiar warmth return. She looked behind her, expecting to see a tree branch or root.
“Orla?” she called reaching her hand out into the night. She climbed across the wet grass to an outstretched leg. “Orla,” she said again, shaking her sister’s shoulders. She shined her flame at Orla’s face. Her eyes were closed, but Idalia could see her shoulders rising and falling.
