Yu-ning received the box and looked up to see Metatron standing in the circle, clapping and smiling. “We are all here for you, Yu-ning. This is your celebration,” he exclaimed. Yu-ning smiled with tears in her eyes, and opened the box. Inside was a large, clear crystal orb, which began to spin when she touched it with her index finger. Yu-ning leaned in to see the scene play out within the ball. She saw fast-changing images of herself from the very beginning of her journey—from Rainbow Island to this very moment, as she celebrated in the palace. “This is very special—I will always treasure it,” Yu-ning said, as the Empress embraced her sweetly.
The Empress reached for Yu-ning’s hand and escorted her down the red carpet to her throne. The palace was filled with a spirit of celebration, warmth, and love. Beautiful lights shined from the chandeliers, which reflected the beautiful smiles of everyone in the room. People continued to sing, dance, and celebrate as the musicians played on. The Empress and Yu-ning enjoyed the revelry, standing at the edge of the dancers. A young brother approached and handed Yu-ning a huge slice of strawberry cake. The Empress laughed and placed her hand lovingly on Yu-ning’s cheek. “Darling Yu-ning, always remember to live in your true spirit, even when you grow up. Treat everybody with kindness. Use your power with integrity. Heal others with your love.”
Yu-ning had just put a huge forkful of cake into her mouth, making the Empress laugh again. But she had not taken her eyes off the Empress, and nodded in acknowledgment. The Empress was filled with affection as she watched Yu-ning.
“Come, you can sit with me; it’s a big chair,” she said. “We are going to watch a beautiful performance right now. Do you like music and dance?” she asked, as Yu-ning sidled comfortably next to the Empress.
Yu-ning balanced her plate of cake on her lap as her legs dangled off the edge of the throne, swinging back and forth. “I like music and dancing!” she exclaimed with excitement. “Will we see more performers?” Yu-ning queried.
“Yes, my darling,” the Empress smiled. “Your heart’s desire.”
For the next hour, jugglers, acrobats, dancers, and singers entertained the ebullient crowd. It was a joyous affair. As the festivities began to wind down, the Empress put a hand on Yu-ning’s shoulder and whispered, “Come, Yu-ning, let me show you my private sleeping chamber.” She stood up and extended her hand toward Yu-ning.
“Yes, please!” Yu-ning exclaimed as she reached for her hand.
The Empress stood to face everyone and said aloud, “Thank you all for this delightful performance and celebration. Yu-ning and I will now retreat to my private quarters. Please continue the celebration. Enjoy!” Romeo raised his glass to Yu-ning, and Metatron winked at her and smiled warmly as she exited the celebration with the Empress. Magic poked his head from Metatron’s pocket; whipped cream and strawberry sauce could be seen on his mouth. Yu-ning winked at him as she left with the Empress.
They walked down a hallway featuring golden statues of dragons, phoenixes, lions, monkeys, elephants, and other fanciful animals sitting atop pillars. Beautiful paintings lined the walls. They came to a shining pink door, on either side of which stood tall ceramic pots filled with delicate flowers and striking green ferns. Yu-ning noticed that the ceiling was open to the sky, and there were colorful parrots and glimmering blue morpho butterflies flying in and out of the atrium. It was like a dream.
The Empress opened her door, and the lovely aroma of fresh flowers greeted Yu-ning. The walls and ceiling were pink, and the ambiance was feminine and whimsical. Elegant landscape paintings covered the walls, adorned with delicate white frames. Vases of lilies, tulips, and orchids were spread throughout the room, along with beautifully framed photos of the Empress and Emperor and their family and court. One entire wall was covered by a violet bookshelf stuffed with books from floor to ceiling. There was a light blue piano, a sage green desk covered with white paper, an elegant brush pen and black ink plate, and a white wardrobe leading into a vast walk-in closet filled with beautiful gowns and shoes.
Inside this lovely oasis was a beautiful vanity table with a white oval mirror and a plush white chair covered in silk. On the table were approximately thirty strands of crystal malas in rose quartz, amethyst, citrine, aquamarine, rutilated quartz, jade, pearl, pink tourmaline, and prehnite.
“Oh, it’s so beautiful! It’s just like my magical cave, Empress! My chairs and tables are also painted different colors like yours! Do you read and study too?” Yu-ning asked with excitement, looking around the room.
“Yes, my dearest. I love art and music. I play piano and flute. I practice calligraphy, I read, I study; I am always learning.” Yu-ning looked at her with deep admiration. “Be the example you want others to be,” Empress continued. “I do the things I like to do, just as I did when I was your age. I have not changed. I follow my truth and I allow bliss and wonderment to guide me. Wait, I have a special gift for you,” the Empress said, walking gracefully to her vanity table.
“Another?” Yu-ning said in disbelief.
The Empress held a jewelry box in her hand and extended it to Yu-ning. “Here, open it,” she said.
Yu-ning opened the delicate box with awe and gratitude. “Oh, it so beautiful,” she exclaimed. She lifted the lid to reveal a gorgeous pink silk scarf. “Oh, it is so soft.” The scarf was glimmering soft pink and lavender lights.
The Empress reached for the scarf and placed it around Yu-ning’s neck. “Wear this and honor yourself. Honor our gifts to you, and remind everyone on the outside that they deserve all the gifts we give to them, too. Please tell them not to doubt, but to always believe and have faith like you do. You have done so much, and there is so much more love to give,” the Empress said.
Yu-ning was pensive. Solemnly she answered, “I understand, and I will. Thank you, Empress.” Yu-ning gently touched the silky fabric draped around her neck.
“There’s more inside. Keep looking,” the Empress encouraged with a smile.
Yu-ning looked in the box and saw another, smaller jewelry box inside. “Yes, open it,” the Empress said lovingly. Inside on pale pink velvet lay a large pink diamond ring, and a golden band. Yu-ning was overwhelmed. “This stone is perfect and precious,” she said softly.
“This is the ring of power and the ring of leadership,” whispered the Empress. “They are for you. Wear them, and conduct yourself and everything you do from your highest place of integrity and love. You rule from love and lead from love. We love everyone, great or small, rich or poor, human or animal,” the Empress said.
“Yes, I will always do everything with love,” Yu-ning repeated in awe.
“It is time for you to see my favorite place,” the Empress said sweetly. Yu-ning nodded enthusiastically. They walked out of her private chamber and exited the back of the palace. There to meet them for their late-afternoon walk were Metatron, Romeo, Suparna, and the Emperor.
The Empress and Emperor joined hands and guided the small group to a smooth dirt path that wound through a lush, spectacular forest. It was if they had crossed a primeval threshold as they walked through primary rain forest, with old-growth trees towering above. Suparna glided overhead, quietly flying between the enormous trees, taking in the serenity and peace of the forest glade.
Yu-ning saw the forest open up to her right, revealing a hidden clearing, surrounded on all sides by a riotous wall of green fecundity. She stopped and sighed with excitement. “Yes, that is a secret forest glade. I go there often,” the Empress said, smiling. After a long while, the rain forest gave way to a colorful garden with green manicured grass and colorful tropical flowers. “This is my garden,” she said to the group. Then, turning to the Emperor, she said, “Let’s walk that way—to the left.” The Empress and Emperor walked slightly ahead as the Empress gently touched the blossoms along the path.
Ahead Yu-ning saw a crystal-clear pond and an arc-shaped bridge made of cypress wood. The pond reflected a rainbow of colors as the slanting rays of the late-afternoon sun shined off the water. “It’s
so beautiful!” Yu-ning cried, as she dashed toward the bridge and quickly walked to the middle. She leaned over the wooden railing, admiring the water. Yu-ning felt like she was soaring as she leaned out over the bridge, gazing with joy into the colorful pond below. She crouched down and with her right arm outstretched, swept her fingers across the water, creating a magnificent ripple of color and movement.
It was very quiet and tranquil. Romeo and Metatron joined Yu-ning, along with the Emperor and Empress, along the railing of the bridge. Magic left Metatron’s pocket, lured to the pond’s banks by the buzzing of insects. Suparna landed quietly nearby and stood taking in the beautiful bridge and peaceful pond. The only sounds were those of birds, insects, and water gurgling in a small rivulet that flowed out of the forest into the pond.
Large orange and white koi darted back and forth. Their scales shined through the water in a rainbow of colors—orange, red, yellow, green, blue, and purple. As they swam they blended into the water, which surprised Yu-ning and made the Empress laugh.
“Seeing these beautiful fish reminds me of what is still missing: the Seven Sacred Crystals,” said Yu-ning. “How will we ever find them again?”
“All of us, together, will reclaim the crystals, Yu-ning,” said the Empress, looking alternately at Yu-ning, Romeo, Metatron, and Suparna. “And even though the Seven Sacred Crystals are gone, we all have the light and colors within us, don’t we Yu-ning?” said the Empress. “Never forget the colors of hope and love are always within you.”
Yu-ning lunged to hug the Empress around her waist. As she looked up and smiled into the Empress’s eyes, she said, “I will, Empress. I will.” The Empress leaned down to kiss her forehead. Tears filled their eyes.
Yu-ning looked up at the Empress and said, “Empress, this place is so colorful and beautiful. It is just like Rainbow Island! It’s as if we were in the same place.”
The Empress nodded, smiling at Yu-ning. She looked at the kind wizard, whose eyes were shining like diamonds. Yu-ning and Romeo ran down the bridge, searching for Magic in the reeds along the edge of the pond.
The Empress sighed joyfully, with emotion filling her heart. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Metatron. “Is she ready to hear the truth, Metatron?”
“Not yet, your Highness. She has been through so much, and has only just discovered her identity as a Darq Render. I do not think now is the time. But soon—very soon.”
“But you know that her destiny is tied to mine, and mine to hers . . . Should she know that she is the future Empress, and that I am . . .” The Empress stopped in mid-sentence as Yu-ning ran back onto the bridge, holding Magic in the palm of her hand.
“This is so wonderful!” exclaimed Yu-ning. “I feel as if I could stay here forever. Metatron, can we stay here for a while?”
Metatron knelt down, so that he was even with the young girl’s eyes. “Yu-ning, this will not be our last visit to the Floating Palace . . . I promise we will return to visit with the Empress very soon.”
“Yes,” said the Empress, who stood nearby. “I will see you again, my dear. My prayer is that the world will know love again through you, Yu-ning, and through Romeo. All you need to do is trust—live your story, Yu-ning, and live it in love.”
Romeo joined Yu-ning at the center of the bridge as they gazed at the tranquil scene before them. At the end of the bridge, a flash of bright light caught everyone’s attention—as the group turned toward the beautiful light, One materialized before the group. Though he shared no words with Yu-ning—or anyone else—a pure love flowed from him, filling Yu-ning’s heart with an overwhelming joy. A moment later One transformed back into a brilliant orb of light, floated above the bridge, and was gone in a bright flash.
Metatron smiled and nodded his head as he turned back to his friends. “At week’s end, my friends, we depart. First we rest, and then it will be time for us to journey to Rainbow Island.”
The small group gazed across the pond, down the sloping descent of the green meadows—and out beyond the enchanted walls of the Floating Palace. In the distance, across the western sea, the sun was a fading disc on the far horizon, bathing the bridge in a soft, shimmering pink glow.
Thirty-Four
Nest
IT WAS DUSK and the sky was dark.
Across stormy waters the lone island was bathed in rain and swirling cloud. Enormous sea swells battered the cliffs, the whiteness of the crashing waves in stark contrast to the dark grey granite rocks jutting from the turbulent sea. High above—higher than the lair of the warlock, or the cavernous jail that once held a small boy—was the highest point on the island. It was an enormous spur of rock that jutted above all others, reaching high into the sky—a dark tower looming over the desolation of the isolated island of rock.
Just below the summit of the craggy peak, a lone climber inched closer to the summit. Though the rain and wind buffeted him, his long, thin fingers held fast as he climbed hand over hand. Hobaling stopped, his feet resting on a small ledge, as he took in the scene all around him. Overhead a shadow passed, followed by a loud screech that pierced the sounds of the storm.
Hobaling continued to climb and grabbed hold of the last rock in his ascent, pulling himself up onto the top ledge. Nestled in a round cleft in the rocks, hidden from below, was a nest. Lying in the nest were seven large crystals. They were void of any life or light, and rain pelted them from above.
The warlock rubbed his hands across the stones, and stopped—his hand was poised in midair as the large dark shadow once again passed overhead. He looked up and shouted, “There were two skulls, weren’t there, my dear?”
As he turned back toward the nest, his hand continued past the seven stones and fell upon three darker, larger objects. The black eggs had a polished, smooth surface—like hard obsidian rock.
As night fell, the warlock remained on the ledge, admiring his trophies. Darkness came quickly, and the storm grew more violent. Thunder clapped, followed a moment later by lightning that illuminated the hidden nest. The flash of light revealed all ten objects lying side by side, indistinguishable one from the other, as the rain pelted down from the black sky above.
About the Author
CHRISTIE HSIAO is founder of Serenity Media Group, a global entertainment company devoted to creating high quality film, TV, and digital media projects. It is her vision to create positive entertainment that is uplifting, international in scope, and that catalyzes change. Christie believes in the unique power of story to raise awareness and to compel societal transformation. Originally from Taiwan, she holds a BA from UCLA in East Asian Studies and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Christie went on to study film in New York City, where she wrote, directed, and produced several well-received films. This is her first novel.
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