by c a king
“I'm sorry,” the girl blurted out in tears. “I didn't mean to. I told Jade not to use so much. She went crazy over that girl getting invited to the dance, said she need to teach her a lesson or all our futures would be ruined. She said our parents would be proud. I don't know why I believed her. I didn't think she would hurt anyone, honest.”
“Later,” her mother said with a hand on each of Camile's shoulders. “Right now we need to go to town and tell Micca everything you did to make that potion.”
Nebulah told her husband she would join the two heading into town and return the missing items. Before leaving she faced her husband. “Are we being punished for what we have done?” she asked.
Malarchy answered, “I think so. This is my fault I have been so blind. Do what you can in town. Jade is locked in her room. There will have to be a hearing and she will have to answer for her actions.”
*****
Jade looked around. She was less than impressed that she had been locked in her room and even worse that her mother had taken the items she had worked so hard to get. Why didn't they see what she did was for everyone? The Council was getting soft, losing control, letting inferiors have their way and running to their aid. Her anger spiked at the thought of her own parents taking the sides of those nobodies over her.
With nothing to do, she lay down on her bed and hugged her favourite doll. Closing her eyes, she was somewhere between the state of sleep and wake when she heard a voice call her name. Opening her eyes she was somehow in a white room with a man standing in front of her.
“Where am I?” she asked.
“In a dream,” he replied. “My family can all dream walk. We unlocked the secrets to that ability long ago. But that is not important now, what is important is you. I heard your cries, my dear. What has happened to you is unjust. A beautiful talented woman like yourself should be bowed down to, treated as a queen, not locked up like a common criminal. The people around you don't understand your brilliance like I do.”
“You do?” she asked.
He moved next to her and brushed her face gently. “Yes, I have been watching you in your dreams for some time. I have seen your thoughts and desires...your plans and aspirations. You are exactly what I have looked for to stand beside me, to be adored by all as I adore you.”
“Who are you?” she asked.
“Forgive me. I am Prince Joseph, son of King Cornelius, saviour of worlds, at your service,” he answered now standing in front of her.
He was beautiful, with short platinum blonde hair, cold blue eyes and stunning features. His body looked chiseled to perfection like a statue, with just enough muscles in all the right places. She couldn't help but feel they would make the perfect couple and have beautiful children.
Knowing her thoughts, he smiled. “Yes, together we could rule worlds. I would give you only the finest jewels and clothes. Others could only hope to be you. Everything your heart desires I could hand you on a golden platter. I will make anything you have wished for come true.”
“Please, I want to go with you,” she answered without thought.
“And I want nothing more than to take you my darling, but I need your help, to enter your world so we can leave together and live the life you deserve,” he answered.
“What can I do? Tell me,” she pleaded.
“Is there someone in your world who can mutate or bend objects like metal?” he asked.
“Yes of course, Neil can.”
“Good, I need you to convince him to stretch the sky,” he said.
“I don't understand,” she answered.
“Yes, of course. When he bends metal he is actually changing the molecular density of the item for a short period of time. If he concentrates hard enough on the sky he can weaken the boundaries between our worlds for a short time allowing me to open a way in and out for just long enough to come for you,” he explained.
“How do I convince him to do this?” she asked.
“You are a beautiful woman. Convince him you know a way to run away with him. Tell him you two will be together forever if he helps you escape the wrath of the Council. We both know their punishment will be severe.”
“Okay, how will you know when it is done?” she asked.
“I will watch the skies my queen. Do not doubt, when it is done I will come and you will have everything you have ever wished for. Oh and one last thing, should the Council wish to impose a punishment on you, they don't have the right. Tell them that only Acacia can decide your fate. It is your right.” He kissed her cheek gently before he faded away into the distance.
*****
By the time Nebulah, Nyssa and Camile arrived back at the Shinning house, the guards had cleaned up all the broken glass and debris in the shop and removed all furniture from the sitting area. The room was now bare with only the three boys lying on the floor and Micca hovering over them trying to do what he could. The way his long black hair was neatly tied back in a pony tail, so it wouldn't get in the way, showed off the other features of his face. His high eyebrows and intense brown eyes, together with the stubble beginnings of a beard made him look almost attractive in a rough manly sort of way. He noticed the new visitors and moved towards them.
“Do we have any information?” he asked anxiously.
“Camile can tell you what was used,” Nyssa offered.
Nebulah motioned she would be back and headed over to Martha's to return the dress and jewels. She had hoped to avoid the boys' parents for the moment until their sons had been cured of the condition her daughter had caused.
Camile stepped forward. “It was a love potion. Jade wanted the boys to ask her to the dance instead of any of them taking Willow.” She took a piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to Micca. “I told her not to give them too much. I warned her things could go wrong. I would never hurt anyone.”
Micca read over this list and let out a breath of air loudly. “This is an advanced potion, the items in it are hard to obtain. I don't even know how you came about this recipe. We could search the forest for days and never find the plants and roots we need to create an antidote and to be honest, we don't have that much time.”
“Willow!” Nyssa exclaimed. “Is she still in town?”
“Yes, she is resting at her friend's house, Clairity. But how will that help us?” he asked.
“She can grow anything. It's part of her abilities. She could grow the plants you need right here in seconds,” Nyssa said.
“If she can do that, we could save these boys. Could someone bring her here? Time is running out.”
Two guards woke Willow from her sleep and summoned her to Micca. They filled her in on the details of what had transpired on the way.
“What do you need?” she asked upon arriving, skipping all pleasantries.
The next hour the two spent outside. Micca would describe a plant and Willow would grow any that resembled its description. He could then pick the one he needed and harvest the flower, leaf or root required for the potion. After that came the juicing, cutting, blending of ingredients and a touch of magic. Once finished, the antidote was administered to all three boys and all there was to do was wait.
Nebulah stayed in the background, not wanting to disturb the process, but anxious for information as to the outcome. “Will they be okay?” she finally asked getting the attention of everyone else waiting.
“We won't know for a bit yet. The antidote needs a chance to run through their bodies. It should work, if the list I was given was complete. It is close though. The poison has been in them a long time,” Micca answered.
“And Jade?” Willow asked without looking at Nebulah.
“She will be treated as anyone would who committed such an act. Punishment will be severe I am sure and the town will be invited to the hearing if they wish to attend,” Nebulah answered without emotion. “The afternoon of the second sunrise from now should give sufficient time for the fate of the boys to be known and a trial before Council to be readied.” Sh
e turned and left the house, heading back to the castle to give the news to her husband. Camile and Nyssa followed behind her not knowing what to say but understanding Camile too would have to answer for her part in the deception.
Willow walked outside and sat on the front steps. Clairity had been waiting outside and promptly sat down beside her. There were still a few hours of daylight left. The town was quiet and empty.
“It isn't over yet,” Clairity said breaking the silence. “Something is coming. I can feel it.”
“No, it isn't over,” Willow replied to her friend. “Everything is happening so fast I don't know if I can keep up. I don't know if I want to. Three weeks ago life was so much easier. Ignorance is bliss.”
“What do you think they will do to her?” Clairity asked.
“Not sure, I guess it depends on whether or not.” Her words stopped. It was the first time she realized her friends could actually die. A lump grew in her throat and tears began to swell in her eyes. At the same time, clouds appeared in the sky and bits of rain began to fall. She took a deep breath and said, “stop,” out loud. The clouds swirled and vanished from sight.
Her friend was in awe. “You did that!” she exclaimed not as a question but rather a statement. “I totally saw you make those clouds come and go.”
Willow would have normally been happy to share every detail she had learnt about her abilities in the last day, but now wasn't the time. She couldn't be enthusiastic about anything with Jessie, Dezi and Pete fighting for their lives. She nodded to her friend affirming that the weather change was her doing.
The girls heard the door close behind them and spun their heads round to see Micca. He sat down beside Willow.
“They seem to be responding well so far. The seizures have stopped and colour is returning to their bodies. It was lucky you were here. That's some talent you have,” he said.
“How long before they wake up? I'd like to be here, but I have to be back to the forest for dark. I have some research I am doing with a friend. It's important.”
“Research? That sounds interesting. What exactly are you researching?” he asked back.
Willow had to think quickly. She wasn't ready to let everyone know about Kiera and Aslo, not until they could officially separate from her anyway. She also couldn't say prophecies about the end of the world and probably not a good idea to say she was trying to figure out how to find out if her parents were still alive. “How to talk to trees,” she blurted out. Seeing the strange looks she was getting from both sides of her she added, “I think we have discovered that they react differently to common words. It's fascinating really.”
Micca chuckled. “I bet it is. If all goes as planned the boys should be moving about anytime, so you should get back to your tree conversations on time.” He stood up and went back inside the house.
After the door had closed, Clairity turned to her and said, “How to talk to trees? Really? You are so bad at lying.”
“Come with me tonight and I can show you.” She hoped her friend would catch on to her reluctance to discuss things in front of listening ears.
“Not much else to do around here at the moment. I'll ask mom.”
Only a few moments after Clairity left, the door behind them opened and Jessie stumbled out still shaky on his legs. He sat down on the steps and rubbed his neck.
“How are you feeling?” Willow asked.
“Like I almost died. Stiff and aching everywhere, every muscle and joint,” he answered.
“Your brothers?”
“Fine, just taking a bit longer to walk about. It would be nice if someone would tell us what happened.”
“You don't know?”
“No, last thing I remember I was talking with Dezi and Pete about the dance. I was thinking I would ask Ashlyn and Pete would ask Clairity so we could all go together.”
“Would have been nice,” Willow said looking down.
“Did something happen to one of the girls?” he asked with a look of concern.
“No, no. But the dance was last night. You went with Jade. All three of you.”
Micca had stepped outside just in time to hear what she said. “Perhaps Jessie should take some time before getting into the details of what happened. I don't want too much information too fast to cause shock.”
“Sorry. I didn't know,” Willow replied.
“I want to know,” Jessie said holding his head.
“Later, your parents can fill you in with the details. For now you need rest. Back inside.”
After saying their goodbyes, Willow walked up the street to the Posh house. Clairity and her mother were standing outside and she filled them in with the condition of the brothers. Her friend had a bag with some clothes and personal items ready.
“Where will you girls stay?” Mrs. Posh asked.
“A fort,” Willow answered. “In the forest, it's well hidden and safe.”
“Sounds exciting. You girls be safe and if anything happens, anything at all, come right back. You understand? Both of you?”
The girls nodded and headed off together into the forest. Once out of sight Willow asked her friend, “Do you trust me?” Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed Clairity's hand and climbed a staircase of branches to the top of the trees. Her friend was speechless and excited. Together the girls walked on top of the forest all the way back to where Nathan was waiting. Following a staircase down, Clairity was stunned by the sight of the stone building standing before her. Before she could speak, Willow grabbed her hand, moved inside and explained the story with Nathan's help.
The three spent the evening learning from Nathan about the books he had read and talking about far off exotic lands. The two girls would later spend the night in Willow's room together, Nathan sleeping soundly in the bedroom beside them.
The next morning, they had fruit for breakfast. Nathan found a book specifically outlining how to train a seer to develop visions more clearly. Clairity and Nathan decided to spend the day trying to expand her psychic abilities, while Willow went into town to grow food for the people and check on the condition of Jessie, Dezi and Pete. She returned in the afternoon with not much to report. The boys were stronger but still lacked memories of what happened and the hearing for Jade was still scheduled for the next day, which Willow planned to attend.
Chapter Eleven
Sabrina and Justin walked into the castle's sitting room and sat down to join Neil. The scandalous events of the last few weeks were on the tips of their tongues. The news had spread quickly of Jade's and Camile's confinement to quarters pending the outcome of tomorrow's hearing.
“If you are here to discuss Jade, I don't want to hear it. She is still my friend and she isn't here to tell us what happened,” Neil said not wasting time.
“Poor Camile is locked up because of her, or did you forget she is our friend too,” Sabrina replied.
“How do you know it wasn't Camile's idea?” he asked.
Everyone was sure Sabrina had known about the love potion and perhaps was even in on the plans, but she wasn't about to confess to anything and end up in a hearing herself.
“I just believe Camile. That's all,” she responded. “If you want Jade's version, why don't you go talk to her? Let's face it, we all know the reason you are taking her side is because you have a crush on her. Perhaps you don't want to believe she gave a love potion to three other guys?”
“Even if she did give a love potion to that lot, it wasn't because she was interested in any of them. I guarantee that.”
Neil didn't want to continue the argument any further than it had gone, especially since his name might also come up at the hearing tomorrow as a supporter if he wasn't careful. But thinking about what Sabrina had said, she was right. He needed to go talk to Jade and to hear her side of the story for himself.
He climbed the staircase and came to the door to her room. There was a magic lock on the door which could not be opened by anyone other than Ozias. He slid the palm of his hand on the sm
ooth wood and after getting up enough courage, he knocked.
“Jade, are you there?”
Jade moved to the door on the other side and put her ear against it. “Neil? Is that you?”
“Yes,” he said with a smile. “I wanted to check on you, make sure you were okay, well as best as you could be.”
Both slid to the floor and sat in front of their sides of the door.
“Yeah, I guess...It isn't how people are making it out. It didn't happen that way. You believe me don't you?” she asked.
“I figured that. Camile is having her hearing after yours so hopefully she will admit to what she did.”
“Camile is having a hearing? I figured it was just me.” She had a touch of remorse in her voice. “I don't want to let her life be ruined too. The Council is going to come down hard on me, make and example of me. I know that.”
“There must be something we can do.”
“Well...there is one chance, but it's risky and I would need your help.” Jade carefully listened for the tone of Neil's voice. It would tell her if she had a chance or not.
After a few minutes he responded, “What would I have to do?”
Jade smiled, “You know how you do those tricks, changing the way a rock looks and bending metal without touching it?”
“Sure.” He loved making things look strange and getting a reaction when people saw it.
“If you could do that...with the sky.”
“What?” he answered.
“Hear me out,” she pleaded. “If you concentrated on doing that to the sky, it would weaken the boundaries between worlds and create an opening, for a short period of time, just long enough for us to escape together to another world and start a brand new life together.”
“How do you know this?”
“I...found a book in one of the restricted rooms dad forgot to lock once. It outlined the whole procedure. Seems easy enough and it's not permanent so no one would get hurt and I would be free. If I don't, I won't see you or anyone else again for many cycles.”
