Autumn Awakens

by M. J. Padgett

  “Yeah, well, stuff happened while you were gone, Park. It was bad. Rose’s army attacked.”

  “What?” I yelled, freaking out as I began my search for my fiancé and brothers.

  Jordan grabbed my arm. “It’s okay. Ophelia is fine. Everyone is... Well, not everyone is fine, but Ophelia and our brothers are okay.” I stared into his scared face. He was hiding something from me. Someone was hurt, possibly dead.

  “What is it, Jordan?” I asked, just as Ravenna let out a loud wail.

  Jordan’s eyes fluttered toward her, and he swallowed. “It’s Marcus. Rose has done something to him. He’s dying, Park. King Marcellus is dying.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Calla burst through the doors of the infirmary in a frantic search for her twin brother. Kylie was already there monitoring him with Caroline’s help. The women looked haggard and overworked. Perhaps Caroline had not fully recovered herself, but she aided Kylie anyway.

  “We requested help, but Goldene Stadt and Schattenland’s armies couldn’t get here in time,” Queen Ava said as she held her husband’s hand tightly. Brody and Heidi stood in the corner, staring off into the oblivion. The king’s siblings scattered the room, some paced while others cursed Rose.

  “Why aren’t you healing him?” Calla yelled, primarily to Heidi, but it was clear she was accusing every witch in the room.

  “I tried Calla. I’ve done all I know to do. He’s frozen that way—unmoving and slowly dying. It’s the same with every member of the Royal Guard,” Heidi replied. Her brothers, Wil and Jay, wore solemn faces. I remembered overhearing someone mention the two men had practically raised Marcus and Caleb, not to mention Marcus had been Wil’s best friend centuries ago.

  The room overflowed with people entering to check on the King of Schwarzwald, but none had any ideas. I scanned the room for my family, though I soon realized there wasn’t a face in the room that I didn’t consider some type of family. Some I felt closely connected to, others felt like those crazy cousins you only see once a year at family reunions, but family all the same. I spied Ophelia cleaning instruments for Kylie. I managed to wiggle through the crowd to her.

  “Hey,” I said quietly, not wishing to disrupt the quiet that had fallen over the room. “You holding up okay?”

  She looked up at me, and tears slid from her eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes... but a long laceration crossed her face from the right side of her forehead to her chin. I took her head in my hands, cradling it like a newborn baby.

  “What happened?” I asked, which only brought on more tears.

  “It was an accident, Park. Don’t freak out and do something drastic, okay?” She was worried, her eyes darted toward something in the corner—someone. Ethan was not in his cell, and I immediately knew what had happened. “He didn’t mean it, and he already feels like crap. It’ll heal,” she insisted.

  “How did it happen?”

  “When Rose’s army invaded, we didn’t know what to do. She tossed people around like dolls, killed villagers, and I think she would have murdered us all. She was crazy, and I thought we could use his help. It was my fault it happened. I let Ethan out, and he shifted too close.”

  I glanced at Ethan across the room again, catching his stare. He looked mighty scared, but I agreed with Ophelia. If it was an accident, there was no reason to get angry. I gave Ophelia all my attention.

  “I didn’t want to bother Heidi with it. She was busy with Marcus and asking anyone to heal me seemed selfish,” Ophelia admitted.

  “Maybe later, when things settle a bit. You’re beautiful no matter what, but if it bothers you, I’m sure they can fix it.”

  She shrugged. “I’ve had worse, but maybe I will since it is my face. I don’t care right now. I just want to find a way to help Marcus. He didn’t deserve this,” she said, pointing to his unmoving body. “He was only protecting the children.”

  “Are they—”

  “All fine. Scared, but okay otherwise,” she said.

  Ravenna sniffled, then straightened her back and shook her hair from her face. Her tears were wiped away, and her features transformed in an instant. Chin high and eyes focused, she made an announcement. “I’m going to kill her. Come, the appointed meeting members please meet with me in the hall. Anyone else who wants to kill a lunatic, join us.”

  Gloom hung in the air, but I sucked in what little oxygen I could from the dark place and followed her. Ophelia caught my hand, and pulled me back, kissed me gently, and released me. I wanted to be with her, but Ravenna’s thirst for Rose’s blood took precedence over my own desire to stay with my fiancé.

  Wil, Jack, and Sutton had already left the room with Ravenna, so I hurried my pace to catch up. The dining hall seemed much larger with only five of us, but a few others trickled in. Sierra smiled and patted my shoulder before taking a seat beside me. Seline and Henry wandered in, followed by Caroline. Caroline’s face was as downcast as the rest. She was mousy and huddled in her shawl in the corner as if she were an inconvenience. During the insanity, it was fair for her to think she had been forgotten or shoved aside, but she also seemed content to just be there.

  Ravenna sucked in a breath. “Is anyone else attending?”

  “No, your Highness,” Henry replied.

  “Then I suppose we will first relay what we saw in Weisserwald. There is an old tale of a princess who carried so much dark magic it spilled out of her and into the Land of Peace,” she began.

  “Das Unbekannte?” Sierra asked with a shudder.

  Ravenna nodded. “Indeed, you’re familiar with the tale?”

  “Of course. Jack used to be an idiot and frequently attempted to cross the land at night, back in our first lives, of course.”

  Jack scoffed. “There’s nothing there but swamps and dead things. Certainly not big, bad monsters. That’s all I remember, anyway.”

  “That might not be the case,” Ravenna warned. “We could not penetrate the barrier around Weisserwald before because Rose was strong. Now, I assume she has weakened, and it appears to be a mirror spell that blocked our entry into her land.”

  “Like yours?” Wil asked.

  “I believe so, yes. I managed to open a looking glass into the village and what we saw was awful. There are no words, really. It’s desolate and filled with monsters of the most horrible kind. Vampire knights and hellhounds, trolls and whatever that grotesque thing was that chased us here.”

  “Can we call that the Ugly Drool Monster of Death? I feel like that’s a fitting name,” Caleb interjected, leaning on the door frame.

  “Son, this is hardly the time for jokes,” Ravenna reprimanded.

  Sutton perked up, and her eyes were wide. “If it chased you here, then other things can enter. They already have. How will we protect our people from these monsters? And what do you make of the situation?”

  “I believe Das Unbekannte has spread into Weisserwald. Soon, if left unchecked, I think it will take all the kingdoms.”

  “That won’t happen,” Jack said.

  “It could. What will you do about it?” Sutton asked, snappy. “The protection spells aren’t working anymore, we have traitors in our ranks, and some of you can’t stop making jokes long enough to plan any sort of counterattack!”

  Sutton’s eyes blazed, and her forehead broke with sweat. The woman was unraveling.

  “Sutton, a little humor keeps me level-headed, okay? I thought you figured that out when we dealt with Bianca. I love you, but you need to chill out,” Jack said.

  “I need to chill? I need to—” The words seemed to catch in Sutton’s throat as her face turned a lovely shade of red I had never seen before.

  “Let’s try to remember we’re all family and friends here,” Seline began, but Sutton turned her rage from Jack to Seline.

  “And you! All you’ve done since you’ve returned is dote over your old mother! Seriously, she’s fine. Can you do something besides whine about your abandonment issues?” Sutton snapped.

  Ravenna st
arted to speak but was interrupted by Caleb.

  “You’re one to talk! You’re mean and snappy all the time. Jack is easily the nicest person around here, and all you can do is treat him like crap. He is a king, you know.”

  Wil stood and smoothed his shirt. “Perhaps if we—”

  “Wil, shut it,” Ravenna snapped. “I’m in no mood for a lesson on being rational.”

  “But this is—”

  “I said hush,” Ravenna snapped.

  “Mom, what’s gotten into you?” Seline asked, her eyes narrowed at Ravenna.

  “Me? Have you ever considered how Elizabeth and Ely feel about Caroline being here? Elizabeth has gone to Goldene Stadt to spend time with Hans. Did you even know that? And Ely, he joined the crazy chase today because he didn’t want to be near you.”

  “Mom,” Seline whined. “That’s not fair!”

  Jack rolled his eyes. “You know what’s not fair? Your whining like a child all the time.”

  Henry stood. “My wife does not—”

  “Stop it!” Caroline shouted, standing from her little hiding place in the corner. “All of you, just stop it right now! Don’t you see? This is what Rose wants. She’s targeting her attacks and dividing you. Divide and conquer, so they say, and you’re doing the work for her!” Caroline coughed and clutched her chest.

  “Ms. Manchester, are you alright?” Henry asked, turning toward her.

  “I’m fine, Henry. Please, all of you, I beg you to look at what is happening here. You must work together. Trust me, I know what it’s like to feel suffocated by stress and pain. I know the mistake of blindly following another person without question. Since I arrived, I have been trying to stay out of the way. I’ve been watching you all interact through every bit of drama, and one thing is consistent through the chaos. No matter how awful things become, not one voice goes unheard. You are a true family. It’s something I never understood until now. Don’t forget who you are. You are all more than pawns in the war against evil.” She chuckled and took a step forward. “At first, I was so intimidated by how strong everyone here is. I’ve always been intimidated by strong people, including my ex-husband. But the amazing thing is, you do not fear weakness. You cry with each other, you laugh, you hurt. Do not lose sight of who you fight for. Don’t let Rose take your family from you this way.”

  Ravenna sighed quietly and sat. She drooped her head and stared at the table while the rest of us traded guilty glances.

  “Caroline is right,” Wil said. “We work best as a team, and we are allowing one sociopath to ruin what has worked so well for us in the past. Fighting for our family has been the driving force behind our victories. If we lose our connection over petty squabbles, what do we have left?”

  The room fell quiet again, the shadows of late afternoon cast long on the wall opposite me. They were exaggerated versions of the beaten people in the room, yet they stood tall, never flinching, steadfast, and growing as the sun moved across the sky. The taller they grew, the stronger I felt.

  “We need to draw her out, get her back to Schwarzwald. If we try to fight her in Weisserwald, we’ll also be fighting whatever monsters are there. We can’t risk leaving again, not without an army to protect the innocent,” I said.

  “The Harvest Ball,” Seline said quietly.

  “Darling, I think it is safe to say the ball has been canceled,” Henry said, gently grasping his wife’s hand.

  “No, I meant we can use the ball to draw her back but under our terms this time. If we announce it is in honor of Princess Autumn and Prince Joel, she’ll freak out. I guarantee it. I know women like her, and nothing in the world will anger her more than Ophelia getting all the attention.”

  “I think that will work,” Ravenna agreed.

  “Is there reason to believe she might attack Goldene Stadt or Schattenland instead?” Sutton asked.

  “I don’t think so. With Ophelia and Jordan here, I cannot see why she would. Her focus is on the royals,” Ravenna replied.

  “What about my daughter?” Jack asked. “Isla said Rose wanted Annabell killed.”

  “Why don’t we move all the children to Goldene Stadt? From what I hear, it’s the safest castle since the rebuild,” Caroline suggested. “With the Salien Royal Guard currently indisposed, wouldn’t it be wise to have them protected elsewhere?”

  “Possibly. I don’t like splitting up our magical forces, but it might be our only option. Jack, Sutton, is it possible for us to borrow soldiers to escort the children and provide protection for our villagers while the inevitable battle occurs?”

  “Sure,” Jack said, “but I have a better idea. Why don’t we have a mandatory relocation of your villagers to our kingdom during the fight?”

  “How would we move so many undetected?” Sutton asked.

  “The tunnel system, remember? The one Aline and the villagers used when they were searching for all of us,” Jack said. “Rose won’t see anything, and as long as my mother and Aunt Clara check it out first, I think it’s probably the safest way.”

  Ravenna seemed to mull the idea over. It appeared she was the acting Queen while Marcus was indisposed, and Ava was at his bedside. “I’m not crazy about it, but it is probably the best plan. I assume Annabell is with her mother in Goldene Stadt now?”

  “She is. Hayden is watching her and the others like a hawk. Honestly, I’m a little afraid she’ll attack me if I go near my own son,” Sierra said.

  “Calla won’t like Little Wil out of her sight, but it is best. Summon Clara and Aline, and we will begin the transport. Seline, please commence with the arrangements for the Harvest Ball. Also, I’m... I’m so sorry, everyone. I can’t quite see straight,” Ravenna said.

  “It’s okay, Mom. We’ll work it out after we win this thing,” Seline said, her confidence returned. “Go back to Marcus and let the rest of us organize.”

  “Alright. I trust you will keep the planning discreet and only discuss it with those we are certain are loyal,” Ravenna said.

  The room grew quiet again. We thought Thaddeus was loyal, but he turned out to be the worst kind of bad guy, the kind that hugged you tight and stabbed you in the back at the same time. My mind settled on Jemma and hit a sore spot. I had encouraged that relationship. What kind of detective was I?

  “If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with Jemma,” I said, but didn’t wait for the approval. I didn’t feel it was necessary, nor did I care. My sudden urge to speak to Jemma overrode any other feeling.

  I found her in the kitchen murdering a pint of ice cream. The freezer door was open, displaying an entire shelf stocked with the frozen treat. Evidently, it was the go-to snack when plotting to destroy evil blew up in your face. Jemma sucked down a bite, grimaced and threw the spoon onto the counter. It clattered and dropped to the floor while she pressed her fingers against her cheekbones.

  “Brain freeze?” I asked.

  “Ugh, I deserve it,” she said. “That’s what I get for trusting ice cream. Screw ice cream and its stupid false comfort!” She closed the container and tossed the carton it into the sink.

  I rescued it from a fate worse than death, melting hopelessly in a sink, failing to fulfill its most basic function—providing a tasty, brain-freezing escape from reality. I retrieved two clean spoons and sat on a stool beside her at the island. She cut her eyes at me but took the spoon anyway.

  “So, I didn’t really date much before Ophelia. I didn’t have a lot of time, and it always seemed like a lot of drama to me. That said—Tricia Baker.”

  “Tricia Baker?” she asked, pausing with her spoon hovering over the carton.

  “Yep. She was the one that got me.”

  “Got you?”

  “Yep, the one that made me feel like an absolute fool. See, she got her friend to ask my friend to ask me to ask her to the homecoming dance freshman year. I did, and we went, and by the end of the night, she was my girlfriend. It was cool for about a month, then she started acting strange. Turns out, I was merely a means to
an end. Chris was the guy she wanted to date, but he wouldn’t give her the time of day. When she made her move on him, he shot her down cold, but it still hurt me a lot. I already had trust issues, and she made me realize I couldn’t trust anyone. Not even a fifteen-year-old girl in high school.”

  “I feel like there is some deep, meaningful lesson to be learned here,” she teased.

  “There is. If I’m honest, I think it’s probably the most vital of all life’s lessons,” I admitted.

  “Alright, lay it on me then,” she said, then sighed.

  “People suck.”

  She chuckled and sputtered ice cream all over the countertop. After she recovered, her lips spread into a beautiful smile. I hadn’t seen that smile in quite some time, and it made do the same.

  “Thanks, Parker. I just feel like a total fool. I told him things about my childhood. I’ve never told another soul. He used me, and it feels crappy.”

  I nudged her shoulder. “He was stupid. You’re one of the best people I’ve ever met. Give it some time, and I have no doubt you’ll find the right person to compliment your awesomeness.”

  She giggled again. “I see why Sierra and Cecily like you so much. You have a way of making a girl feel good again. Hey, listen, I know it’s been hectic around here, but I feel like we had a good connection going before, like the start of a cool friendship. Maybe we can carve out some time after this is all over to just hang out? You and the others?”

  “Yeah. Sure, I’d like that.”

  Her smile widened. “Cool. Now, I’m gonna go take a long bath and pretend I’m a princess from a fairy tale land. Oh wait, I am, and it’s not working out so well. Scratch that, I’m gonna pretend I’m the CEO of a successful corporation that makes shoes and chocolate.”

  Shortly after she left the room, I grew sleepy. I hadn’t slept that well and thought a decent nap might help. I went in search of Ophelia and the others but didn’t find them. Instead, I found two people I didn’t recognize snooping around in the library. They were alone and had several volumes spread along one of the large study tables. Many more books were stacked on the floor around the man, tall and a bit burly with reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. The woman with him gazed over his shoulder at the book he was reading. Neither seemed dangerous, but I wasn’t taking any chances after what happened with Thaddeus.