Forbidden Choices

by Jen Weddle

  Chapter 27

  I haven’t seen Riley all day—I’m pretty sure he hates me now—but I promised to wait to go after Theo with him until after his sister gets married. So for now we’re playing it cool like nothing is wrong. But he ignored me all through breakfast and lunch, which was incredibly awkward and his family can sense the tension between us.

  Now it’s dinner and I don’t even want to go downstairs. I can’t endure another awkward conversation. But his mother has forced me downstairs in my best evening gown for an elaborate dinner party she’s about to throw. I don’t know whether to vomit all over my shoes from being nervous or run away—either way I’d be miserable.

  I step down on the bottom stair and lift my black silk dress that is a tad bit too long, even with these tall slinky heels on. The scene taking place around me is chaotic, people are running around frantically, waving their arms uselessly in the air and yelling demands every which way.

  I take a deep breath and try to find some solace in the mess that was formally the Great Hall, but has magically turned into a circus scene within hours.

  I find Helena in the center of it all, sitting in the Queen’s throne with a spiral notebook. She’s frantically scribbling something down inside and looking very serious. I walk over to her because she’s the only face I recognize in the madness surrounding me—other than Riley—who isn’t speaking to me at the moment.

  “Helena!” I shout, hoping that she may be able to hear me over all the noise around us.

  She looks up to my delight and smiles brightly at me.

  “Ali, just the girl I was looking for.” She replies, looking up for a moment from her notebook. She places the pen gingerly behind her ear and beckons me toward her, pointing to the empty seat next to her—the King’s throne.

  I take a seat, feeling awkward and small in the behemoth throne.

  “The throne suits you well.” She whispers, “Maybe, one day you’ll be the one to help rule the Kingdom.”

  I look at her with a surprised expression but continue to remain silent; she stares at me with admiration in her eyes. She begins to yell at one of the servants, and he rushes to her side.

  He’s a lanky man with abnormally pointy ears and sad, droopy eyes. His skin has a green tinged look to it, as if he’s become ill with some strange disease that has turned him reptilian. He slithers when he walks between people, weaving in and out quickly and gracefully.

  “This is Alison.” Helena explains, “You will need to fit her for the dress that she has chosen as my bridesmaid. Can you handle that Benjamin?”

  “Yes, madam.” He replies. His voice sounds like a hissing whisper and he pronounces his “s” with a slight lisp at the end. I look over at Helena, hoping that she’s only joking. She never looks back up and Benjamin stares at me from the corner of his eyes, appearing to be extremely impatient. I follow him into the library, and we walk silently. I try to keep a good distance from him.

  He tosses the dress at me and quietly leaves the room. I try it on once more, spinning around in front of the mirror that they’ve set up.

  Benjamin pokes his head in.

  “May I come in, Miss?” He probes.

  “Yes.” I reply.

  “That looks almost perfect—it’s a little bit too long at the bottom, but we can fix that right up.”

  He takes the bottom and bends over to pin the hem of the dress. He does it quickly and effortlessly.

  “How long have you worked at the palace?” I pry.

  “Many years…” He trails off.

  “Do you enjoy it?” I ask.

  “Yes. The King and Queen are kind and they take good care of my family, they’re also paying for my daughter and son’s education.”

  “How old are they?” I ask.

  “My son will be twelve soon and my daughter is five.”

  “I see. What do you think of Riley?” I ask.

  He has a few pins sticking out of his mouth, and he ponders the question for a moment.

  “He’s different from the others.” Benjamin replies.

  “How do you mean?”

  “I mean, he has a certain aura about him that it isn’t like his siblings.” He suddenly stops talking and continues to pin. “Do you like Elacia so far?”

  I can see that he’s trying to change the subject.

  “It’s strange.” I reply simply. A sharp tap at the door interrupts our conversation.

  “Almost finished?” asks Helena.

  “It’s almost complete, your majesty—I’ll have to take the bottom hem up but the dress is perfect otherwise.” He replies.

  “Could I discuss something in private with Alison?” She asks. Benjamin nods his head in agreement and exits the room.

  “What is it, Helena?” I ask noticing the uncomfortable expression on her face.

  “There’s a guest here for you. I think you may want to get dressed and hurry.”

  Helena leaves the room, and I gently place the dress on the chair so that Benjamin can fix it for me.

  As I reach the bottom step I can see two shadowy figures standing in the doorway.

  “My name is Blair and this is Theo, and we have come for Princess Alison.”

  I can hear Blair’s distinct high-pitched voice as she speaks to the large woman blocking the doorway. I rush to the doorway to shove the woman out of the way. The noise and chaos that once was, slowly diminishes as every eye turns to see the new faces.

  Riley stares at us from across the room. He clears his throat.

  “Everyone back to work, my sister is getting married in two days and you have a lot to do before then.” He bellows out. The people oblige his request and continue being noisy and sorting out decorations and flowers.

  He takes a few long strides towards us and stops—considers something—and then continues in our direction, his eyes brimming with hatred. But there’s something else hidden in them: Relief?

  He reaches us and takes Blair’s hand in his own. He kisses it softly and bows graciously and then shockingly he shakes Theo’s hand. My eyes probably don’t mask my amazement very well.

  “We were afraid you had been killed.” Riley says, putting his arm around my shoulder. I shrug it off and look at him strangely.

  “Mathew couldn’t kill me.” Theo replies laughing quizzically.

  Theo and Riley stare at each other tensely for a few moments, initiating in some strange masculine competition that I’ll never understand. Blair and I look at each other our eyebrows raised curiously. I grab Riley’s hand and the flashes of a vision sink into my mind. I can see what’s about to happen.

  “Riley, don’t.” I mouth. But it’s too late.

  I shove Theo out of the way but he doesn’t budge an inch. I can see it in their eyes—they want to rip each other’s throats out. And if Riley had his way, he would according to that image he just let me see a glimpse of. They’ve been in the same room for a few minutes and they already want to murder each other.

  I’m thankful that we don’t live in the era of Ancient Coliseums that housed bloodshed and victory, these two would put up a good fight. Hell, they may even have had statues depicting their epic battle. But before I can grab Riley, he’s on top of Theo grasping his throat firmly around his large hands.

  I try to wrap my arms around Riley, but he’s too big and I can’t get him to move. I look up thankfully to see that Riley’s father has entered the Great Hall. He storms into the room, banging the heavy wooden doors loudly against the walls and rattling old family photographs and heirlooms on the walls.

  “What’s this racket in my palace?” His deep voice bellows out.

  Riley scurries off of Theo like a frightened cat backed into a corner—I’ve never seen him so afraid. Everything around us stops; it’s as if someone has frozen time. People stand surrounding us as still as statues in mid-drink, their goblets pressed to their lips, just waiting for something to happen. The King thunders towards us, his feet clashing hard on the ground. I gulp trying to
find a way to escape.

  He grabs Riley by his left ear and Theo by his right ear, making these large men look like tiny insects next to his incredibly tall, masculine frame.

  “You two will follow me now and that is an order.” He commands, letting go of their ears, he tosses them both effortlessly to the ground. The two boys follow behind the King, looking pouty and defeated. They all leave the room in silence.

  The music continues as well as the laughter and cheers, as if nothing strange or out of the ordinary had just taken place. I’m left standing awkwardly next to Blair. I don’t know what to say so I flag the servant carrying the drinking goblets over. He hands me a glass of a strong smelling bubbly liquid. I take it graciously and try a sip. It tastes like raspberries but it burns like bourbon. I cough and splutter.

  “Alison.” Blair says my name quietly. I turn to face her, holding the goblet with my pinky out: Is this how royal people hold drinks?

  “I didn’t know that you had feelings for Theo.” She whispers. “I’m sorry.”

  I can sense that she’s being honest, but how do you forgive someone that you’ve hated since you first met them? I wish I could like her, but I can’t so instead I turn away from her. She jumps in front of me her face reddening and her eyes filling with hatred. They seem to cut me in half, I spot Riley’s sister and dash across the room to escape Blair.

  “Helena. I never got to congratulate you earlier on the wedding.” I say. “Are you excited about your big day?”

  “I can’t wait to get married.” She gushes. “Plus, it means I’m not entitled to take over as ruler of Elacia.” She puts her hand over her mouth and falls silent. “I mean, you haven’t met the groom yet. Have you?”

  What is it with everyone changing the subject around here?

  “Well, he’ll be here soon. He said he’d be here around 6 p.m.” She looks down at her watch self-consciously.

  I don’t understand why people wear watches in a land full of magic. What’s the point in keeping time in a place like this? It doesn’t seem relevant…

  “Because time is still relevant to us.” Theo replies from behind me. I spin around to look at him curiously. “We still need rule and order here. Time gives us that just as it does so for the humans.”

  He looks better than when I last saw him somehow. He seems to have changed, his facial hair has grown slightly longer—making him appear more rugged and handsome. He envelopes me in his arms tightly. It feels strangely comforting to be here again.

  “I missed you, Ali.” He whispers, breathing slightly in my ear. My heart stops and skips a beat. This is it. This is where I’m meant to be. I couldn’t possibly be happy anywhere else, but here in Theo’s arms. I close my eyes and I bury my face in Theo’s shirt. It smells warm and familiar. I don’t want to leave this comfort.

  A loud crash from behind us interrupts my one solitary moment of peace. Theo grabs me in his arms and we’re running quickly. It feels as if we’re flying—as the breeze rushes against my face and the scene around me becomes nothing but a blur.

  I can hear people screaming and dishes breaking; now swords and weapons are clanking loudly together. Magic spells are tossed around the room. Birds and bats and dark colors swarm in front of my eyes, clouding my vision. I look behind me just for a moment to see blood: Everywhere. It’s dripping from the walls and those shadows are crawling from the windows high above towards the people on the ground. I scream because I want to go back. I can see Helena and Alice as they clutch each other and look helpless. I have to help them. Why isn’t he stopping?

  Helena and Alice stare at the ceiling, their eyes open and lifeless. They stare at a place that I can’t see. I scream for what seems like hours. It doesn’t go away. It doesn’t stop. All I can see is the scene replaying over and over again in my mind.

  Is anyone alive?

  Am I alive? Or is this hell?

  Theo wraps me up protectively in his arms and we wade through the cold, dark water. It gets deeper and the currents grow stronger. I can see shadows underneath us trying to catch us but failing. I want it to go away. I just want the pain to go away.

  “Make it go away.” I whisper.

  “I can’t.” Theo says. He pushes me aside and his eyes change. Where are the beautiful, mysterious gray eyes that I love so dearly? Where have they gone? They’ve been replaced by icy blue eyes that look as cold and empty as the Dark Sea. Please come back Theo. Don’t go.

  “Ali. Swim, you have to get away from me. I can’t control… get away…” Theo yells, between gulps of water. I can’t see him anymore. Is he going to drown? I swim towards where he just was. But it’s empty and dark except for the shadows at the bottom of the lake.

  If I go under would he try to save me?

  I let go. I’m too tired to swim, and I start to sink. I didn’t think this is how it was all going to end. I thought I’d live longer. The shadows are floating around me, glowing, flickering and tickling my skin. The shadows twinkle and fade into visions and memories of my life. There I am as a three-year-old spinning around in my father’s arms and my brother is sitting on my mother’s lap giggling joyously. I’m happy there. I have a family again. I want to go back to that place where we were so happy.

  If I’m going to die here: I want to remember something happy.

  Something cold grabs my wrist, I try to shake it off but it sticks like a leech.

  No. I don’t want that cold thing anymore. I want the warmth that this place offers. The darkness sets in and I fall away from here, from there or wherever I was before this, but I’m moving upwards rapidly. I can see the thousands of lights flickering into the shape of an animal: The Moose?

  “You’re not ready to join us.” It whispers, and a thousand voices caress me gently. They wrap themselves around my legs and arms with their warm embrace. They hold me in the darkness and keep a fading light against my skin, giving me air and my breath once more. I can breathe.

  There is no more water filling up my lungs. I don’t feel heavy, I feel lightless and airy. I reach my hand to touch something solid. I’m not sure what it is. I close my eyes and I caress my fingers against the object, trying to feel what it is. It’s smooth and as hot as fire against my skin. I open my eyes to see red skin burning like the ember of flames against my hand. I don’t know where we are, but I can hear soft, lulling voices surrounding me now.

  “Is she okay?” The soft voice that sounds like a lullaby asks. “Was anyone with her?”

  I can’t answer. They must not realize I’m dead.

  “The castle has been attacked.”

  My eyelids flutter open.

  “Riley…” I whisper. “Where are Theo and Riley?”

  I cough up water as it rushes out of my mouth and empties from my stomach. I feel like I’m going to be sick so I heave myself to the side and more water escapes my lungs.

  “The Princess?” A correlating gasp expels from their mouths.

  “We thought you were killed in the attack.”

  I eye them reluctantly.

  “How do you know who I am?”

  “He told us.” They point downward.

  “Who?”

  “It does not matter. You’re alive that is all that matters now.” They reply cryptically.

  “They want to eliminate you.” The small girl with purple hair squeaks. “You are the one to save us all. It has been foretold in the Prophecy.”

  “Prophecy?” I ask intrigued. “Why would anyone want to kill me?”

  “The Narwhal, he told us a story that there would be a girl with violet eyes to save us all. And only she would be able to reunite the two worlds of Newhollow and Elacia once again.”

  The boy with the sparkling sea-green eyes and bright blue hair explains, “This girl she would be called, ‘The Lost One’ and her eyes would be the color of the Amethyst stones. She is our only hope against the evils that are to come.”

  “Who are you?” I demand.

  “We are water nymphs from
the Vanished City of the Sea. We live near Elacia; they offer us protection against the unspeakable island. Suamar is the island of prisoners who may not return or be named again.” The boy replies curtly, “I am Yetoro. This is Fira. We may take you as far as the first sands of the island but then we must part ways again.”

  “Why are you not allowed to go to the island?” I ask.

  “It is forbidden.”

  I lay my head against the warmth of skin beneath me.

  “Alison.” The figure beside me, splutters out water. He reaches his hand towards mine. I scoot my heavy body closer to him, taking his hand in mine.

  “Riley.” I ask softly.

  “Don’t be so happy to see me.” He struggles to speak as more water escapes his lungs. I put my finger up to his mouth to keep him quiet. I hug him tightly and he hiccups. He smiles at me, pushing my hair out of my face.

  “I had to save you.” He whispers, and then he closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep.

  “He is a strange one.” Fira and Yetero reply together. “He cares deeply for you. But you should not take advantage of his kindness. The Narwhal whispers that one of the souls is not real.”

  “When you reach the island, you must find the man named Tovla.” Fira explains. “He will guide you to the place that you need to go. Do not speak his name on the island: Names are forbidden.”

  I spot a large heap of land ahead and we quicken our pace to the inland. It’s a large piece of land that stretches out farther then the eye can see, full of sand and uneven dunes, only a few trees speckle the landscape, and even those are rotting and lifeless.

  The Narwhal comes to a sudden halt, dropping us off in knee-deep water. I carry Riley halfway until he wakes up and walks the remainder of the way. The Narwhal follows us, making excited squealing noises.

  “Wait. We forgot to give you the gifts.” Yetoro replies handing us two leather backpacks. “They are from our ruler. And we wish you luck in your journey. I’m sure we will meet again.”

  Yetero whistles and the Narwhal turns around in the opposite direction, the two nymphs wave until we can’t see them and they fade in the distance.

  We sit on the hot sand and stare up at the sky above us. It shifts into different colors, the blue and white clouds glimmer with violet and gray specks. They shimmer around us in a swirling motion.

  “Are you curious?” I ask, observing the backpacks warily.

  We agree to open the backpacks at the same time, I was hoping for food or water but it’s empty except for two small silver boxes the size of our fist.

  I angrily toss mine to the side. What kind of joke is this?

  It bounces back, glimmering and changing colors. It fades from silver to black to red and then it starts to widen and narrow as if it’s developed a breathing pattern on its own.

  “Unlock me.” It hints, teasing us with a child-like voice.

  I pick it up and turn it over in my hands looking at it in various angles. I search for a code or a message on every side. But it just continues to flash to different colors, breathing rhythmically. I exasperatedly set it aside after a few minutes. It bounces back, nudging my leg.

  “Open your eyes. The key is nearby.” It murmurs.

  I look around and dig through the backpack again. I turn the bag upside down but there’s still nothing inside of it. I start to dig with my free hand at the sand. I exasperatedly set the box down on my lap, contemplating where the key might be.

  “Alison?”

  “Yes. Riley?”

  “I think I’m about to…” Riley trails off.

  He fades away from this world and enters a new one. Does he have to have a vision right now? We haven’t figured out the way to open this stupid box. He folds his head in his hands, clearly looking as if he’s in agonizing pain.

  “They’re dead—they’re all dead!” He screams, and the sand starts to swirl angrily around us. I hold him tightly. I’m not sure what else I can do, but I guess he has seen what I’ve seen. The blood and the chaos and the screaming; all the things that I wanted to believe were part of a nightmare have suddenly become nothing but reality.

  “It was Theo.” I reply.

  “What?” he demands. “Theo?”

  “He murdered all of those people and he was supposed to kill me but something saved me. I was supposed to die.” I shove my face into his shoulder and start to sob. He’s cold and we’re shivering—helpless and alone. We’re trapped on an island full of criminals.

  “My mom, my sisters, my baby brother… my dad…” He whispers. “Everyone I knew and loved, they’re all gone.”

  I’ve never seen a boy cry, but I’ve also never really talked to boys before all of this happened.

  Before this world, before I knew who I was—I was just a girl that everybody stayed away from. I pushed people away. I was too afraid to get close to them. I was weird and peculiar and I didn’t fit in. Boys didn’t want anything to do with a girl like me. But this, this feels real and it feels lovely and raw. It hurts like hell here, but I finally feel something.

  I hold Riley so close to me that it feels like our bodies might become one in that instance; like I would take all the pain that he’s ever experienced just to see that big stupid smile spread across his face. His heart speeds up and then slows down. We sit like this for a long time. Not feeling alone in the world, for once. I can be real.

  “My brother is hurt.” Riley jumps up, sprinting towards the water. “But he’s alive. We have to help him.”

  He places two fingers in his mouth and whistles loudly three times. A flash of black breaks through the purple and gray barrier, it hurdles towards us at unimaginable speeds.

  “Felix.” Riley screams from below, “I need you to fly faster then you’ve ever flown before. Come on boy.”

  Felix lands gracefully on the sand, his wings drawn out wide to make him look like some kind of dark fallen angel here to rescue us. Riley plummets towards the horse and holds out his hand for me to join him. I hurry and place the two silver boxes back into their bags. I hand Riley his and then put mine on my back.

  “Close your eyes, darling. You’re in for one hell of a ride.”

  I listen to Riley and I close my eyes tightly. The wind nips at my face and I feel like if I open my eyes again they’ll explode from the pressure. I’ve always hated heights. My cheeks feel like they are flapping from the force of the wind, and I try hide my face behind Riley. We stop so fast that it sends me flying over Riley, clutching my backpack. I land in a soft patch of daisies. I brush myself off and I grab onto Riley as we race for the castle. I’m breathless by the time we reach the doors.

  “He’s in the cupboard.” One of the servants says pointing towards the kitchen.

  Riley races off in that direction, he leaves me alone in the devastating room. My stomach knots up into a million pieces. Bodies lie scattered everywhere. I want to get out. The stench is overbearing.

  I walk over to the throne to find the Queen’s pale arm outstretch toward her husband. The hand quivers only slightly. I grab for it, my tears fall creating a stream of water around me. I cry, heaving and sobbing so badly that it makes my head pound. I lay my head down on the floor beside the Queen, and I close my eyes and let thoughts fill my exhausted mind.

  This is all of my fault… all of these innocent people are dead because of me.

  I killed everyone that Riley loved. He should hate me.

  He saved me, but all I do is cause him pain.

  “Princess?” A weak voice asks. The hand in mine starts to move. I let go, astonished.

  “My Queen?” I ask. “You’re alive.”

  “We can save them just give me more power.” She murmurs weakly.

  I hold onto her hand firmly. I will all of my power to be connected with hers and I think about happy things and not the pain that I’m currently experiencing.

  She stands up. She grasps the knife sticking in her leg and yanks it out. It drips shadowy venom out, but I watch as her leg begins
to heal itself. Ferocity and hatred fills her eyes and she bends over her husband gently touching his back. She touches each individual only gently for a few moments and they start to stir. The entire room which was once lifeless jumps up now full of energy and power—sparks linger in their eyes, full of lust and revenge. They remove the weapons from their bodies and watch in intrigue as the weapons drip the same dark venom that had been on the Queen.

  Riley races into the room, holding Lucas in his arms. Lucas whimpers at every step that Riley takes. Riley sets him in front of me.

  “Ali. You have to heal him.” He begs. I wrap my arms around him and I think about everything that makes me happy—Riley kissing me and Theo holding me in his arms and my family smiling and hugging. Lucas stands up proudly; he punches his fist into the air excitedly.

  The King steps up onto his throne. The room falls silent.

  “I am your King. This is my Kingdom; I will not condone violence unless it is absolutely necessary. But I’m afraid that war was inevitable. The things that we had been afraid would happen. They have happened and we must band together to stop them.” He bellows. “We will endure and our Kingdom will live on peacefully… but only through war. We cannot let our enemies stun us with these poisons again because next time it may be worse. This was a warning from the enemy. I will die for the safety of my people. Now I ask: Will you?”

  The crowd cheers, erupting into applause.

  Why war… isn’t there another answer? There must be another alternative?