Oaken

by Melody Robinette

  She froze, her mouth dropping open at the scene before her.

  Avery was restraining his frail mother, who was thrashing about, trying to release herself from his grasp. Glass glittered on the floor. His mother’s foot was bleeding profusely, but she didn’t seem to care.

  “Avabelle? Avabelle! Come back! John, help her! John! Please someone help my baby! Avery, why aren’t you helping her? Avabelle!” she sobbed.

  Avery’s face was contorted in misery.

  “Mom, stop. You’re stepping on the glass,” he said in a dead voice.

  Autumn could tell that he was trying not to hold too tight. She looked so emaciated that she could easily break in half with too much pressure.

  “My baby! It’s hurting her, please! Help her! Help her, John! Avery!” his mother continued sobbing.

  Autumn stood paralyzed in the doorway, the etherelle still clutched tightly in her hands. Suddenly Avery’s mother thrashed towards the door. Avery’s eyes widened as he took in her frozen stance and his expression turned angry.

  His mother reached for Autumn. “Please help my baby—my baby, Avabelle, please.”

  Autumn moved back a few steps in shock. “I—I…”

  “Get out, Autumn!” Avery shouted.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t—”

  “Get out!”

  She stumbled backwards, stung by his angry tone, pulling the door shut behind her and moving quickly down the stairs back to her branch. She walked numbly through the living room and dropped the etherelle onto her bed, where she sat in silence, eyes staring into space as she attempted to process everything that just happened.

  Avery had always been quiet about his family, but Autumn had just figured it was because it was too painful to talk about his father and sister’s deaths. She never even really thought about his mother. Now that she thought back, he had said that she was always in bed.

  A familiar THUMP coming from her balcony pulled her from her thoughts. Autumn faced her balcony doors. The curtains were open, but all she could see was her reflection as she sat, wide-eyed, on the edge of her bed. The balcony doors slammed open to reveal Avery standing hunched over like his chest was too heavy to hold upright. His face was twisted with despair and his eyes looked empty. Autumn left her bed and approached him cautiously.

  He looked up at her with a tortured expression and she could see all the pain he’d been hiding for so long in his stormy, gray eyes. She wrapped her arms tightly around him, and he collapsed to the floor sobbing, taking her with him. His shoulders shook and his tight hold around her was almost bone crushing. The frigid air from outside poured into the room, but Autumn didn’t care. In that moment, she didn’t care about anything except the boy in her arms.

  She’d been so busy trying to help Victor that she hadn’t realized the one who really needed her help and support…was Avery. She held him as tightly as she could, letting him break down. Warm tears spilled over her cheeks as she embraced him and, for once, the magnetic pull between them didn’t feel pleasant, but painful. Autumn literally hurt with him.

  AVERY’s breathing evened out after a while and he wasn’t sobbing anymore, just trembling. Autumn didn’t let go until he leaned slowly back from her. He was surprised that he didn’t feel more embarrassed for breaking down like that. If anything, he felt a calming sense of relief. He stood to shut the balcony doors and moved to Autumn’s bed. She watched him from the floor and he patted the bed beside him.

  Autumn moved to the bed, keeping her eyes trained on his face. He gave her a small smile, taking her hand with both of his and trailing his fingers across her palm. She was the most solid thing in his life. The most real thing. But also the most unreal. He had never thought of himself as lucky before, not with everything that had happened. But, with her, all of that disappeared and all he saw was her. So, he took a deep breath and told the story he swore he never would.

  “After my father died, Avabelle and I were all my mom had,” Avery said. “She leaned on us for support and we let her. She’s a very caring woman, but she’s not very strong. My father was the strong one, and she leaned on him until he passed away. She was terrified of losing us, so she kept us close. We always had a curfew and we had to tell her where we were going before we went anywhere. We told her that she was being paranoid, but then Avabelle was killed.” Autumn squeezed his hand.

  “When Avabelle died, my mom sort of…went away. She didn’t talk to me or anyone else. She wouldn’t eat and she lay in bed all day. I was afraid I was going to lose her too, but she eventually began eating again. She started talking to me too, but always in a monotonous voice. She still lies in bed all day, but she does eat enough to survive. Sometimes she has fits like the one you just witnessed. I don’t know what triggers it, but she will just start screaming and crying and calling for my sister. She will yell for me to help her or for my dad.”

  “John?” Autumn asked.

  Avery nodded. “I can’t stand when she gets like that. Sometimes I think maybe I’m the one who triggers it because I’m always around when it happens. Maybe it’s because I’m Avabelle’s twin. I don’t know. So I try to stay away as much as I can. I don’t want her to be in more pain than she already is.”

  “I don’t think your presence causes her pain, Avery,” Autumn said. “Maybe she only breaks down when you’re around because she knows you’ll be there to help put her back together.”

  Avery quirked a small smile at this and kissed Autumn’s hand, which was still clasped in his.

  “What’s your mom’s Power?” Autumn asked.

  “She’s a Dream Communicator. That’s how she talks to me sometimes.”

  “A Dream Communicator?” Autumn said looking deep in thought.

  “Yes, why?”

  Avery watched as realization lit Autumn’s face and her lips turned up into a small smile. “That’s why…” she trailed off.

  “Why what?”

  She looked at Avery with her bright hazel eyes. “That’s why you were in my dreams before—in the Outside. Your mother must have been thinking about you while she was trying to communicate with me.”

  “You dreamt about me before you came here?” Avery asked with a wry smile.

  Autumn laughed. “It would appear that I did, but don’t be getting a big head or anything.”

  Avery chuckled. He felt light. The weight on his chest was gone. He lay back on the pillows that covered the bed and closed his eyes in exhaustion. He felt Autumn lay silently beside him and he pulled her to him so that she was nestled against his chest. He tried not to hold onto her too tight, but he couldn’t help but worry that somehow…she would disappear too.

  Back to Square One

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  A bright ray of sunshine fell across Autumn’s face and she opened her eyes groggily and looked up to see Avery smiling crookedly at her. She sat up and looked around.

  “Is it morning?” Autumn asked. Avery nodded. “Did you sleep here?” He nodded again. “We have the Winter Festival today. I’m supposed to sing,” she realized, glancing at the grandfather clock. It was eight in the morning. The celebration started at nine. “Oh man.” Autumn jumped out of bed and headed to her bathroom to take a shower, and then looked back at Avery who was still lounging on her bed.

  “I’ll go,” he said reluctantly. “I’ll see you at the celebration. Better take this,” he said, grabbing his etherelle, which was still at the foot of the bed where Autumn had left it last night. He kissed her on the cheek and left through her balcony doors. She watched him go with a lopsided smile, and a jolt of realization coursed through her. She was starting to fall for this boy…if she hadn’t already.

  Luckily, she made it to the Winter Festival on time. It certainly wouldn’t have looked good for the Princess of Arbor Falls to arrive late. She was the last performer and sang her newly written song to the crowd that had gathered around City Circle. Avery played his etherelle beside her as she sang. They didn’t speak of what she’d witnessed
the previous night or of anything he told her. She figured that talking about it, though, had helped him in some way. He seemed much lighter, his gray eyes clearer.

  After hours of dancing, eating, and laughing till tears were rolling down their cheeks, Luke, Avery, Crystal and Autumn walked back to Arbor Castle.

  “Oh, I need to check on Sundance,” Autumn said.

  “Who’s Sundance?” Avery asked.

  “Her pegasus, dude. Where have you been?” Luke said.

  Avery grinned at Autumn and she blushed, looking at the ground. She wondered what Luke would think if he knew exactly where Avery had been.

  “I don’t know. Autumn never tells me anything,” Avery said.

  “I know the feeling,” Luke said, shooting a weary look in her direction.

  “Did you get a pegasus too?” Avery asked Luke.

  “Yeah! He’s all shiny and black. He’s going to be a beast.”

  “Bet he can’t beat Knight in a race,” Avery taunted.

  “You wish, dude! Wait till Thunder grows up. He’s definitely going to live up to his name.”

  “Like he has a choice,” Autumn muttered.

  Crystal giggled.

  Autumn and Luke let Thunder and Sundance out of their stall so they could stretch their legs. The ponies ran clumsily around the stables, their frail wings flapping in the wind. Autumn laughed as she watched them, and Avery let Knight out of his stall.

  “Man, I can’t wait until Thunder’s this big. I want to fly already,” Luke said, running a hand along Knight’s smooth coat.

  “You can fly Knight if you want,” Avery offered. “He knows where to go. You won’t have to lead him or anything.”

  An excited smile spread across Luke’s face. “Really?”

  Avery nodded, chuckling.

  Luke swung onto Knight’s back like Autumn had the night Avery took her to Fay Fairy Forest.

  “I’m from Texas,” Luke stated, an answer to Crystal’s questioning gaze.

  Autumn and Avery burst out laughing, causing Crystal and Luke to shoot them bemused looks.

  “Why don’t you go with him, Crys?” suggested Autumn.

  “I hate heights,” Crystal said.

  “There’s nothing scary about heights. Just come with me, Crys,” Luke encouraged. “I’m your partner. Don’t you trust me?”

  Crystal looked a little pale, but she eventually agreed. Luke pulled her easily onto Knight’s back and she clung to Luke tightly, looking even paler than she had before.

  “Be gentle with them,” Avery said, patting Knight’s snout fondly. Knight blinked his intelligent eyes and took off into the air. Crystal let out a small squeal. Autumn laughed, watching them soar higher.

  She and Avery leaned against the stable wall as they watched Knight soar slowly around Arbor Castle, and the two pegasus ponies chasing each other around the grounds. Autumn smiled happily as she watched them play. She felt Avery’s eyes on her and she gave him a sidelong glance.

  “What?” she asked.

  He sighed and shook his head.

  Autumn turned back to watch Thunder and Sundance prance playfully around.

  “I haven’t thanked you for last night,” Avery said. “I needed that, I think.”

  “I think you did too,” Autumn said. “And there’s no need to thank me. I’m here whenever you need me, Avery. Day or night.”

  “I know,” he said, gazing unseeingly at Thunder and Sundance.

  Avery moved a few inches to the right so that he was pressed up against Autumn’s left side, satisfying the magnetic pull for the moment. They both jumped when Knight landed a few feet away.

  Luke let out a whoop as he jumped off of Knight’s back. “That was insane,” he exclaimed and then turned to Thunder calling, “You better do some growing up, boy!” Crystal was still clinging to Knight with shaking hands. “Oh. Sorry, Crys,” Luke said as he lifted her from Knight’s back.

  “Are you considering investing in a pegasus, Crystal?” Autumn jested.

  Crystal stumbled a little as Luke set her on solid ground. Her face was still a chalky white and she simply shook her head from side to side in answer to Autumn’s question. The others laughed at this. Luke herded Thunder and Sundance back into their stalls and the four of them left for the castle.

  “Better sleep in late tomorrow. It’s our last day before Warrior training starts again,” Avery said wearily. Luke, Crystal, and Autumn groaned.

  Monday morning Autumn, Luke, Crystal, and Avery left for the Warrior training field on campus. Forrest, Cera, Jastin, and Charlotte were already there, and Kyndel arrived shortly after. Atticus showed up a few minutes before they were scheduled to start.

  “Have a good break, everyone?” he said cheerfully. They nodded in unison, too tired to reply with any enthusiasm. “Did you get some practice in?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.

  Everyone exchanged uncomfortable glances, saying nothing.

  “Ah, well, today should prove to be exceptionally difficult, then,” Atticus said, still sounding cheerful.

  Autumn spotted Victor approaching the group from a distance. There was something different about him; his shoulders hunched forward and he wore a scowl on his face. The others turned to welcome him, shouting greetings.

  “Hey, Victor!” Forrest said.

  “How’ve you been, man?” Jastin called.

  Victor said nothing, but gave a small nod of his head in acknowledgement. Forrest and Jastin’s faces fell slightly at this. Autumn and Avery exchanged worried looks.

  “Well, now that everyone’s here, we’ll get started,” Atticus said.

  Victor glanced at Autumn and she gave him a questioning look. He immediately turned away. Her stomach sank as she was immediately and painfully reminded of the old Victor. His eyes were closed off and his stance was defensive, more so than ever before. Any progress she and Avery had made before the break had apparently disappeared. Avery seemed to be thinking along the same lines because he wore a weary look. Autumn shook her head sadly as they followed Atticus to the center of the field.

  With the Warrior Trial looming over them, the Initiates were pushed to the limit. Atticus insisted the harder they worked, the easier the Trial would be. This was by far the most difficult training session they’d had yet, and Autumn had a feeling they were only going to get worse.

  Atticus set a number of obstacle courses throughout the campus. The finale of the day was Shadows. Somehow Atticus had convinced the Tetra Warriors to capture five Shadows for the Initiate’s training session.

  “What do we do with them?” Charlotte asked, eyeing the rope-bound Shadows warily.

  “Kill them,” Atticus stated.

  Everyone’s eyes widened, except for Victor, who looked stonily at the ground.

  “What?” Kyndel said, an edge of hysteria in her voice.

  “You heard me,” Atticus said.

  “Can we use bow and arrows?” Forrest asked.

  Atticus shook his head. “Too easy.”

  The ten Initiates stared at the struggling Shadows in horror. They’d done a lot of training over the past few months and had been taught countless techniques to aid them in killing a Shadow, but never had they had to fight a real one. Autumn’s encounter with the Shadow near Steam Springs was still fresh in her mind. At least she knew she could handle herself—and she hadn’t even had her Power then. Avery looked ready as well. He glared at the Shadows with narrow eyes, full of hate. They were, after all, the creatures that killed Avabelle.

  Atticus spaced the Initiates out so that they had room to fight. He asked Autumn to paralyze all five Shadows with Song. She obeyed and Atticus went around removing each of the ropes that had been binding them. None of the creatures moved. The others stared up at the Shadows with expressions of fear and determination.

  Atticus made eye contact with Autumn and made a short, slashing motion through the air, indicating that she should stop singing. She did and all five Shadows silently zoned in on the Initiates.

/>   Autumn immediately focused on her and Avery’s Shadow, which was pawing at the ground with his hooves, horned head tilted downward as if about to charge.

  Autumn shot a blast of song in the Shadow’s face as Avery sprinted forward, leaping onto its chest. Taking a hold of its ram-like horns, he jerked the Shadow’s head quickly to the right, effectively breaking its neck as easy as if it were a small twig. The Shadow crumpled to the ground. Autumn stared at it with wide eyes, impressed with the ease they’d had at destroying it—and also a little horrified.

  “Well done,” Atticus said as he passed by. Autumn looked down at the body of the Shadow, a small frown on her face.

  “What’s wrong?” Avery asked as Atticus moved on to observe the other partners who were still fighting their Shadows.

  “I’ve never killed anything before,” she said.

  “Technically I did the killing. You just made it possible for me to approach it without getting rammed.” Avery chuckled. Autumn didn’t smile at this, but flinched slightly. “They don’t have souls, Autumn. They shouldn’t even be alive,” he said, more serious now.

  She raised her eyebrows at this. “How can you know that?”

  “They were created by Vyra, made from her own blood. No creature created by an Atrum like Vyra is going to have a soul. And, if it did, it wouldn’t be a soul worth saving.”

  “How did she do that?” Autumn asked in disgust.

  “No one really knows. Some say that she’s enlisted the help of a warlock, but we can’t be sure.”

  A whoop of celebration resounded to their right and Autumn turned to see that Luke and Crystal had successfully brought their Shadow down as well.

  Autumn’s eyes moved to Cera as she pressed her Shadow down with Gravity and Forrest managed to stab the creature in the heart. Charlotte and Jastin had a little more trouble with keeping the Shadow in one place. Charlotte covered it in a thick fog and Jastin closed his eyes in concentration as he tried to mentally reach the Shadow so he could cause it pain. The Shadow seemed to be resisting this pain, but finally it stayed still long enough for Charlotte to kill it.