by L. M. Fry
With one eye on Alouette and the other on the front hall, Theo waited. She heard the front door open and Madame Blackbird stepping onto the front walkway. Dr. Lawless and Eli barricaded the door behind her. Madame Blackbird muttered something, and then shouted. When Theo turned her attention back to Alouette, the girl was gone.
“Dr. Lawless, we have a problem,” she shouted and went to the back door.
Alouette was in the back alley talking to a white robe. The man called for more men, and they ran toward the kitchen. Theo locked the door and stared at the men through the glass. The men leered back at her.
“Watch out,” Eli shouted, overturning a table and blocking the exit.
Behind it, Theo heard banging. Glass broke in the front room. Someone yelped. Julia covered the window in an ice wall, but the men tried to break through it.
“They’re everywhere,” Theo stammered.
Theo peeked out a small side window and saw Madame Blackbird fighting with Slammy. A white robe chained her up. Slammy turned and grinned at Theo. They were trapped.
We should turn ourselves in, Valera said.
We can’t. You heard Dr. Lawless, they’re going to kill us, Julia spat.
Theo racked her brain to formulate a plan. We don’t have much choice. We can’t let him hurt Madame Blackbird.
“Fine, we can go outside and face Slammy. But I won’t go down without a fight,” Julia said aloud.
“What do you mean? You aren’t going out there,” Dr. Lawless fumed.
Theo pushed a chair away from the door and unlocked it. “We don’t have a choice. We’ll try to talk to him. If that doesn’t work, we’ll… use a different method.”
Eli grabbed Julia’s forearm. “Don’t do this.”
“We have to do something. I’ll be okay,” she said, gently removing his hand.
“Then let me go first,” Dr. Lawless said. “I’ll act like I’m turning you over. Maybe you can make a run for it.”
Theo nodded, and Dr. Lawless slipped onto the porch with his hands in the air. The white robes came for him and dragged him down to Slammy. Theo heard him muttering, and then the guards backed off. Theo took the cue to step onto the walkway with the bag of relics held tight against her body. Julia and Valera followed close behind. Slammy’s smile grew. He dropped the blow horn. The men behind him inched forward. He shot his hand in the air and the men paused.
“You’ve seen reason… excellent. I need you girls to come down slowly.”
“I’m sorry, but we can’t do that. We’re not going to let you sacrifice us, Slammy,” Julia yelled.
“We’ll find a different way to do what you want, but we need assurances,” Theo added.
The man shook in anger. “Do you think you can dupe me? There will be no assurances or sacrifices. No one makes a fool of me.”
Theo frowned. He was crazy. He fumbled for something at his belt, pulled a pistol, and aimed it at the girls. Without another word, he pulled the trigger. He didn’t anticipate the ricochet from the gun and was thrown to the ground. The rogue bullet missed the girls and flew off the protective dome above. A loud ping echoed through Pacifica as the bullet hit the glass. The sound of cracks forming along the worn barrier intermingled with the screams of people. The pressure of the Pacific Ocean pushed against the dome and water sprayed into the city. Slammy stared at the hole in shock. The gun fell on the ground beside him, and the mass of white robes stood in stunned silence.
More fissures formed every second, and the water flowed inside faster and faster. Slammy’s men fled in fear. Slammy sat on his haunches, looking between the girls and the gun sitting on the sand.
“What have you done?” He muttered.
A wave of people stampeded down the streets in order to escape the rising water in the Lows. A woman stumbled over Slammy, knocking him on his back. She got up and kept running. Slammy struggled to get up, but the stampeding herd didn’t stop to help. Dr. Lawless grabbed Theo’s arm.
“We have to get to the docks. It’s the only way out of the city,” he shouted over the screams.
“What about the people?”
“We don’t have time to worry about them,” Dr. Lawless hissed.
Theo knew there wouldn’t be time to get everyone out of Pacifica. The dome was failing. The city was flooding. People were dying. She wouldn’t stand by and watch another part of Aether crumble. She searched the bag for Maera’s Scepter. Holding it out, she slammed it on the ground and channeled aether through it. Valera and Julia both gripped the staff, and Theo felt a surge of power flowing through all three of them. In waves of radiant light, the power of the scepter struck out over the city.
Theo felt as if her spirit left her body, and she flew over the city. She was a soaring bird. Below her the cracks in the dome sealed closed. People swept up by the flood were lifted free, and the water receded. Pacifica glowed with Maera’s healing light. The power of the scepter flowed through every living creature in the city. The screaming stopped.
Theo saw everyone and everything. She felt every heartbeat quicken, even as hers slowed. Her strength dwindled. She was yanked back into her body by force. Eli held the staff in his hands, twitching. The light of the staff flickered and blew out like a candle. Theo teetered on her feet until her legs gave out.
Theo blacked out as a new uproar echoed through the city as people rejoiced in wonder.
Chapter Nine
Valera
Valera woke up inside a white room. The bed beneath her was soft and warm. She definitely wasn’t at Madame Blackbird’s anymore. She remembered Slammy shooting at them, and the Scepter shining. After that, her memory fuzzed out. A woman wearing a crisp blue uniform walked past the end of her bed. She looked at Valera and smiled.
“We were worried about you.” The woman’s voice was comforting. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m...” Valera’s mouth was parched. “Water?”
The woman helped Valera sit up and held a plastic cup to her lips. The water was pure bliss. Theo and Julia were asleep in the beds next to her. She frowned, but the woman patted her hands.
“Don’t worry. They’ll be fine. You girls over-exerted yourself.”
“Where are we?” Valera choked.
“Pacifica City Dispensary. You were brought here after… the miracle. You’ve all been laid out for several days.” The nurse fluffed her pillow, checked on the other two girls, and headed for the door. “Oh, your mother is here. Would you like me to fetch her?”
“Maybe later. I feel woozy,” Valera lied.
“Of course, dear. You rest.”
The nurse left the room. Valera flopped back on her bed and put an arm across her forehead. The thought of facing her mother was enough to make her ill. Although, if her mother were here, that had to mean that Slammy’s short reign was over. She looked out the window. The world outside seemed brighter somehow. She reached out for Theo and Julia.
Are you there?
Julia groaned, but both of them remained asleep. Valera sighed. They’d really exhausted themselves. Valera still felt an ache in her head. It got worse, when her mother’s shrill voice shouted outside her room.
“I demand to see my daughter at once!”
Dr. Lawless interjected, “You must calm yourself, Victoria. The girls have been under an immense stress.”
Valera closed her eyes and played dead. Their door opened, and she heard a pair of high heeled shoes walk across the room. She knew her mother’s perfume. She stopped at Valera’s bedside and placed a cool hand on her forehead. Valera stayed as still as she could.
“What’s wrong with them?” Victoria whispered too loudly.
“The intensity of the… event… depleted their vitality,” the nurse’s voice returned. “With rest and care, they should recuperate.”
“I want them transferred to Aetherland Isle immediately,” Valera’s mother didn’t even pretend to whisper.
“That’s quite out of the question. Any exertion could cause a relapse,�
�� the nurse raised her voice.
Dr. Lawless sighed, “Ladies, please. The girls need quiet.”
One of the woman harrumphed and left. Valera could still smell her mother’s perfume. Her skirts swished on a hard floor. The other person in the room, whom Valera assumed was Dr. Lawless, moved closer to the side of her bed.
“Victoria, dear, I apologize for my presumption, but the girls do need their rest. Why don’t we go speak with Parmelia? The rebels will face judgment soon, and Valera needs you to be her advocate.”
Her mother sighed. “Very well.”
Victoria’s lips touched Valera’s cheek. The room grew quiet again. Valera relaxed.
“Faker,” Julia chuckled.
Valera’s eyes shot open, and she sat up. “You’re awake!”
“That sickly-sweet, flowery fragrance that your mom wears is like a dose of smelling salts. How can she stand that stuff?”
Valera laughed. Julia stood on wobbly legs for a second before making her way to the window. Along the way, her hospital gown fell open in the back. Valera coughed.
“Cover up, sheesh. No one wants to see that.”
Julia looked around behind her and grinned. “I’m proud of my assets. Nothing to be ashamed of here.” Still, she pulled her gown around her body. “You should come see this.”
Valera slipped out of bed, making sure to wrap a blanket around her shoulders. She preferred to keep her assets private. The muscles in her legs seemed to have forgotten how to work. She toddled over to the window and leaned on the sill. A mass of people crowded the front of the hospital. From the second floor, the girls could see that the people wound all the way around the building. None of them looked sick that Valera could see, although many of them held flowers and gifts.
“What’s all that about?” Julia asked.
“The flooding must have done more damage than I thought. Maybe they’re visiting the injured?” Valera shrugged. “Do you remember anything after Theo got the scepter?”
“I know that we helped her. I remember a bright white light. But that’s about it. Why is she still out?”
Valera looked toward the sleeping mass that was Theo. “I think she got most of the blast.”
The nurse peeked into the room. “Ah ha! You are awake,” she chuckled. “I don’t blame you for pretending.”
“Sorry about my mother… she can be… headstrong.” Valera wilted.
The nurse waved away Valera’s concern and entered the room. Three young girls followed her in, carrying massive bouquets of flowers. The nurse directed the girls to place the flowers on a side table. The little girls kept their wide-eyed gaze on Julia and Valera. Two of them giggled and whispered to one another. The other approached Julia and curtsied.
“You’re my favorite,” the third girl blurted and ran from the room.
“Uh, Thanks,” Julia murmured, and then turned to Valera. “Her favorite what?”
Valera shrugged.
“Sorry for the disruption. They are the daughters of some of the staff. They were quite eager to deliver the flowers themselves. It’s good to see you up and moving around. Just don’t overdo it,” the nurse said.
“What’s with all the people outside?” Julia asked. “And why were the girls acting so strangely?”
The nurse seemed surprised. “They’re here for you, of course.”
She left Valera and Julia more confused than ever. Valera pulled one of the roses out of the vase and sat on her bed. The delicate pink petals felt like velvet between her fingers. The effort of walking had worn her out. She laid the rose next to her and put her head on the pillow.
“Why do I feel like the sacrificial lamb? Are they here to bolster our ego, fatten us up, and then slaughter us?” Julia mused.
“Don’t be silly. I don’t think those little girls were planning on murdering us, Julia.” Valera yawned, “I’m so tired.”
“Go ahead and sleep. I’m going to stay up… and keep watch… just in case.”
Valera drifted off, and visions of Danu swept through her mind. Although, Danu had no voice in the nightmare, she saw Danu being squeezed to death. The only sound was of bones snapping and crunching. Valera tried to force the image from her head, but Danu continued to infiltrate ever subconscious thought. Valera woke up in a cold sweat.
Julia and Theo spoke to Dr. Lawless. Flowers and gifts covered every surface in the room. One table glistened with jewels. Valera heard singing and chanting outside the window. She shook her head, trying to wake from the strange dream.
“She’s alive!” Theo quipped.
“How long was I napping?”
“An hour or so. As you can hear, they know we’re awake now. Dr. Lawless says the whole city is here,” Julia said. “And the word is spreading.”
“What word?” Valera stretched.
Dr. Lawless spread his arms wide and proclaimed, “You three are the saviors of Pacifica, of course. It was magnificent until Eli yanked the staff from your hands, but by then you’d healed everyone and everything in the city.”
“Eli did what? Is he okay?” Julia asked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
So much for Julia not caring. Valera smiled.
“You needed to heal.” Dr. Lawless seemed to grow annoyed. “He received quite a shock… but he’s fine.”
Valera could tell by the frown on Julia’s face that she was still worried, so she sat next to her and changed the subject.
“How are you, Theo?” Valera asked. “You seemed pretty out of it before.”
“I’m okay. This is pretty insane, though. Oh, my mom came by. Apparently, she came in from Aetherland yesterday along with Parmelia and your mother.”
“I know that Mother came earlier.” Valera shuddered.
“I have good news. I was just telling Theo and Julia that the proper Elders have been reinstated. The True Followers and their cohorts are being dealt with as we speak. They won’t be free for a very long time.” Dr. Lawless clasped his fingers together.
“What about Slammy Magee?” Julia snarked.
Theo rubbed the back of her neck. “The last I saw of him; he was being trampled in the Lows.”
“When you girls healed the city, you healed him as well. He’s been charged with the rest of them.” Dr. Lawless grinned.
Valera squeezed her eyes shut, trying to crush a headache that burrowed in between her eyes. She couldn’t shake the image of Danu.
“Are you all right? Should I call the nurse?” Dr. Lawless asked.
“No… no… it’s just… I had another Danu vision. This time it was… different. She died.”
Dr. Lawless’ tongue moved slowly over his lips. His fingers squeezed together, cutting off the blood supply to his knuckles. He muttered something under his breath, and then blurted, “I’m afraid we are running out of time. Danu’s spirit must be freed.”
“We’re not going to let you sacrifice us,” Julia snapped.
“Of course not, don’t be ridiculous. The True Followers wanted to sacrifice you, not I. We’ll simply go to the place on the map, and you three will free her,” he grumbled.
“Shouldn’t we confer with Parmelia and the Elders?” Valera asked.
“NO!” Dr. Lawless’ face contorted into a brief angry mask. He composed himself and continued in a normal voice. “Forgive my outburst. The truth is – I’m concerned for your safety.”
“Why? The True Followers are gone, right?” Valera asked.
“Yes, but… your destiny lies with Danu. She must be released, and I’m afraid the Elders won’t allow that. They believe that if her tomb were opened, Danu herself would return to Aether.”
“But Danu’s dead. The visions just come from the aether, right? There’s no way she could still be alive,” Valera stammered. “She’s been entombed for millennia.”
“Maybe, maybe not...” Dr. Lawless leaned forward as if sharing a forbidden secret. “There is a legend that conflicts with the beliefs of the Elders. It suggests that Danu didn’t die, but was d
eceived…” Lawless gritted through his teeth, “By her own daughters!”
“That’s ridiculous. Why would her own children turn on her?” Julia spat.
“They were jealous of their mother’s power and wanted it for themselves, so they ensnared Danu in a trap and destroyed the key.”
Theo scoffed, “If that were the case, then wouldn’t the Elders want to release her?”
Dr. Lawless grinned. “Ah, but that’s the real question isn’t it. The Elders have reigned for over a hundred years. With Danu freed, they’d lose the power they have over Aether. When you three united the key, you threatened their hold. You left them no choice but to control you.”
Valera rubbed her eyes. None of this made any sense. The Order of the Azure Serpents wanted to steal her powers. The Elders wanted to control her powers. The True Followers wanted to sacrifice her for her powers. What was Dr. Lawless’ game? She just wanted the schemes and the nightmares to stop. She wanted to see Gideon, Victor, and little Vivi. The only thing she didn’t want was to face her mother again, but that was inevitable. Her mother’s voice echoed through the halls of the clinic.
“I’m going to see my daughter,” she yelled.
Their door swung open, and Victoria swept into the room, her skirts sweeping across the tiles like a great black broom. Victoria took in the scene with squinted eyes. Dr. Lawless smiled and greeted her with a bow.
“Madame Corvus-Stein, it’s lovely to see you again.” He kissed her hand.
His eager attention to her mother made Valera cringe, and the way Victoria blushed and fanned her face was nauseating. Theo’s mother scooted past the pair and went straight to her daughter. A twinge of jealousy stabbed Valera. The reunion between Theo and her mom was loving and sweet. Her own mother didn’t even notice her because of Dr. Lawless’ attention.
“I’ve missed you, Honey,” Marjorie murmured to Theo, as she embraced her.
“I’ve missed you too.”
Julia seemed surprised when Theo’s mom turned to her and gave her a hug as well. Marjorie smiled at Valera and touched her cheek, but it felt awkward. Theo, Julia, and Marjorie chatted to each other, while Valera sat on the outskirts – alone. Valera moved to the window and looked out over the gathered crowd. Only when Dr. Lawless finished fawning over her mother, did Victoria deign to join her daughter. She removed her long black gloves and pinched Valera’s cheeks between her fingers and thumbs. Valera didn’t dare pull away. She knew better than to incur the wrath of Victoria Stein… again.