by Amanda Churi
“I know this will be a lot of changes,” the queen admitted gently with a hefty sigh. “But I stress that you do as you’re told. We will get everything sorted out, I promise.”
She raised her head, facing the wall of changing pictures as she bunched her hands into two tight fists; the air reacted once more to her anger, causing her hair to move slightly in a non-existent wind. She may have been brash, but one thing that none of us could deny at that moment was her passion—her passion for wanting to survive this long-term battle, getting as many of the innocent out of the line of fire while she still could—
A position that I could only hope we would all be lucky enough to fall into before the flames caught us first.
Sixteen
Escalation
A month had passed since Kevin took hold of the sword, stepping up to the plate to defend his old kingdom. After the first week, it had been relatively quiet; the days were now passed by staring at the sun and moon, watching them rise and fall. Daisy helped out in the kitchen, while Kevin continued to train his knights, and Lucy overlooked far simpler tasks, such as the distribution of goods to the civilians. The rebuilding of Phantome had been going well, and for once, there was a small era of peace. The only thing that Kevin could do was wait—wait and hope that his worst fears were nothing more than paranoia.
Daisy sat on the edge of her bed. Her small feet dangled over the side as she stared out of the window, watching the torches burn in the city below as night secured its grip on the town once more.
The moon hung in the sky directly above the castle, signifying the peak of night; and despite that, the villagers were still out and about, celebrating by drinking like they always did.
Daisy sighed, turning her eyes to the small mirror mounted in her bedroom. She could hardly even register that she was looking at herself anymore—a child who continued to age at abnormal speeds, her height ticking up and womanly figure beginning to poke at her petite bones, all while her mind grew sharper and more mature by the day. She looked like she was almost a teenager at this point, her small hips becoming slightly wider and her chest beginning to form anthills. In a matter of months, she had gained nearly ten years on her appearance.
Kevin didn’t know what it was. Sorceresses usually perished quite quickly due to their vulnerability, thus little was known, and even less written down for others. He said that her rapid aging was quite possibly another quality of sorceresses to have been overlooked; and normally, Daisy would have believed him, but these days, she felt as though she hardly knew the man she looked at. His duties were gradually replacing their time together; she literally felt herself becoming invisible to her adoptive father.
She felt the tears rising. She knew that it wasn’t Kevin’s fault, but she missed the exciting life she had in the Resistance; the family-like atmosphere that she had grown so used to didn’t exist in a castle. She couldn’t even venture outside without Kevin’s permission, which he rarely ever gave. Not only was the possibility of Reeve lurking about very real, but Daisy’s rapidly changing appearance was unexplainable. To the people in the castle, it was the fastest growth spurt ever witnessed, but those who did not see the change taking place before their very eyes would most certainly draw other conclusions. Maybe they were accepting of the Returned, but the supernatural still did not fare well, and they all knew it.
She looked away from her reflection and towards the door, her eyes narrowing. Daddy should be sleeping now, she thought sneakily. Maybe I’ll just wander around the castle until I get tired.
Making her decision almost immediately, Daisy got to her feet as her white nightgown fell around her. On the tips of her toes, she stealthily made her way over to the door, carefully lifting the latch so that it didn’t make enough noise to wake her parents. Slowly, she opened the heavy wooden door as it made a subtle creak; Daisy cautiously peered out, making sure the door to their bedroom across from hers was closed, which, in fact, it was. Cecil’s door adjacent to her parents’ was also shut.
She looked back into her room, grabbing a small burning candle by its bronze candelabrum, gathering her courage before taking a step into the dark hallway and closing the door gently behind her.
The castle was black as she made her way to the staircase, looking over the iron rail and down at the foyer dozens of feet below. No knights were currently present in the main part of the castle.
Holding onto the rail with one hand, she made her way down the stairs. She reached the foyer without trouble, moving the candle around the open room, curious as to where to go. She could feel the excitement racing through her veins; her spirit felt like it was getting a high off of this freedom.
A bone-rattling cough echoed through the castle, Daisy’s head snapping towards the tunnel to her right which led to many different locations, such as the old ballroom and horse stables. Perplexed, she let her curiosity lead the way. She only moved a matter of feet down the dreary hallway before she heard the cough once more, stopping at the first wooden door and staring ahead. Normally, she wouldn’t have been concerned, but the cough was deep and hoarse—so violent that Daisy could hear the urgency of the lungs.
She pushed the door open, making her way into the familiar territory of the kitchen. The empty brick oven was burning despite the hour, its flames fending off the cool night and giving light to the cluttered room—sacks of vegetables were strewn about the stone floor, and knives hung from the walls, along with slabs of raw, salted meat. A large wooden table sat in the back of the room, big enough to sit twenty or so people; currently, however, there was only one.
“Koral?” Daisy chirped warily.
Koral gasped in surprise, snapping her gaze over her shoulder. Her eyes were watering, and her face was beading with sweat, a pale, famished presence dominating her dark skin.
Daisy quickly ran over to her, taking a seat beside Koral and setting the candle down. She urgently pressed a hand to Koral’s forehead, looking closely. Koral’s eyes were spinning, and her skin was burning up, but the cook forced a small smile across her face when she realized who had come to aid her. “Daisy, dear,” she rasped sickly, briefly turning her head away as she released a powerful cough. “What are you doing up?”
“I’m having some fun,” Daisy replied honestly. “Why are you here? I thought you would have gone home by now.”
Koral chuckled, hardly able to laugh because of the severity of her condition. “I felt too tired to go home tonight,” she answered slowly. “Decided to sleep here.” Another cough. “I’m not feeling good at all…”
“I-Is there anything I can do?” Daisy asked, worry pooling in her chest as she retracted her sweltering hand from Koral’s drenched forehead.
“No…” she mumbled, worn out. “I will go to the square in the morning and get medicine.”
“No, you won’t!” Daisy disagreed, sharply standing up. “You need herbs now! I’ll go get them!”
“What?” she exclaimed, her voice faltering. “Do you know what your father would do if he found out?! He would be furious!”
“He won’t be if he never knows!” Daisy objected.
“Daisy, please, the medicine man isn’t even up now. Go to bed, child. I will be fine.”
Daisy would not accept that. “Look, I promise that I will be careful,” Daisy stated, moving towards the door. “You can count on me!”
Koral was about to protest more but not before another deadly cough struck her lungs, causing her to be slightly thrown forward. She looked up with watering eyes, sighing in defeat. “Just remember that I had no idea that you did this…”
“Did what?” Daisy asked, flashing Koral a mischievous wink before turning away from the cook and racing into the gloomy foyer. She couldn’t believe that she had an excuse—a chance to venture beyond the walls free of supervision! This was going to be an astounding night!
She ran towards the lowered portcullis, quickly glancing around to assure herself that the coast was clear. With her solitude confirmed, Daisy co
ncentrated; a soft glow radiated from her pupils before a ripple of blue starlight washed over her body, transitioning her from mortal to ghost.
She passed through the gate effortlessly, running across the lowered drawbridge and towards Phantome, remaining invisible just in case anyone was watching. The crescent moon shined high above, the stars in the far distance bathing Earth in their radiant beauty. Daisy stared up as she ran on, her chest fluttering. There was so little she had seen in her few months of life… And so much more she wanted to experience.
Daisy was on solid earth before she knew it. She immediately came to a pause, shifting her invisible eyes around the streets as she watched children sneak out of their homes, meeting up with friends and preparing to embark on a scandalous journey much like her own.
Daisy cast a cautious look over her shoulder at the castle. It loomed in the night as a tall, powerful symbol, doing its best to shield the dangerous secrets held within.
Disgusted, Daisy looked down, her body visible to no one but she. She rotated her sparkling hands in front of her stomach, studying them closely before letting a frown encase her lips. Dangers like herself… Dangers of the unknown, which had to be kept a secret at all costs.
I don’t understand, she thought glumly, shifting her eyes back to the eerie town. Why am I so different…? Why can’t I be like the other kids?
She shook her head, grunting angrily. “Stop it,” she whispered to herself. “You’re not a cry baby; you’re a big girl who came here to help Koral!”
Taking her own advice, Daisy was off once more. She had no idea where she was heading, honestly. Of the scarce few times that she had been out, it was either to deliver rations to the peasants or to patrol the town with her family. Needless to say, she hadn’t really bothered to learn the layout of her kingdom too well.
It can’t be that hard to find, she mused as she cut through a small alley. The house probably stinks of plants.
After a bit of wandering about, Daisy stumbled upon the main road that cut through the heart of the village. The pub just down the street was as active as ever—some people were bolting in and out through the door, screaming curse words, while others settled outside and enjoyed a simple keg of mead. Aside from that, there wasn’t too much more activity.
No one knew she was there. Silent but calm, she passed both by and through those gathered outside of the pub, their slurred chatter a dull buzz in her ears. A hungry sense of longing began to grow within her—not something yearning for drinking or idiotic behavior, but fun… Normality. Sameness…
Watching her feet closely, she paused just before her toes touched a slab of concrete. Curious, she looked up, immediately lurching back with a gasp. The quick burst of fear caused Daisy to lose focus, leaving her standing on a dark, abandoned side path, visible once more.
She hadn’t realized where she had wandered off to, but it was almost as if the universe was trying to tell her something—no, she was certain it was.
Darkness swarmed around her, the small street practically abandoned by light itself. She stood there, drained of life as she stared at the charred frame of her old, semi-collapsed house. Somehow, it was still standing, but that did not mask the atrocities that had taken place at her very feet.
Taking a wary step forward, she stared at a plate of concrete before her home, reading with fascination:
אלוהים ירחם על נפשותיכם
Elizabeth Helm, Robert Frazier, & Daisy Helm
That’s… Me…
She kneeled down, running her hand across the symbols she could not read. My name, she thought, the surname seeming foreign to her after she had adopted “de Vaux.” That’s my name. She looked at the names next to her own, frowning. And Mommy and Daddy, who I can’t even remember…
Distraught, Daisy turned her view to the bare doorframe. Part of her knew that she had to move on; the only reason she had snuck out was to help Koral!
…But another part wouldn’t let her. Not only did she want to help, but her body had screamed for an adventure and a chance to be free. And now, stumbling upon what she had…
Daisy sighed, giving in to her lost memories. With her legs trembling, she stood up and regained her footing, gripping the walls of her old home. She stood there for a moment, staring into the daunting shadows while trying to summon her courage; one peek was all she wanted.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she plunged into the ashes, taking a bold step inside and letting the ruins enfold her.
There wasn’t much to see, which was really what she expected. The house was a tundra of ash and soot, the walls hardly standing due to the severity of the assault by the flames. There was absolutely nothing left.
Just as she was about to head out, a faint beam of moonlight filtered through the collapsed roof—only a single, pure ray. Entranced, Daisy looked towards it, cocking her head to the side and venturing closer.
Resting in the layers of debris was a stuffed bear. It looked old and unkempt; patches of fur were missing, and several large tears revealed his innards, the toy itself lightly charred by fire.
“Huh?” Daisy asked aloud, grabbing the bear gently under its arms and holding it up against the moonlight, watching its glassy black eyes reflect her own.
She was confused. This had to be one of the most adorable things she had ever seen! So, why was it here? This couldn’t possibly have belonged to her; there was no way it would have survived the flames.
She continued staring into its eyes, puzzled, when the bear ignited in her hands; hungry sapphire flames shot out from its fur towards her face, and thousands of blue embers surged into the air as a tidal wave, preparing to crash upon her. Terrified, Daisy screamed and flung the bear to the ground, stumbling back until she was well out of range as the embers crashed against the ground, scattering about like glass before disappearing.
Surprisingly, the bear did not burn up; while the flames continued to dance on its surface, the bear itself remained untouched. Intrigued, Daisy cautiously shuffled forward, extending her hand out towards the fire. She did not even feel heat; it was as though the fire did not exist.
Testing the limits, she swallowed heavily before slowly reaching into the fire. To her amazement, it did not burn her either. The flames, if anything, greeted her arrival, wrapping around her hands and flowing through her fingers like water. Daisy smiled, her teeth sparkling as she crouched down and pawed at the harmless flames. Bands of white and blue fire spiraled into one another, a million hues in the relative spectra connecting their different identities as the flames cocooned the bear, who still refused to become a victim of the phenomenon taking place before it.
Daisy… a gentle voice cooed, one so soft and uplifting that it did not startle the girl, rather drawing her closer. Her eyes widened in astonishment, reflecting the whimsical hues and magical dance of the fire entrancing her fingers. She didn’t know who the voice belonged to, yet it was one so unique and powerful that her soul was almost drawn to it, her spirit yearning for more as she felt a strange, familiar feeling creep over her—something which she felt she had once experienced but, again, could not remember.
Daisy… Daisy… the voice continued to repeat, a gentle, warm breeze flowing through her long blonde hair and across her skin. It filled her limbs with energy and power—a strength of the heart as she felt her connection to the earth growing ever fainter.
“Shame, isn’t it?”
Daisy squealed, frantically getting to her feet and standing in front of the bear as she turned to face the doorway, the flames immediately vanishing. Her heart raced, her worst thoughts bombarding her as a shadowed figure lingered in the night. She did not know what had just happened, but she knew no good would come if any mortal had seen it.
To Daisy’s regret, a woman stood at the entrance, crossing her arms and grinning smugly. She was dressed in rags, two black eyes devouring the minimal light present; her wiry brown hair went to her shoulder blades, appearing to be unbrushed for weeks.
Daisy swallowed in distress. “W-what’s a shame?” she asked quietly.
The woman snickered under her breath, beginning her advance towards the princess, who did not move. “What happened here,” she elaborated, coming to a stop as she loomed over the child so that her dark, crazed eyes could feast on hers. “Such a terrible murder, wasn’t it?”
A silent sigh of relief flowed through her body when Daisy realized that the woman was talking about the murder of her family; that still didn’t ease Daisy’s worries, however, not knowing exactly what the woman had witnessed. “I wouldn’t know,” Daisy responded guardedly.
The woman smiled. “Oh, I thought you would have.” She looked slightly past Daisy. “Cute toy you’ve got there. Someone give it to you?”
Despite the flames which had vanished, the bear did not; it looked just as Daisy had first seen it. “Uh, no. I found it,” Daisy replied.
“Ah.”
An eerie silence enclosed them. The woman said no more, yet she continued to stare Daisy down. This woman gave her the creeps; she just wanted to get out of here and back to the castle.
“Well,” Daisy began casually, crouching down and securing an iron hold on the arm of the bear as she stood back up. “I need to go home. It’s late.”
She went to take a step forward, but the mysterious woman blocked her. Daisy’s hold on the bear became stronger. She refused to abandon the only piece of evidence left over from the strange encounter; she needed to explore it more.
“Can you please move?” Daisy asked politely.
“What’s a life of royalty like?” the woman burst out of the blue, her eyes broad and mouth twitching as she brought her face close to Daisy’s. “What does it feel like to be waited on and thought so much of?”
She recognizes me… Oh no...
“It’s annoying,” Daisy remarked stiffly. “Now if you move, I’ll—”
“What about your father? What’s he like?” she pressed, pushing closer.