The Council

by Phoenix Willow

  “Agreed.” Winter said, pausing for a few moments, before continuing. “I know you wanted to talk to me about something, but I wanted to say something to you first.”

  Jewel nodded for her to continue.

  Winter took both of Jewel’s hands in her own and looked Jewel directly in the eyes as she began. “Oh, where to begin.” She shook her head, her curls bouncing a bit as she did so. “Jewel, I know we haven’t known each other for years and years, but I wanted you to know that I care about you. Truly. You are an amazing individual, flaws and all, and there is nothing I would change about you. There are a lot of beings out there that want you to be different, that are afraid of what your powers are and what they’ve heard from Shade, but there is nothing wrong with you. I need you to know that. You have already been through so much Jewel. So much heartache and loss and dealing with the pain of being ripped away from your amazing parents, only to have it happen again with your Dad. But we will find a way to help Steele. You will be able to get to know him as you should have throughout your childhood, and we will never stop looking for Rose. This I vow to you, and believe me, Skye is on the exact same page as I am.” She said seriously, before a small smile formed on her lips. “Look at me babbling. I know we need to debrief everyone on what has happened and what our next move is, but I wanted to let you know that I am so proud of you and the choices you are making. I know how hard it was to not pick a fight with Gertrude, Manti, Shade, and the Pixie Monarch today. But you showed real restraint and you showed that you care more about everyone around you then about revenge which is the mark of a true leader. You are young, Jewel, and you shouldn’t have ever had to deal with so much being placed upon your shoulders, but there is no one I would rather have in this position of power. I would never be able to replace Rose, nor would I want to as your mother was one in infinity, but I want you to know that you are like a second daughter to me, and I love you. To be honest, I believe that my love for you clouds my judgment sometimes when you are willing to place yourself in these dangerous situations and everything in my maternal instincts is saying no but forgive me for that. Just know that I am on your side and will never turn my back on you.” She said, pulling Jewel into a hug that had Jewel feeling as though she was two seconds away from breaking down.

  Tears fell silently down Jewel’s cheeks as she allowed Winter to soothe her. She had always wanted her mom or at least a better mother figure than what she had experienced with Gertrude, and she was blessed to have that in Winter now. Where she felt safe in Frost’s arms, she felt as though she could allow someone to take the burden off her shoulders, at least for a moment, in Winter’s.

  Winter gave her one more squeeze before letting Jewel go, and when she did, Jewel saw that there were unshed tears in Winter’s ice blue eyes. But that definitely didn’t lessen the warmth radiating from them, and although Jewel could see that Winter’s aura was a beautiful red and silver mix, she didn’t need to see it in order to know that Winter meant every word she had said. She loved Jewel, and Jewel knew that Winter would never betray her. One of the few that Jewel knew without a doubt that she could always depend on.

  Tucking a strand of her curly, platinum blonde hair behind her ear, Winter sniffed. “Oh. I’m so sorry about all the emotions flying around, Jewel. I just really felt the need to tell you all that, and you know what they say, no time like the present.” She smiled as she gingerly rubbed Jewel’s gem-shaped mark under her right eye in a very motherly way. “You are a very special individual, Jewel Draconis. Very special indeed. I don’t think anyone says that enough to you. And like I said, no time like the present.”

  “You have no idea how much what you just said means to me. And the timing of you pulling me to the side couldn’t have been any better. You see, when we were in the forest, and I used my astral projection power, I also used my ability to read minds. I saw a memory that Shade had, and it involved Ell-”

  “Well, there you two are!” Skye exclaimed, interrupting Jewel in the process. “I’m dying to know all the details, but first…..look who came back!” She smiled as someone Jewel hadn’t noticed before appeared from behind her.

  Jewel sucked in air and took an involuntary step backwards.

  “Well, hello, my dear girl.” Ella said as though everything was okay between them. She smiled, but it didn’t fool Jewel because the smile definitely didn’t reach her eyes, which were looking very cold and calculating. “I wanted to come back and apologize for my actions before. I may have made a snap judgement.” She said, but all Jewel could hear was a buzzing in her ears that was getting louder by the moment.

  Jewel felt panicked. Ella looked sincere, but her aura was muddied and were the colors of a yellow jacket ready to sting.

  “You may have made a snap judgement, Ella?” Winter asked in disbelief. “How about we cut to the chase, shall we. I don’t believe for a moment that you have had this big of a change of heart, so what are you really doing back here. Were you not able to link up with anyone and find shelter from the madness that King Shade has created? Or were you upset that you left your precious books here and needed a reason to come and collect those?”

  “Winter!” Skye exclaimed. “I can’t believe you. This is our sister, another Protector. Give her the benefit of the doubt.”

  Winter shook her head. “No. There is something off about her being back here, and my gut is telling me that she isn’t being honest. Did you check her pendant?” She asked Skye who looked a little caught off guard by the question.

  “Oh..err, no. No, I didn’t.” Sky faltered, looking at Ella with a renewed sense of suspicion.

  “I cannot believe this.” Ella said, her aura becoming a bright shade of yellow that reminded Jewel of someone’s urine. “I came back to talk to Jewel. To try and make amends. I didn’t have to, but I don’t think any of this is Jewel’s fault.”

  “Of course, it isn’t.” Winter snapped. “And you should have come to that realization long before now. So, again I ask you- why are you really here?”

  Ella’s light brown eyes darted back and forth, much like an animal that has been cornered.

  “Ella?” Skye said, her chocolate brown eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Let us see your pendant.”

  “No.” Ella shouted, placing her hand over her chest where the pendant was hanging under her shirt. “I absolutely will not, and not because I have something to hide but because there is nothing to see. I didn’t come here for some nefarious purpose. I came here to try and help Jewel. You two are so star-struck that you can’t see what is truly going on. You can’t see that Jewel is literally and figuratively out of her element. Rose and Steele should have known better. They should have known that having Jewel would have made it impossible for her to have a normal life. And look what all she has had to deal with.” She said angrily. Taking a step towards Jewel she continued, “I have the answer to all your problems, my dear girl. I can help you.”

  “How dare you!” Winter yelled. “She doesn’t need your help with the imaginary problems you’ve concocted in that addled brain of yours. What she needs is for you to do what you vowed to do when you became a Protector. To support the one from the Prophecy, which is Jewel. To support her and help her usher in an age of peace and unity.”

  Ella threw her hands into the air. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you two.” She said pointedly to Skye and Winter. “I don’t believe that she is the one from the prophecy. I never have. I wanted to believe she was. I really did, but there is no way that Jewel is supposed to have as many powers as she does. It’s not safe. Not for her, and certainly not for any of us. She is a product of bad decisions and poor judgement, nothing more.” She said, jabbing a finger in Jewel’s direction.

  And then there was the slap heard round the Meadow. It all happened so quickly that Jewel didn’t even have a chance for her brain to register what was happening before it was over.

  Ella shrank back from Skye, who was positively fuming. Her hands were clenched so hard
that her knuckles were white. Her eyes were blazing like molten chocolate, and if that wasn’t telling enough, the angry red mark she had placed on Ella’s cheek surely was.

  “Nice slap, Skye.” Winter said, amusement lacing her voice. “Would have done it myself, but you beat me to it.”

  Skye smirked. “Yes, well, no one is going to spread that type of ugliness within our group.”

  Winter motioned for Ryker and Zekiel to come over, which they were already doing, before addressing a very angry Ella who was rubbing her cheek as though that would make the mark go away when in fact it was doing little more than making it more pronounced on her fair skin.

  “You will never speak to Jewel or about Jewel in that manner again, or I will do much worse to you than slapping your face.” Winter threatened. “Jewel was not a product of bad decisions and poor judgement. She was the product of love, and her heart is better than yours could ever be. It’s part of what makes her a great leader and it is what will help our worlds come together.”

  “What’s going on?” Ryker asked as he jogged over with Zekiel.

  “Ella is no longer fit to be a Protector. She doesn’t believe that Jewel is the one from the Prophecy and she keeps going on about how Jewel needs her help because she is too powerful. She needs a replacement because she can’t be trusted when it comes to Jewel. Her judgement is too clouded.” Winter said simply.

  “I agree.” Skye stated, causing the four Protectors to being bantering back and forth about wanting Ella out of the Protectors, and Ryker arguing on how they needed all the Protectors to vote on it before that could happen, to Zekiel chanting ‘Ella Bane has gone insane, has more than Books, Books, Books on the brain’ repeatedly.

  During this time, Jewel noticed that Ella had begun to move further away from the group of Protectors, and closer to her, which had her on edge. She didn’t trust Ella and she was feeling more and more like Ella had something up her sleeve.

  “I can help you Jewel. I don’t blame you for what you are, and we both know that you don’t want any harm to come to your friends because of your powers being out so of your control.” Ella said.

  Jewel narrowed her round eyes in Ella’s direction. “As a matter of fact, my powers are more in my control now than they have ever been before, so I don’t need your help.” Feeling bold, Jewel took a couple of steps towards Ella, as her arms began to vibrate, either from the renuviants who were still hanging out on her or from her anger, Jewel didn’t know which. “And truth be told…..the only person that needs help here is you.” She said cryptically.

  “And why would I need help?” Ella said, placing a hand on her hip.

  “Because, I know.” Jewel replied quietly enough so only Ella could hear her. “I know all about your Dispatcher friend, and I know that your aura is showing your true colors right now. You can’t hide the truth from me, and the truth is- you are no Protector.”

  Ella’s face contorted into a furious expression, and her eyes gave away the fact that she was ready to do something that perhaps she hadn’t been sure of until that very moment.

  “Well, then there’s nothing left to talk about, is there.” Ella stated, before reaching into her pocket and taking out a vial of a blood red potion. She unstoppered it and Jewel took a step away from Ella. “This won’t hurt, Jewel. It will merely bind your powers. It won’t hurt a bit, and I have no choice. The Darkness is coming, and the scales are now unbalanced because of you. There’s no other way.” She said as she flung the vial in Jewel’s direction. The blood red liquid shot out as Ella began saying a spell.

  Jewel hesitated a moment too long, and her mind was so shocked that Ella had thrown something at her and so panicked on what was about to happen that she wasn’t concentrating on using any of her powers. She had never been very quick on her feet, indecision plaguing her on more than one occasion, so she merely braced herself for the impact of being splashed with the contents and hoping that somehow the potion wouldn’t work or that at least it was reversible.

  “Noooooooooo!” Jewel heard Winter cry out as the Protector raced to push Jewel out of the way. Jewel flew backwards from the shove that Winter gave her and watched in horror as the potion hit Winter full force. But instead of just splashing into Winter, it was somehow absorbed by her clothing and sank directly into her skin, leaving no trace that it had never been there to begin with.

  But it definitely had been there, because the instant the potion disappeared, Winter’s body began convulsing. Winter’s beautiful olive skin began turning shades of blue and purple, bruises from some sort of unknown assailant appearing on every inch of her skin. Her chest heaved as she struggled for air, and her eyes were bulging as she cried out in pain.

  “Mom! MOM!” Rain screamed as she raced down to her Mom, her face mirroring the same panic that Jewel was feeling.

  “This isn’t right. This can’t be right. They assured me that this would just bind Jewel’s powers. This shouldn’t be happening. Oh my elements! What have I done? I’m so sorry Winter. I’m so, so sorry. Oh, what have I done?” Ella cried out before taking out another vial of what Jewel recognized as teleportation potion and disappearing.

  Skye grabbed hold of Winter and pulled her into her lap as Winter’s eyes began to roll back into her head. Winter’s arms and legs were still flailing and kicking as she struggled to get air. Jewel rushed to Winter’s side and grabbed her hand, hissing as her skin made contact with Winter’s. Her body was more than ice cold. It was almost as if Winter was freezing from the inside, out.

  “What’s happening?” Rain cried. “We have to help her. Please someone help her. How can we fix this?”

  Zekiel and Ryker were shouting spell after spell, trying everything they could think of to save Winter. Ambrosia was rubbing the spit-dirt all over Winter’s arms and legs, but it wasn’t helping. Rain kept screaming for someone to help, anyone to do something, but when Ryker and Zekiel stepped away, Jewel’s heart clenched. She looked over at Skye who was saying soothing things to Winter about how much she loved her, how she had more than fulfilled her duty as a Protector, how much she admired her tenacity, and how much her friendship had meant to her.

  Skye looked at Rain, her own face wet from the tears that were streaming down, and she shook her head. “We can’t fix this, Rain. I’m so sorry.” She said, as she stroked Winter’s hair.

  Rain’s jaw dropped, and her face was ashen with the realization of what Skye was saying. Jewel searched in her proverbial bag of powers for anything that might be of some use, but there was nothing.

  Winter’s body had stopped convulsing at this point, so there was no need to hold her arms and legs as her body had just a hint of a shiver. Her lips were now purple, and her skin was now the same ice blue color as her eyes. Her bouncy curly hair had turned stiff with the icy sheen that now covered it, and her breathing had become so shallow that Jewel could barely see her chest rising anymore.

  There were no words to express the helplessness Jewel felt in that moment. A whole arsenal of power at her fingertips, but all of which were completely useless at that moment.

  Winter’s eyes refocused for a moment. She looked at Jewel and softly said, “This…..is not your fault.” She turned to Rain, lips and teeth chattering, struggling to make her mouth move. “You are the best thing that ever happened to me. You are the light within my life. Don’t let this put it out. Let what happens now make your light burn even brighter. And fear not, my baby, we will be together again. Someday.” She said, the last word almost inaudible, as Jewel watched her chest rise and fall one last time.

  Jewel had never seen someone die before, but watching the light leave from Winter’s eyes, watching Skye close them, and knowing that they would never open again was too much. Jewel’s world shattered. There was no fixing this.

  Everything from that moment seemed surreal. Zekiel and Ryker were speaking with Frost who was looking torn about whatever it was that the two Protectors were discussing with him; Skye slipped Winter’s Protector n
ecklace off her neck, kissed the top of Winter’s head before laying it gently on the ground, and walked over to join Ryker, Zekiel, and Frost; Rain was sobbing uncontrollably, rocking back and forth while saying ‘this can’t be real’ over and over again while Zephyr held her in his arms and looked at Jewel with disdain; Ambrosia was trying to keep everyone else in the group calm, which was really hard because the emotional tsunami that had just hit the group just kept coming in waves.

  And there, Jewel sat. Still holding onto Winter’s frozen hand, her own hand hurting from the cold, but Jewel couldn’t bring herself to care about the pain she was feeling, because the moment she let go of Winter’s hand. The moment she no longer had a connection with at least some part of Winter, the realization of loss would be too much.

  Jewel stared at Winter’s lifeless form, memories of every smile, every hug flashing through her mind. How Winter had saved Jewel on more than one occasion, and how she had protected Jewel as though she was her own flesh and blood. How once again, someone that Jewel had grown to love, and trust had been taken away in the blink of an eye. A moment of trying to protect her. First her Dad, and now Winter.

  Jewel could hear her own heart pounding, which was strange because it had shattered when Winter died. Looking over at Rain, the tears fell freely. “I’m so sorry, Raindrop. This is my fault. It should be me laying there, not your Mom. I’m so sorry.” And with that, Jewel pried her hand from Winter’s, and teleported away from the group and to the gemstone tree where her Dad had brought her when he gave her the necklace that kept the effects of the Polarrier away. Of course, she hadn’t known it was her dad at the time as he had been disguised as Hammond Leaks, but that was neither here nor there. The only thing Jewel knew was that someone else that had actually and truly cared about her was gone, and it was too much to bear.