I gave Joy to some sea travelers who looked for new land in the world. I couldn't kill her myself. “Please just stab her in the heart. Make sure she isn't alive. She is dangerous,” I said. I turned around. I couldn't watch her die; I wouldn't look back at her.
I looked down at the field of dead bodies. People came and cried for their family members claiming who they were. A tear dripped down my cheek.
I felt a hand on my soldier, and I looked over to see Amaryllis. She gave me a sad smile and wiped away my tear. The tear didn't actually go away because she wasn't actually there. She put her hood on her head and skipped past all the bodies. She turned around and blew me a kiss. Then she disappeared. I smiled. The tears I shed were for her.
I let out a heart-wrenching cry and fell to my knees. I sobbed loudly not caring who heard me. I tried to hide my feelings for her, but now it was too late. She died, and I was the one who killed her. The thought of never seeing her again shattered my conscious, I couldn't do this anymore, I was holding myself up by strings. I let myself loose and released my ocean of tears, tears for her. There was one thing I would never forget….
I would always Love her.
Epilogue
Nate
I got up on the stand. Amaryllis body had disappeared, but Amaryllis' brother Elm and I insisted for a funeral. I looked down at all the people who barely knew her. I could tell they were all faking their sorrow, even the father.
The mother of Amaryllis didn't even show up, she didn't claim her as her daughter. The only real sad face in the crowd was Elm.
I looked down at them all, and then a smile formed on my face. It was a particular type of smile, a smile that meant something. I started to laugh. I laughed so loud and so hard.
Amaryllis father got up. “Stop your laughter boy! Why are you laughing?!” He yelled, “Don't you go laughing at someone's deathbed!” I grinned at him.
People looked around confused. I smiled at them all. Maybe they think I'm mental, but I know in my heart I'm sane.
I looked at King Saffron, Amaryllis father and I asked him, “Have you ever had to go through life without Joy, I have. It's not so bad once you find someone who can make you smile again.”
I looked at them all and chuckled at their faces. I saw Elm in the first-row start to laugh. “Amaryllis made me laugh again. She would want us to laugh. She wouldn't want this. She would want us to laugh and smile, so that is what I am going to do.” I said. I looked at the king's face and started busting up laughing.
Elm began to laugh too. The King got up and stormed away. Many other people left too. Nobody else laughed. There we sat laughing for minute’s straight, just laughing. I looked down to the empty seat next to Elm and saw Amaryllis leaning against his shoulder busting up with laughter.
Tears rolled down my eyes, and I laughed and cried with a mix of sadness and happiness.
I watched as she disappeared, but her laughter still filled the room. I shed so many tears I couldn't even count them. Elm and I kept laughing even though sorrow filled us and tears rolled down our faces. There was nothing else to do but laugh and cry. But that's okay she would want us to laugh.
. . . . .
Amaryllis
I looked around, all I saw was white. I shined purple and green. I walked forward and saw the purple start forming in front of me. I saw the long vines of the tree as the rubbed against my skin.
Then I saw an enormous thick trunk. It was as big as two large houses and as tall as I could see.
Sitting against it was Willow. The wind blew against her and her long hair swept like the purple vines of the Willow tree.
“Am I dead,” I said.
She opened her eyes and smiled at me, “No you're not dead at all. You are most definitely alive.” She said. Her dress was white and had flower prints; she looked so mature for a girl around the age of 16.
“Is there a way out of here, A way back to Grarien,” I asked.
She smiled again. “Of course, there is darling, of course, there is. It's only for you; you’re the only one who can get out now. Don’t worry, you will get out soon.” She said.
I smiled. “I will? I really will,” I asked. I wanted to cry with happiness.
She smiled an evil grin, “Yes you will, and I'm going to help you.” Then she started to laugh. It was such a beautiful smile. I was going to go home!
“It won't be easy, it will be really hard, but don't worry we will get you out soon.” She said.
We smiled at each other with identical grins.
Then she skipped away into the distance. I sighed a happy sigh and leaned against the tree. For now, I would just wait. Then I would go back to the ones I loved.
There was no more globe, crown, sword, necklace, or mirror. Only me, and I was going to go back and find the ones who love me.
Very soon, yes very soon. Though it won't be easy…
The End
Thank You
I would like to thank many people for making this book possible.
First of all, I would like to thank my sister Jewel for being the first to read my book and giving me feedback throughout the entire story. I would also like to thank my father for encouraging me while I wrote and critiquing me whenever I did something wrong.
I would like to thank the rest of my family for sticking with me the entire time, and all my friends who listened to my never ending rants about this book. That includes my friend Acacia who helped me edit some of it.
I would like to thank my cover artist Brad Fraunfelter, I couldn't think of anyone who could do a better cover for my book.
I would also like to thank Grammarly, the excellent website that helped me edit my book!
About the Author
I am Calista Brace, I am 14 years old. Actually the majority of the time I wrote this I was 13-years old. I live in California. I have always had this urge to create stories; I would read obsessively trying to fill the empty feeling in my stomach. After a while, I would sit for hours straight and just create them in my head. I started writing little short stories and stories that were supposed to become books but every time I seemed to get stumped on page 20. This is my first book because I finally got past this obstacle. Though I'm only 14, I still love to write. I look forward to writing more books. I love to sing and draw also. I have a large family that is there for me with every new page I write.
Table of Contents
Prologue
I Kingdom Of Beral
II Dawdling Through The Forest
III Moth With Butterflies
IV Sundown Forest
V The Hunt
VI The Snake Bonder
VII Travel To The Castle
VIII Travel To The River
IX The Guy With Yellow Teeth
X Down Hemings River
XI Joy
XII Spirit
XIII When A Ghost Haunts
XIV Trail To Spirit
XV The Last Dance Of The Night
XVI Waiting
XVII Devil's Hill
XVIII Heart Of The Ocean
XIX The Plan
XX Paperwhite Skin
XXI Something Stolen
XXII Feeling
XXIII Shortlake Island
XXIV Ozeana Royalty
XXV Getting Ready
XXVI Starting A War
XXVII Du-Dum
XXVIII The Past
XXIX Arrows
XXX Finding Joy
XXXI The Whispering Willow
XXXII Second Tear
Epilogue
Thank You
About the Author
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