Bloom: The Kingdom of Archer Series: Book I

by J Rose

  Laughing was something I never did, or at least it felt that way with how life had been for me. I wanted to go back into the car and tell my mother that I had been wrong; that maybe Archer had been the place for us. It was torture to live there, but a torture that I knew. Archer was a place where I at least had one friend. Taking my hand, my mother guided me towards a large gate of a mansion and opened it to let us in. I’d been too afraid and lost in my own thought to notice the music being played when we walked in.

  The house where we stood was rather large reminding me of a castle. It was bigger than my house itself, but I suppose not as big as the actual Archer castle. Still, it was just as elegant. The mansion was painted a white color and at the very top that seemed to reach the sky. There was a green flag that was of a majestic Lion standing on its hind legs. Somehow, knowing that this was not a wolf, but a lion managed to calm me just a bit. I’d learned to fear wolves because of my father, and part of me was afraid of Parker. Maybe just the fact that he was a wolf immediately sent warnings signals to my brain. My father hurt me, my father hated me. He was a wolf. Wolves were bad. It might have been illogical. Maybe it was irrational, but it was the way I had learned to live.

  “Sweetie,” My mother spoke up breaking my train of thought, not that I spoke to her.

  In fact, I simply turned to look at her not knowing what to say.

  If there had been any words spoken between us after my suicide attempt it was on her part, mostly. Though I had first thought this to be a good idea, to fix myself, now the question remained. How could I really fix all of this? All my insecurities, all of my pain. How?

  “I’m going to look around the house. She’s going to show me do you want to come? Or do you want to look outside?” She asked gently the way she would speak to a child.

  “You’re my baby.”

  “You’re my child,” She had kept repeating to me on several occasions after my suicide attempt. But I realized it was more than that. I was her broken child. The child that needed mending and love. Something that she could no longer give me because I wouldn’t allow her to.

  It was like leaving something in the cold for too long. Eventually, as much as you try to give warmth back to it, it would never be back to its original state, it just doesn’t work that way. I had not noticed, but there was now a young girl, a blonde around my age. Her hair was tied back into a bun and she was dressed in a black and white maid uniform. Nodding to my mother she simply offered a warm smile and headed inside the house leaving me on my own.

  For a moment, I stood there, trying to find my footing, trying to find direction really. That’s when I heard it. Music. It was soft, the sound of the acoustic guitar. The tune I recognized was peaceful, being carried by the wind, softly blowing past me, and for a moment I found myself closing my eyes to enjoy it. It was a little piece of tranquil that I had been looking for. The sound carried out by the soft blowing wind to fly across the large mansion. There were no words being sung but I could recognize it anywhere. Though I was never allowed to hear music in my home Crystal often let me borrow her own iPod. I would go through her music, which often seemed to be loud and upbeat much like her character. There were a few songs, however, which she listened to that were calm. There was a playlist on her iPod labeled Spencer, which I suppose was why she never let him near her iPod. In that list, there was that particular song titled “Possibilities” Sung by Freddie Stroma. It was such a beautiful romantic song. The way it was composed was so relaxed, it made you want to close your eyes and just dream and for a few seconds that was what I did.

  I dreamt of flowers, hundreds and hundreds of flowerbeds surrounding me while the wind whispered softly along the earth and I lay in the comfortable grass. There was a place where there was peace. A place where darkness could not touch and then there was him. That person that would love me. That person that would breathe life back to me the way I had seen in hundreds of movies and thousands of my dreams. In that fantasy, I was happy, not just okay or fine, but truly happy. It was the type of happiness that only seemed to come with one thing. True love. My soulmate.

  I had not noticed that the music had stopped, nor had I noticed that there was someone standing in front of me. It was only when I opened my eyes that I found green olive colored eyes staring at me.

  His hair was a dirty blonde that seemed to fall down his face messily but at the same time, he seemed to be quite put together. He was in a blue jean jacket and a white shirt underneath. Wearing loose jeans and a pair of black vans. In his right hand, however, was his acoustic guitar.

  “Hi,” He spoke up offering a 500-watt smile that seemed to remind me of the sun, the way it always shined down brightly in the middle of the day.

  “I’m Andrew Green. My dad’s the councilmen. You must be the Mason girl.” He spoke, extending his hand out to me. There was a black leather-like bracelet on his wrist amd in the middle of it there was some sort of badge with a cross on it that I could see.

  “It’s a hand. You shake it,” He joked when I simply stared at his extended hand, clutching tighter on to my bag and pulling it closer to my chest for comfort.

  “It’s okay. I don’t bite. Unless you want me to,” He spoke winking, and I found myself feeling uncomfortable. Why was he being nice to me? Why was he flirting with me? Every single guys’ reaction to me had always been rejection, disdain, and disgust. Parker’s face came to mind, and I found my chest tightening so hard I couldn’t breathe. This guy didn’t at all seemed fazed by my reaction instead he continued to smile brightly.

  “You have pretty hair,” He spoke circling around me slowly inspecting me. When he tried to reach for my hair I shifted away; though that didn’t seem to stop his teasing because he simply smiled brighter if that were possible. But I couldn’t take it much longer.

  He was somehow making fun of me like my ugliness was a joke and he thought it was fun to mess with me by teasing me this way. I hadn’t noticed but tears were beginning to form in my eyes. Immediately he stopped touching my hair, his smile vanishing.

  “Shit. I’m sorry. I was just trying to make you talk, or laugh. I’m an idiot okay. Please don’t cry.” He spoke in a panic.

  “Look. You don’t need to talk to me if you don’t want to but how about I play this song for you again. And then I give you a tour of the house. I was just trying to be friendly. I swear.” He spoke. His apology took me off guard. No one had ever apologized to me before. Not for anything so silly. I had overreacted more or less because I was overwhelmed, but the way he was looking at me was different. His smile before was so bright and now there was almost a kicked puppy-like look on his face.

  “Please. I swear I’ll be good. I don’t want you to have a bad impression of me. My dad says.” He began before growing silent. The look in his eyes was filled with pity. A look I dreaded for so long but realized it was what would be directed towards me from now on.

  “Well. He didn’t say what happened to you. Only that. You needed our help. So I want to help you.” He spoke up.

  “Music heals you know... The broken. Maybe it can mend you some,” He spoke quietly.

  “So how about that song?” He questioned.

  #

  “Possibilities,” I answered him, a soft smile on my lips, causing him to smile brightly at me.

  “Back then I didn’t really know why I made you cry but. I knew you liked to hear me play,” Andrew spoke up, and it was true.

  For the first few weeks in his home we wouldn’t talk or rather, I would just listen to him. He would spend his time with me whenever we had free time from being homeschooled and he would play me all the songs he knew. Happy ones, sad ones, silly ones. He would spend hours with me singing or talking to me about politics in the Council which he was forced to learn, but I learned he loved them. I never once spoke within these few months, never opened up. There were times when Andrew would leave and hang out with Jane, who at the time I had not meat. It was when I met her a few months later that things sort of f
ell in to place with the three of us.

  Jane had a bubbly side to her, she was always cheerful and smiling. It was hard not to feel happy, or smile when you were with her. The first time I laughed with them caused me to cry and then they both cried with me showing me friendship again. Then came the hard parts. Letting them in. I hadn’t spoken about my past to them back then, not once, but they were helping me live again.

  “I always liked to hear you play. You made me happy when you played. If just for a few seconds, I could forget.”

  When I had spoken to them about my past I hadn’t mentioned who Parker was. The fewer details I gave, the better. I went into small details in regards to my father. I wasn't comfortable sharing my dark past with people. Then Andrew had written a song for me and taped back just a bit more of my heart along with Jane.

  “I wanted you to feel better. I always want you to feel better,” Andrew spoke.

  “But. Parker. How does he treat you now?” He questioned.

  “You never mentioned a name or anything but. I always knew it was him,” Andrew spoke quietly, and I felt my chest tighten. There were parts of me that I hadn’t really shared with them but eventually they did find out and figured it out. Mostly due to the nightmares I often had which still remain even now.

  “He’s nice. We. I told you before. I want to try this,” I whispered to him.

  “Lyric. I wish that somehow it could be me… You know how I feel.”

  “Andrew,” I spoke feeling my heart ache.

  “I don’t want to hurt you. You’re special to me. I care about you so much. And I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me. There were times where. I wished so bad that. It was you. When I was sad and just,”

  “I shouldn’t be telling you this. I don’t want to give you hope where we both know there can never be anything but friendship. You’re my friend. Someone I trust and care about but. I’ve never lo-”

  “I know,” Andrew spoke pain in his eyes, refusing to let me finish.

  “But. You’ve given him a chance. You’ve given him a chance to win your heart. Why can’t I have the same? Why can’t I be the other person at the end of the line fighting for your heart?” He questioned.

  “Andrew I-”

  “I know you care. But. It isn’t love. You’re grateful. And you’re also too nice for your own good and mine. I keep having hope that somehow you’ll change your mind and pick me.”

  “But we can’t pick who destiny has already set for us,” I whispered to him reaching to caress his cheek gently.

  I wanted so bad to stop the pain in his eyes and for that genuine smile to return to his face. However, I realized his smile would not return for the moment because I couldn’t be what he wanted me to be. Andrew had taped me back together. He had placed the pieces of my soul back in order. Just enough to keep me living but Parker. Parker was my glue. He was the person that would permanently keep me together. Parker had not only saved me but he was teaching me to love, live and embrace life in a way that I never thought I could.

  “Then just. Let me stay at your side. Until I find my own. I know it’s selfish. I know I’m taking advantage of you right now. But. I just want to be with you even as your friend. Protecting you again. Can I do that?” He asked.

  “You’ll always be my friend Andrew. But. I don’t want you to get hurt. I couldn’t take losing you or anyone else that I care about because I’m caught in the middle of something,”

  “Lyric. It’s because you’re my friend and I love you that I would do anything for you.”

  “Andrew I-”

  “It’ll be fine. Come on,” He spoke offering a smile and taking my hand guiding me back out of the woods where Parker and Oliver both stood.

  “She’s all yours, for now, Wolf boy. I have to go take care of a few things with Jane and I’ll be back later Lyric,” Andrew spoke, and I found myself nodding dumbly, biting my lip. Turning to Parker he offered a forced smile; though the strain in his eyes was visible.

  “Shall we Lyric?” Parker spoke extending his hand out to me, my heart doing its usual jump before I took his hand and he squeezed my own. Oliver walked behind us but when Parker turned to look at him Oliver simply bowed, his dark hair falling to his face as he did so. With nothing more to be said Oliver retreated, leaving Parker and I alone.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked him quietly, but Parker simply turned to look at me offering a soft strained smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “Lyric. I know that. You said you’d give us a try and... I want that so much,” Parker spoke, something in his voice makes my heart clench. There was pain in his voice.

  “But. You do have other options,” He said to me and my mind flashed to Maxwell with his words.

  “No,” I shook my head looking back at him in fear.

  “Not Maxwell I can’t go,"

  “I don’t mean him Lyric,” Parker said to me.

  For a moment, he was quiet again, his hand was still holding on to my own.

  “I just…” He began reaching his right hand up to my cheek caressing it softly. His touch gentle. Somehow that feeling from back then, back in the room came back looming over us again.

  “Andrew. What does he mean to you?” Parker questioned.

  “He’s my friend,” I whispered to him.

  “But. You mean more to him. Don’t you?” He questioned, and I couldn’t lie to him when he said that. But… I also couldn’t speak the truth, and I found myself looking down avoiding his gaze.

  “It’s alright,” Parker spoke, lifting my chin up softly in order to meet his gaze. I could tell now. He was forcing a smile trying to hide what he felt for me.

  “Parker I-”

  “You can love him if you wish. I won’t stop you from it. I know I’m not someone you chose to be with from sheer will and if I had a choice I-” His words hurt. I couldn’t understand why he was saying them, but I also wanted him to understand that I didn’t just decide on a whim to give us a chance. My heart had long decided it was time to stop running, and it was time I stopped chasing away the people that cared. I couldn’t hear him anymore, I really couldn’t.

  Lifting my head up just a tad more I place a kiss on the corner of his mouth softly. If anything a simple brush of my lips for just a second to silence him. Just like that, I moved away from Parker, completely untangling our clasped hands. Had this been any other moment I would have run. Maybe I would have at least been blushing, but I needed to tell him truthfully how I felt. It seemed my actions had worked because Parker had finally grown quiet. For a moment, his eyes were closed and I could feel a blush come on my cheeks when he finally did open his eyes.

  “Lyric you-”

  “I. I want you,” I spoke looking down at my hands.

  “I. I feel. Different. I. Like you.” I whispered to him.

  “I-”

  “Lyric,” Parker spoke once again, taking my face in his hands gently grazing his thumb against my bottom lip.

  My heart thumped at that moment once more and the urge to close my eyes to his touch happened once again. Somehow I couldn’t. Not with the way he was looking at me. The sunlight hit around us lighting up the forest we were in so beautifully. His silhouette lit up by a bright warm ray of sunshine.

  “I like you too. I. I love you so much,” Parker whispered.

  “Kiss me,” I wanted to say to him, but I couldn’t find words to do so. Instead, he pulled me closer to him and I knew he was going to do so anyway.

  “Sire. What you’ve requested is done.” Sighing upon hearing Oliver, he shook his head and offered me a wry smile.

  “We’re always interrupted aren’t we?” Parker stated, and I found myself laughing lightly at the irony of it all.

  “So cliché,” I thought to myself. Chuckling Parker took hold of my hand once again giving it a soft squeeze.

  “For now maybe this will have to do,” He spoke raising our intertwined hands to his lips and kissing my knuckles softly.

 
“Sire. Princess,” Oliver called out once more. Finally coming into view. His clothes were different from his formal wear which usually consisted of a black suit. Right now, his dark hair fell to his eyes just a bit, his olive green eyes were relaxed. He wore a white wife beater and loose gray sweatpants. His usual formal shoes, now a pair of white sneakers. Oliver looked... Normal.

  “We're coming,” Parker spoke to him leading us to an entirely different part of the castle which I had never seen. Parker must have noticed the confused look in my eyes because he offered a smile and then spoke.

  “This is by my father’s quarters he likes to see the Nova Officers practice.”

  “Practice?” I questioned him. It was mostly an empty field. There was nothing there. When it came to guns or any sort of weapon they had been pretty much destroyed after Nova’s came out. There really was no use for them when fighting was mostly done in Nova form.

  “Yes. Practice,” Oliver spoke up.

  “But. For who?” I questioned, and they both smiled.

  “You,” Parker said to me.

  “Me? But. What can I do? I can’t defeat a Nova. It’s impossible for a human.” I spoke up to them causing them both to smile.

  “I’m fully aware of that. But we might not always be in our Nova form," Parker explained.

  “Princess. There might be a time soon. When war will happen and as much as we may guard you there is always the possibility of-”

  “Oliver,” Parker spoke up cutting him off, but I knew all too well what Oliver was going to say.

  “Maxwell taking me,” I spoke up the words lingered between the three of us for a moment.