She followed Pete out a set of doors onto a large stone deck. It was filled with…nothing. It made no sense compared to the rest of the house. So bare. Empty flower pots were scattered everywhere. Odd. Gwen was exhausted, though it was only two in the afternoon. Pete sat on a stone step and Gwen found a comfortable spot in the only lawn chair out there. Awkward silence filled the space between them. Gwen pulled her knees up to her chest.
“Well this really isn’t how I had imagined getting you into my home.” Gwen smiled meekly. Pete’s attempted at humor was an epic fail. Realizing this he changed his tone.
“Look Gwen, I know this is…crazy to you right now. In all honesty it’s crazy to me too.” He clenched his jaw in frustration.
“Why would any of this be crazy to you? You’ve known about all of this…who you are, your whole life. I’m the one who was left in the dark. Lead to believe I was normal. Blatantly lied to. Deceived by everyone I love.” Gwen quieted and fiddled with her auburn tresses, choking back tears for the umpteenth time.
Pete straightened and peered into her eyes. “I’d have traded you Gwen. I’d still trade you lives in a heartbeat. I left my family, my friends, my people. Everyone I ever knew was gone from me in an instant, and why? To protect them. I had to leave and live in this foreign world when I was just eighteen. I lived like a ghost…I still live like a ghost…” He looked off into the woods, as if looking for something to ease his pain. He shook his head a bit. “I mean I know I’m pasty in comparison to my friends there,” he joked, motioning to the house.
“No. Don’t joke,” Gwen stopped him. She had been so self-consumed she never even thought about how he might feel, or anyone else for that matter, which was not like her. She was caring to a fault. “It must be hard for you living like this.”
“Well I don’t know, house is a little small,” he teased again eyes sparkling.
Gwen rolled her eyes. “Seriously.” She walked over to the step and sat down beside Pete. “Tell me about it.” He looked as if he were about to object. She cut him off. “If for no other reason than to take my mind off of all of this…please tell me.”
Looking at his twiddling hands he asked, “Well what do you want to know?”
“Um…for one how old are you exactly?”
“Well…I came here when I was eighteen. I’ve been here for one hundred and twenty years so far. So essentially I am…one hundred and thirty eight.” Gwen’s eyes widened. “Now don’t tell me I’m too old for you.” He nervously teased, peering at her through the corner of his brilliant eye. Gwen’s stomach fluttered.
“Wow…I can’t even imagine all you’ve seen. You’re like a piece of history yourself.”
Pete seemed deep into thought now. “You don’t want to see all I’ve seen.” He twiddled with his thumb. “Though now it’s inevitable…”
“What do you mean?”
Pete ran his hands through his messy hair, and then rubbed his thighs. Clenching his teeth he said, “Gwen, I was watching you all of this time. Initially, I agreed with the council of Everland when they sent message to me that we were to bond you. It’s the only way to save our world. I intended on being there when it happened. I had planned on introducing myself into your life this year when you began college. Getting to know you in hopes to convince you that joining me was the right thing to do.”
He stopped and sighed. “But that’s the problem. I got to know you. Without your knowledge, I felt like you knew me too. I shared in your life.” Gwen squinted in frustration. “You know you’re wealthy Uncle Tate, the one who loves to travel and whose job as an environmental researcher has kept him from ever meeting you? The one who gave you this ring on your fourth birthday?” Gwen now wore the tiny emerald ring on a gold chain around her neck.
“Did he know too?” Gwen eagerly asked.
Pete’s conscience was tugging at his soul to go forward with his confession. How could he reveal yet another lie? He gave in and continued. “Gwen, I am Uncle Tate.” He looked a little embarrassed. “I gave you this ring. Didn’t you ever wonder why you never had nightmares?” It was true. Gwen loved to sleep. She loved to dream. She had the most magnificent dreams. She remembered her brothers complaining of bad dreams and could never relate. Gwen had never had a single bad dream in her life that she could remember.
“You? Gave me this?” Gwen questioned, as if suddenly remembering the emerald stoned ring she’d worn ever since she was a child. Her favorite piece of jewelry.
“Guilty. You had such terrible dreams as a toddler. I couldn’t bear to watch you wake up screaming and terrified. I had Tina enchant the stone to keep the night terrors away. I felt as if you were, well are my responsibility to keep safe from all of this.”
She didn’t know how to take this. His responsibility. Was that what she was to him?
“And all of the other lavish gifts? The designer clothes, purses, exotic jewelry, exquisite trinkets from all over the world. That was you?”
“Yes…when you live like you aren’t living, you have a lot of time on your hands.”
“The gifts for Jonah and Mike? My mother told us they were also from Un-“
“Me. I couldn’t leave them out.” He smiled. “But the point is. I didn’t want this to happen. I wanted you to live out your life as human. I wanted you to find love. I wanted you to have mortal children. Grow old. Cherish life. Life here is so much different. You live you die. It’s simple. You hold things dear…people dear. Moments mean something. But now. The bond has been initiated. You won’ get the choice…It’s been made for you.” He suddenly looked angry. At Andrew? At himself? She wasn’t sure.
“So you could have chosen differently? When you were eighteen?”
Pete chuckled. “No for us born in Everland there is no choice. You either get sworn, or you die. I guess nature figures you’ll die without a protector anyways. May as well make it a requirement.”
“But the Manticans, like Andrew, they can die, right?”
Pete’s face dropped. “Yah. They age. They’re internal structures age, but their outer form doesn’t. This has been theorized for a long time. Popular belief is they maintain their eighteen-year-old outer form at their physical best to defend us. Their hearts are usually their cause of death. It gives out anywhere from two hundred to two fifty, two seventy five maybe.” Gwen wasn’t sure how to feel about this.
“I don’t get it. Andrew said we feel what one another feels. We die if one another dies.” Gwen cocked her thin eyebrow in confusion.
“He’s right. Our lives depend on each other. Unless it’s their time to go. When nature decides to take them, we are spared and sworn again.”
“Why are we so important?”
“We keep Everland alive. Our blood is the fuel source to the mother stone beneath the lagoon. The heart of Everland. Without our blood, it will die, taking everything and everyone with it.”
Gwen folded her arms across her chest, feeling the chill though she didn’t know whether it was from the elements…or her fate.
“Want to go in?” Pete asked.
“Not really. You think Jonah and Mike are okay alone in there?” Gwen maternally asked.
She was met with Pete’s smile. “They’re fine.”
Silence filled the space between them. Gwen couldn’t imagine what Pete’s life had been like. Living 138 years. Not to mention Everland. She wondered what her parents would do when they
didn’t return home. Would her mother be coherent enough to contact Pete? How much did her father know?
“Lost in thought?” Pete half asked.
“Yah. Sorry.”
“Stand up.” Pete ordered, rising to his feet.
Gwen was hesitant. “Why?”
With a sigh, Pete looked to the sky and back to her. “Haven’t you learned to trust me yet?”
“Alright.” Gwen rose to her feet. They were standing on the same stone step as Pete inched closer, Gwen’s heart began to race. He walked around behind her. “What are you doing?
”
“I want to show you something. Don’t you think this patio is rather…ugly?” he asked.
“Well not…ugly,” she stammered, trying not to be rude. “More…bare I guess. You have a lot of empty flower pots out here. Might need a gardener.”
“Do I?” Pete questioned. Gwen began to turn around and face him when he stopped her. Lightly holding her shoulders with his large cool hands, he held her in place, back facing him. He whispered, “Close your eyes.” As much as Gwen wanted to object, she did what he asked and closed her eyes. Her senses were suddenly filled with the sweet aroma of vanilla and lavender, maybe a hint of honey. It was unfamiliar but the most wonderful thing she’d ever smelt. “Okay…open.” Pete said in yet another whisper.
She first noticed the finest particles of glitter-like powder she had ever seen falling in front of her eyes. She looked up and saw Pete toss one last handful of the mist above her. Then it appeared. Every empty flower pot was suddenly filled with the most unusual stunning flowers and plants she had ever seen. They sparkled and swayed as if they were truly alive and dancing to some unheard tune. Such vibrant colors. Looking up at Pete, Gwen whispered, “Is this real?” Not waiting for an answer she walked from plant to plant, bush to bush, tree to tree around the patio. Tentatively she reached out to touch a pastel blue one shaped somewhat like a star with six points, and bright translucent wing like tips. “Can I?” she asked.
“Go ahead, they love to be touched.” Gwen reached out to touch the flower and just as her fingertips were about to brush the silky tips, the plant fluttered toward her hand. She pulled away.
“Really, they’re harmless.” Pete laughed. Gwen ran her hand along the smooth petals as the plant floated closer in appreciation. “Body heat. That’s what attracts them.” Another pink one with what had to be hundreds of stacked shimmering oval petals caught Gwen’s eye.
“These are…they’re…I don’t even know!” Gwen was fascinated with the otherworldly plants.
“Beautiful, huh?” Pete finished for her.
“Yah, that’s an understatement.” She breathlessly added. “Are these from Everland?” she asked observing a sparkling, lime green flowering bush, whose leaves appeared as if they were made from mermaid tails.
“Yah. It’s Tina’s hobby. She brought them with her our last trip back.”
“Why couldn’t I see them before?” Gwen asked smiling at an overly zealous orange cotton ball like flower with an extremely long stem allowing it to flutter over and tickle her cheek.
Pete loved to see her smile. “Tina put an enchantment on them, to keep them hidden from the human eye. Without this, you wouldn’t have seen them.” He held up a little brown bag. I thought you could use a pick me up about now.” He walked across the patio and ran his hand over a shaggy hair like bright magenta bush. It shook as if it were laughing silently. They remind me of home.” Pete paused. “Well, what home I have left.”
“Is this what all of Everland looks like? This gorgeous?” Gwen couldn’t believe a land this magnificent could hold any evil at all.
“Some places.” He watched Gwen as the breeze blew her auburn hair in front of her eyes. He awaited her familiar habit of brushing and tucking, as she did just that. She brushed the wavy locks from her wide eyes and slid them behind her ear. His heart still skipped a beat every time she did it. If she only knew him like he felt he knew her.
Gwen felt Pete’s eyes on her. She imagined they were in a dream. A sweet dream in a fantasy garden, not this diversion from reality.
Andrew cleared his throat breaking their trance. They turned to meet him. “Tina got word back already…it doesn’t sound good Pete.”
“Worse than we thought?” Pete walked closer to Andrew. Andrew overshadowed Pete in size. Though Pete was muscular for anyone of this world, Andrew was much thicker and about five inches taller.
“I’m afraid so. The pirates have taken much of the East. The fairies are in real trouble. They’re being captured and…their powers are being stripped by the dark fairies.” Gwen didn’t even have to ask what this meant. Their tones said it all: the fairies were dying.
“Tina’s family?” Pete asked.
“Still okay for what we know.” Andrew answered. “Their getting pretty weak though. Many of their spells are failing and they won’t be able to keep up communication spells much longer. The lagoon is completely surrounded day and night. Dark fairies patrol the air.”
“We knew that would be the case. Have you gotten word to the Manticans?” Pete questioned.
“Yes. They are preparing to fight with their regals, but it looks….grim.” Andrew answered. “Something unexpected has come about.”
“What?” Pete’s tone seemed almost worried. “Andrew. What is it?”
“They’re looking for her.”
Pete and Andrew locked eyes, having an unheard conversation.
“Guys!” she almost yelled. “Looking for who?”
Andrew shook his head in obvious disagreement. Pete took Gwen by the shoulders. “Emma, Gwen.”
Chapter 3
Gwen almost laughed. “Emma. As in my dead baby sister Emma? Okay you know what? You guys are just plain mean now. I’m definitely leaving. Is this some sick joke? Because it’s really not funny.” Gwen shook Pete’s hand off her.
“No, it’s no joke…” Pete said
“Well what the hell is going on then?”
“Emma died, yes…kind of.” Pete began. “You’re mother went to Tina, and begged her for Emma’s revival.”
“Revival? To bring her back to life?” she asked.
“Yes. It’s a spell that rarely, almost never works. You see, Tina’s ancestors are among some of the most powerful fairies in history. Your mother got word to Tina she needed help. Tina found Janie and couldn’t stand her heartbreak. Tina had just lost her baby brother to the dark ones so she was…vulnerable. She attempted the spell but didn’t have enough power to complete it. It left Emma still in the other side, but…able to walk in our world if a portal is opened. The pirates have been scouring both worlds using whatever kind of evil magic they can find to get to Emma. Once they have her open the portal…the evil from the other side can be harnessed by the dark fairies and pass through, giving the dark ones unimaginable power.”
Gwen could hardly breathe. Her sister was sort of alive?
“Can she talk? Is she okay? How do we get to her?”
Pete and Andrew stared sadly at Gwen.
“Why are you just standing there? We have to find a way to get to her!”
Pete spoke, “Gwen, we can’t.”
“Why the hell not! If they can get to her why can’t we! She’s just a baby!”
“She’s not a baby anymore. They want her to open a portal, only a regal half dead can open. A portal between Middle, Everland, and the dark world. It’d be free reign for anyone or anything to cross. The pirates want control of all worlds. To do this they have to swear Emma…to a dark Mantican.”
Gwen felt as if she were going to faint. “A dark Mantican?” she turned to Andrew.
He answered, “Yes. A Mantican who was taken from us. My big brother Rasha. They cast spell after evil spell forcing him to stay in his Mantican form, turning him evil torturing him…for years. If he was sworn to the half-dead royal, Emma, their powers would be almost unstoppable.”
“So everything is lost? We lose? Everland is going to be destroyed by my….half dead sister?”
“Not entirely…” Andrew answered glancing at Pete.
“No! Andrew listen to me do not go on with the sentence. I command you to stop.”
“Pete, I’m not sworn to you.” Andrew puffed out his chest. “You don’t command me.”
“No, but I am your king. I don’t pull that card on you often Andrew you’re my friend but we have to protect her she’s our only hope” Pete looked so different. So regal.
“You’re telling me we have to protect her? I live and die for her now! Don’t treat me like I don’t know we
have to protect her, Pete. We also have to keep her alive.” They finished the conversation in their minds.
Pete nodded and walked inside, unable to bear to hear Andrew say what needed to be said.
“What’s going on Andrew?” she asked. Andrew ushered her back to the lawn chair, being extra careful not to touch her. He sat on a brick ledge that surrounded the garden.
“There’s only one way to stop her Gwen. A royal that shares her blood, must…end it.” He stopped.
“End it? Okay by a royal that shares her blood you mean me or my brothers right?”
“You. Your brothers aren’t old enough to be sworn yet.”
“Okay, how do I end it then?” Gwen eagerly asked. Andrew closed his eyes as he spoke. “We have to… kill…our siblings, Gwen.”
Gwen’s heart broke into a million pieces.
Chapter 4
Gwen woke suddenly in a strange bed. It was huge and plush, larger than king sized for sure. It had four wooden posts made from actual tree limbs, following suit with the rest of the natural themed home. She attempted to sit up but the room began to spin. Her head met the fluffy pillow once more.
What happened? she wondered to herself. What time was it? She surveyed the large room for a clock. An ornate antique wooden clock set on the night stand. It was like no clock she’d ever seen. It had light wooden hands but kept displaying hazy scenes behind them. Like movie clips of some foreign dreamland. 9:22 a.m. One stunning evening scene showed a beach with turquoise water splashing against golden sparkling seashore. Three moons hung low in the night sky. All three were a medley of pastel swirling colors that seemed to change before her eyes. Suddenly a creature that resembled a bird flew across the cloud-like scene and hovered above the water. It had the body of a bird but the wings of an…angel? They were shiny and translucent. The flowing wings moved as if the bird was submerged in water. As fast as it appeared, it was gone.
Gwen subconsciously scratched her nose and was met with a crusty substance. She saw an elaborate mirror across the luxurious room. It was cream and looked very…old. Like something she would have seen in a medieval castle. In fact, that’s what the entire room reminded her of. Ancient meets modern luxury plus natural elements thrown here and there. Odd, but it worked perfectly.
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