Benotripia- The Complete Trilogy

by McKenzie Wagner

  It seemed to be just a classic fairy-tale storybook. Just as Jessicana was about to shut it and run back to her home, she landed on an extremely colorful page that had a faded black ribbon hanging out of it. Jessicana cautiously raised the ribbon and examined it more closely. It was frayed and torn. She couldn’t imagine any Benotripian wanting it as a bookmark. It radiated darkness and cold. Jessicana shivered. It distinctly reminded her of the feather that had taken Roseabelle into the dream world.

  Then chills ran up her spine. What if the ribbon didn’t belong to a Benotripian? What if Darvonians were here on the island? No, no, it couldn’t be. But still it would all make sense—the boat out on the water, the ribbon, and even the handprint. Something important had to be in this book.

  Jessicana trained her eyes on the page where she had found the ribbon. “The Lost Stones of Horsh,” she read quietly and continued. “Once, a poor young Darvonian named Horsh set off on an adventure. He was completely oblivious to his surroundings and to what sort of culture he was being raised in. Darnash Horsh, as we know him, left his home seeking adventure and eventually found a bright colorful island called Benotripia.

  “The young man ventured onto the island and soon realized where he came from and who he was. Horsh listened to the Benotripian stories with sympathy and discovered that he had been born in the wrong territory. He became one of Benotripia’s people.

  “But Horsh had a secret: he was very powerful and had three magical Stones. One could create, one could destroy, and one could heal. He decided to hide the Stones, fearing that his former kindred would find them, and lived the rest of his days peacefully.”

  Below the story were large silver letters in a fancy font reading, “The End.” Jessicana knitted her brow. She had never heard of this fairy tale before and couldn’t help wondering why a Darvonian would want to read it. Absentmindedly, she slipped the ribbon into her pocket.

  Of course Darvonians aren’t on the island! Jessicana decided that she was just being silly and ran out of the tower room.

  * * * * *

  ROSEABELLE SAT ON HER PORCH, SLOWLY SIPPING A mango smoothie and staring out at the lush landscape of Benotripia. She couldn’t help but think about the large black ship she and her friends had spotted yesterday. Of course it could’ve been just an illusion, but Roseabelle was so sure she had seen it.

  Another option was that it was the Darvonians, ready to invade the island. But that ship would’ve reached Benotripia by now, and Danette would’ve been notified if the Darvonians had attacked them.

  “The Darvonians aren’t here,” she told herself. “Stop being silly, Roseabelle.” She tried to relax and lie back against her chair but eventually just snapped her eyes open.

  “Roseabelle! Roseabelle!” a strangled voice cried out, and Roseabelle bolted up in her seat. Jessicana was running toward her, one hand gripping something. “What is it?” Roseabelle asked.

  “Roseabelle,” Jessicana panted. “I found this in one of your books. Here, look.”

  Her blonde friend was displaying a worn black ribbon. “I went home and gave Mom the book I borrowed from you. You see, while I was looking for it, there was this book that was sticking out on its shelf. The ribbon marked a specific chapter. That book had something important in it, Roseabelle. And I’m pretty sure the Darvonians took it, read it, and brought it back so it wouldn’t look suspicious.”

  Roseabelle blinked. “And why are you assuming this?”

  “I put the ribbon up in my room,” Jessicana said frantically. “And honestly—I don’t know—I just felt so angry and tired. I felt like I’d done something terribly wrong. I wanted to curl up into a little ball and hide.”

  “Jessicana,” Roseabelle breathed. “What if this is like the feather? Remember how it took me into the dream world?”

  Jessicana turned pale, started to shake as though she was having a seizure, and instantly ripped the ribbon from Roseabelle’s hand. “If it’s a passage to the dream world,” Jessicana stressed, “we can’t keep it!”

  Roseabelle put a hand on Jessicana’s shoulder. “This is proof that Darvonians might be on the island. I’m going to talk to my mom about this. You stay at home and rest. Thank you for bringing this to me.”

  Jessicana nodded and hurried off, leaving Roseabelle with the ribbon. The auburn-haired girl rubbed her fingers over it and was surprised to realize she felt none of the emotions Jessicana had described. Puzzled, she deposited the ribbon in her pocket and walked inside. Danette was out and about, signing petitions in Fetherbark City, although she had promised Roseabelle she’d be back before sunset.

  And Roseabelle knew she’d keep her promise.

  CHAPTER 4

  Darvonians!

  ASTRO JOGGED ALONG THE SMOOTH SHORES, BREATHING heavily. He wiped the sweat from his brow and continued on, his eyes trained on the path he was taking. Astro felt he needed to get out of the house, breathe some fresh air, and exercise.

  It was refreshing to be outside in the cool breeze, and, for a moment, Astro forgot about all the things that were troubling him.

  He headed for Juniper Jungle, ready to jog through, when a flash of black caught his eye. Astro jerked his head up, on the alert. Just as he was ready to dismiss the sudden movement as a figment of his imagination, there it was again. Astro leveled his fingers at the trees, ready to strike at any moment.

  Suddenly, two branches parted. Before he could react, Astro realized he was staring into the face of a pale-skinned, dark-haired man. The face staring at him mirrored the shock of Astro’s own expression. Then the branches were released, and the face disappeared from view.

  “Hey!” Astro roared, and he plunged into the jungle, his face red with fury as the truth set in. Who he had just seen was no ordinary person, and he intended to catch him. Without even thinking about it, a jagged silver lightning bolt erupted from his pointer finger and bounced off a series of tree trunks. Astro felt as though he’d just been punched in the stomach, and he grimaced. Whenever he shot a large bolt like that, consequences followed.

  Up ahead, Astro could hear the nimble sprinting of feet, and he panted as he struggled to keep up with the man. It wasn’t working. The man was too fast. A strangled shout sounded up ahead, and Astro gulped. It wasn’t a common Benotripian language, so he couldn’t understand.

  Astro felt a rush of air above him and looked up just in time to see an open metal cage falling down. He quickly burst ahead, and the trap thudded behind him. He could hear alarmed cries coming from the treetops, and he bit his lip. They knew he was here, and he no longer knew where he was going.

  Dark shapes appeared in the trees, and an arrow whistled past his ear. Panicked, Astro randomly shot a bolt at a palm tree with a dark shape balanced behind it, and a scream rang out. Astro winced as pain filled his entire body. What was going on?

  Half a dozen arrows came hurtling toward him, their piercing points gleaming. Three, by a miracle, somehow missed him completely, two grazed his knee, and one tore his shirt. Astro clenched his fists. He had to find them. He had to find the camp.

  Just as he was about to charge through a clearing, several armed figures in cloaks and battle armor appeared in his path. Without even thinking about it, Astro turned and ran. A few arrows whistled above his head, but none of the men’s shots could match his frightening speed.

  Why was Astro running? Why didn’t he stand and fight? Because the men were Darvonians.

  * * * * *

  “ROSEABELLE!” DANETTE CALLED SOFTLY. “ROSEABELLE, come down please!”

  Roseabelle sat up in bed, disgruntled, her hair frizzy and out of control. Had someone just called her name? She wasn’t sure. Roseabelle paused for a moment, waiting for the voice, but nothing came. She got up out of bed and strained her ears. Nothing.

  Deciding it had just been from her dreams, Roseabelle was about to climb back into bed when she heard her mother call, “Roseabelle! Please come down.”

  “So it wasn’t just my imagination,” Rose
abelle whispered. She walked out of her room, curious. Why was Danette calling for her in the middle of the night?

  The auburn-haired girl trudged sleepily down the stairs, dressed in pajama pants and a T-shirt. “Yes, Mom?” she asked sleepily.

  “Roseabelle, I must leave.” Danette sighed quietly.

  Roseabelle couldn’t believe her ears. “What?” she cried out.

  “There’s been an attack in Northern Benotripia,” Danette explained. “I have to go and help. Many Benotripians have been hurt, and it is my duty to aid them.”

  Roseabelle buried her face in her hands. “Mother, you can’t! Please, no. I think the Darvonians may be on the island.” The redhead recounted seeing the large ship on the sea and Jessicana discovering the book in the library. “They have to be here,” she said desperately. “We need you, Mom! I need you.”

  Danette put a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Roseabelle, I have to go. The people are calling me, and it is my duty to respond. Send a mottel if you find real proof that the Darvonians are here.” Mottels were birds that were used to send messages in Benotripia. “But for now, I must go. I’m truly sorry.”

  Roseabelle was close to tears. “But, Mom—”

  Danette stroked her daughter’s hair. “Be careful, Roseabelle. We still don’t know what caused the attack, but it’s a major issue. There are families out there that need my leadership and hope. If I could, I’d investigate what you said about the Darvonians. When I get back, I promise that will be the first thing I’ll do.”

  Roseabelle managed a small smile. “Thanks, Mom.”

  Her mother planted a kiss on her head and squeezed her tightly. “I should be back in less than a month. If not, I promise you I will be back no later than two months. Thank you for being so understanding, Roseabelle.”

  With those last words, Danette slipped out the door. “I’m not understanding,” Roseabelle muttered. “I need you. Now.”

  She peeked out the window and watched as a figure rose into the sky, hair tumbling down its back. Roseabelle knew it was her mother. As a late-night snack, she pulled out some orange juice and small nuts in some milk. After she ate the small meal, she slowly walked up to her room and climbed into bed.

  Tap, tap, tap. Roseabelle jolted upright and wildly looked around the room. What had made that sound? She slowly lowered herself back down, but then she heard it again. Tap, tap, tap. Confused, Roseabelle wrenched open her window, and her jaw went slack. Astro was hanging on to the windowsill, face distraught and pinched.

  “Astro!” she shrieked. “What are you doing?”

  “Is Danette here?” he demanded. “I need her. Now.”

  Roseabelle felt a pang in her stomach. “Astro, Danette just left for Northern Benotripia. There was an attack there, and she’s gone to help.”

  Astro looked so startled, he almost dropped from the sill. “What? But, Roseabelle, you don’t understand. I saw Darvonians!”

  Roseabelle froze. “You can’t be serious,” she said hoarsely.

  “I’m dead serious,” Astro assured her.

  “Tell Jessicana,” Roseabelle ordered. “Then go back to your house and orchestrate a plan.”

  Astro opened his mouth to protest but then shrugged. “Okay. I will. But I’m coming over in the morning. Early. We need to do something about this.” He paused. “Wait, can’t we just tell the Benotripians?”

  Roseabelle snorted. “How? I may be the daughter of Danette, but there’s no way I could reach all those people in time. And besides, some of them might not believe me.”

  “What? That’s ridiculous!”

  “But it’s true,” Roseabelle answered grimly. “I’m not the ruler of the island. They have a right not to listen to me.”

  “But you saved their leader,” Astro argued. “You’re going to inherit the island in the future someday, anyway. They should listen to you!”

  Roseabelle shrugged. “Without confirmation from Danette, my words are meaningless. Now go get Jessicana and start planning. I need some time alone.”

  Astro sat on the thick tree branch and nodded to her. “Good luck.” Then he dropped to the ground below.

  “I’m going to need it,” Roseabelle muttered dryly, and then she shut her window softly.

  * * * * *

  JESSICANA GAVE ASTRO A BLANK STARE. “ARE YOU CRAZY? So the Darvonians are here. You almost got killed. And now you want to go after them without Roseabelle?”

  Astro shot her a pleading look. “I just want to verify. Jessicana, this might be our only chance to locate the Darvonian camp. And besides, Roseabelle needs some time alone. She has a lot to think about.”

  Jessicana crossed her arms in an annoyed sort of way and glared at Astro. “All right,” she said. “But if we die out there, I’m going to kill you.” And with that, she flounced from her porch, transformed into a parrot, and flew off. Astro ran after her, trying the best he could to be stealthy.

  Jessicana flapped her wings and soared over the forest. “Awk, awk,” she squawked. “Stay behind.” If the Darvonians saw a parrot flying in the sky, they’d think it would be completely normal because there were countless parrots in Benotripia. But if they saw Astro, they would figure out Jessicana’s true identity.

  The blonde girl soared over the treetops, scouting for any sign of the Darvonians, but the only sight that met her eyes was the lush vegetation of the jungle. Monkeys swung from tree to tree, and a jaguar lurked inside the murky shadows of the vines.

  Plumes of smoke curling into the air finally caught her attention, and Jessicana dove toward it, trying as best as she could to act like a normal parrot, intrigued by the smoke. Astro was now far behind her, and she decided that it might be better that way. He could easily give their hiding spot away without even trying.

  The low murmuring of soft voices reached Jessicana’s ears, and she dove even faster, then slowed considerably before perching on a tree. The voices suddenly broke off, and Jessicana’s eyes lit up. The Darvonians had to be here. Jessicana flapped her wings twice and lifted into the air, gazing below, her sharp eyes searching frantically for her enemies.

  An arrow whizzed past her beak, and Jessicana squawked in alarm and took off. Of course, they would shoot at her. She had been mistaken. They had to be suspicious because they already knew of her power, due to Sheklyth’s spy report while she had pretended to be Shelby.

  Jessicana rose even higher into the sky, hoping that Astro had found a way to prove that the Darvonians were there. Of course, the arrow was almost enough proof. No Benotripian would shoot at a parrot no matter the circumstances, just in case the bird was actually a shape-shifter.

  She dropped down onto a thick branch and morphed back into a girl. Then she looked around. Jessicana estimated that she had heard the voices not too far away, so she carefully swung onto a branch, her sweaty palms grasping the thick wood. She grimaced. She could do this. Jessicana remembered how Asteran had trained her to swing from the ropes in case she ever fell from the sky. “If that ever happens,” he had told her gravely, “quickly turn back into your human form and grasp on to whatever you can find.”

  Jessicana felt a pang of sadness as she thought about Asteran. They’d never truly learned where his loyalties had landed. One day, Jessicana had followed him through the forest and found a feather that he had dropped. It had turned out to be an entrance to the Darvonian dream world, so the three friends had never really discovered whose side Asteran had been on.

  Jessicana grimaced and swung to the next branch, blisters forming on her bruised hands from gripping the hard wood. Come on, she thought. You can do this, Jessicana.

  A hand suddenly tapped her shoulder while another hand covered her mouth, smothering a scream that came within her throat. Jessicana froze, barely holding on to her branch. A voice whispered in her ear, “It’s just me. Astro. Step carefully onto the trunk of the tree.”

  Jessicana obliged and glared furiously at her friend. “You scared me to death,” she hissed.

&
nbsp; Astro shrugged. “Sorry. I didn’t want you screaming because you thought the Darvonians had found you. Anyway, I think you should see this. Follow me and don’t make a sound.”

  Jessicana gestured to the trees. “I’ll travel up here and meet you.” Astro nodded and disappeared in a cloud of swirling leaves. Jessicana turned her attention back to the trees and bit her lip. Unbeknownst to Roseabelle and Astro, Asteran had given her a magical object that Jessicana had kept secret from both of them until now. She vowed to herself that as soon as she returned, she would tell them about it.

  It was a silver ring with an emerald embedded in the center of it, and when the jewel was pressed, it turned into some kind of grappling hook. Jessicana reached deep inside her pocket, pulled out the ring, put it on her finger, and pressed the gem. Two large ropes with metal hooks sprouted out of the ring noiselessly, which Jessicana was grateful for. Just as she had suspected, they had a golden aura of power around them. The ring wasn’t just a normal grappling hook. One of the ropes was used for actual grappling and could never miss as long as she kept the destination she wanted it to take hold of in her mind. The other hook could fight off enemies or pursuers that were below or above, knocking them out of the air and away from the person who was wearing the ring.

  The ring was a Grapplegore, and, for some reason, Jessicana had never used it. Until today. She unwound the first hook and hurled it to a high thick branch. She focused on the picture in her mind intently, imagining the hook digging deep inside the solid wood. Jessicana wasn’t surprised to see the hook sink into the tree as though it was made of putty. She made a note for the other hook to knock out any enemies that might be lurking below, and swung off the branch, eyes trained upward.

  Jessicana landed on the high branch and continued to swing the Grapplegore, never missing. Chills ran down her spine at her success, and a broad grin stretched over her face. She felt invincible, as if she could accomplish anything. Transforming into a parrot was nothing compared to this.