by R Corona
“Our energy signatures are strong and can be traced, therefore the barriers were created to provide us with coverage and defuse any signal that might give our location. But the barriers can only do so much. We can be traced even here on Earth. Though Leev wasn’t born in our land, her mother and grandmother were. Yet,” she bit one of her nails, “I’m still not sure why Leev was taken but your grandmother and Marcelle were not. Their energy signatures should be stronger. The only possible explanation is that Leev was being chased for a long time, without her knowledge. Maybe someone she knew. I have to warn Marcelle.”
When Aunt Marcelle and Granny decided that I should come live in the House, Leev wanted to come with, if only she had left with me. My back slid down the wall and I dropped to the floor, rolled up with my head pressed against my knees. I stayed like that for a while. Netania quickly joined me, but I didn’t look up. After a few minutes she left but her weeping manifested through the door.
A gleam of colors flashed soon after Netania walked away and her sobbing had disappeared. The walls of the room began to shift colors. Rays of sunlight fell closely, warming my skin. The ceiling had gone and soft clouds wandered above. My hands moved slowly in-between them breaking them apart. The bed had also vanished, in its place laid a massively, tall tree. From the top, a melody sweetly dropped to my ears; thousands of birds singing in harmony. The dewy, green grass was perfect for resting my bare feet. The room wasn’t a room anymore, it had turned into a garden of life, yet it felt as dead as I had been before waking up. My senses did not deserve to see and feel beauty when everyone I loved dwelled in misery, drowning in it with every breath.
My parents’ disappearance wasn’t my fault and neither was Leev’s capture. Nothing could be clearer in my head. Guilt, however, visited me as it had visited my aunt; sneaking in when I wasn’t looking. He spoke to me while exploring every inch of my thoughts. Then, he sat beside me on the grass. He told me that if I had never found the House, my energy levels wouldn’t have increased. Leev had wanted to protect me, but because I had pushed her away, they took her, beat her bloody and drained her, forcefully.
As for my parents? It was my fault they were never around, because I had never needed them enough to care. His cold hand stroked my cheek and he placed a kiss on my forehead. Then, he stood up and walked through a door I hadn’t noticed before. After, he walked down the stairs, stepped inside the Dark Hall and disappeared. By then, I had stepped inside the Hall as well, and walked out into the living room on the other side of the House.
***
Most of my days were spent by the gardens with Netania and her plants or in the kitchen watching Gilcome and Mr. Zorga cook. Every day was a struggle; trying not to think of my cousin and my parents. What frustrated me most was not knowing anything about Dez’ return. Aunt Marcelle had come to visit me twice. During her last visit we talked about Leev and I begged her to stay by Granny’s side as much as possible. The trip to and from the House was dangerous, at this point anything could happen. As painful as it was, it was better not to see them and to know that she and Granny were safe. I would lose my remaining wits if anyone else was taken.
Jacknell, the handy man, peeked into the garden where I was helping Netania water her newly planted flower seeds. “June, I think Gilcome was looking for you in the morning. He said he wanted to show you something.” His eyes softly studied Netania as a grin appeared on his face. Jacknell had something on his mind, something he didn't care to share with me.
“It is fine, June, I can finish this up.” Netania assured me. She grabbed my watering can and smiled, “Go.” It had been an obvious way to get rid of me, so I left them.
Gilcome stood on one side of the kitchen island, his hands buried in flour. “Hey there!”
“Hey yourself. Getting a hand massage?”
“Yes, June.” He answered, mockingly. “See, I just read it’s the new thing to keep your hands soft. The wonders of flour are endless.”
“Oh, finally you’ve given up cooking! Are you now interested in body care, well maybe instead you should develop a cleaning formula. That would be a good choice, because it seems that every time you’re in here there’s a mess.” I sneered. “What did you want to show me?”
Gilcome lowered his head in disappointment noticing my disinterest. “Um, I’ll show you…” He lifted a fist and tossed a handful of flour in my face, “Oops.”
“Are you serious? Why would you–”
“If you could see your face,” he held his stomach and laughed like a child. “Have a little fun, will you?” Annoyed by my lack of amusement, he shook his head. “You aren’t the only one suffering, June.”
“Right now, it seems like I am. All of the members can carry on with their day as if nothing in the world has been disturbed. Forgive me if I want to take time to feel sad.”
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself. That won’t help us. Moping around the corners of the House won’t bring back Dez. Dulling your energy will only waste time.” These words he said closer to me, watching as my eyes filled with tears. Gilcome wanted a reaction out of me, if he couldn’t amuse me, he sure would try to make me cry; the latter was working. “You are supposed to be the one; a great Carrier, a Wielder. Quit acting like you’ve been dealt the worst hand and make use of what you’ve got. Be yourself already!” Frustrated, he banged on the counter top, causing my flesh to crawl. “Don’t you have me believe this is the real you. Then, we’ve been, unkindly, mislead.”
There wasn’t a cordial response to his comments. I searched my brain to understand why he felt the need to intervene in my moments of despair. It was my sadness to deal with. Only a few days had passed since finding out that my cousin had been kidnapped. My grief was a rational one, but his reaction to it wasn’t. The only thing I could say was, “I’m sorry.”
His unreasonable rage was only fueled. It proved that I had annoyed him immensely. Before he could open his mouth to utter an offense, I repeated. “I’m sorry.” Hearing me apologize boiled his blood. Then I said something that took him aback. “I’m sorry that you have no one to feel this way about. I’m sorry you have no one to grieve for.” Turning towards the kitchen’s exit, I thought it would be best to leave it at that, to forget his words and let his comments slide by.
Gilcome was not ready to end the conversation. He gripped my arm strong enough to prevent me from leaving, yet not strong enough to hurt me. “You know nothing.” He growled and faced away. Taking a moment to respond, it occurred to me that maybe I should have a little fun. The pot of flour shined before my eyes and it was my intent to smash it across his face. He deserved it for acting so despicable towards me. Instead, I raised it over his head. Gilcome shut his eyes tightly waiting for the flour to fall down his head.
–“Don’t you dare! Put the flour down…slowly.” Mr. Zorga stood behind me. Gilcome and I remained paralyzed by his voice.
“He started it, Mr. Zorga.”
“Well, she insulted my cooking style.” Gilcome replied.
“What?” He was unbelievable. “Mr. Zorga, he said horrible things about me.”
“You did too—June said she felt sorry for me.” He protested.
“For god’s sakes, both of you be quiet— June, put the flour down.” Zorga walked closer.
“Fine.” As I tried to move closer to the counter, Gilcome stuck out his foot, causing me to trip. The pot tumbled in the air, spilling all its flour. Quickly the kitchen turned dusty white.
“I knew this would happen.” Mr. Zorga remained covered in flour “Guess who’s on kitchen duty this week?” He yelled furiously. Gilcome couldn’t stop showing his amusement, laughing louder each second. “You too Gilcome! Both of you are cleaning the kitchen, until it’s spotless. And you are doing the dishes for a week, maybe for a month!” Then, Mr. Zorga left for a change of clothes.
Gilcome stared at me and smiled, “you look terribly mad.”
“Are you happy now? Did you actually have something to show me or did you j
ust want to throw flour on my face?”
“Just forget it.” He turned around. “How about you go to your room and feel sorry for the both us.”
“No.” I dared him. “Stop it, already. Why did you call me here?”
“I came across an old recipe for bread and wanted to show you how to make it.” Gilcome squeezed the words out. “I was just trying to cheer you up.”
“Nothing can cheer me up. Not until Dez comes back.” It was a nice gesture, but it wouldn’t be possible because I didn’t want to be cheery. Happiness would never visit my life again, it was a disgusting state of being which masked feelings and left on its track sadness, despair and far worse feelings.
“Not even a little flour on your face?” Still with a devious grin on his face, Gilcome pushed his luck. “I’ve been thinking much about Dez and this House.”
“Really? Because it would be helpful if you could give me his personal number. The members and I really need him down here.”
“Funny,” he replied, making a weird face and turning away. “Fine. Don’t ask me later.”
“Do you really know something about him?”
“Only a little.” He shouted from the supply closet. “Dez was a powerful ruler in the land of Fexorrous. That’s about how much I know.” He walked back holding a broom and handed it to me. Then he grabbed another for himself. “The stories say that Dez fell in love with a woman; an enchanting woman. Her beauty was praised by every man in town. Long, straight, black hair, and large emerald-green eyes,” Gilcome sighed as he swept away the flour.
“Sounds like you knew her.”
“No, not in person. Remember I was ten years old when I came to the House. My parents sent me through an open portal because they knew that Dez had made it safely across and wanted to ensure my protection. When I arrived, Dez had been iced and Ms. Baynes found me inside the Dark Hall. She and the rest of the members received me and allowed me to remain in the House to serve Dez with my energy. Communication since then was unexpectedly cut from the portal and no one else is able to transport.”
“So the members didn’t arrive together?” I rested my jaw on the broomstick.
“No, the people of Fexorrous had been fleeing for some time, even before Dez made it here—Let me finish telling you about Cora, the woman Dez loved. Her beauty was only second to her powers. Cora had the purest and the strongest energy of her time. But Dez didn’t know that and, I think, neither did she. Others did know and wanted her energy so they took her from Dez. He never saw her again. That’s why Dez built this House. He wanted to go back to Fexorrous, find Cora and bring her here, where they could be together.”
“Poor Dez. He has been frozen forever; you think Cora is still alive?”
“Oh, yes. After Dez left Fexorrous the Royal House announced that they had captured her and since her abilities to withhold and extract energy from others was deemed dangerous, she was taken to the Icing Chambers, where her powers could be preserved without the endangerment of any lives. Cora’s great amount of energy could only be extracted in a frozen state. So they probably even look the same age, that’s if they haven’t unfrozen her already.”
“Why would they unfreeze her, isn’t she important to the Royal House.”
“Well, if they drained her powers there’s no need to keep her body frozen, taking up space. Seb Creat probably killed her. However it would be more likely if she had been set free to live powerless.”
“And how do you know all of this?”
“I don’t,” He took his eyes off the floor and looked my way. “But those are the stories I was told.”
When we had finished sweeping the flour off the floor, Gilcome began to dust the counters. “You can stop that now.” Mr. Zorga returned and dragged us under the kitchen archway. “Both of you are needed in the living room. Ms. Baynes would like a word.”
Spilling a little flour did not seem like such a serious offense. Mr. Zorga overlooked our steps towards the living room, like a prisoner guard. By the look on Gilcome’s face one could swear we were about to stand before a court judge. Netania and Jacknell had also been called to hear our sentencing. She was sitting, almost at the edge of the chair, knees together and elbows resting on her lap. Jacknell stood behind Netania's chair, his hand resting on her shoulders. “Everything will be fine.” he said to her as Gilcome and I approached them.
“Finally, we are all here.” Ms. Baynes marched out of the Dark Hall. “There have been new occurrences at the House of which you should all be informed.”
Gilcome clenched his jaw, “Ms. B–”
Mr. Zorga lowered his head and murmured— “This is not about the flour. Now be quiet and listen.”
“What’s on your mind, Gilcome?” Ms. Baynes asked.
“Only how pretty you look today, new dress eh?” Gilcome grinned. Then everyone’s eyes turned to me as a giggle escaped from my mouth.
“Something funny you’d like to tell us about, June?”
“Sorry.”
Ms. Baynes was tense, as if she wanted to blurt out what she had to say, to relieve herself of the words fluttering around her mind. “No more interruptions? Good. I’d like to continue. As you all may know, we have been working towards a common goal. Today, we are closer to reaching that goal. Dez has returned.”
Chapter Eight
Time wasn’t relevant anymore. Days passed before we were able to see Dez, maybe months. In the House, I lost notion of time. There were days that had long, excruciating hours, while others where over in the time it takes a snowflake to melt on top of the boiling sand that covers a dessert. But most days where blended and those where the worst. Since the end of a day and the beginning of a new one where blurred; it was all one consecutive nightmare.
I made good use of my room, visited the places I longed to be and those places I missed. Places that reminded me of loved ones. Some days I visited the Park, other days the Plains. When we first heard the news about Dez, Gilcome and I became inpatient and plotted to discover where in the House he could be resting. The two of us spent weeks opening every door on both sides of the House but the man was nowhere, like he hadn’t returned at all. There was only one room we couldn’t enter. “The Heart of the House,” Gilcome called it. Only Ms. Baynes had the key and she kept it hanging from her neck, tucked in her dress always. Even if we had the key it would be useless because only Ms. Baynes had the authority to open the door. Her and no one else. The other members, including Netania, remained patient; almost uninterested by the return.
Gilcome began to think that some of the members were having secret meetings with Dez because one would disappear for a while, then another. Especially Ms. Baynes and Netania. One day they all vanished for a whole hour, only Gilcome and I remained. Perhaps they did not trust us and were planning on ways to use up our energies combined, and then secretly dispose of our bodies, like Gilcome had joked. Or maybe they thought we wouldn’t be able to handle whatever it was they were hiding, us being the youngest. I tried to ask Netania but she would just say it wasn’t the time yet. She too wanted to see Dez, as much as I did. She and Ms. Baynes were only making special preparations for Dez and that’s why she hadn’t been to her garden lately.
“She’s coming.” Mr. Zorga said as I approached the kitchen from one of the long halls. They were all there, by the counters. Gilcome was there too, smiling.
“Surprise! Happy Birthday June,” the members spread around to reveal a large, round, chocolate cake, decorated with hazelnuts and vanilla flowers.
“Do you like it?” Mr. Zorga asked, “Gilcome and I made it especially for you.” After a nudge from him, Mr. Zorga gave in, “Fine, Gilcome made it himself, but I overlooked.”
“June, are you alright?” Ms. Baynes made her way in-between the members until she could reach me.
Everything was fine, except it wasn’t my birthday. My birthday was on…“My birthday?”
“Yes, June. It’s your birthday today, October 29th.” Netania pushed me closer to
the cake. “You turn sixteen today.”
It seemed impossible. How could I not remember my own birthday? That date meant nothing to me. “I can’t remember.”
“Thought this wouldn’t happen so quickly,” Jacknell raised both eyebrows, widening his brown eyes.
“Is there something wrong with me?” Did they all know this would happen to me?
Maybe it was a side effect from being drained by the Door, but it seemed unlikely that it would happen now and not right after waking up.
–“Shh, no. No” Ms. Baynes stepped in front of the members. “Let’s not spoil the day. You are going to enjoy this day, worry free. Then we’ll talk about it.”
“Isn’t it too late for that?” Gilcome asked. “With all due respect Ms. Baynes, if something is wrong with June, we should look into it. This sounds pretty serious to me.” He stood tall, staring Ms. Baynes in the face. Then Mr. Zorga whispered something in his ear.
“—but Mr. Z—” Gilcome protested. Ms. Baynes ignored Gilcome completely because to her and, apparently, to the rest of the members, Gilcome was just a boy.
“Let’s go open presents.” They guided me to the tiled garden front. The members made a line and each held a box in their hands except for Gilcome who stood next to me. He couldn’t wait for me to try the cake he had baked. It had been his first creation without the help of Mr. Zorga.
Netania was first in line, the sweetness of her smile reminded me of someone but I couldn’t tell who. She lifted up a leather cord holding a pendant in the shape of a green leaf. “The leaf is a flask containing special extracts…for healing. Keep it close to you.” Bowing my head, Netania placed the trinket around my neck.
Mr. Zorga reached me next, impatient to explain what his gift was. It was a recipe book; fine dust sprinkled the air as he opened the box which contained it. Gilcome volunteered to hold the large book so that I could receive the remaining gifts. Ms. Baynes offered me a key, right from the key necklace dropping from her neck. She insisted it would open any door, but only if, “the existence of such door relies upon being locked. All that it opens should stay locked, for it unlocks the wicked.” It was pretty enough and would look great as a pendant on my neck, but as a key, it was useless. I promised to keep it as a reminder of all the evil the world would never face, for the key wouldn’t be used to satisfy my curiosity or that of others. The strength of its power overcame me when it fell against my chest, and so all doors in its domain would remain locked.