“Queen Emihe’s land is called No Where Zone.”
“What’s the muddy world called?”
“That used to be Gadaie. But when the inhabitants moved away, the people started to call it the Muddy Palace Realm.”
“And the goo?”
“The goo?”
“You know the desert of orange that connects all the different lands by bridges.”
“I don’t think it has a name.”
“Well, I’ll name it Goo, then.” Tahmi smiled. “Are there any other lands?”
“Yes, the Mistlands and also the Merworld and of course the underground land of Gadaie.”
“The ‘black ones’ real caves are where those monsters live now, right?”
“Yes.”
“C’mon, Ziv, let’s get going. I want to find this Quella creature before it gets dark.”
“It never gets truly dark in Candy Loo Land. There’re stars and Sparklers there.”
“Sparklers?”
“Quella is a sparkler.”
“Is she like you?”
“No, she’s the original light of our world. Mary created her.”
“Mary made her?”
“Queen Mary was the original creator. She made our whole world. Well, most of it.”
“Who made the rest?”
Ziv sang. “And the ‘king of kings’ shall make her our Queen.”
Tahmi frowned, pressing her hand against the splintered wood sign she held, “Let’s hurry then before Quella goes out to work the skies.”
“Fine.” Ziv lead the way down another tunnel that ended inside a dark, grey limestone cave. “But don’t let Quella fool you. She’s absolutely wicked.”
The sound of dripping water echoed in their ears as they took the dingy pathway. Ziv sat on her shoulder and glowed. Tahmi could barely see the way even with his light. “Why is it so dark in here?”
“Because the sparklers are hiding; there’s only three of them left.”
“Are they all mean?”
“Only Quella is. The others stay to themselves.”
“Are you going to talk the whole way?”
Tahmi twirled around.
Her eyes widened.
An enormous butterfly glowed neon yellow. His wingspan was about five feet across. In the center of his wings there were what looked to be fireworks like maybe sparklers that were exploding.
“Are you the princess everyone keeps talking about?”
“Are you Quella?”
“Goodness, no! I’d never claim her.”
“Are you a sparkler?”
“Yes, name’s Ben.”
“Ben?”
“Benny, but, I like Ben better.”
“How funny.” Tahmi grinned. “A butterfly that explodes into fireworks and his name is Ben.”
“Do you think that I enjoy exploding each night like some freak show for the world to oooh and ahhh over? Have you ever exploded?”
“No,” Tahmi backed away, “No.”
“Well, then don’t laugh at my misfortune, then.”
“Can I touch your wings?”
Ben glared at the young princess. Her eyes reminded him of the water just outside his cave. Why did she want to touch him? “If that is what you wish to do, then I won’t stop you.”
Tahmi reached over, placing her hands on the exploding sparklers. They stung her but she did not flinch. She closed her eyes. “I’m sorry Mary made you this way. You shouldn’t be in pain. That’s not fair.”
She let go.
Ben’s light went out.
Rolls groaned.
Ziv’s light was dim and he trembled. “What’d you do to Ben?”
“Nothing, I just wanted to touch him for some reason.”
“Ben is out. His light is out which could only mean one thing—”
“He’s not dead. He can turn himself on and off just like you,” Tahmi shouted. “Show me where Quella lives. Hurry, Ziv, I don’t like being in this cave.”
“Okay, okay.” He pointed to the left. “Follow the light.”
Tahmi inched her way forward. She did not dare look behind her for fear of what the many cave tunnels might hold. Her eyes focused on the blinking lights up ahead. There was a cave entrance with large flowers in the distance. Was she in another garden like the one where the loonettes lived? Was that the same flower garden as where she first saw Anala?
Tahmi stood at the end of the cave. No. This wasn’t the same garden. Instead of loons, mushroom homes and tall grasses, there was a body of water covering the ground around them. “What happened here?”
“Your mother and aunt happened.”
Tahmi jumped, nearly slipping down the edge of the sloped entrance. Rolls served as a safety wall, blocking her from falling to her death.
Quella, laughed, sparks darting from her wings. “What a stupid girl. I could’ve just knocked you straight into the flooded flowers. It would’ve looked like an accident.”
“Are you Quella?”
“Who else would I be?”
“Well, my name is Tahmi and—”
“Like I need an introduction to who you are.” Quella rested against the side of the cave wall. “I need a vacation from this hideous place.”
Tahmi could see the Silver Palace where her mother lived. What happened to this area? This was the only place untouched by Mary—or so she had thought. “My mother helped destroy your world?”
“No one’s told you?” The sparkler froze. “No wonder you’re wandering around causing trouble. You’ve no idea of your past!”
“Mind telling me?”
“No.”
“What do you mean no?”
“It’s a simple word. What’d they teach you on that planet of yours?”
“Is this another planet from Earth?”
“No.”
“Why can’t you elaborate?”
“No.”
Tahmi frowned and Quella laughed.
“Why are you so sour?”
“Me? Sour? I’m as pleasant as that water down below. Beautiful and calm in appearance but rile me and I’ll drown you in my wrath.”
“Another nasty creature.” Tahmi rolled her eyes. “In this silly little world.”
“Nasty?” Quella flapped her wings, now inches from Tahmi’s face. “Do you see this ‘miracle’ exploding from my wings?”
“Yeah, so what?”
“They hurt! How would you act if every night you had to endure pain and suffering? Tell me princess.”
“I’m sorry Mary was so thoughtless when she created you.”
“Fix it.”
“What makes you think I can?”
“Wishful thinking.” Quella flew out of the cave. “If you’re looking for your friend, he’s gone. I told Lorcan to dispose of him, figured you were of no use to us. So why keep a prisoner, right?”
“You evil monster!” Tahmi screamed, dropping to her knees. She sobbed in her hands. Rolls cuddled against her and Ziv glowed dimly.
“Lorcan lives just past the flooded flowers in that muddy guck,” Ziv whispered. “Are you all right?”
“I will be, thanks, Ziv.”
“I’m sure Jerry is still alive. Quella is just evil, that’s all.”
“Everything here has a dark side,” Tahmi said. “You guys even think I do.”
“I’ve seen your red eyes. Changeable eyes are a reflection of your inner motives.”
Tahmi looked out at the muddler’s lair. It was just miles and miles of mud with dead trees protruding from its surface. “How will we find Lorcan?”
“I don’t know. Maybe we should ask for some help. Ben maybe—”
“Not one of those sparkler things. I hate them.”
“Only Quella is evil. The other two are just moody. They won’t cause any ruin to you.”
“Let’s forget about Quella and go find Lorcan. Are there any air caves that will take us to him?”
“No.”
“Then its flower hopping time.” T
ahmi sighed, taking a flying leap. She landed in an open daisy. She was at least thirty feet up. Rolls revved up like a motorcycle then flew past the princess in a soccer ball shape.
Tahmi sat down in the flower and took a deep breath. “This is beautiful, sitting up here watching the merloonies jump around in the water.”
“Yes,” Ziv agreed. “Those are actually aqualoons. We really should keep moving, Quella—”
“…Is right behind you!” The sparkler swooped in on them, her wings exploding. Fireworks raced in Tahmi’s direction like missiles. She grabbed Ziv in her hands. A few feet away there was another flower. If she could only make it then she’d be safe inside the Tulip’s petals.
Tahmi ran.
She pushed off with her feet, hurling herself through the air. It was hard holding Ziv in her hands but Tahmi refused to release him.
Fireworks exploded behind her, some burning her calves with their heat. She fell inside the tulip.
Ziv crawled out of her hand. “Why’d you do that?”
“Cause, an explosive could do serious damage to someone as small as you.” Tahmi pointed at her leg. It was burned in several spots. “See, look what it’s done to me.”
“Why is Quella trying to harm you?”
“You’re the one who said she was wicked.”
“I didn’t know just how bad she was—only heard stories about her in the air caves. They were more like legends or myths to pass the time—I thought that’s what they were anyway.”
“I’m guessing they were pretty much real stories.” Tahmi peeked out the side of a petal. “Looks like the giant butt-zilla is gone.”
Ziv giggled, covering his mouth. “Butt-zilla. She’d have a heart attack if she heard you call her this name!”
“Good.” Tahmi motioned for Rolls to come closer to her and Ziv. “Let’s get Rolls and try to find another way over to the Muddler’s Lair.”
Rolls squealed like a smoking motor.
“What is it?”
Tahmi covered Ziv with her hands once more and took a running leap. Flames burned the back of her arms as she flew through the air. She gasped as the tulip burst into flames.
Quella’s explosives shot from her wings setting flower petals ablaze. She giggled like a school girl. “Such fun!”
“Stop it, you monster!” Tahmi yelled, tumbling onto a daisy. She nearly rolled off the edge. Ziv’s body glowed in her hands making them hot. She couldn’t stand it and released the star. “Ziv, you’re like an oven.”
“Monster?” Quella loomed over the daisy with her dark, angry eyes. “How dare you call me such a vile name—do you know where monsters go?”
“In your cave with you?”
“No, stupid girl, in the land of the monsters with Queen Mary! Monsters cannot live in Gadaie. It’s the rules!”
“If you mean ugly, gruesome monsters, then why aren’t you stuck in the land of the monsters with Mary?”
Quella narrowed her eyes, her wings sparkling. “I’m one of the most beautiful creatures here in Gadaie.”
“Your attitude makes you more gruesome than those war pigs I saw.”
“Silly girl.” Quella growled, shaking the daisy and making the water below ripple. It was as if thunder had boomed in the sky only where was the lightning?
Tahmi and Ziv watched with wide eyes as Quella screamed. She was ready to burst.
“We need to get as far away from her as possible,” Tahmi said. “Turn your light out, Ziv,” she ordered.
He obeyed, hiding inside her shirt.
Quella’s wings shook fiercely. They lit up, warming the area.
Tahmi took a deep breath.
The sparkler was too close to land. She should be up high in the sky but instead, she was inches away ready to destroy them.
An intense heat permeated the air.
“You’re going to destroy these flowers!” Tahmi shouted, steadying her feet.
“As if I care,” Quella yelled.
“You’re a bad bug,” Tahmi said, diving towards the waters below. She closed her eyes as her body smacked into the water. It stung and she stuffed Ziv in her pocket. Where was Rolls?
Large pieces of broken flowers dropped into the water like boulders. Tahmi struggled to bypass them. They fell, scraping her arms. Her heart pounded and she could barely see.
Ziv struggled inside her pocket. Could he not breathe? Tahmi kicked her feet, forcing herself upwards. She didn’t want him to drown.
There was an overturned tulip bud floating on the surface. Tahmi took a quick breath and dug into her pocket, placing the small star inside its yellow petals. She took a quick look at him then dove back underneath a blanket of blue, slicing through its current far away from the flowers. What was Quella’s problem? Didn’t she realize there weren’t many flowers like this left in her world? Why was she so angry? It was times like this when she missed Teri. Sure, she was a snob but, weren’t all princesses? Teri was so powerful and guarded this world well. Why couldn’t she be more like her sister? Being powerless sucked.
Once she was out and exposed—far from the flowers—Tahmi surfaced, gasping for air. She searched the sky for Quella. The sparkler flew above, hovering in the area with her fireworks shooting off in random directions.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” Quella shouted.
“You’re looking in the wrong place!” Tahmi screamed, splashing water so that the monster could spot her easily.
Quella turned. Her eyes narrowed and a smile spread across her face. “What a foolish girl,” she said, dipping down towards the watery surface.
Tahmi dove. Her legs were cramping but she forced herself to continue treading water. Sure, this was a suicide mission but what choice did she have? Ziv and Rolls were out there in the flooded flowers. Quella could kill them if she didn’t sacrifice herself. How was it that she’d never been scared before coming to this strange world? Back home on Earth she would try anything—a total daredevil, but, here in Gadaie, she was always stressed, always anxious and afraid. Her stomach churned. If only Teri was still alive. She’d save her and Ziv and Rolls.
Quella was yards away now, her wings exploding, smacking into the surface of the water. “Let’s make this more interesting, shall we?”
Tahmi didn’t like the sound of that. How in the world could it get any worse? She checked the sky, once more, for her sister before accepting the reality of her situation. “Goodbye, Andy,” she whispered, wiping tears from her eyes. “Sandy, please make sure he gets home.”
Tahmi dove underneath, kicking as fiercely as possible. Fireworks shot towards her like bullets, some grazing her skin. She opened her eyes and watched what must have been octaloons and needleloons scurry out of the way. A seahorse type creature nearly as tall as Tahmi swam besides her. His flowery fins were purple and orange. He wasn’t anything like the ones she saw back home. This one had fins like flower petals and a harness made of pearls. There was a shell on his back. Was it a saddle?
Would this creature help her?
Tahmi, needing oxygen, resurfaced. Quella was ready, darting from above, nearly knocking herself into Tahmi.
There wasn’t enough time to collect adequate air in her lungs for deep swimming. The seahorse was still bravely at her side. She reached for his pearls and struggled to sit on his back. He bucked, his pearl harness breaking.
Pink pearls disappeared into darkened waters.
This was it.
Tahmi resurfaced—hands up.
Just as she thought, Quella dove towards her once more. This time, Tahmi grabbed the sparkler by her lower antennae. They were jagged and cut into her flesh.
She didn’t care.
“What are you doing?” Quella screamed.
Tahmi struggled. The butterfly creature was powerful.
Quella’s wings flapped furiously.
“Let me go!”
“No! Stop this!”
Fireworks smacked into the surface. They looked like missiles. Tahmi cringed as she sa
w aquatic life scramble out of the way. She couldn’t let Quella go now.
“You’re going to pay for this, stupid human girl. You’re not a princess.”
“No, duh!! I never said I was a princess, you stupid bug.”
“Look at you, holding onto me as if you could do anything at all to me. You’re not special. There’s nothing you can do to defend yourself. You’re not strong; you can’t fly or save this world from Queen Mary. You’ve destroyed all our hopes and dreams by coming here and exposing us to the truth.”
Guilt overwhelmed Tahmi.
“You shut up,” she ordered, tugging against Quella’s strength. “Either you stop exploding on everything or I’ll end this.”
“I CAN’T!” Quella cried. “Don’t you see? I can’t stop exploding. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t!”
That was it.
Tahmi dove under, dragging the sparkler with her. Quella shook—electricity shot through her.
“I’ll stop!” Quella’s voice was garbled. “I’ll stop.”
Tahmi released the sparkler.
She floated upwards, twitching, still releasing fireworks.
The seahorse that had refused to allow Tahmi to ride him, floated besides her once more. Octaloons and needleloons followed the sparkler. Their long sharp noses aimed for the back of Quella’s head.
Tahmi opened her mouth to tell them not to do it. But water flooded her mouth, gagging her. She struggled to resurface but sharp pains froze her legs. Now, after all this she was getting a Charlie horse?
The seahorse nudged her in the bottom, pushing her upwards. She slid down his neck and landed on the shell saddle. His head sliced the waters and brought her up for air.
Tahmi gagged, lungs burning, and she coughed.
Quella sat on the surface, trying desperately to fly away. Long arms with suctioned bottoms held her around the abdomen. “Tell them to let me go!”
“I don’t speak fish.” Tahmi’s lip trembled. Sure, Quella was evil but she didn’t want to see her die.
“Tahmi!” Quella pleaded.
“What am I supposed to do?”
Needleloons raced forwards, aiming for Quella.
“Stop them!”
“Tahmi!”
Lark's End Page 23