She nodded. “To go back we must fall; makes sense. That’s how we got here. It’s like the mirage is a complete circle within itself.”
“What’s that?” Jerry bent and scooped water in his hands. “How’s the water flowing upwards?”
“It’s not,” Tahmi said. “Gravity and our perception is at play. We’re probably upside down right now but because everything else is upside down too we can’t tell.”
“What?”
“Gravity holds us in place and our eyes give us false images.”
“Whatever, let’s just get out of here.”
“Grab a hold of me.” Tahmi turned. “Sable, that means you, too.”
“I’ll burn you with my acidic mucus.”
“Does it look like I care? I’ve got burns and scratches all over my body. Do you think a little more slime is gonna hurt?”
***
Teri grew anxious. Where was her sister? Hadn’t she told her to hurry? Water ran along the floor spilling into the center of the cave. Lorcan grew smaller and smaller. Diane stamped her feet bored with her assignment.
“Look out!” Diane screamed. She floated above a wave of water. It rolled into the lair and collected around Teri’s feet. “They’re dead, really, Teri, let’s go home.”
“Home?” Teri shook her head. “Isn’t home without my sister.”
“I’m your sister,” Diane said. “This is boring. We’ll drown soon. More waves are coming.”
She wasn’t exaggerating. Water spilled into the cave. It trickled across the bridge. Where was Tahmi? Maybe, Teri thought, she should go after her—before it was too late.
Movement occurred in the center of the bridge. Gups appeared. “Hurray!” they corused pushing against the flowing water. “We’re freed.”
“Tahmi!” Teri cried.
Octaloons carried blowgels and spitos. Steels and snaps slithered to the surface. “Where’s the water?” One grumbled.
“It’s still coming,” another said.
“Wow, look our lake—our home!”
The licorice rope reappeared. “Tahmi!” Teri’s heart raced. Where was she? Horns penetrated the surface then a mutilated pig face appeared. “A war pig!” Don’t move. “If you’ve hurt my sister—”
The war pig strained. Teri could see the veins in her forehead expand.
“What’s happening?” Diane yelled, “There’s a really big wave coming.”
Teri focused.
Water splashed the princess in the back nearly toppling her. She was up to her neck in water. The rope jerked in her hands. Tahmi was coming.
No.
It was the war pig.
She was pulling herself to freedom with Tahmi’s rope!
“How dare you!” Teri spit water from her mouth.
“Pull, you foolish girl. I can’t get them out all on my own!” Sable screeched.
Teri blinked. Was the pig helping? “Diane, pull.”
“What did you say? There’re huge water creatures entering the cave.” Diane’s voice shook, “When can we leave?”
“PULL!”
Diane tugged.
Three bodies flew through the cave. Teri dropped the rope and swam towards them. Diane followed. She took Jerry by the arm while Teri took hold of Tahmi. They let the current push them out.
Lolani circled.
“We need to fly—together,” Teri said.
“Last time, we nearly killed ourselves.” Diane shivered. They swirled about in the rocking waves. Aqualoons swam all around them. Some nipped at their feet. The lake was frenzied. More and more creatures spilled from the cave.
“Stay close,” Teri ordered, rising. Diane obeyed. The twins shot upwards. “Aim for Lolani.”
Diane hesitated. “She can’t carry all four of us.”
“We can fly.”
Diane nodded, barreling through the sky.
SPARVAE
Sable swam. She wasn’t built for swimming but she managed anyhow, diving deeper and deeper. She took seaweed and wrapped it around her hands then picked up the crippled Quella. Had Tahmi not been smacked in the head by a steel Quella would be on her way to the Palace. Now it was up to her to save the sparkler.
She surfaced gasping for air. Quella spit. “Where am I?”
“In the muddler’s lair; look at what’s happening!”
Quella forced an eye open. Water poured into Lorcan’s cave. Did that mean—
“My children!” Quella screamed. “Where’re my children?”
Sable searched. There wasn’t a muddler in sight. “I’m not sure.” She climbed out of the cave, sitting on an exposed rock.
“Mom!” Lorcan shouted, “You’re alive!”
Quella squinted. Lorcan sat in a spotted fur along the cave wall. He was smaller and—a sparvae. A heavy stone sat in the sparkler’s throat. “I was wrong all along,” she said.
“Come on.” Sable held Quella cautiously. “I know a place that we can go. There’s an old friend there who can help fix you.”
“Yes, yes, I need to be myself again! I need to see my babies grow into glorious sparklers!”
“Calm down,” Sable said. “I don’t want to get my mucus on you.”
queen maryanne
Tahmi rubbed her head. Light beamed through arched windows. Where was she? She placed her feet on cold cement. Rose petals littered the floor. They formed some sort of pathway. She was in a large bedroom. There was a cradle in the corner. Was that hers? Tahmi stretched. The mattress was soft and she wished to lie down once more.
“Get up,” Alina commanded. “Your mother is in hysterics.”
“Why?”
“Because you didn’t bring home all her daughters as she asked.”
“I wanted to leave Diane, too, but she came on her own.”
“Just get dressed.”
“Where are my clothes?”
“The servants bathed and changed you. But you cannot leave in your night dress.” Alina floated above an armoire. She pried open the doors. Dresses sparkled.
Tahmi wasn’t a “dress” girl but somehow her eyes weren’t moving. They were exquisite. “What about that blue one?” She pointed. Alina grinned.
In the corner gold glistened. It was a locket. Whose was it? Tahmi held it in the light. Inside there were two pictures. Who were the girls?
“It was around your neck,” Alina said. “Do you know who they are?”
“No.”
“That’s odd.”
Tahmi knew in her heart that she’d seen them before. Maybe she should hold on to it—just in case. She clasped it around her neck. “Alina, I need my clothes back. I can’t wear these dresses—it’s not me.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No, something about this room isn’t correct.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s my room but at the same time I have no attachment to it. Isn’t that odd?”
Alina’s eyes misted. I just want my little girl back. “You swallowed a lot of water, Tahmi. Maybe after you speak with the queen you could come back and sleep off whatever is ailing you.”
“Maybe.” Tahmi nodded. “But right now, I just want my clothes.”
“Okay.” The star fluttered away.
Tahmi sat on her bed. Tears dripped splattering onto her fingers. Where was she? Sure, this was home—somehow, but what was the emptiness she felt? Why did she feel like something was missing? There wasn’t a single memory that she could recall. There was something else she was supposed to do today. Brown eyes and freckles clouded her thoughts. Who was he? Why did she feel such attachment to him?
“Here’re your things. I had them washed.” Alina dropped the clothes. They fell in a heap at the edge of her bed. Tahmi dressed then went to the mirror. There was a crown made of silver and pearls. She placed it on her head. Her reflection laughed. Who’s the pauper in the crown? Wonder who she stole that from? Ha ha, the mirror laughed. She doesn’t belong here.
“Tell it to stop!” Tahmi screamed, toss
ing the crown. Glass shattered. Her reflection shown in each cracked piece. There were hundreds of princesses—and they were all frauds.
“What’s happening?” Alina hovered above. “Why are you acting like a crazy loonie?”
“Louie!” Tahmi sobbed. “Where’s Louie? I need to speak to him. He’s the one who gave me this locket. I remember that at least.”
“He’s with your mother,” Alina frowned, “Do you really want to be the only one in the throne room dressed worse than a convict loonie?”
Tahmi glanced at her ripped shorts and stained shirt. It was the only thing about her that felt true. “Yes, I’m okay with it.”
“Then let’s go calm the queen down.”
They followed the rose petals through a corridor and into the throne room. Queen Maryanne sat with Teri to her left and Diane to Teri’s right. “Tahmelia!” Queen Maryanne waved, “Sit here, in your chair.” She pointed to the one to her right. “I’ve waited for this day.”
When she entered, the queen frowned. “What are you wearing? You’ve thousands of royal dresses. The servants have been busy making you all sorts of gowns, in blue especially, to match your eyes. Why would you offend them by wearing those?”
“They don’t feel right.”
“Sit.” The queen forced a smile. “You’ll feel differently with time.”
“Alina said you were upset about—”
Queen Maryanne pouted. “You were supposed to bring all of your sisters back. What were you thinking?”
“They’re evil,” Tahmi whispered. “I know they’re your daughters but that Lark creature has them brainwashed.”
“He doesn’t!” Diane stood.
“Is Lark still alive?” Maryanne’s eyes sparkled.
“No.” Tahmi lowered her eyes. “He’s-he’s dead.”
Diane’s ears burned and she screeched like a raven. “What have you done?” She picked up her throne and hurled it out the window. Her face darkened and her eyes set on Tahmi. “I’m going to kill you for this!”
“What are you talking about?” Teri stood between them.
“She’s killed our father.” Diane sobbed. Her fists unraveled.
“Father? He’s been dead since—”
“I didn’t kill that donkey!” Tahmi stammered. “He saved me from a war pig. Then the death cloud took him away.”
“You didn’t kill him?” Queen Maryanne’s eyes darkened like angry waves. Her hands rose and the small trough of water that lined the throne room shook. “You were supposed to kill him!”
“You wanted my father dead?” Diane was furious. “Why would my own mother—”
“You’re the evil one,” Tahmi stumbled. The locket shone in the queen’s face. “How did you think I’d be able to kill him or anyone?”
The queen leaned over. Tahmi dropped to her knees. What was her mother doing? Their eyes were inches apart. “You are such a disappointment.” Queen Maryanne ripped the locket from her neck. “Louie, get rid of this trinket—for real this time! I never want to see it again. If I do it will be the last thing that ever crosses your eyes.”
“Yes, your highness.” Louie bowed. His eyes set on Tahmi. “I’ll be sure to destroy it this time.”
The queen turned. Diane clawed her way closer. “I hate you, mother! I hate you! You’re a traitor. How could you plot our father’s death? He loved you! That’s all he ever talked about.”
Maryanne smiled now. “Really? He always was the romantic sort. Sweet Lark—singing songs to me from my castle window. Those were the days.”
“Why’d you want him dead?” Teri’s heart pounded. Adreneline raced through her veins. “Why, mother, would you send his own child to murder him?”
“Because I’m tired of being cooped up in this castle. He’s ignored me for years.”
“He couldn’t leave his castle. He tried all the time.” Diane wept. “I hate you!”
“No, darling, don’t hate me—I’ve missed you.” The queen’s lip quivered. “Really, I have. Nights go by when I cannot sleep thinking of that night when I lost you.”
“You’re all nuts!” Tahmi stammered. She crawled along the floor. Her legs were weak and she couldn’t see through her tears. “I don’t belong here. I just know it.” Finally able to stand, she ran out of the throne room.
“Tahmelia!” Queen Maryanne raced down the hall after her youngest child. “Get back here right this instant. Sit in your throne next to me.”
Tahmi ran across the drawbridge.
There was a thump.
She looked over her shoulder.
Queen Maryanne’s body was smashed against the air. She ran again, smacking into an invisible barrier. “Come back to me!” She cried. “I’m your mother!”
history for the earthling
“I’m too ancient for those crazy rides.” Jon Landers led Andy through the gigantic flowers. A large rollie pollie along with several loonettes fastened an old battered sign to a flower stem. “Ah, someone’s found our sign.”
Andy tilted his head and read the faded words. Candy Loo Land; was that a joke? “What’s that?”
“When Mary was a child she named this Candy Loo Land; land of the loonies; pretty clever, heh? She said she got the idea from a book.”
Andy followed the old man through a hole in a fence. Once through, his eyes widened. There were hundreds of mushroom homes and above them a roller coaster. “Wow.” He pointed. “That looks awesome.”
“When my back was younger,” Jon Landers said, “I’d ride all day long.”
“Do you have books here?”
“I personally only read history books.”
“Oh.” Andy dodged a fun loonie on skates. “I wish I’d have seen those when I first got here.”
“Do you remember how you arrived?”
Andy froze. How did he get here? Who was he?
“You forget quickly.” Jon Landers opened a trap door in the ground. “Go ahead, it takes me longer.”
Andy obeyed, sliding down into the ground. Inside there were shelves filled with books. A bench and chair floated in the center of the room and on top of the bookcases were what looked to be beds.
“Is this your home?”
“Yes.” The old man steadied himself. “Grab that burgundy looking book. There’s something in it I’d like you to see.”
Andy pulled it off the shelf. It wasn’t a book at all—just a tin box painted to look like a book. “What’s this?”
“Tahmi’s beginning.”
Jon Landers sat in his floating chair. As soon as he did, the chair rose even higher. Andy followed, sitting on the bench. He rose too.
“Open the book, boy.”
“This isn’t a book.”
“How do you know what a book looks like?”
“Cause I’ve seen ‘em before.”
“Where?”
“I can’t remember, but someone I know has them.”
“Here, in my world, books are tin boxes,” He smiled. “Open the lid.”
Andy’s fingers shook. What was in it?
“Here goes nothing.”
Bubbles exploded from the box. They twirled around bursting when touched. Jon Landers raised his arms catching some with his fingertips. “You have to catch a memory in order for it to be revealed.”
“I’ll pop them.”
“And then you’ll try again.”
“This is stupid.” Andy turned, ready to jump. “I gotta go.”
“Go where?”
Andy couldn’t remember. “What’s happening? Why can’t I remember who I am?”
“The mist has finally clouded your mind. Soon you won’t even remember Tahmi. She’s probably already forgotten you.”
“How do I uncloud my mind?”
“Catch a bubble.”
What did he have to lose? “Fine.” Andy spread his fingers. Several bubbles attached themselves to his skin.
Holograms of the queen and a strange man with dark hair stood before him.
T
he queen wrapped her arms around the man. “Lark, that’s what I shall call you.”
“Why?” The man grinned like a school boy. “That’s not my name I am King Travis Andrews.”
“You’re like a little songbird; I love it!” Queen Maryanne giggled. “Remember when you were young and had such a crush on me?”
“You’re still young.” Lark brushed his hands through her hair. “Will you marry me, Princess Maryanne?”
“I’ve a lot of baggage.”
“That’s okay, I welcome your baggage.”
“I’d rather just be secret lovers.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Well if you wish to destroy your life then who am I to stop you?”
Andy squashed the bubbles. The holograms disappeared. “That told me nothing, old man.”
“Didn’t you hear what the queen said?” Jon Landers rolled his eyes. “You’re a vapid little boy.”
“I am not!”
“She warned Lark about herself—see? The queen is not evil, at least not intentionally.”
“Whoever said she was evil?”
“Just catch another bubble, would you?”
“Where’s Tahmi in all this?”
“It’ll get to the point on its own if you’re patient enough.”
Andy took a deep breath. A large bubble sat on his knee.
A hologram of Queen Maryanne appeared. She stood over a baby cradle.
“Look how human you are.” Maryanne wept. “What have I done?” The queen glanced out the window. Fire lit the sky. Loonies and humans screamed in the distance. “I’ve been helping Queen Mary kill them. But, I can’t—live with myself when I look in your eyes.”
A baby cooed.
“What’s that, child? Yes, your mommy is a bad girl. You see, I’ve turned my loving and sweet Lark into a soldier. He’s your father, you know. Soon, Mary will kill us too. She hasn’t said it outright but I know that once our world is gone—”
Alina fluttered above the queen. “Tahmi needs changing.”
“What are you?”
“I’m Alina, Tahmi’s ‘light’.”
“Where’d you come from? Did Mary create you?”
“No, she didn’t.”
“Who did?”
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