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The Rowanoak Ring
She pummels me to the ground and my face meets dirt. And my cheek meets bruise. I shriek,"GET OFF OF ME!"
Astar only presses down on me harder, twisting my arm around myself. I cry out. Aster smiles, "Can't. Let's say I'm an assassin. And I've come to kill you. I've just captured you! I'm not letting go! By now I've drawn out my knife, and slit your throat. Your dead. Your mission has failed and you can't even feel guilt." she says casually, her face lowers down to me and says cheerfully, "How does that make you feel?"
"I can't feel," I spat, "I'm dead."
She laughs.
Tears sprang, but I didn't hate her. On the contrary. She did exactly what would promote me to do next. I twisted my hand and grabbed her wrist. In surprise, she dropped her knife. Quickly, I twisted my body round so I was laying on top of her. I found both her arms, and bound them against her body. But she found my weakness and released herself from my grasp jumping upwards, as I did. She gave a kicking twirl - like you'd see in one of those action movies - where you kick and twist your body. Amazingly I caught her foot before it could hit my gut, and I twisted. She gasped, and fell. She struggled, but I planted myself on top of her again.This time it was Astar who spat out dirt from her mouth. Her hair turned it's rainbow sheen, and she smiled proudly. "Well done your highness!" she exclaimed, whereas Zinnia would've said it sarcastically.
I rolled off her and wiped the grime on my mouth with my sleeve. I nodded at her too, "You too."
Blinded by a filling, Astar gave one last chomp, and grabbed a broadsword. "Oh come on!" She roared, "Your life is at stake and your content with jam in your eyeballs! One. Two. Three." Her sword flashed to my throat, "Your dead."
I groaned, "That's not fair!" I complained.
"Life's not fair," she retorted, "Do you really think your foes will stop to be fair? 'Oh here your majesty, you take the first swing' - NO! They're going to do whatever nasty tricks to take you down. AGAIN."
(Alice! How mean! We need someone to put Kaleigh in place :D, but yeah. If you/I feel inspired to do that sure).Astar looked like she was going to burst into tears. Her green hair turned dark blue. Zinnia had bruises all over her, dark circles were under her eyes, a horrible bloody gash on her leg, an arrow stuck to her side. It was so horrible I had to take my eyes away.
"What happened?" I asked Basil.
He stared at Zinnia, "Ambush," he croaked, "By the Dark Ones." Beside me Astar gasped and began to cry - fleeing to Basil. She threw her arms around him and began to cry into her brother's dirty sleeve.
"Dark Ones?" I repeated.
"All she can do?" I asked.Basil nodded, "Astar has been studying the Healing Arts, like her mother before her. But the damage has been done. The wound may be closed, but Zinnia-" his voice cracked a bit, "Zinnia lost too much blood. And the arrow - it was dipped in Serub, and the arrow head has edges. Astar can't remove it, so it's stuck inside. She probably has an hour left. By now the Serub is going into her main blood flow and clogging it." he couldn't bring himself to say more.
Basil went pale, as he took out his hands. "You would do well to heed her advice," he said softly, "sometimes, it gets too painful to watch." I nodded again, too stunned to reply. Basil shuddered and began to chant. Saying a strange language, reversing it, and then saying it again. It went on for a while, but then stopped. At first I thought he couldn't do it, but then I noticed that it was already taken place. Astar was silent and still. But then, she twitched. Then she squirmed. She flinched. Then she began to convulse. Shaking violently. She cried out. Followed by more squirming. She began to cry, and heave. Her chest rising and falling quickly. Breaths short and shallow. She cried, and cried. I watched in transfixed horror.
"What's happening?!" I yelled over to Basil who watched with sadness.
"Nightmares." Was the answer he gave.
She screamed, and fidgeted. She tossed and turned. It was if she was being tormented, it went on for what seemed like forever, but Basil drew a cup and filled it with water. He murmured something and the water turned a gold and began to form bubbles. Kind of like a soda-liquid. He walked over and touched his sister's shoulder muttering under his breath while closing his eyes. Astar cried out again, and flinched, but Basil didn't stop. He continued to chant until slowly, the water's bubbles began to connect and mold a shape. Then, a dark green appeared at the bottom, and then white petals. As soon as it formed a white rose, Astar gasped. Sitting upright as one does when waking from a nightmare. Her nose was puffy, her hair a mess, red splotches all over her face from crying. But instead of comforting her, Basil took out a knife and handed it to her.
"Do it quickly," he murmured, he set the glass to the side, and got a new cup. He filled that too with water, chanted a spell until it was golden, and placed it beside him. Astar held his arm over the glass, and then slashed his arm. Basil flinched as drops of blood pooled from his flesh and into the water. The bubbles reacted and used the blood to form the red rose. When that was finished Astar healed his arm with magic.
"I don't understand," I said, "I thought you said you couldn't be related to do the red rose."
"We're not related," came Basil, "We adopted each other. My parents died in a fire, Astar's disappeared, and Zinnia's parents died when they were betrayed by someone in the agency. Yet we all consider ourselves related."
(Aw, that stinks, I'm sorry Alice,I hate it when that happens. Once I wrote a whole chapter of my story, and it was erase... -_-)
I don't really know what's happening.... :(
(Oh too bad!!! I remember when that happened to me - nearly gave me a heart attack)
She croaked. When she saw me, she groaned, "Why is she here?" Astar cried out and threw herself over her 'sister', "I'm so glad you're not going to die!"
Alright.So Zinnia's not a cold-hearted beast like I always thought. I mean it's highly impractical that she doesn't have any feelings but I mean - SERIOUSLY?!
"Yeah," I snorted, "It's great to see you too." then a grin spread across my face, "Zinn-Zinn."
Zinnia looked like she wanted to punch my face.
I near back just to be safe, and Zinnia glares as she lays back down."Fine."
Then, I remembered something, I turned to Basil,
"Where's Andrew and Dylan?"
I race back to him, "What do you mean sleeping??!! They're not even in their rooms!"
(Yeah - but we can always break the love triangles lol)
(She's sixteen. Right? But, we can always change her age lol)
(@Charlotte totally join! I like what Alice's thinking! This is gonna be good...)
(*frowning* alright. Alice - do you wanna go first?)
(*internal sigh* fine.)Basil took a deep breath, "Princess, they... they didn't survive the ambush."
I felt as if the wind got knocked out of me. "What?" I asked softly.
"They were killed." clarified Basil delicately.
I glared at him suddenly angry, "You mean you couldn't save them?" I shouted.
"Your highness, that's not what I meant! Dylan died on the scene, and I dragged Andrew half-way here. He was critically injured!"
"You could've saved him!" I yelled tears blurring my vision, for which boy I knew not.
"He was poisoned!" shouted Basil, then he rubbed his eyes and said in a more even tone, "I am sorry, but I couldn't."
"You mean you wouldn't!" I snapped and stalked to my room leaving Basil.
I knew it was wrong of me. Astar didn't cause their deaths. Of course I was too stubborn at the moment to apologize. The real blame belonged to that ring. That cursed ring! Astar left me alone after that, and I was glad. It left me time to think. It wasn't until evening Astar knocked on my door. I opened it. I probably looked awful, from all the crying. But Aster looked at me through gray hair, a bit afraid."I thought you might want dinner..." She said quietly.
I nodded, and followed her down the empty hallway.
"Where's Basil?" I asked, I owed him too an apology.
Astar's hair changed orange, "Well, he wasn't the same when he came back. He looked distraught really, and left outside. He'll be back though, Zinnia wants a spell to ease her pain."
Believe it or not it was the best spaghetti I have ever eaten. By the time we were finished, I was tired, so I excused myself from Astar and went to bed. When I woke, Dylan and Andrew's deaths hit me violently. But, I wouldn't let them die in vain. I got dressed and went to the dining room. Astar was already there eating eggs and bacon. I asked for some, and with the help of her magic, I was able to eat it. I have to admit - everything was perfect. I cleared my throat with some cold orange juice, then the door opened:
To a dirty Basil covered head to foot in dirt.
"Good morning." He mumbled and sat down.
"Morning!" Beamed Astar as if yesterday had never happened. She passed him the food vial. He poured to far drops and biscuits and gravy appeared. He took a fork and dug in. I stared at him. His clothes were caked in dirt and he was getting it on the tablecloth. He took a draught of milk, and then dug in again. Astar didn't seem to mind, but I did. Couldn't he wash up? To my surprise I echoed the words out loud. Astar looked up in shock. But, Basil paused, scooted his chair, and walked out of the room.
Astar's hair was a bright red, "How could you say that?" she demanded angrily.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Basil was up all night digging graves for your friends! I called for him too when it started to rain, but he didn't come. Said he had to do it! And now you shout for him to clean up!"
She stormed out of the room leaving me in silence.
Instead, she left me where two graves were. I looked at the tombstones. One read:PRINCE ANDREW AARON ØF TASNE
Son, Confidante
And the other:
PRINCE DYLAN XAVIER ØF POLANTHIA
Son, Brother, Confidante
It also showed their birthdays and the day they died. A lump rose to my throat.
I don't exactly know why I wanted to find her so badly, maybe to apologize. I searched everywhere for Astar, but I couldn't find her. Or Basil. So, I went to the infirmary where Zinnia was. She was laying on her bed, and reading a book. "What do you want?" she asked without looking up.
"Do you know where Astar is?"
((I will start writing on this again if you guys could explain who is Astar and who is Basil, Thanks!!!!))
((Thank you so much, Emmeline!!!! Sorry, who's Zinnia? And what's happening?? I appreciate it, thanks!!!!! :)))
((thanks!!!! Is there romance between Kaleigh and Astar?))
(Astar is a girl, it's Basil she's going to fall in love with)
((lol, sorry, I got confuse XD thanks again Emmeline!))
"But," she said turning to me, "You shouldn't be apologizing to me. You hurt Basil's feelings."Twice actually, I wanted to say. I only nodded, Basil had been nothing but considerate towards me - and I just keep shoving it back in his face.
"I think you can find him at the side of the house(?)." She said, and walked away.
I swallow hard, and head towards a figure in the distance. Basil.
He regards me with a neural look, but his face is tight, his eyes are a bit red, and he looks pale.
"Basil," I begin. He stares at me, but I don't meet his eyes.
"Kaleigh." He replies when I don't continue.
"I'm sorry." Once I begin, I can't stop speaking. "I am so sorry. I was an idiot, a horrible person, it's just, when you lose someone, or some people you love, sometimes you can't control yourself, you blame it on anyone you can. But that doesn't excuse my behavior,I know that you would do anything in your power to save someone. And... And thank you, thank you Basil for digging the graves, I didn't know, I... I am so sorry." Tears fall onto my face. I embarrassedly rub them off, feeling like an idiot. "I'm sorry. I really, really am, Basil, and blaming you for someone's death was horrible for me to do--" I break off when Basil takes my hand.
"You are right. It was a horrible thing to say. But you... You had just lost two people you loved."
"Forgive me?" I squeak, aware of our joined hands.
"I forgive you."
I swallow hard, and head towards a figure in the distance. Basil.
He regards me with a neural look, but his face is tight, his eyes are a bit red, and he looks pale.
"Basil," I begin. He stares at me, but I don't meet his eyes.
"Kaleigh." He replies when I don't continue.
"I'm sorry." Once I begin, I can't stop speaking. "I am so sorry. I was an idiot, a horrible person, it's just, when you lose someone, or some people you love, sometimes you can't control yourself, you blame it on anyone you can. But that doesn't excuse my behavior,I know that you would do anything in your power to save someone. And... And thank you, thank you Basil for digging the graves, I didn't know, I... I am so sorry." Tears fall onto my face. I embarrassedly rub them off, feeling like an idiot. "I'm sorry. I really, really am, Basil, and blaming you for someone's death was horrible for me to do--" I break off when Basil takes my hand.
"You are right. It was a horrible thing to say. But you... You had just lost two people you loved."
"Forgive me?" I squeak, aware of our joined hands.
"I forgive you."
I withdraw my hands after that. But, Basil doesn't seem aware he just smiles. A pitiful sort of smile. I shiver at his unnatural silver eyes and I become a bit uneasy. He looks down at the floor, a grimace on his face. I've insulted him again haven't I? He thinks I regard him as a monster. But, it's not necessarily his eyes that make me fear him. It's his gift. A gift he was born with and cannot undo. That's why I fear him, because I don't know when he's prying.He shuts his eyes.
"Are you okay?" I ask, my voice gives a slight tremor. Did he just read my thoughts? Does he know now?
Basil looks up and touches a part of his forehead he gives a weak smile, "Yes," he says, "I just have a bit of a headache."
He's lying. He knows. And he looks pained knowing it. "I'm going to resume my journey to the castle to get Megan tomorrow morning, I'll be back in two days, so if you have any questions - ask Astar."
I nod. He hesitates for a moment, like he wants to say more, but then leaves.
(I like this idea..)"Well, so much for socializing," came Astar's voice suddenly, she noticed my gaze and nods, "Cool huh? She's a natural. Do you want me to introduce you?"
"No thanks-"
"Yo!" shouts Astar. "Evangelica!" that gets her attention, a face whips around. She reminds me of a younger Lily Collins, probably around my age. Her broad, freaky wings make her descend, and she folds them behind her when she's on ground.
"Hello Astar," she says cheerfully, not even seeing me.
"Okay, so Ev - this is Kaleigh. Kaleigh this is Evangelica, but we call her Eva."
Eva's pretty face smiles at me, "Pleasures all mine," she sticks out a hand. I shake it. Then she turns to Astar, "Do you know where Basil is? I want to talk to him about something."
Astar shrugs, "Yeah. He's free I guess. I'd check-"
"His hideout?" finished Eva stifling a laugh, and exchanging a knowing glance.
"Yep." Responded Astar happily. Eva smiles once more at me, and walks out.
"So how did she get here?" I asked when she was out of ear-shot.
"Eh. Basil found her in the woods abandoned by her parents. She was nameless, half-starved, and had a crippled wing. Sad huh? For a while she only trusted Basil - those two are inseparable I tell you - but she trusts everyone now."
"Soooooo... is she Basil's girlfriend?" I asked, half-not wanting it to be true.
"Kinda," spoke Astar frowning as if she wasn't certain, "but, I wouldn't be surprised if they get hitched some day. They complement each other well yeh know? Like PB&J." It was obvious she wasn't going to tell me anymore on the subject so it dropped.
((wait can basil read minds))
(Yes, that's the meaning of being telepathic. But, he only does so with permission)
"Undecided," piped up the girl, "Meaning they don't know why MY gift is.""Gift?" I repeated.
Pollux smiled politely, "Yeh know. Astar's is healing, Basil is a mind-reader, Zinnia can see a bit of the future, Eva can fly... that sort of thing."
"So what's YOUR gift?" asked Iris.
I blinked, "I don't know..."
"So you're undecided too!" squealed Isis clapping her hands.
"SOoooo... there's a town here?" I asked, not even remembering coming across a town with... well... Andrew and Dylan.Pollux nodded, "Kinda. It can barely be considered a town it's too small, but we can't go in."
"Why?"
Pollux snorted, "They think we're monsters. Mutants. Devils. Insane. It would be dangerous."
I grimaced, "That's a shame."
"I mean," Pollux re-corrected, "Iris could go, and you look," he flushed a bit, "Normal. But, me," he showed off one muscled arm and shrugged, "Not so much. If you want I could take you there."
"Seriously?" I asked, he barely knew me!
"Yeah sure, I guess." Pollux said scratching the back of his head shyly.
"Then, I guess I'll take your offer." I needed to get out of here anyway. It can't be so stuffy sometimes.
"Well, meet me outside in 30 minutes then," and took off towards another boy with sharp claws. Probably the next Edward Scissorhands.
Evangelica beamed, "I told you he wouldn't hold us out!" she said knowingly, turning to Pollux and Scissors.Edward Jr flicked a dark bang away and grinned, "So we underestimated the attendance of Yoda, so what Ev?"
Eva held out her hand at Pollux, "Cough it up,"
Pollux held out a gold coin, and tossed it to Eva. Edward Jr snickered.
"Making bets now are we?" asked Basil frowning, I actually thought it was funny.
"Oh don't be such a stickler Bas!" giggled Astar, "You know it's true!"
"There's only one excuse for his grumpiness," began Pollux holding up his pointer finger like he was stating a fact, "after all that time in the dark Bassy's turned half-vampire," Pollux made fangs with his fingers and put it next to his canine teeth. Everyone laughed, Basil only grinned,
"Better pray I don't suck blood then," was Basil's witty reply. He roared and made a swiping motion at at Iris. She squealed and dodged away.
"Oh vut Drac," came Eva suddenly using a Dracula-worthy accent, "Voo vould wilt against the sunlight - causing your doom!" she used her wing for a cape, and covered part of her face. She wiggled her eyebrows.
That erupted more laughter. I envied how good her comebacks are.
"Make it quick." was his answer.We traveled down a road filled with quite a few people, but they tended to themselves. The whole town had a sort of medieval charm. We stopped at a place entitled: "Twizz-Fizz Candy Shop", and it was about as average as a candy store could be. Jars, and rows of colored candy were everywhere. Iris skipped to the gummy section of the store, Pollux went to check out some hard candy, Eva went to go check out some chocolate, and I surveyed a large lollipop probably bigger than my head.
As for Basil, well, he watched. Occasionally feigning interest in a human-length red twizzler whip. In the end, Pollux purchased a bag of gummy bears, and a bag of sour lemonades. And Evangelica grabbed herself chocolate cherries.
"Did you get anything?" asked the winged girl coming towards me.
"I don't have any money," I shrugged, a bit disappointed.
Eva flashed her pearly-white's, "Why didn't you say so! Here," she fished out three gold coins from her pocket.
"I can't take your money!" I denied.
"Oh don't be a goose!" she smiled and shoved them into my hands, "I have more anyway," she flicked her eyes over to Pollux, "He gives me a coin every time I win Crindle, take it."
I had no idea what 'Crindle' was, but I smiled and bought myself a hand-sized lollipop and a handful of caramel balls.
"I don't KNOW this game," I murmured to no one in particular."You have nothing to worry about," Astar said, "We got Basil and Eva on our team."
Basil and Eva. Basil and Eva. Did they do anything that didn't make them the ultimate couple?
"Ready to loose a coin Pollux!" shouted Eva a smile on her face.
Pollux rolled his shoulders, "I hope not, I'm going to be in debt because of you, yeh winged thief." he grinned.
Basil looked back and forth at them, "How many bets do you guys make?!"
"Enough chit-chat!" Snarled Scissors, "Let's go!"
Every group scattered.
(Kk)"Good," said Eva, looking grim.
"So any idea where they're hiding the flag?" asked Eddie, turning his head to Eva.
"No clue," everyone's faces seemed to cloud, she smiled slyly, "But I have a hunch."
Basil nudged her arm, "That's my Eva! So where is it?"
"If I know Pollux, which I do, he's going to choose the Ditch." she answered, "Now let's think strategy for a moment. He's going to choose Soil to stay to guard the flag, where there's earth a-plenty, then he's also going to put Jasper by his side."
"Jasper?" I repeated.
"Yeah, he has really good senses," explained Eva grimly, "He can hear, smell, and see way better than we all can. He's going to help Soil get us, so don't let any roots getcha," she then looked at the others, "Now, that's three people left. And it's a bit harder. I think he's going to send Jesse out to the flag, while Pollux and Dianne will keep to the shadows."
"And here's the thing about Jesse," came Eddie to me, "He's invisible."
"Exactly," nodded Eva.
"So what do we do?" Asked Astar for the first time.
Eva pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and said, "Basil's going to capture the flag with Eddie. Eddie you'll have to protect Basil from Soil, so Basil will be able to invade Jasper. I'll stay here to guard the flag from Jessie with Astar, while you two," she glanced at Iris and me.
I could practically sense her thinking, "two undeveloped... Where to put them..."
Then she said, "OK, Iris you, and Kaleigh will have to try to stop Pollux and
Dianne. Use anything you can from your surroundings to intercept them, they're going to be tracking the flag-seekers as soon as they enter. One rule though - don't get caught. You hear? We have to be together when Basil and Eddie capture the flag. We don't want captives on this team. Alright? We good? Basil send Jasper a signal. He got it? Good. Everyone get in positions!"
Iris and I left the shop behind Basil and Eddie, keeping close to the shadows.
(Can someone catch me up on whats happened sense Kaleigh met Astar? Sorry that I ask this all the time but its gonna take quite some time to read 100 comments, each one about 3 paragraphs. :-P)
That was sarcastic.It so was not.
Pollux threw his fists down sending a wave of dirt washing over me, by the time it had settled - Iris was gone.
Great.
I ran back to base. As soon as I entered, Astar had a mason jar ready to crash on my head.
"Woah." I said holding out my hands, "It's Kaleigh."
Astar put the jar to her side, Evangelica popped out of nowhere, "Basil's got the flag! Quickest game ever! But, we didn't want Jesse catching us out of wits while we were celebrating. Where's Iris?"
I didn't want to meet her eye at all. "Dianne and Pollux kinda.. Took her."
I swore if looks could kill that door behind me would be obliterated, "What?" she said, "Ugh!" she rubbed her eyes as if she was the leader of the world with a heavy burden.
"Never mind," she said, and went into thinking mode, "Mistakes happen. I should've kept you two with me. You were totally uneniqupped. Battle flaw. But, this makes things a bit more complicated. Now we have to protect our flag, keep THEIR flag, and get our teammate. Hmmm..."
(Alice: What type of awesome powers do you want? Power of mimicring other powers, duplication powers, disintegration, intangibility, teleportation....(view spoiler)
(Whoa. Lots and lots. WHY ARE ANDREW AND DYLAN DEAD?!)
Astar's breathing was matched and even, her blonde hair turns a bit yellow, "Nothing really," she smiled, "just to get your blood pumping. Unless you need to teach her how to run..."