Day 16

Lakisha woke up as the sunlight touched her face. The day was beautiful. The swamp city people had always been nice to her, however she intended to retrieve the crystal and go home with James. She didn’t like Chayim very much. It was not her cup of tea.

Lakisha looked at Rachael who was broken. Her scares told a terrible story. Then at Keimoni the strange man with lilac eyes. She didn’t want to be like Rachael getting branded and then brought back with almost no skin, unrecognizable. This world was harsh and even though people were nice to her. She didn’t want to wait for her luck to run out.

She went outside and looked at her reflection in the river. The large pool created by the waterfall rippled. Her image was unclear. A face come up from the deeps and looked at her. She smiled at it. The skin shimmered and blue light shone in an amazing pattern on the face. The blue hair shined.

“Hi.” Lakisha said.

Lakisha recognized him. He was one of the guys who found her the first time and took her to the swamp city. He was also there the second time.

He took her hand and pulled her into the water. The water was cold. The snow had dropped the temperature a lot.

Rachael woke up because of the splash.

She looked at Keimoni and then over at Lakisha’s empty bed.

Keimoni had been good to her. But his being around while she was skinless and ugly, made her feel venerable and she hated that feeling.

“Why do you look at me like that?” Keimoni asked.

“Like what? Your eyes are closed. You don’t even know what you are saying!” Rachael replied.

Keimoni opened his eyes and looked into her eyes.

“I will win you over.”

“No such luck.” Rachael stated.

“Where is Lakisha?” Rachael asked.

“Not in here.” Keimoni answered.

Rachael went outside. The cold morning air embraced her against her will.

“Find the crystal go to mount Jeku and home.” Rachael encouraged herself.

“Lakisha!” she called “Lakisha!”

There was no response. She was gone. No trace of her. The waterfall’s roar drowned out all other sounds.

Keimoni put his hand on Rachael’s shoulder. She turned to moan at him and saw it was not Keimoni. But instead, a blue haired man. He pointed towards a boat.

Rachael went to the boat. Keimoni joined her at the boat. They got in and then the blue haired man got in and rowed. The silence was getting to Rachael. Only the sounds of the swamp and the splash of the ores could be heard.

‘Splurp’ the swamp went.

“Where are we going?” Rachael asked.

Keimoni translated.

The man just smiled.

The swamp got denser and denser with more vines and mud bubbles. How was it possible for such a big waterfall to flow into such a grimy swamp?

‘Splurp’ bubbled next to her.

Rachael pulled her face. It was like a horror movie. A place where your body would never ever be found. In fact, all that was needed was a push in and one would drown in it as there was no way to swim through mud. It even had a rotten smell.

Rachael looked at Keimoni and then the man rowing. He passed them a strip of cloth.

“He wants us to cover our eyes.” Keimoni said.

Rachael’s terrified expression was unignorable.

“Please just put it on.” Keimoni said.

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“Am I going to die?” Rachael asked.

“No, he is not going to kill us. Their home is a secret. Please put in on.”

She tied it on over her eyes. It was a terrifying five minutes.

Finally, the blindfold was removed. The boat she was in was being lifted up to a floating city above the swamp.

Once the boat was up a ramp was put out and they walked across into the city. Everyone had blue hair. Some long some short. But all blue.

Lakisha come over.

“You are here I am glad.”

“How did you get here?” Rachael asked.

Lakisha smiled and pointed to a man.

“He brought me.” She answered.

The blue haired men spoke.

“She has returned. Therefore, I may bond with her.” One said.

“Has she returned for you or the boy?” the rower asked.

“The rule is if you set her free and she comes back to you, you may bond.” He objected.

“We will take it before the leaders.” The rower said.

Raiden looked at the brunette who was so trusting and unafraid.

They lead them to their leaders.

Their prince sat on his throne with his wife and daughter.

“This woman Lakisha has returned to us. Our rules say that if you set her free and she comes back to you, then you may bond with her.” Raiden said.

“You want to bond with…” the prince’s voice faded away as he looked at the damp clothed girl.

“Who is to say she come back for you and not the boy?” the rower said.

The princess raised her hand to silence them all.

“Why have you come?” She asked Keimoni.

“We are looking for the crystals to open the sugs. We heard that such a crystal was here.” Keimoni said.

“The queen Tiffany sent you?”

“The queen sent me.” Keimoni replied.

“She is bonding with Prince Drake of the Skiopia tribe.”

“We do not have a crystal for you.” The ruling princess said.

“Thank you for your time” Keimoni said.

“My prince the matter of the returned girl?” Raiden said.

The prince looked at Lakisha.

“Why do you want her?” he asked expressing his disdain.

Keimoni interrupted

“I am the queen’s Viden and this girl knows none of your traditions. She cannot even understand you never mind consent to a bonding.”

“Send for the boy.” The prince said.

“You have returned.” He hugged Lakisha.

“Have you called me to fetch my pet?” he asked the prince.

“No, Raiden wants to bond with her.”

The boy looked her up and down.

“Like for real? Have sprouts and all?”

“Why is he looking at me like that?” Lakisha asked Keimoni.

“Raiden wants to bond, I mean marry you.”

“Really, my first proposal.” She pulled a face “Why is he not on one knee and asking me?”

“He’s not proposing. He thinks you are proposing.” Keimoni said.

“Why does he think that?! Now I am not feeling so flattered.” her disappointment showed on her face.

“Because you came back. He thinks you came back for him.”

“That’s presumptuous.” Lakisha said annoyed.

“Would you like him to propose?” Rachael asked.

“I would like to be proposed to.” Lakisha answered.

“Do you want to marry him?” Rachael asked.

“No. I don’t know him.”

“What are you discussing?” the prince asked.

“Forgive me. I was explaining to Lakisha that Raiden believes she wants to bond with him.”

“Does she want to bond with him?” the prince asked.

“No.” Keimoni answered

“Nor the boy, she is here for the crystal.”

Cascada was on her way to speak to the prince when she saw Lakisha. She kept out of site and listened.

‘The crystal, why?’ She thought.

“So, is he like willing to marry me?” Lakisha asked still on the proposal.

“Yes, he is. He is asking the prince to permit it.” Keimoni said.

“Then he must ask me.” Lakisha said.

“I told them you are not willing to bond I mean marry them.”

“Why?” Lakisha asked.

“Because you said no when I asked.”

“You caught me off guard.” Lakisha expressed.

Cascada came in.

“Prince and leaders, I wish to make a plea.” She said.

“What now?” they asked.

“Let me return with them to verify their claims. Let me leave and go to the peace conference and represent our people.”

“You are like a trarp with a bone. Go! I am not responsible for what happens to you.”

“I will need a letter giving me authority to represent us and I will return in a few days.” Cascada said.

“I will go with.” Raiden said.

“Are we not happy here? Why do you wish to leave?” the princess asked.

“Not all the Tskhali are here. We cannot hide here and be happy living in safety while others perish. It is not our way.” Cascada declared.

They disliked her for that very reason. She always got what she wanted while promoting the values of their people. Values most of them only used when it benefited them.

“Go, any who want to go, can go. Just don’t die out there. Nor give us away. One visitor, then two, now three. We are safe because we are a secret. For everyone else, keep us that way.”

“Great so it is settled. Let us leave now. Pack and meet at the boat?” She said to Raiden.

Raiden looked at Lakisha who gave him a warm smile that lit up the room.

“She’s not from around here.” Keimoni said trying to be kind.

“No, but she can stay.” Raiden said.

“Do you like the girl?” Keimoni said.

“Why wouldn’t I like a girl that returned to me?”

“She has not returned to you.” Keimoni said.

“She is here.” He pointed out.

“But not for you.”

“Then for who?” he asked.

“The crystal to open the sugs.” Keimoni said wondering if he was ill, as he didn’t seem to be following what was happening.

They were ushered to the boat where they were taken to the waterfall.

Cascada looked around wide eyed. She had only been to the waterfall once as a child.

“How far to the castle?” she asked.

“Far enough. We will have to climb to the top, and camp there for the night. But we should make it to the top of the waterfall before nightfall.” Keimoni answered.

Cascada and Raiden looked at the massive waterfall.

Raiden was one of the young men who would jump from the top into the depths below. He knew an easier way to get to the top.

Cascada had never been to the top. She was a good girl who followed the rules and studied hard. Learning everything she could from her princess. Little did the princess know that later Cascada would become the spear in her side that she had created.

“I know the way up.” Raiden said “Follow me.”

They followed him up the side of the waterfall. The path was narrow and the spray from the waterfall wet them. It was a strange feeling. The hot sun burned them while the cold water froze them. Hot and cold at the same time.

Once they reached the top Cascada looked out over the waterfall. The trees lined the river, and it raged as it went over. The sun was setting, and a pink sky coloured her face. It was beautiful. A rainbow hung in the waterfall.

“I am not so fond of this waterfall.” Lakisha said.

“Why?” Rachael asked.

“Because I almost died.” She remembered the burning in her lungs and the panic

‘I did die here’ she knew.

They walked along the river until they came to a clearing. Where they made camp. A fire was lit, and the tent set up. They didn’t have food, but Cascada and Raiden sorted that out.

It was fish, again.

“We need to be on the other side of the river.” Keimoni said.

“Then we will cross.” Raiden said.

“How?” Keimoni asked.

“Swim.” Raiden answered as if it was obvious.

“Some of us cannot swim across a river this strong. We need a bridge or something.”

“We can take you across.” Raiden said looking at Cascada.

“Sure.” Cascada agreed.

“What are you talking about?” Lakisha asked.

“Crossing the river. They want us to swim.”

“What?!” Rachael exclaimed “What about our stuff?”

“How will our things get across?” Keimoni asked.

“We will take it across.” Raiden answered.

Keimoni told the others.

“I trust them.” Lakisha answered.

Rachael rolled her eyes.

“Are you sure you don’t want to marry him?”

“I want to go home. Talking of, we don’t have a crystal?” Lakisha said.

“They want to meet the queen. They say they don’t have one.” Keimoni told them.

“Do you believe them?” Rachael asked.

“It was rumored to be, no evidence found in any book or record. The city is a secret, so we knew there was a chance there was no crystal. I hoped there was, for all of you. But now we returned to the castle and make a new plan.” Keimoni said.

It was time to camp. The tent was very small for five people. Everyone lay like tinned sardines.

Keimoni made sure he was next to Rachael, who pretended she didn’t care. Lakisha lay head to toe with Raiden and Cascada.

Despite their cramped sleeping arrangements Lakisha slept well. She had faced her fear, and it wasn’t so bad the second time around. She faced the water and the waterfall of death. She knew that the Tskhali where nice and kind and as long as she was with one of them, she was safe.