Day 23

Tẽra looked at her Griffin and then her panther. She could take Otchulissa with her, but not Flynn. He could never fit in. Then Tẽra had an idea. She had not fully bonded with Flynn yet. So, she would give him to Ginger to start off her reign as queen. A queen needed a beast to call a pet.

So, it was settled in her mind.

Tẽra checked on the preparations for the crowning and listened to the reports from her soldiers.

One of these reports included a girl killing people in the lower town and in the City Point. The description given for this killer was too close to Rosaleighm’s for Tẽra to ignore.

“Find who did this. Do not harm the child. I want to speak with her.” Tẽra said.

Once the meeting was over, she went to Joe’s room.

She knocked and Rosaleighm opened the door.

“Come in, Joe is not here.” Rosaleighm said.

“I came to speak with you. Do you like it here in the castle?” Tẽra asked.

“Yes.” She answered.

“Do you want to live in a house in the town?” Tẽra asked.

“No. I like it here.”

“Why do you like it here?” Tẽra asked.

“Because there is so much nice food and clothes. I can have anything I want.”

“Do you remember what it was like when you had nothing, when you would steal and take what was not yours because you were hungry?” Tẽra asked.

“Yes, it wasn’t nice.”

“Would you like parents, people to look after you. People who care about you, like Joe?” Tẽra asked.

“Yes. Why are you asking me all these questions?” Rosaleighm asked.

“Did you kill those people in the lower town and the City Point?” Tẽra asked.

“They were mean to me. They threw things at me and shouted at me. Some even hit me.” She defended.

“Just because someone is horrible to you doesn’t mean you can kill them.”

“Are you going to put me in the dungeon?” Rosaleighm asked.

“No, but you will visit every family where you killed someone. You will take them a pie and talk with them. I want you to see how much each person you killed meant to someone else. You will also do this today. If you do it, then you will not be punished. If you do not do it properly you will clean every floor in the castle, even the dungeon floor. You will not be allowed to train or leave until it’s done.”

Rosaleighm glared at her.

“I suggest taking the pie. If you don’t do it today then it’s floors tomorrow.” Tẽra said firmly.

Rosaleighm glared at her.

Tẽra then had three guards accompany Rosaleighm to the town and ensure she did as was required of her.

* * *

Kerri-liana was deep in her books trying to learn as much as possible before going back home. What proof back home could she find that earth had once been travelled to by aliens. Did pyramids come from another world? Is that why they lost the knowledge?

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

To her surprise pyramids did not come from another world. It was designed by the slave Yosef in Egypt to preserve food during a terrible famine. His story was not really recorded but some of his amazing designs were credited to him.

Kerri found that most of the proof of other worlds was now known as mythology. Therefore, it was not proof at all but a crazy theory. She discovered that most of the horror stories told in mythology were also recorded in the books of history in the royal library. The brothers Grimm were onto something. They had a lot of similar type stories.

She wished for a camera. But instead, she misused her position as the queen’s friend and got scribes to make copies of things for her. Twenty scribes copied out material from the books and scrolls onto new ones, even the maps were traced.

Kerri was very happy.

* * *

James Thornbulton waved goodbye to the now very pretty girl who had helped him get the crystal he needed to return home. Ursola waved as she and Glisson walked away. They were going to fetch his family and them go straight to Elysian, the swamp city.

‘She is going to be fine.’ He told himself.

James worried that she had lost so much helping him and then he turned her down. He worried that she would be hurting because of him. He didn’t like that idea at all. But she seemed to be alright. She was making friends and spending time with her own kind.

“It’s better this way.” Lakisha said.

“I know. She will have many chances thanks to the kindness from the people you met in that swamp city.” He replied.

“We can go home, yet, I feel as if I am still holding my breath. Like it is not yet over. But in a way it is.” Lakisha said.

“I also feel like relaxing and rejoicing is too soon.” James agreed.

They returned to their room to start packing. Tomorrow they would leave the castle and head for mount Jeku, where they would finally be able to leave Chayim.

* * *

Nikki sat in the garden. Strange insects flew by and bugs she had never seen crawled along. The snow was melting around her. Even though it was cold she sat on the ground. It seemed as if only the cold ground felt sure.

“What are you thinking about?” Jessica asked.

Nikki was startled.

“You scared me.” She said.

“Sorry, I saw you sitting out here in the cold all alone.” Jessica shrugged “I thought I would say hi.”

Nikki gave a half smile.

“My time here has not been great. I was just thinking about stuff.”

“Want to swop war stories?” Jessica asked sitting on the ground next to her.

“I found a city made of gold with gold haired people who tried to drown me.” Nikki said.

“A crazy old guy tried to force me to marry him. He even hit me in the face.” Jessica responded.

“Marriage to an old crazy guy or death… I think marriage, I can run away.” Nikki said.

“Drake’s parents left me with Black Beard on purpose.” Jessica added.

“Black Beard! He had Natrica scared out of her mind.” Nikki said.

“He is no friend of mine. But he didn’t hurt me.” Jessica frowned.

“You never got to know Natrica, but she was the type of person that you feel in a room. She carried a presence that is missed. I liked her.” Nikki said, “She was odd, thought we were in purgatory and Joe was an angel.”

“She was fun.” Jessica smiled.

“She was.” Nikki agreed.

They stared out at the beautiful scenery before them, yet neither was paying attention to it.

“I see you are Drake are close?” Nikki commented.

“He is wonderful, thoughtful, romantic but in a manly way. I like him, it will be hard to say goodbye.” Jessica said.

“You haven’t thought of staying like Fiona?”

“No, his parents want me dead. They will have me killed. Drake cannot protect me from them forever. Plus, I don’t want to need, to be protected. He is great but I am going home.”

“Most girls wish for a prince.” Nikki said.

“I am not most girls.” Jessica replied.

“Does he know you are leaving?” Nikki asked.

“I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it. I wanted to enjoy my time with him. Not have leaving ruin it.”

“I understand.” Nikki said, “I don’t think it’s fair to him but I understand.”

They once again looked out at the garden. It was still beautiful even after the snow.

* * *

Rachael rode in the field on one of her horses. She was angry that some of her animals were gone. She was angry at her parents, and everything that had happened to her. She was angry that she didn’t matter. No one cared, she was alone and she knew it. On earth she didn’t feel alone. Now she knew she was and that her life sucked.

Rachael screamed into the wide-open field. Then she cried and cried. She cried out her feelings and her sadness, her loneliness and finally some of her anger.

She made her way back to the castle free from a lot of her feeling. It was as if she could now be objective. She bumped into Keimoni at the lunch table.

“How are you?” he asked.

“Better. I am leaving tomorrow just after the queen is crowned. We all are. If things were different, we might have had a chance but things are not. You are more guarded than you should be and so am I. Our stubbornness would never let us be happy. Before we leave, I want you to know that I have enjoyed your company.” Rachael said.

“You seem so final. Before you go may I kiss you and remember you forever?” he asked.

Rachael grinned “I thought you would never ask.”

Rachael took his hand.

“I want see you off, go with you to mount Jeku.” He said.

“I would like that.” Rachael answered.

She liked the idea that at least one person in the universe would know who she really was. Also, she had wanted to kiss him for fun as well.

* * *

Josephina went to Tẽra when she heard what Tẽra had decided to do regarding Rosaleighm.

“I have heard that you sent Rosaleighm into the town to give pie to the families who lost a loved one at her hand.” Joe said.

“Hi to you too.” Tẽra responded. “Yes, I wanted her to see the consequences of death. The hurt it causes so that she will not kill in spite but only when necessary. She killed so many and she is only twelve or so. It’s not alright. But having her locked up will not help either. I feel it will only add to the problem. She needs to see the tears and know she caused them. Or she can scrub floor for the next few years.” Tẽra said standing strong by her decision.

“I am impressed by you. You are not a fighter but you are a leader. You see the big picture and the individual. This is why you have changed a world in weeks. I agree with you. Your punishment is wise and fair. She is a child with no connections. So, seeing that others hurt is a cleaver punishment that might just work. Thank you.” Joe said.

Tẽra was surprised.

Joe continued, “I knew she had killed them. I didn’t know what to do about it but I felt it was wrong of her. You would make a good queen.”

Tẽra smiled. “Thank you.”

Joe felt Tẽra had handled it well.