It was high noon when the Chimes of O'Landra mourned over the felled Gretgle. Without Sympha's sense, the chunks scattered amongst the stone and weeds wouldn’t have been discovered and identified as the former Kindler.

Cherub sobbed loudly, her nose running wildly. “Evil. Horrible. Awful. Monster." She blew her nose on Hasmed’s sleeve.

The Chain-faced Kindler had a fury in his one eye. "That witch caused this dreary day. Malice and insanity fill the air."

Hasmed broke from the group, and Cherub sadly watched as he vanished as Maiden Sympha simultaneously began a prayer. He reappeared at discovering a large hole punched through the hillside and slid down to the tattered laboratory.

"What were you doing, old fart?” He investigated, but all that remained was ashes and destruction. "Nothing good.”

Some exposed stone on a wall moved to make a pathway, and a female Chime, named Rox by humans, spilled out. She threw her arm backward, and the hole resealed.

Rox bounced to Hasmed, throwing her head around. “I'm not a Kindler, sir, but should we report this to the Maiden?”

"No. Let’s keep this to ourselves. All this is something that will stain the name of the old man and the church." He pivoted to his inferior and squeezed her upper arms. “Unfortunately, I need you to collapse this place.”

"Me, sir? Yes. Of course."

They divine-stepped out, and Rox waved her arms. The hill collapsed, sealing Gretgle's secret forever.

***

Vora was in infinite darkness. Mute, lifeless. Two were inside her soul: Vora and a girl resembling Vora. Monarch had chipped pale skin and white cracked eyes like when she took over Vora’s body. However, the Monarch's hair here was gray, and she wore nothing better than rags. Vora played with her hair, fearful it would lose its violet luster.

Monarch was curled up, shaking and whispering to herself, not even noticing Vora’s presence. "You're just a monster under my bed waiting to pop out. And you wouldn’t exist if I wasn’t born cursed.”

Monarch glanced up from her knees and smiled oddly. “Eoa,” she stated slowly. "Not a curse."

"I wish to be ignorant again so badly. Go to church like a good girl. Think that my father had a normal job. The world is still considered destroyed without debate. I wouldn't have to worry about accidentally killing or hurting my friends and family." Vora groaned and clawed her forehead. "No matter how many years, I will conquer you. Because I'm beyond you."

While Vora approached a suddenly-spawned light, Monarch said, "They’re all beautiful. Your family. Friends. World. I sit and suffer so you can be with them. How’s that fair? How are we equal?" Monarch offered a hand. “Just take me back, and let me rejoin your soul. Take their agony and make it beautiful."

"Denied. I don’t care for the dreary motif." Vora entered the light and awoke in her bed.

***

"Fog's thicker than cream." Madeline split the window blinds with two fingers. "Are you sure you don't want your father to transport you?”

"I'd rather anything else.” Vora put on her brown booties. "There is nothing out there I can't handle."

"Nothing, huh? Well, I'm sure you could handle getting hit by an HC, but take a lantern, regardless."

In his chair, Rudolf added, "Listen to your mother, Vora. You're not as invincible as you think."

"I'll take the blasted lantern if you so insist." Vora rolled her eyes so hard she could see her brain. She found one in the entrance closet, dangled it by the brass handle, and turned the handle. It had a nice red glow. "I'm departing now."

"See you next year." She smiled and chuckled at her horrible joke.

"Don't cause trouble." Rudolf kept his nose to the newspaper.

Vora grumbled and swore after clicking the door shut. Her destination for this foggy night was the holy Vastil Bridge. The bridge hovered above the thickest part of the O'Landra River and connected East O'Landra to West. She had to traverse many stairs and paths from her home to the bridge. Fortunately, her escapades had shown her many shortcuts.

As Vora wandered around, she became less embarrassed about her source of light as everyone else held one that night. She stumbled across Puggly while passing under some arches and tossed him some candy. His walleyed glowing gaze beneath the arches creeped her out. After nearly an hour, she made it up to the bridge.

A bustling festival took place on the Vastil Bridge every new year. The Chimes hosted a fantastic array of booths, sermons, events, food, and beyond. This celebration wasn't exclusive to O’Landra, but all of Ruth. At the end of the year, the Burning Bell would ring and ignite the sky with rainbows of pyre. Savings were not performed during this time.

When an overbearing southern voice unintentionally called her intervention, Vora walked the marble bridge lit by floating flaming bells.

"Stop biting each other. Yer like wild beasts.”

Vora hid and watched her gray-haired friend wrestle her younger male kin. She'd grown much more mature since the beginning of the year and already had an ample bosom. This brought Vora competitive jealousy.

Vora popped out and said, "Seems they've had too much sugar. Maybe you should tie them up until they've run out of energy.”

Darcie grinned with a hum as a greeting. The boys stood straight and threw infatuated and embarrassed airs at Vora. Darcie crushed her brows at the boys and slammed her toes into their butt cheeks.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Stop ogling my best friend. She’s taken already.”

"I'm not taken, pig hick."

Darcie winked at her. “Prissy dame.”

"Is your sister here?" Vora asked post-sigh.

Darcie waved her hand, annoyed. "I can't keep track no more. Anywho, I'm out," she laughed to her brothers. “Don’t die!” After some distance, she mumbled to Vora, "I wish I were an only child like you and Maive."

"Maive's not an only child anymore."

"I plum forgot. My statement stands.”

"I can't agree with you. Looks grand to me."

"Yeah? What looks so fun about it?"

"You won’t ever be lonely or bored.”

"I'm not buying what yer selling. Speaking of Maive.” She pointed at the very top of Albiet’s head. "She's near that butler pillar, fer sure.”

The girls grouped with their blue-haired friend and her butler. They exchanged personality-themed greetings and chatted for a while

about shows, work, farms, and history.

Vora had been feeling Maive's Eoa for a while. "Are you feeling alright, Maive?"

She was astonished Vora saw through her healthy facade. "I am slightly achy and tired. I am certain I caught a virus because of the temperature decrease."

"No kidding? We got some medicine in the HC." Darcie thumbed to her right.

"No, thank you. Flash gave me some a few hours ago."

"Where is the maid Chime, anyways?" Vora asked.

"She chose to help with the new year," Albeit answered. "She's in Jewel Falls as we speak. She doesn't always follow me, Ms. Vora," he added when Vora squinted suspiciously.

"You got yerself a lovers' quarrel," Darcie said.

"Vora,” came an approaching voice. It was Klev with a goofy smile. A hat Vora had never seen him with was wrapped around his blonde head. "Hey. Just got here. You were easy to find. I could hear your voice over the crowd."

"And just what do you mean by that statement? Am I loud and obnoxious to you?" Vora crossed her arms.

"No. I was just saying that..." Klev scanned his pupils around as if to find a physical, appropriate answer.

Vora laughed. "You're so funny, Klev Bekkan. I know I'm loud. Comes in handy. Where did you get the hat?"

Relieved, Klev explained. "Dad gave it to me. It's ancient. Passed down all the way from my great great great grandad. Said he was meant to give it to me when I was older, but he claimed I was already mature enough."

"It does look old-fashioned. But, your wardrobe was old-fashion anyways. I can appreciate the vintage style,” she grinned.

Darcie and Maive pushed Vora out of the way and examined Klev uncomfortably close. They studied him while grabbing their chins."

"This here is the blonde boy Vora pukes letters about?" Darcie questioned like an interagator.

"Klev Bekkan, ma’am,” Klev replied nervously. “Nice to meet you.”

"He appears wonderfully kind. And he smells like almonds," Maive added.

"We've already met Ms. Maive. A while ago."

At school two years ago, Klev and Maive collided with one another while carrying objects high enough to divert vision. The clean-up process would have been swifter if not for the bouncing of apologies.

"You’re correct. That was a productive day until then.”

"Yeah. I was late to practice."

"So, blondie,” Darcie said with a smirk. Vora’s ears perked up as she knew Darcie would speak no good. “Are you dating my bestie or what? Have ya two kissed yet?”

Vora charged Darcie to shut her up with a few smacks, but despite Vora’s physical growth as Monarch, Darcie was bigger than her and had growth of her own from farming. With power in her orange eyes, Darcie shoved Vora onto her stomach and sat.

"I'll kill you, Darcie. Shut up. I will. I'll do it,” Vora growled.

"Aww. Don't chu wanna know?” Darcie teased. “Don’t be shy. What do you like? Her eyes? Her butt? Her bosom. Ignore that last one. I forgot those don't exist on her."

"Darcie, this is not appropriate. This is a sensitive subject for people...." Maive said coyly.

"I, uh. I have to get going,” Klev said, beet red and pointing in a direction behind him. “Luis is waiting. We'll meet you guys at the end." He bolted away from the girls.

"I hate you, Darcie.”

"This is fer last week. That fire hydrant seeped through all my clothes.” Darcie stood.

Vora paused wide-eyed, then replied casually, "Understandable. We're even now."

Maive covered her red face, thinking about that day. She suggested, "Perhaps we attend the festivities ante-midnight."

The three others agreed and got to bouncing around the Vastil bridge. Vora, naturally, gathered at least one sugary treat from every concession stand and amassed a hoard. Maive got cute, holy brass bracelets for the three and played some gentle festival games. Darcie got fireworks for them later and played the not-so-gentle games.

After a bit, they attended a sermon via one of Sympha’s Kindlers, who spoke about rebirthing the years through fire and sound and holding back the fog of death.

Vora’s brass bracelet dulled and cracked just like the bell Maiden Sympha had given her. This wasn’t unusual for the purple-haired girl as divinity brass objects conflicted with Eoa. Both panicked and disappointed, she swiftly shoved it into her dress. At the same time, while not paying attention, she collided with a bouncy woman who smelled like mangos.

"Silly me. I've done it again. So hard to see in this dim light,” the woman said. She was a gorgeous brunette with teal eyes.

"It's not the dimness of the world that's the problem..." Bernard said dryly behind a bell-shaped pastry. “Just admit you forgot your contacts.”

"Booo. I can see fine….”

"Obviously not.” Bernard ceased his munching after discovering Vora. “Well, well. Are you being a good girl, Snihde, or are you getting into taboos with your friends?”

Before Vora could retort wittily, the woman took control. “Snihde? As in your employee? Purple hair. Nice skin. Pretty dress. You are her.”

"Naturally. It's hard to replicate my air. Who are you then?” Vora asked while flicking a bug of herself, disgusted.

The woman pointed at herself with both point fingers. "I’m Bernard’s girlfriend. I’m Tricia. I work as a waitress not too far from your flower shop. Bernard talks about you often. He is such a sweet–owww.”

Bernard had pinched Tricia's hip to silence her. Vora was positive that Tricia had enjoyed it more than he expected. Vora experienced unpleasant shivers.

"It's obligatory for me to wish you a happy new year, Snihde. So, I won't,” Bernard said halfheartedly. With his one free arm, he pulled an envelope from his pocket. “But, I've forgotten to give you this.” He forced the envelope upon Vora with almost a glint of kindness behind his lazy eyes. “Goodbye.”

While Bernard quickly shuffled on, Tracia twirled and threw a cute salute before following him. Vora opened the envelope to find about two paychecks worth of money. Vora smirked and shook her head.

The fog had gotten even thicker, and it was now hard to see a few feet in front of her. The glows of the bells, lampposts, and lanterns barely reached her vision.

This is annoying. I’m supposed to meet them at the little gazebo area at the edge of the bridge. The northwest one, I believe. Vora looked at her hand, then sighed. If my Eoa was true witch magic, I could use it to dispel this fog. Truth is, I can only harm with my gift.

A loud ring came from the sky, and its holy energy dispelled the fog consuming O’Landra. It was a few minutes to midnight, and the Burning Bell would ignite the atmosphere.

Is it hypocritical to still follow such practices?

Vora found the balcony and joined her mates, who were pointing at various attractions down below with smiles.

Luis was yucking it up with Darcie and Albeit, while Klev found a kinship with Maive as they collected toy models.

What am I, really? I'm a witch, but I don't mean that. Am I a good witch or an evil witch? Heroine or villainess? Am I human or demon?

Vora caught Klev leaning over a rail glumly and joined him without hesitation. “What’s wrong, Klev Bekkan?”

"Just. Just being a baby. We used to celebrate together. If only… if only she wasn't what she was.”

His words ebbed and flowed between Vora's ears. Who am I then? Vora Snihde or Monarch? Am I here to ruin lives because of what I am?

"Only a minute before the year begins," Maive declared, holding a pocket watch smugly.

I can be normal. I'll have to work hard.

"Five!"

I'll have my father quit the Dowsers.

"Four!"

I'll become the beautiful woman who's too pretty for my small town.

"Three!"

Vora felt a cold tug at the back of her skull. What if I don't do it...?

"Two!"

What if I share my agony?

"One!"

Through the chilly, wet air, Vora's hand was snatched up by another. Klev had his eyes toward the sky, and Vora followed his sight.

The ring was loud, but Vora and Klev resided in a quiet, calm world as the colorful flames and lights beautified the night.