Chapter 2. The Lost Future

“Come on, this way.” Veronica pushed open the door with a few heavy shoves, trying to avoid the splinters and holes across the wood. Everything inside was covered in green moss and ivy. A carpet of grass was growing between the old furniture, and in some places you could still see the wood floors underneath. Veronica went inside and Manie came after, dizzy and afraid over what she’d just done.

“We shouldn’t have done that,” Manie said, nauseous. “I killed that man.”

“No, Manie, you did good. We saved those animals.”

“But now the butcher is dead.” Manie smacked her fists against her forehead. “That was stupid. I’m so stupid.”

“He was an evil person, Manie,” Veronica turned back and crouched. “They were going to kill those defenseless animals. They’re the monsters, not you. You’re a hero.” Veronica didn’t want Manie to feel guilty over the butcher’s death when it had been her plan to rescue the Nightlings.

Manie looked up at Vee out of her burning blue eyes. She thought about the dark deer and how she’d freed them from their prison.

“But try not to do it again, okay?” Veronica said.

“Okay,” Manie sighed. “I’ll try not to.” She wiped the bloody tears that were under her eyes.

“What’s wrong with your eyes, Little Lightning Bolt?” Veronica asked, pushing blue hair out of the red on Manie’s cheeks. “They’re bleeding.”

“I don’t know, they burn. It happened when I melted the bars.” Manie rubbed her eyes with her knuckles.

Veronica bit her lip, trying not to think about how they’d get them fixed.

“We’ll figure it out, okay? What happened, anyways? I’ve never seen you so angry before.”

“He just…” Manie let out a breath. “He wanted to kill the Nightlings for gold. He didn’t care what they wanted, he just cared about himself. When he hit me I…lost control.”

Veronica sighed. “I’ve lost control before, too. The Crystals are more powerful than anyone understands.” Veronica squeezed Manie’s shoulders. “I shouldn’t have made you do that.”

“I wanted to help,” Manie said. “It was the right thing to do. I just made a mistake.”

“I can’t let anything bad happen to you, Manie. I made a promise to Dad.”

“I can take care of myself!”

“It doesn’t matter,” Veronica said, frustrated. “I have to keep you safe! I’m older and smarter. I should have known better.”

Manie looked at the ground, eyes hidden by her blue hair.

Veronica sighed. “We had a really good night tonight, let’s just go see the Torch-Wings and forget about this, huh? I bet they’ll be really excited to see you. How long has it been?”

“Since I broke my arm.”

“Good, then I bet you’re pretty excited to see them, too, right?”

“I guess,” Manie said.

“Good.” Veronica took Manie’s hand and led her across the overgrown building to a broken window. “Careful here,” Veronica said as she went through first.

Blue moonlight scattered through branches and shimmered off little shards of glass in the forest floor outside the window. Manie put one foot through and grabbed onto the frame. As she slipped outside, something sharp dragged across her arm and made her gasp.

Manie looked down and saw a red line appear across her forearm. Blood drooled from the cut and fell from her elbow in quick droplets. Her fingers shivered as she squeezed her arm, trying to choke away the pain.

Veronica turned back and sighed. “Are you okay?”

Vee seemed disappointed, and Manie knew why. I keep messing up. I never do anything right.

“Fine,” Manie said, whipping a line of red droplets across the dirty glass. She tried to hide the cut.

“No, you’re not. Let me see.” Veronica went back to Manie.

Manie held out her arm, a stinging throb burning into her skin as she raised it up. Veronica set Manie’s elbow and wrist in her hands and looked at the blood. “You’ll be fine. It’s not that bad.”

“I’m sorry.” Manie’s voice wilted into sadness as tears melted across her eyes. “It doesn’t matter how hard I try, I always make a mistake.”

“We all make mistakes.”

“Yeah right! You never make mistakes. You always know what to do.”

“You think I was born that smart?” Veronica asked. “Believe me, I wasn’t.” She pulled a small jar of honey out of her pocket and popped the lid. “See that scar on my cheek?” Veronica dipped a finger into the honey and wiped it across Manie’s cut, mixing it with the blood, turning the salve a dark brown. “I got that one the first time I met Tonila. Sometimes that’s how we learn.”

The blood stopped flowing and Manie’s pain dimmed. “Thanks,” Manie said.

“You're welcome.” Veronica pushed their foreheads together. “We’re sisters, Manie. Never forget that. We stick together–no matter what happens. I’ll teach you to be smart like me one day, okay? Just keep your chin up until then.”

“I’ll try,” Manie said.

Manie looked around the dark forest as Veronica turned towards the trees, then back to the overgrown building they’d just come out of. “What is this place?” She asked, sweeping blue hair out of her eyes. “It looks like it used to be somebody’s house.”

“Denengear used to reach a lot farther than the city gates,” Veronica said. “When the people who lived here left, nature took it back. I come here sometimes when I need to be alone.”

“It’s pretty–even though everything’s broken.”

“It is,” Veronica agreed, taking Manie’s hand. “So…you ready?”

Manie pulled up the Blue Crystal, the chain webbed between her fingers. She let the stone swing in front of her face, gently rocking back and forth. Within the blue walls was a sapphire flame gently leaning and twirling in the weight of unseen winds. Manie could remember many nights where she’d fallen asleep with the Crystal in her hand, feeling its warmth, watching the hypnotizing dance glow within its glassy cage. I’m that flame, she often thought, and here she thought it again.

With a twist of her wrist, Manie flicked the Crystal up into her hand and pressed the stone against her thumb. She closed her eyes and put the Torch-Wings into her mind, squeezing the stone as she did, and when she looked out at the world a great wave of blue light exploded around her. The forest recoiled violently in the blast, and as the branches whipped back, the trees became filled with tiny glass houses and thousands upon thousands of Torch-Wings, reaching far off into the dark forest–except the forest was no longer dark. In the brilliance of their flaming light and sparks, the forest of Torch-Wings became more a vault of glittering gems and crystals than a landscape of green trees.

“Look at the world we could have if we cared more about building things up rather than tearing them down,” Veronica said as her eyes wheeled across the trees, mouth hung open in awe.

Every time she saw the Torch-Wings, Manie felt like she’d entered a dream, but even more so here and now. This night felt beyond reality already, like something she wouldn’t fully grasp until it had ended, and here it had come to its peak. “I wish I could be small and live with them, and just forget about the Crystals and disappear forever.”

“You don’t mean that,” Veronica said, looking down. “The Crystals are what give us power to control our lives, Manie. The Crystals mean freedom.”

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Manie could hardly agree. “Dad locked me up in my tower because of the Crystal. Maybe it means freedom for you, but for me it means nothing I do will ever matter–just the Crystal. The Crystal’s the one with the power. I don’t have anything.”

“Then let's change that,” Veronica said, a silent fury growing in her eyes. “It doesn’t have to be like that, Manie. We don’t have to let Dad, or Mom, or anyone else decide our future for us. And the only way we’re ever going to get that power is if we take control ourselves.”

A boiling surge of adrenaline shot to Manie’s heart, making her want to gasp. “No,” she managed to say, before the fear tightly gripped her tongue. “I can’t.”

“I know what you think of the Crystals, Manie. I know you’re scared to use them. But you shouldn’t be. Look at what we accomplished in the festival tonight–we saved those animals. They’re alive because of us.”

“The butcher is dead because of us!” Manie shot back as hot tears exploded from her eyes. “Because of me!”

“That’s not important right now. We’ll do better next time. What’s important is that you and I know what’s right: they don’t! Look at the Torch-Wings, Manie. What do you think would happen to them if people like the butcher found out they still exist? They’d cut down every tree on Talmoria for firewood before they let them live in peace. Father can’t protect them. He can’t even protect you. But we can protect them all.”

Manie felt like she was going to faint. “No, Vee, I… I can’t. Mikhail’s Crystal doesn’t do anything else. I can only use it to see the Torch-Wings.”

“That isn’t true,” Veronica said. “It can be used like a key.”

The words echoed in Manie’s mind, twisting into a whisper of shadows coiling behind her ears. It’s a key, Manie. A key to unlock the future. The voice belonged to her mother.

“No!” Manie screamed, yanking her hands from Vee’s. She backed a few steps away, cradling Mikhail’s Crystal against her chest in closed fists. “Vee, we can’t, it’s too dangerous.”

Veronica looked as if Manie had just slashed at her with a knife. “Manie, what’s wrong with you? Don’t you trust me? I’m your sister. I can protect you.”

“You can’t protect me from yourself.” Manie continued stepping away until she felt the wall of the abandoned building meet her back.

“Manie, if we don’t take control, people like Darko, and Tonila, and Mom, will continue to ruin the world forever. We have to do this ourselves if we want things to get better. The responsibility belongs to us. That’s what the flame in your Blue Crystal means–it means we have a choice.”

“What if I don’t want to have a choice?” Manie asked, trying not to cry. “Please Vee. We can’t.”

Veronica’s eyes flicked between Manie’s. “We have to. Something bad is coming. The world’s going to change…forever…”

“What are you talking about? Everything is fine. You sound exactly like Mom did the night she took me from my tower.”

Veronica's eyes changed. It was like a knife had been plunged into her back. “I’m trying to help you, Manie. I’m trying to help everyone.”

“No you’re not, Veronica. You don’t care about me, or the Torch-Wings, you’re just thinking about yourself. You said sisters are supposed to stick together, but you weren’t there when I needed you. When Mom tried to take me away, I was alone.”

“I know,” Veronica said, wounded. “I’m sorry… If I could go back in time and stop her… I would. But this is different, you have to understand that. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I’m not like Mom.”

“Yes you are. You’re just like her.”

“Manie, I know you don’t mean that… Look over there, I’ve got a horse and all the supplies we’ll need to make it north. It’ll be like our own little adventure. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

Manie turned and saw the animal standing beside the building they’d come through. It was so shocking, Manie almost couldn’t speak. Veronica really did mean to take her away. “Vee!.. no!..”

“We’re going to find the Crystal Mom was looking for,” Veronica said, “and then we’re going to come back here and make everything better for everyone. Just you and me. No one else will interfere. I know you don’t want to believe me…but it's the only way to save them.” Veronica grabbed Manie’s wrist and pulled her towards the horse.

“Vee! Vee, no!” Manie struggled and screamed, trying as hard as she could to break herself free, but Veronica’s fingers wouldn’t budge.

“Manie, stop acting out. This is for the greater good of Talmoria.”

“Let me go! I want to go home!”

“You can go wherever you want after we find the Red Crystal.”

Manie could barely breathe. Her heart sent a shock of pain across her body every time it beat. She could see the pouring rain, feel the mud and gravel crush against her skin as she fell from her mother’s horse. “Let me go! I don’t want to go!” It was the only thing she could think to say as she fought to see through her red tears.

Veronica turned back and yanked Manie close to her chest, putting their faces close together. “If you don’t want to come, then give Mikhail’s Crystal to me and I’ll do it myself!”

“Vee, no,” Manie begged. “Please stop!”

“We have a responsibility to do the right thing. I thought you were mature enough to understand that. If you won’t give me the Crystal, then get on the horse and stay quiet. We’re going north.”

Manie could hear her mother’s voice screaming in the back of her mind, melting and washing in with her sister’s words. “Vee, please, you don’t understand. The Crystals can’t make anything better. They only make things worse. Please just let me go.”

“You’re wrong. I’m older and smarter than you. You need to trust me.”

“I can’t! You’re the one who’s wrong!” Manie yanked back with all her weight, trying as hard as she could to break free from Veronica’s grip.

“Stop fighting me!” Veronica screamed.

Vee grabbed Manie’s arm across the cut from the broken window and squeezed. Her fingers dug in, burning like hot steel wrapped around Manie’s flesh.

“Please stop. You’re hurting me.” Tears welled up in Manie’s eyes and ran across her cheeks, sparkling in the flame of her eyes like sapphire streams. The honey smeared and her wound began to spill blood across her arm.

“I don’t care! Now get on the horse.”

Manie opened her mouth and bit down into Veronica’s hand, drawing blood between her teeth. Veronica screamed and tried to wrestle out of Manie’s mouth, but couldn't. She drew back her free hand and swung, smacking Manie across the cheek with a closed fist. Manie dislodged from Veronica’s hand and fell into a puddle of mud. She pushed herself up and spit out a glob of Veronica’s blood. She held her cheek, crying as pain throbbed across her face.

“You bit me.” Veronica whined, staring at the row of bloody teeth marks in her skin. She looked up at Manie and bared her teeth.

“No, please, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

Veronica drew her knife and dove at Manie, shoving her down into the mud.

“Stop,” Manie begged.

Vee climbed on top of Manie and pushed her down into the muck, gritting her teeth as she tried to hold her still. “Stop squirming! Give me the Crystal!”

“No, you can’t,” Manie said, fighting to get breath. “It’s too dangerous!”

She grabbed Manie by the collar and pressed the knife against her throat. “Give me the Crystal or I’ll kill you here and now!”

“No, Vee, please don’t… Please stop! Don’t hurt me. I didn’t mean to.” Tears ran down Manie’s face as a stream of blood trickled from her mouth.

“Veronica, enough!!” A thundering voice intruded. “Let her go!”

All of Veronica’s anger vanished at once, replaced by intense fear. She turned back and saw Markus coming through the broken window–the absolute last person she would have wanted to see her like this. “Markus, I…” she didn’t know what to say. He came at them like a bull and put his hand on Veronica’s shoulder, tossing her aside like a sack of rotten fruit. Manie coughed as she came up out of the mud.

Veronica looked at the teeth marks on the top of her hand and cringed as the pain dug in. She wiped the blood away, only for new red streams to immediately wash down her skin.

“Did she hurt you?” Markus asked.

“No,” Manie said, shuddering as she cried.

“What's wrong with you?” Markus said as he whipped back. “She’s your sister.”

Veronica felt a vileness wash over her. She turned her wrists and saw blood on both her hands. Not all of it was hers. “I wasn’t… I didn’t mean to…hurt her, I was just…” Veronica couldn’t find the words.

“Save it for your father.” He shook his head. “I knew it was a mistake to trust you.” Markus put a hand under Manie’s arm to help her stand, and his eyes flashed open in awe. He looked around the trees. “What are those flying creatures?”

Manie’s breathing became faster as she saw the look in his eyes. “Nothing! They…they aren’t real!”

Dizziness came over Veronica before she could blink. It was so unfair she could hardly breathe. For the first time in years she felt tears boil up in her eyes. “They’re none of your concern. All they do is grow trees!”

Markus helped Manie stand and broke the mud from her clothes.

“I’ve been following you for half the day. I saw you free those animals. Is that what you want to teach your sister? That it's okay to destroy people’s property?”

“They’re living creatures, they don’t belong in a cage.” Veronica said. “We saved those deer.”

“A man is dead because of you.”

The accusation was so unfair it didn’t seem real. Veronica climbed back to her feet and cradled her hand. “It was an accident.”

“I wonder if your father will feel the same when he finds out you tried to steal Mikhail’s Crystal. Your sister is right, you are just like your mother.”

“Please don’t tell him,” Veronica begged. “You can’t. He’d never forgive me if he knew I did this. I… I just wanted to show him that I can do the right thing.”

“By kidnapping your sister? Hasn’t she been through enough?”

“Markus, I’m sorry... I won’t ever do it again, I promise.”

“I know you won’t, because you’re never going to see your sister again after today.”

Manie gasped. “No, please! She didn’t mean to. It was an accident. She doesn’t understand how the Crystals work.” Tears streamed down Manie’s face.

“I was trying to help,” Veronica pleaded. “Don’t do this.”

“That’s for your father to decide.” Marcus turned to Veronica. “Get on your horse and make your way home. I’ll come for you in your chambers once your father calms down.”

“You don’t know what’s at stake… No one does!”

Markus shook his head at her. “No, I understand perfectly well. Look at your sister.”

Manie was covered in blood. The cut on her arm had come open in their struggle and painted half her arm red. She looked at Veronica through bloody tears with her flaming blue eyes.

“She looks up to you, Veronica.”

The words stung worse than the bite on her hand.

“I’ll see you back in Denengear. Don’t be late.” Markus took Manie’s hand and turned her away. “Come on, Manie. Let’s get that cut cleaned and stitched up. You’ll be alright.”

Manie turned back to look at Vee one last time before she left, and Veronica felt a sharp stab in her heart when they met eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Veronica whispered.