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Fantasy and political conspiracy collide in my first novel. |
| The age of the great wizard is weaning in the world. Science and personal empowerment are more important than dependence on Magic in Biminey. Nevertheless Taika still wants to become a wizard, as serves as an apprentice under the great wizard Thelma Pendleton, who has stopped working for many a year now after becoming disenfranchised. But when a boy shows up from a faraway country in political turmoil, Master Pendleton decides to come out of retirement to help the wayward boy. |
| They arrived home very late, exhausted from the nights events. Faron had gone straight to bed, and Pendleton went not long after. Taika, however, stayed up. She had wanted to do some reading to calm herself down as she was still jittery from bumping into that buteon earlier, the one whose hands looked so ghastly and familiar. Outside the wind gusted occasionally, rattling the trees menacingly, and foreboding the now close storm. Taika wasn’t looking forward to trying to sleep through the loud cracks of thunder, especially since she had been told lightning had a particular fondness for hitting this house. She plopped down on the sofa in the living room with her novel, behind her the inky darkness peeking through the curtains. Everything was quiet save for Molly’s claws clicking on the wood floor as she went to join her on the couch. Taika laid her hand on the cat’s head absent mindedly rubbing at its ears as she read. As she perused the words on the page she began to be taken away, away from the dark living room and into a land of adventure and valor, mysteries and noble truths, where problems could always be solved through the cunning of the protagonist. The wind howled, but she did not hear it. The only thing that could break her from her concentration was the insistent paws of the cat vying for her attention in the wake of her prior absence. She continued one this way for several chapters, trying hard not to let other thoughts come into play. Paranoia could easily take hold if she were to let herself speculate on the matter, or so she assumed, and so she went on distracting herself. Just as she was getting to the turning point in her chapter another gust of wind blew outside, but this time it brought with it an unsettling noise. The kind of noise that makes your stomach churn and you wonder whether or not you need to seek cover. So colossal was this bang, this smack, this thud, that it seemed to shake the whole house and made Taika stand bolt upright. It certainly wasn’t thunder, so what was it? After a second or two that felt like an eternity Taika mustered the courage to look around. Everything was in order, the silence had returned once more, but Molly was cowering wide-eyed and puffy-tailed where she sat. She noticed her owner looking at her and raised her head in mutual confusion. “What was that?” she whispered aloud, as though it would bring any answers. “Maybe something hit the house,” she said to Molly, who looked back quizzically. “Something blowing in the wind, perhaps…” Clumsily she leaned over the sofa to look out the window. The only thing she could see was the room reflected on the glass. When she pulled the curtains around her chin to alleviate this, all she could see was darkness. The girl stood back up with a frown, the cat trying to look out the window after her and not seeming to spot anything either. “Maybe we should go out there and check” she had an unexplainable feeling it was something important. As she slipped on her shoes there was a creaking above her from upstairs, but she paid it no mind. Grabbing a walking stick from beside the door she stepped outside into the backyard. There seemed to be no light in that direction aside from the near constant lighting flashing within the clouds far in the distance, but behind her the glow of the city loomed in the fog. It was so humid that it felt hard to breath and the only sound to be heard was the distant echoes of the remaining revelers and the constant whir of crickets which she had become deaf of. It was like an amorphous dream, confusing and uncertain, but with that distant feeling that you have to keep going. Almost without thinking she took several steps out to the left where she imagined the sound had come from. Lighting up the end of the walking stick did little to help her see as the night seemed to quickly swallow up its luminance. A little further along she could see the lights inside Digby’s house were turned on, but didn’t think such a timid creature would actually come out to investigate. Trying to peer into the distance, she wasn’t watching where she was stepping. Something brushed against her bare ankle and the child froze in fear, unable to look down. A second later it touched her again and she realized it was just the cat that had followed her out. It was slinking along enterprisingly, but kept being distracted by every tiny movement below. After several more reproachful steps she reached the edge of the house. With great apprehension, but with a strange sense of purpose she lifted her light and cast it around the yard, hoping to catch a glimpse of something. The large patches of plants in the garden cast long shadows that made it difficult to tell if there was anything unusual. She lowered the light again, flummoxed, and just as she was about to turn back around she heard a noise. “Is somebody there?” a voice called out weakly. It sounded strange and forced, barely perceptible, and for a moment Taika imagined she had said it herself. The thought was so very unsettling that she felt and knot forming in her stomach, even more so at the thought that she was not the one who said it. “If there’s someone there, please, I need help,” the voice said again, this time much stronger, but still with an air of forced desperation. Taika was most certainly not imagining things now, but what was she hearing, or rather who was she hearing? “I-“ she started to respond but then found herself abruptly unaware of how to answer. “Where are you?” she mustered at a volume that was almost inaudible. Then she tried to look around the garden becoming more and more afraid of what could pop out at any moment. Normally she was not inclined to believe in fairy tales about gremlins luring away generous souls, but given the circumstances she was beginning to doubt herself. “Can- can you follow my voice?” it said again, and Taika began to think it sounded very much like a young man’s voice. “I’m afraid I can’t get up.” She walked a bit more, with a vague idea of where he was. An ungodly growl came out of Molly, who was standing at the ready in front of the girl, hissing continually. Taika followed her line of sight and spotted something lying on the ground, large and quivering. Her first reaction of fear was quickly taken over again by her curiosity and she pointed her light down upon it. For a moment she couldn’t make out what it was, but then realized quite suddenly upon seeing a feather that it was a buteon sprawled across the ground. Gasping, the walking stick fell clankingly to the ground as she drew her hands toward her face. In the awkward light it cast she could faintly make out an eye peering from the feathered mass, the same kind of wide and piercing she had seen before, only this time it was all together different. There was nothing intimidating about this stare. It portrayed only vulnerability and despair. At that moment her fear disappeared and was replaced by emphatic worry. Swallowing hard she came back to her senses and picked the light up off the ground. “Are you okay?” she said, trying to sound calm. It was a stupid question, she knew, but she asked it anyway. “Not really,” the buteon wheezed out with a tremendous shudder of his massive body. Overcome Taika crouched down near his head, trying not to encroach upon his decumbent figure. Looking up at her were two round and mournful eyes in a shade of golden orange that surely would have been beautiful had they not been full of such profound desperation. “What happened to you?” she sputtered, her voice cracking as she tried in vain to make sense of his foreign shape. “I was- that is to say- well my parents” the last word was especially difficult for him to get out. It occurred to Taika from the way his voice sounded that he must be young, younger than Faron it seemed. “They were taken, kidnapped.” He paused and made noise akin to a sob, “I was hurt in the struggle” The words came unnaturally, but Taika felt he was telling the truth. “I tried to go after them, but they got away” a sigh this time, “Before I knew it I was hopelessly lost.” His voice grew quieter and more garbled, and finally he just laid his head back down and closed his eyes. “You’re going to be okay now,” Taika said instinctively despite the fact that she had no idea how to help him. “Thank you,” he said almost serenely, eyes still shut. Everything was silent for a moment as Taika thought and the stranger with whom she felt such a sudden and mysterious bond laid in a heap, a faint glimmer of hope burning inside of him, she thought. At once she became aware of the din of insects humming that was broken only by the incessant singing of a wayward bird. It was an isolating feeling, and she shuddered for a moment as though waking from this lucid dream and coming to realize the gravity of what was happening. “Let me help you inside,” she said at length. “I’m sure my Master can do something to help you.” “Your master?” “Yes, she’s a wizard and I’m her apprentice.” Taika added quickly, “My name’s Taika, sorry for not introducing myself earlier,” it was quite rude not to do so… “I’m Haytham, nice to meet you, Taika. Now if you could just help me up here; I can’t seem to use my arms…” He folded up his sprawling wings onto his back, leaving only his twisted body exposed. It was so much smaller looking than before, and infinitely more pathetic. Taika was astonished by how much room those wings had been taking up, presumably squishing Digby’s garden beneath them. “Oh, of course, I apologize.” She said, trying to size up where about to grab him from. “That’s quite alright,” he said dreamily, making the child worry whether he was becoming delirious. She tried to seize him around the middle and stand up, fully expecting to have to augment her meager strength in order to do so, but much to her surprise he seemed to way net to nothing. His feathered girth nearly smothered her as he struggled to get balanced, taloned feet ripping into the soft earth beneath them. He felt slick with moisture and radiated an alarming amount of heat as thought steam should be rising from his being. When he finally got to his feet and stood on his own he towered at twice her height before quickly lumbering over into a sickly slouch. She was about to hand him her walking stick when she noticed the way he was holding his arm up against himself as though it was hurt and that the other was dangling uselessly at his side. Glancing at it momentarily it appeared gnarled and twisted, and she quickly averted her eyes from the grotesque sight. In lieu of this she tried to press her shoulder up toward him to lean on, which he did quite clumsily. “It’s not far to the house, okay?” she said reassuringly as her came close to breaking for him. With short steps she moved with the trembling boy on her back, resolute in keeping steady so as to try and pass on some of that grit to him. He wheezed and stumbled, but managed to keep from falling over, sometimes by sticking out his wings a little to balance himself. “Almost there,” she said assuredly, sensing that each step was harder for him than the last. Pendleton had just come up to the back door and opened it up for them to come through. She was wearing a foreign looking set of pajamas with a sleeping cap, but foremost wore a look of utmost concern. Faron was inside looking dazed and confused. “Whoa, whoa, s’at what made the noise?” she said to herself and rushed over to help Haytham onto the sofa. Taika looked on at him, wringing her hands, “He’s in trouble,” she said almost panicked to Master Pendleton. “he’s hurt and he said his parents were kidnapped.” “Is that so?” she responded knowingly. “Yes” he breathed shortly, attempting to nod his heavy head. “Where did it happen? I assure you I can help,” “No,” he stopped short, “It happened in Ulkoneva, there’s nothing you can do,” his hopeless tone returned in full. “Wait, you mean you came all the way from Ulkoneva?” Faron interjected, “No wonder you look like crap,” “There’s nothing you can do, even if you are a wizard,” he was very distraught now, almost angry. Taika looked to him, her eyes stinging with tears. She realized his situation was just like hers, only much worse. “In that case let me take care of you,” Pendleton said firmly, walking over to him, hand outstretched. He was doubled over limply, “I-I’m very tired.” “You’ll be alright now, laddie, calm yourself,” she laid a hand on his shoulder and he leaned his head toward it receptively. “Faron, go and get the spare room ready for him. He needs some rest.” “Right,” she looked back, seeming concerned and confused about the boy who had entered their lives so unceremoniously. Pendleton started to check on his mangled arm. “Taika, you should go to bed too. You’ve done a good job today,” she could see the girl was crying, “but there’s nothing more you can do now.” It seemed there was never anything Taika could do, not for herself, and not even for someone else. |
| Life went on as normal at the old house, and it seemed that everyone was trying not to think about what Taika had seen. All was peaceful, an atmosphere that belied the girl’s fears. Nevertheless she went on with her training from Master Pendleton. She was being especially lenient on the child, trying to keep her busy. A week had already gone by with no new information to speak of, and that and surely lying heavy on Thelma even if she didn’t let it show. “The easiest way to get a plant to grow for you is to increase its metabolism.” Pendleton explained as they sat outside in the garden with Digby watching them nervously. “Think back to the diagrams we looked at of their internal structure.” Several pots of chrysanthemums were in front of them, poised to bloom. Pendleton looked down at the one closest to her and the buds grew larger, and just like a butterfly bursting from its chrysalis the petals came forth from within. “Oh, of course,” Taika looked down at her budding plants, excitedly. Putting on a face of intense concentration, she squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them again the flower was beginning to come out. One by one the tiny vermillion petals emerged, raggedly forming a lopsided, but circular bloom. “I did it!” she exclaimed, falling backward after losing balance on her toes. “It bloomed like it was supposed to!” she said beaming at her teacher who gave her a look of warm reassurance. “And it should stay that way too,” the old woman added. “As you know there are many different ways to make a flower bloom using magic, but this is the only method that will produce a viable plant. It’s a technique that’s been used by gnomes for as long as anyone can remember.” “Uh, yeah, that’s correct,” Digby injected from afar, “we been usin’ it since forever,” “So that’s how you do it!” she felt as though she had been let in on a secret of great importance. “Now, you can’t be doin’ it too much or ye’ll use up all the nutrients in the soil. ‘Specially if ye try’n grow a tree of sumfin’” “That makes sense. So then how do you grow so many plants out here?” “The dirt round here is very rich since this use ta be part a the delta, but I still gots to be very picky with what I plants en where. That en I use a lotta compost en such.” “So could I grow a tree if I wanted to?” “Ah, trees are the worst, asides they take forever ta do even if ye use magic,” “Oh, so maybe I’ll make some of those flowers my mom likes. What are they called again? Orchids? Yeah, I think they’re orchids.” “Those are rather difficult to keep alive. You’ll need to work your way up to it, I’m afraid.” “Okay, then! I’ll practice so I can get good enough to make one. I’m sure I can do it if I try hard.” “Now, you’ll find it’s harder to make a flower bloom from a seed or a sprout then it is from a bud that was about to open anyway” “Is that so?” “Try growing these sprouting daffodils and you’ll see what I mean.” She moved a pot with thin green leaves sprouting up near the soil that almost looked like short blades of grass. Putting an open hand over top of one it grew taller and former a slender bud that opened into a ruffled blossom. “You’ll notice that sometimes potted plants don’t bloom when they should. That’s because they didn’t get the right amount of nutrients, or the temperature was wrong. You have to keep all those things in mind when you try to grow a plant or it won’t bloom either. If you’re not careful, it may wither and die as well.” She put her hand over a different sprout that grew up tall, but made no buds and began to brown on its edges. Suddenly the task seemed daunting. Taika looked down at the pitiful greens coming out of the soil. Normally they were some of the first flowers to come up in the spring. Sometimes climbing through the thin snow that occasionally accumulated during Biminey’s mild winters. She racked her brain to try and think of anything about daffodils that might help her. “Don’t over think things, either. It probably won’t do you any good. The best way to learn is to practice, so just go ahead.” “A-alright” she was quite worried about messing up, but set about doing what she did to the chrysanthemum anyway. The leaves started the climb up taller out of the soil, fanning out as they went. Startled, she almost fell over again, but maintained her composure. It kept growing larger, but the stalks that would have supported a flower never grew. Disconsolate, her face sank. “Ah, very good, dearie. Keep that up and you’ll be making flowers in no time.” Pendleton laid a hand on the girl, “This is a very complicated technique and it’ll take years to master, but I knew you were ready to start now.” “So, I can get better at it later,” she seemed optimistic again. “It’ll take some trial and error, but yes, I have confidence in you.” “eh, if ye need some pointers I ken help ye best I can,” “Thank you, Mr. Digby, you’re very kind.” Just then Faron padded in from the backdoor, not noticing them at first. “Oh hey, there you are” she said walking over to them. Her usual button down shirt was gone and replaced by a grubby and faded t-shirt. “I was looking for you.” “You finished helping Mrs. Joiner?” “Yep, the chain was just broken on her kid’s bike, so it was easy to fix. Then I had time to change the oil in her neighbor’s car for em and they even gave me lunch too. It was pretty sweet. “She wiped some sweat from her brow, pushing back her sticky bangs, “so whatcha up to?” “Growing plants!” Taika said cheerily. “Givin’ Digby a run for his money, eh?” “Not really, it’s actually pretty hard to do.” “Oh ho?” she raised an eyebrow. “Lemme give it a try den.” Pluncking her bottom down, she scooted over to them. Looking down to another daffodil sprout, it grew tall and a stalk formed that produced an atrocious looking flower. “Yeah, I got nothing.” “But that’s better than I did.” Taika asserted. “Oh, but I cheated. I’ve done this before. And besides, I’m twice your age. You’ll show me up soon enough.” “Hey you’re just trying to make me feel better!” she pouted. “It’s a possibility,” “Don’t patronize me like that. I can take it.” “Can you take it? You a big man, Taika?” “Yeah!” She put her hands on her hips proudly. Pendleton burst out laughing at this and the rest fallowed suit. “So, have you figured out what you’re going to wear tonight, Faron?” Thelma asked after overcoming her fit of laughter. “Not really, I’m just gonna make something up. “ “I’ll probably be doing the same. Just be sure to make something nice enough. I am the guest of honor tonight.” She didn’t seem thrilled with the concept. “Right, wouldn’t wanna disgrace you any more than I already have,eh?” She laughed some more, “Not that I’ll be spending too much time with dem socialites.” Taika was looking disgruntled about the conversation. “You can hang out with me tonight, if ya want.” “I’m supposed to visit with my grandparents,” she grumbled. “You don’t have to spend the whole evening wif ‘em. Asides, I can just tell ‘em I got cha lost or somefin.” “Alright,” she had a hint of a devious smile. “Well now that that’s settled, I’m off to have a shower and get ready!” Faron snapped back up and bounded to the door, but before she could go back in a man similar to the one who had helped Faron with the luggage before came around the corner to speak with her.”Did you find little Annie’s cat?” she asked him casually. “Yes, Freckles is home safe and sound.” “Very good! Then you are dispatched my good sir.” She saluted him and he disappeared on the spot. Taika looked on admiringly at the sight. “How about we eat our lunch and get ready too?” Pendleton offered, standing back up. “It’s a big night tonight.” Tonight was the night of the summer solstice, which was a holiday in Biminey and Brant. It’s a celebration borrowed from the centaurs, native creatures of the plains, which were observed partying wildly on the longest day of each year. It was a time when gnomes cowered in their homes and tried to avoid being trampled beneath the drunken revelry. In Port of Opportunity it was an occasion for everyone to gather downtown and dance and celebrate even after the sun goes down. It’s the biggest day of the year for high society, and Pendleton had been invited as a guest of honor to the most prestigious party in town. She was attending out of courtesy, as she usually liked to life her life in obscurity. A few hours later the complicated affair of getting ready for the evening began. Faron had decided to make up their formal wear on the spot, in lieu of actually wearing anything nice, which, as a matter of course, meant making countless iterations of clothing that Taika couldn’t tell apart, but was asked to judge anyway. Thelma did much the same, but didn’t bother to ask Taika her opinion, knowing the child’s distaste of such things. “Ooh you know what’d be cute!” Faron exclaimed, changing the pattern on her vest yet again, “We should totally match up our outfits,” “That would be darling,” the old woman said brightly. Taika groaned. Just when she thought they might be finished they were going to start all over again. To make matters worse Molly was trying desperately to get onto her lap and shed fur all over her dress. Her grandparents had gotten it for her to wear to the formal occasions they were always taking her to, whether she wanted to go or not. It was made of silk, and as such was prone to getting catches and collecting stray hairs. She supposed that it looked alright, considering people were always telling her how cute she looked in it. As she leaned over exacerbated, the cat pawed at the strand of pearls that dangled from her neck. “That should be about right.” Pendleton said with a tone of finality that got the girl’s attention. She looked up. They had altered the colors of their clothing to match the blue color of Taika’s dress with orange accents to mimic her bright hair. Faron was wearing a suit, as was the style then, and Thelma had on a strange sort of robe, the design of which she thought would please her host, but wasn’t particularly accurate as far as the clothing a Great Wizard would wear. Taika hopped up and went over o the mirror with them. “Daw, don we look nice now?” Faron said clapping her on her shoulder. “The uniformity is very nice,” Taika smiled up at her, looking for approval. “Man, whya gotta nerd everything up, eh?” she laughed to herself. “So then does that mean we can go now?” “Yes, I suppose it does…” No sooner had the words left Pendleton’s mouth than Taika was at the door waiting to leave. In the street there was already a muddle of excitement and the old downtown was bustling with excitement by the time they arrived. The air hung, drenched with humidity and baking with heat. Mosquitoes floated in buzzing clouds, with more people around then they could possibly bite. The sun beat down, high in the cloudless sky, and the only breeze was an occasion gust from the East trumpeting in the arrival of an overnight storm. On any other day no one would have wanted to be outside, but today was special. The streets were awash with giddy people as they made their way up to their destination. The atmosphere was pleasant, and Taika found herself grinning broadly at the feeling of it all. They reached the home that was housing the gala, one that dated back to the cities founding. Filigreed and molded, it made quite an impression. It was taller than it was wide, squeezed between other similar homes to either side, but massive nonetheless. A few stone steps led up to the grand front doors that were propped widely open, spilling cool air into the street outside. A man stood to one side of the opening, behind a guestbook on a stand. He wore a tuxedo of sorts, even in the blistering heat, and seemed to be trying to hide his discomfort. “Your name please, Madam?” he said haughtily looking down his nose at the woman. “Thelma Pendleton” He scanned his papers without moving his head until he spotted her name on the list. “Delighted at your arrival, Master Pendleton,” He said with a short bow from the waist, “as well as yours,” he addressed the young women standing next to her. Taika fumbled over a small curtsey in response. “Right this way, Master,” said another similarly dressed man from just inside. They followed him through the tall carved wooden doors and into the immaculate anteroom which had a runner on the floor that lead to the ballroom up another couple of steps and through another set of double doors, glass pained this time. Off to the side there were several other closed doorways presumably leading into the home itself, and one that was clearly marked as the powder room. The ceiling went up all the way to the top of the building so you could look down from the upper levels and see the magnificent crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling that sent light dancing about wildly. Armless chairs were strewn about the room, most obviously brought in from other parts of the house. Everything was decorated in an ornamental old world style that was uncommon to see in the rest of the country. The atmosphere was instantly changed from outside. It became instantly stuffy, still, and pretentious. The ballroom itself was wide and spectacular, with light spilling in every which way from the numerous picture windows as well as the small rows of glass near the ceiling that resembled a clerestory. It set everything a wash in a golden hue. The areas near the odd stained glass window stood in a purple haze that stood in stark contrast to the rest of the room. Tables were set up all around the edges of the room. From the street it was unimaginable that such a large room could be inside such a cramped looking building. People were milling about from table to table as the festivities would not actually begin for several more hours. The attendant led them all the way across the room to an important looking table with only a few of its many seats filled. “Feel free to go after I introduce you,” Pendleton said to them on the sly. “Just be back for when dinner starts at eight.” Faron made a nod of recognition and Taika just kept looking about as before. “Master Pendleton to see you,” the attendant said stiffly, bowing as he backed away to return to his post at the door. The seated people rose upon hearing their introduction and approached them with hands extended. An older gentleman, dressed in the garb of a bygone era addressed them, “I’m so glad you could make it here Master Pendleton. It’s an honor to have such a prestigious guest as yourself here this evening.” He clasped Thelma’s hand with both of his. “You’re far too kind,” she said obligingly. “No, no,” he waved down the idea, “oh and are these your apprentices then, hmm?” “Yes! This is my newer student, Faron Harding,” she half pushed her toward the man and all but disappeared behind her large frame. “Faron’s been with me for nearly three years now, but before that she was living across the river in Waterton. Faron, this is Mr. Bernard, he’s the one who invited us here tonight.” He seemed disgruntled upon hearing she was from Waterton. She shook his hand forcefully, noticing his disdain for her hometown, taking him off guard. “Nice ta meet cha Mr. Bernard,” she spoke with an exaggerated brogue and slapped him on the back amicably. “Ah, y-yes well you too.” He cleared his throat. “and please do say hello to my wife Patricia.” He gestured toward the opulently dressed and pleasant woman next to him whom Faron shook hands with, “and my son Andrew,” he said in reference to a bored and embarrassed looking young man sitting at the table. She simply tipped her head slightly to him with a look that said she understood. “And this is my other student, Taika Rostova. I’ve been teaching her since she was just a baby.” Thelma put her arm around the girl. “The Freeman’s granddaughter?” “Yes, one and the same.” “Nice to meet you, sir.” She said quietly, putting her hand in his weakly. “And you as well. Would you give your grandparents my regards?” “Certainly,” she wasn’t sure why that was necessary if they were going to be here tonight anyway. “Mr. Bernard is a very important person in the financial sector,” Thelma said informatively. “Is that so?” Faron said feigning a great interest. “Why yes! It just so happens that…” he bloviated on enthusiastically about himself when Taika came to realize that Faron was not there anymore. Looking around conspicuously as she knew she was not being watched, she spied Faron sitting backward in the chair of the next table over, seeming to be listening intently. “Our earnings were much larger than expected last quarter leading the way for us to…” when she glanced back at where Faron was sitting she was gone again, moved to another table even farther away, but in the exact same position. Meeting Taika’s glance, she signaled for the girl to come over to her. With fading trepidation Taika went over to her. “C’mon let’s get outta here.” Faron insisted. She turned back to see if anyone had noticed their absence, but Mr. Bernard was continuing to ramble on obliviously. Master Pendleton was looking at him with a blankly serene expression without reverence to the conversation. She caught Taika looking at her and smiled encouragingly as she always did. Mr. Bernard’s son Andrew was at the pair as they made their escape from the ballroom. They returned outside and were once again bombarded by the moist heat of the day punctuated by warm breezes that blew in from the East. From their vantage point they could see the countless stalls and stands set up around the open square. People were selling crafts and snacks, selkies hocking fresh fish. Several gnomes were out selling potted plants, and one was scuttling about in front of the stand with a butterbur leaf over its head like a parasol. In the distance the edge of a Ferris wheel was visible through the haze. The noise of the crowd seemed to have grown in the few minutes they were absent. “The nerve a that guy,” Faron said hotly, “Ya see his face when e heard I was from Waterton? Pfft I ken jus tell e’s a dem rich bast- uh jerks that thinks they’re better then all a us from across the river.” Waterton was the sister city of Port of Opportunity, lying just across the Orange River that serves as the border between the tiny country of Biminey and the much larger Brant. Brant had kept Waterton as part of the secession deal it made with Biminey, but never made much of an effort to take care of it. Many people in the Port thought of Waterton as a slum, and the people in it uncultured, in no small part because of their emblematic way of speaking. Faron let out a large sigh and started to walk into the crowd. Taika stayed close to Faron, reproachful of the strange people around. There was no one here she knew, so it was useless to strain about looking through the crowd like Faron was. She seemed to be moving purposefully although Taika didn’t know where to. Everyone outside was dressed up, but just what that entailed varied greatly, especially when it came to the cities many immigrants. Seeing someone wearing the traditional formal wear of Ulkoneva reminded the girl of her other grandfather, who had emigrated from the country during a time of turmoil. His daughter was away now, perhaps in trouble, perhaps embroiled in the very conflict he had fled. But Taika hadn’t thought of him. She felt a pang of remorse, considering today he was all alone in the city too. “Something the matter?” Faron asked in response to her sudden gloomy demeanor. “Pardon? Oh, uh, it’s nothing.” She didn’t think Faron would understand. She was so unlike her in some ways… “Awright, have it your way,” she looked forward again and kept on walking. “just about there now,” “Where are we going anyway?” “I’m takin ya down to the street performers like I said.” “I don’t recall you mentioning anything about that, but it sounds nice.” “I ain’t never said nothing? Damn, musta slipped my mind.” She chuckled to herself, “any old how, I thought you’d like it. ‘Sides I’m meetin up with my friends there.” They emerged from a cramped alleyway into another open square, outside the ritzy neighborhood and nearer to the University. Every inch of the clearing seemed to be teaming with life. Stages rose up from the ground with rickety bleachers surrounded them. In between these structures stalls and stands were wedged, along with barely visible clearings where performers stood alone. The tall platforms all around cast long dark shadows that cut across the crowds. Excitement and laughter rang out, intensified by the thousands. “Wanna get some lemonade?” Faron offered, “It’s so hot out here my ass is sweatin, and I don’t need ya havin a heat stroke on me.” “Sure,” lemonade from vendors always tasted better than the kind she tried to make. She figured it probably had something to do with the ratio of lemon juice to water, or perhaps something to do with agitation… There was a fair amount of hubbub around the stand and it soon became apparent that they were going to have to wait a bit. As they were doing so, Faron prattling on about something and Taika lost in her own thoughts, a voice seemed to standout among all the others. Someone was shouting Faron’s name. Taika turned to look and two people seemed to be making their way over to them. Two people who bore a striking resemblance to Faron herself. “Fallon, Carol, what are you doing here?” Faron said in a mixture of surprise and delight. “We came here to see you, dummy. I toll Hilary ta tell ya,” said the young man. “I guess that’s what we get fer trustin him, eh?” the young lady chimed in. “yeah, Hil’s an even bigger idiot than me, eh” Faron laughed. “Taika, this is my baby sister Fallon and my littlest brother Carol. I’m sure ya hardly recognize em.” Faron was the oldest of seven children. She had five brothers that Taika could never tell apart. All of the siblings looked very similar with brown hair, bright eyes, and an exaggerated stature. “Oh, forgive me, you’re just so much taller than when I saw you last,” Taika said, astonished. “Story a my life, eh?” Carol cajoled. “You ain’t any taller though, eh? Still cute as a button,” He patted her on the head chidingly, because he was only a couple of years older than her and yet already as tall as his older sister. Fallon was barely a year older than Taika, but people already mistook her for an adult. “How’d yous guys get ov’r here? The subway must be packed today.” “We took Evelyn’s motorbike. It was real pretty crossin tha bridge, even if it was kinda slow.” “Oh yeah? Does he know ya got his bike?” “I said somefin to ‘im, but he prolly wasn’t paying attention. Prolly too busy thinkin’ bout getting drunk tonight.” “If he does get drunk give im a good smack for me, eh? He can’t afford ta lose any brain cells.” “Yeah, sure,” Fallon giggled, “I’ve been havin ta do all the smackin since you’ve been gone. Cept it ain’t quite the same when I do it.” Taika looked on at them joking together. The idea of having so many people close to her was foreign to the girl, and in a way she yearned for that feeling of camaraderie and familiarity that was so apparent with them. Faron walked over and gave her the lemonade she had come to forget about. The paper cup was slick with condensation and the chill of the cup jolted her momentarily as she clasped it. It was then that heat seemed to become apparent to her. She was too busy thinking of other things to notice it before. She took a greedy swig of the icy beverage and felt the chill go down her chest as she swallowed. Following the other’s lead she put the cool side of the cup against her sweaty forehead. She had the distinct feeling she wasn’t doing it right, however. “Well, I’m suppose ta be mettin ma friends around here somewhere,” Faron said, beads of perspiration rolling down the sides of her face. “Why don’t choo three go figure out what you wanna see while I find em, eh?” “Sure thing,” here brother responded, and Taika watched her disappear into the mass of people. “So’s my sister bein good ta ya? She ain’t givin you a hard time or nothing, is she?” Fallon inquired. “Uh, no, she’s really been very nice to me.” “That’s good ta hear! So ya doin okay being here without yer mom and dad?” “It’s,” she paused, “alright I guess.” “You make any new friends yet? Since you’ll be livin here and all.” “I haven’t really talked to anyone yet.” “Aw, c’mon, that won’t do!” she patted her on the back gruffly, “I’m sure you’ll make lottsa friends if you just try. There’s all kinds of you, uh, cerebral types round here, for sure at that new school you’ll be goin to.” “Well, some of my old friends from the Cape are going to be moving here soon to go to the school as well…” “Ah, so you won’t be by yourself then, eh?” “No, not at all” “Then we won’t have ta worry bout cha havin a hard time?” “I should be okay,” she smiled up at them. Taika was a bit embarrassed to realize she hadn’t thought about making any new friends since arriving in town. Her mind had been elsewhere. “That’s a relief!” Carol remarked, “But if you do run inta any trouble just tell us.” “Yeah, we’ll show dem punks a thing or two!” “Um alright,” she laughed nervously, which caused the pair to break into thunderous laughter. She didn’t quite get it, but she laughed along anyway. “Come on then, let’s go figure out what we’re gonna do,” It was difficult for Taika to keep up with the two while walking. They went faster than her and any gap in the crowd was quickly filled, or so it seemed. Voices boomed about from all directions and upon the senses unceasingly. They were there in time to catch the start of several plays, which they had chosen to watch in lieu of the sundry street performers who were beginning to set up. You could sit in the shade while watching a play, after all, and temperature was a paramount concern at the moment. The university drama club was a putting on a play, a satirical version of an old fairytale. It starred some friends of Faron’s, or at least friends of friends, and so they went to see it. Creaking wooden seats surrounded the little stage in a half circle, an attempt to preserve a semblance of acoustics. Starched and faded canopies were stretched above to the heat and light beaming down upon them. Several handfuls of other college-aged people were scattered about in little groups on the bleachers, whispering to each other gaily. In the center people were still scrambling about to set up the backdrops and a costumed thespian would occasionally amble out, only to slip backstage once more. The production began shakily, the actors uncomfortably shouting their lines at one another. One in a gaudy fairy suit missed their cue completely and Faron yelled out some comical words of encouragement in a way that was both enduring and slightly obnoxious. Taika didn’t understand most o f the jokes, but everyone else was laughing and she had a feeling they were some manner of “mature” jokes. Nevertheless she enjoyed herself and the shoddy play, forgetting about the incessant buzz of insects and clammy heat for the time being. She was happy just to be able to be around other people, doing something normal, and not having to think about the troubles of her future. An intermission came about and Taika decided to go and stretch her legs and maybe go and use the restroom, not that she knew where one was. Getting down from the bleachers was a much easier task than going up them for her. Taika could jump down safely from nearly any height through a method Master Pendleton had taught her. She simply had to hit the ground going slowly, and at the right angle and she would be fine. Doing so felt rather unnatural, as things often do, and gave one an odd sensation in the legs after landing from such a height. Taika liked to fancy herself a cat landing on its feet. Once she was down it became rather difficult for her to tell where she was going on account of everyone being taller than her. She wandered forward, her mind now turned to thoughts about the questionably construction of the bleachers, but then flitting about lazily from one notion to the next. In a trance she padded along slowly, barely taking in her surroundings when quite suddenly something caught her eye. In front of her was a peculiar pair of hands, unthinkingly she moved closer and closer to them until they were nearly under her nose. Their skin was lumpy and rough looking, the fingers curling and thin. On the end of each slender finger prehistoric looking claws jutted out and curved around almost delicately. These hands were so familiar, but where had she seen them? They were so strange. Where could she- Then she realized. They looked just like the hands that had taken her parents away. She felt a sinking deep in her stomach, a lump in her throat. What were these hands doing here? What did they belong to? Promptly she snapped back to her senses, noticing the hands were folded in front of a massive feathered body, the head of which was so high up she had to lift her chin to see it. When Taika looked up she met the gaze of two eagle eyes, big and round as saucers, looking down at her like a hawk sizing up its prey. Involuntarily she made a noise before looking back down and turning tail. She nearly broke into a run, and, for what could be the first time in her life, felt unable to understand the information laid out before her. Squeezing her eyes shut images and ideas floated through her head like in a maelstrom until she found herself at a standstill. She had run straight into something, no someone, someone warm and very…squishy? “There you are!” Faron’s voice reverberated against her ear. “I figured maybe leavin ya alone wouldn’t be the best idea, you know, since you’re not feelin so great n’ all. Are you okay? Y’ain’t feelin sick are ya?” She lifted the girl’s head out of her chest and put her hand on her forehead to check her temperature, and then pressed Taika’s head back against herself protectively. Taika pulled herself together and took a step back. “I wasn’t watching where I was going and I ran into someone,” this wasn’t really untrue, “I think it might have been a buteon.” She said, figuring it out as she spoke, “Yes, I’m quite certain that’s what it was.” “A buteon, eh?” Faron said flatly. She put a hand over her brow and rocked forward on her heels, scanning the crowd. “Where could it be?” Without warning she jumped straight up, nearly sending Taika careening over in surprise. It was just enough time for her to catch sight of the creature, a buteon, a race of people from the mountains that closely resembled terrifyingly large hawks. “Ah well, whaddya know, there’s two right there. Must be here to see the festival. There’s all sorts a people out here today. You know I sawr a capuman here too?” “Really? I’ve never seen one of them before. I’ve just heard Master Pendleton talk about them. Was it very cute? Did it have a little tail?” Taika was glad to change the subject. “Yeah, yeah, I jus sawr it for a second though. I’ll tell ya if I see one again, eh?” “Oh please do,” Taika tried to seem carefree, but the discovery she had just made quickly crept back into her consciousness. She grimaced in agitation. “Is anything else bothering you?” “No, I was just thinking about something. That’s all.” What good would telling Faron about her new suspicion do right now? “I’ll tell you about it later.” She tried to look upbeat. “You sure? Cause I could find us some place quiet to talk if ya want.” “It’s fine, really.” She knew she wasn’t fooling Faron. “Alright, have it your way.” They returned to their show and later back to dinner where they danced well past the late sunset to the sound of a booming big band. Then they watched the fireworks relight the newly extinguished sky. But all the while the specter of worry loomed over Taika’s thoughts no matter how hard she tried to chase it away. |
| I'm still not sure how I want to break this up into chapters, especially in this next part coming up. |
| The whistle of the train rattled her from her sleep. She had had strange dreams while she was asleep… A few hours had passed and the train was arriving at Port of opportunity. Taika sat up and rubbed the sleep from the corners of her eyes. Her hair was a little disheveled and she smoothed it down absent-mindedly. The cat noticed she was awake and pranced over to her, rubbing against her side. She scratched at its ears and was greeted with a loud purr. Having grown accustom to the noise of the machine it seemed deafly quiet to her, save for the cat. It was an eerie feeling. Outside the window the scenery had changed from farmland to the outskirts of the city. If she was paying attention she would have found them familiar. Memories of what had transpired earlier flashed through her head as she stared out the window pensively, still trying to figure out what had happened. How exactly was she going to explain this to her teacher? Should she tell her right away? Or maybe it would be best to wait a bit, until she could speak to her privately? Perhaps just see how things play out? She grimaced in confusion for a moment before she realized they were pulling into the station. She regained her composure and sat up straight. Molly was standing on her hind legs looking out the window with her paws pressed against the glass when she scooped her up and put her back inside her carrier. With her bag slung across her shoulder, Taika sat waiting for the train to stop moving. With all that had happened before she hadn’t had time to think of where she was going. She hadn’t seen Master Pendleton in several months, and hadn’t seen her other student, Faron, in even longer. Faron was a university student and a very smooth talker. She was always very nice to Taika, and she felt a little bad for not having thought of her more. The train grinded to a halt at the platform that already had quite a few people on it. The sound of busy people was audible once more suddenly things felt normal again. She could feel the movement of all the people onboard getting up, but she waited, seated, until most of the people got off before her. Her nerves ran awry as she walked up the passageway to get off the train. It was hazy outside, and the sun was beginning to get lower in the sky so everything cast a long shadow. The atmosphere was enveloping and Taika felt lost in the crowd as she wandered almost aimlessly. In a way it was comforting to be able to be alone with her thoughts for a moment more. “Hey Tai over here!” shouted a familiar voice. She turned around to see a tall woman waving a hat in her hand. “Faron!” she said happily, running over to her and hugging her tightly, relieved to see someone she knew. “Geez I’m glad to see you too,” she said with a chuckle, patting the girl on the back. “What’s old Thelma, chopped liver?” Beside her was a stout, unassuming, but sagacious older woman who wouldn’t really look out of place anywhere. “Master Pendleton, there you are!” the girl said with relief, hugging her too. “It’s so good to see you again, dearie,” the old woman cooed sweetly, “but are you quite alright?” “Um,” she paused for a moment, contemplating telling her what happened. No, this wasn’t the place to discuss such matters, “yeah I’m fine, really” she forced a smile. “Well in that case let’s get outta here,” Faron said cheerfully, taking the girls bags and starting to walk away, “I’ll hail a cab and go get the rest of your stuff,” “Thank you!” she shouted after her, running to catch up. “Eh, don’t mention it.” Faron had reached the busy street outside, “Taxi!” she shouted with gusto and a little yellow car pulled up promptly. “There you are missy,” she said as she opened the door to let them both in and took Taika’s baggage check, “I’ll be right back,” At a full run she departed back into the train station. It was small inside the car, cramped and rather stuffy, but comfortable nonetheless. Taika sat in the middle seat with the cat carrier on her lap which now held a pacing and quite shaken Molly. She wasn’t paying attention to the animal however; she was considering telling Pendleton what had just happened. No this wasn’t the right place either… Instead she just sat silent and nervous while her teacher looked out the window pensively, occasionally sneaking worried glances at the girl. Not long after she left Faron returned carrying a suitcase on her shoulder, walking with a nondescript looking man who was carrying several heavier cases. She lifted the back trunk and the whole vehicle shook from the added weight being put inside. Slamming the door shut, she dispatched the man who as helping her and he promptly disappeared as though he was never there to begin with. She slid into the back next to them and told the driver where to go. “Your analogs are getting better, Faron.” Taika said in reference to the man who had been helping her. “think so?” “Yes, they seem so real I can hardly tell the difference,” She laughed, “thanks kiddo, really” she seemed a touch embarrassed, but hid it behind feigned cockiness, “you know I’m getting’ good at having them talk now too,” “Really? That’s so cool,” she said excitedly, almost bouncing in her seat. “Yep, pretty soon I’ll have my own army. You can be the leader though, Tai, you’ve got the brains,” Taika looked down at her feet shyly and laughed a bit to herself. “You have a nice time in the country?” “Yes it was very pleasant there. You could go swimming on the beach all by yourself and just listen to the waves. I even saw a really cute seal; at least I think it was a seal. I guess it could have been a selkie, but they probably would have talked to me if they were.” “They’re usually pretty chatty.” “Uh, huh. Oh! And I saw a cow being born! It was sort of gross, but it was really interesting.” “Y-yeah that’s one way to put it.” Taika giggled along with her. “We’re nearly there,” Pendleton remarked as they pulled into a neighborhood full of old picturesque houses and sprawling old trees. “Yeah, I think you’ll like the place. We even cleaned up for you” “And it was definitely due for a cleaning too…” The cab stopped in front of a cozy looking home that was a touch beat up, but had an unnatural amount of flowers blooming in the yard. It was in most all respects a normal looking home and not at all the sort of place you would think a great wizard would live in. They got out and paid the cabby. Faron yanked the luggage out onto the curb by herself and Taika shouted words of thanks to the little car as it drove away. She then went about admiring and investigating the many flowers that graced the lawn so elegantly. They were kinds she’d never seen before, and she would of course have to know what they were. “What sort of flowers are these?” she inquired without looking away from them. “I’m not sure,” the old woman answered, “I’m not the one who planted them. Digby is responsible for the yard and everything growing in it. I suppose I should go introduce you to him.” “Oh please do!” she stood up quickly, rocking back a bit as she lost balance in her haste and followed Pendleton around back. The backyard was truly a grand site, full of plants of every kind and an orderly vegetable patch which seemed too far along for the season. It was almost intimidating to walk around for fear of stepping on something precious. “Digby!” she called out inquiringly. “Digby our guest is here!” “alright, alright, Ms. Thelma, I’m coming,” said a small but gruff voice from within the thick vegetation. There was a rustle near the ground and a little man popped out from within the stems of the tulips, pushing them gently aside as he walked. He was scarcely more than two feet tall with a disproportionately large head and stubby little limbs. The tiny man shuffled forward almost comically until he was right infront of them. A sparse grey beard covered his face which itself closely resembled a potato. Messy hair of the same color spilled out from beneath a brightly colored cap that matched the vest on his little outfit. “Digby, this is my apprentice Taika Rostova,” said Pendleton as the girl in question knelt down level with the tiny man. “Taika, this is Digby, he’s an old friend of mine who lives out here in the yard.” “Hello sir,” she said as she offered him her hand to shake, but reconsidering offered her two biggest fingers. He grasped them in his leathered little hand and shook them roughly. “It’s nice ta meet a nice young lady such as ye’self,” he looked up at Faron a little as he spoke. “See, I told you he doesn’t like me,” she spouted off playfully, “he’s still mad about that time I punted him across the lawn.” “And why wouldn’t I be?! I thought for sure I was going to die. My whole life flashed afore meh eyes!” he asserted stubbornly. “I caught you though, didn’t I? (you should have seen it Tai it was awesome)And besides it was an accident. I didn’t see you down there. Maybe if you’d been wearing own of those big pointy hats all the other gnomes wear, I woulda seen ya. Then you wouldn’t a gotten trampled.” “I refuse to wear one of those stupid hats just because I’m a gnome. That’s why I moved to the city!” he shook his little fist and scrunched up his now rubicund features. “Oh Digby, you’re such a cad!” Pendleton said with a childish laugh, “you’re always so short tempered when people tease you.” “Eh, I suppose I am,” he held his hat in his hand blushingly. There was a scratch from inside the now forgotten cat carrier that had been sitting on the ground next to them. Automatically Taika opened it up and after a seconds apprehension Molly jumped out, sniffing the air as she went. It didn’t take her more than fifteen seconds to lock onto the gnome who was now on guard. “Oh goodness not a cat,” he said softly so as to not be heard by the foul feline, all the while standing perfectly still with his arms outstretched. The animal stalked up to him and with after some rumination gave him a curious whack on the bottom. “I haven’t lived this long to be smacked around by some cat,” he spat out. Upon realizing that he was the one talking, Molly changed her stance. She sniffed his face intently and then finally rubbed her side against him with a force that nearly made him topple over. Taika couldn’t restrain a laugh, which enlisted a chuckle from the grumpy fellow. With a perfunctory effort he patted the cat’s leg whilst looking at the girl for approval. “How about we go inside and have some tea, dear?” Pendleton asked while picking up the purring cat. “Yeah we tried to make some pastries to go with it,” Faron added, “but since we made them there’s no telling what they’ll taste like,” “I don’t mind,” she said sweetly, following them inside through a battered looking wooden door next to a cracked square of cement. It lead into a dim room filled with several very old and faded sofas sitting on a stained, but elaborate rug which surely looked wonderful when it was new. There were stuffed bookcases and strange and cryptic looking pictures on the walls, which could use a new coat of paint themselves. Thick curtains were draw over the large windows that looked to be made of intricately embroidered velvet, the design of which was highlighted by the light making its way through fabric. Nevertheless the room looked comfortable enough, even though the bits and bobs on the tables seemed rather foreboding, as though a genie would come out if you touched them. The floor creaked as they walked across it, and it didn’t feel entirely even beneath her feet. The ceilings seemed to be falling down onto them, as low as they were, and Taika could almost swear they were sagging. A large open doorway lead into the kitchen, which was in a much nicer state and seemed to have been scrubbed spotless. It was spacious, with a wooden table and chairs inside adorned with flat cushions that looked like they would do little to make the chairs more comfortable. The big window behind the sink had its blinds open and the sun was shining in brightly. It would be a while before sunset this time of year. Faron went up to the stove to start on the tea and Taika sat down at the table with Master Pendleton. “How do you like the house so far?” “Oh, it’s alright. I mean it’s pretty nice.” Would now be a good time to tell her? “Master Pendleton” Taika said with severity. “Yes, what is it?” she caught on to the grave tone in her voice. Taika didn’t speak for a moment as she considered what to say. She had been thinking over her words ever since she got off the train. “Something happened earlier. When I was on the train, that is,” “What sort of something?” she replied, and Faron began to listen in. “I’m not sure really,” Taika screwed up her face a little in a mix of emotions, “Well, one minute I’m looking at my parents out the window as the trains starting to leave, and then the next they’re gone! And I could have sworn I saw something grab them and pull them away. Like this” she put one hand over her mouth and the other over her stomach and pretended to pull herself backwards “But no one else seemed to notice anything.” Her voice trailed off as she began to feel a little stupid for bringing it up as it sounded so strange out loud, or perhaps she should have worded it differently… Pendleton looked deep in thought, “If you saw something no one else did, it could be that someone was trying to hide what they were doing, a wizard of sorts, and you were the only one who was able to see through their rouse.” While she offered up this explanation she looked troubled and didn’t imply it as a solution, and almost lost her train of thought as she spoke. “When it happened the hand I saw take them away looked like a monster’s” the girl offered up, “it was like it came out of the shadows and pulled them away into the darkness,” her voice was strained. “Yes, hiding in the shadows…” Pendleton said, almost talking to herself, “it’s a pity I wasn’t there to see all the way through their rouse. “ her tone changed, “of course this begs the questions, who would want your parents, and what for? I mean your father is a blue blood, they could just be looking for a ransom, but they seemed to have gone through an awful lot of trouble for just that…” she seemed unsure of herself. “I’ll start by contacting their employer to see if they have any information. We barely have anything to go on right now so we can’t draw any conclusions, let alone take any actions. I’m afraid we’ll have to wait and see.” She put her hand on that of the girl’s who nearly trembled from nervousness. “I wish there was something I could have done. Something I could do now.” She put her head in her hands and shuddered. Faron walked over with a made up tea tray. She set it down on the table and pulled Taika into her arms, “We’ll figure something out, don’t worry. Besides, your parents are diplomats after all. If anything happened to them there’d be some pretty big consequences for whoever did it. “ “I suppose…” “And once we figure out what happened to ‘em old Thelma will find a way to help. That’s what she does after all, she’s a great wizard.” “That’s right I’ll do whatever I can,” the old woman said tenderly, pressing the hand of the frightened girl who pressed back faintly. “I’ll go call their work and see what I can find out,” she got up from the table and went into the other room, pushing in her chair as she went. Faron poured tea into one of the mismatched but ornate teacups on the tray. Daintily she picked up a one of the sugar cubes with a little pair of tongs. The cubes were decorated with icing that looked like flowers. “How many do you like?” she asked in a nurturing tone. Taika was silent, a bit unhappy that she was trying to change the subject so casually. Faron wiggled the tongs a bit, trying to coax out a response, “you’re supposed to put the milk in first,” she said finally, a bit begrudgingly. “Huh? And all this time I’d been doing it wrong.” She pretended to be taken aback. “Well then this cup can be mine,” she put it aside and quickly plunked in four cubes of sugar covertly. She grabbed another cup and poured in a bit of milk, “ok, now how many sugars?” “Two,” the girl breathed with a sigh. “And thank you very much for bringing it to me, although it would have been better to use loose sugar. It dissolves much more easily then cubed sugar.” She took a sip of her tea. “Oh but it’s not as fancy that way,” “I suppose one could take aesthetics into account, true,” she didn’t seem to give serious thought to the concept. “Well of course, if we didn’t take looks into account then we wouldn’t be drinking tea our tea out of frilly teacups to begin with.” Faron said, cutting through her thoughts. “You’re right,” Taika said ineffectually even though this was of genuine interest to the strange child, “I should take note of that. Aesthetics are import, even if they’re inefficient.” Her thoughts were clearly elsewhere and she seemed a bit annoyed. They continued to drink their tea, tentatively trying not to think about the matter at hand. A few minutes later Pendleton returned from the other room looking thoroughly uneasy. “I’ve just got off the line with your parents employer,” she said sitting down, not making eye contact but instead gazing downward at her own wringing hands. “They said your parents showed up to work per usual and set out to Ulkoneva as scheduled. Nothing went wrong and nothing was out of the ordinary.” Taika looked up at her wide-eyed and speechless. No one spoke for nearly a minute, “what does that mean?” she finally sputtered out. “I don’t know yet,” Pendleton said quickly, “there’s several possibilities, but what’s for sure is that things are more complicated then I first imagined” she sighed deeply and looked away from the girl seeming almost embarrassed. “So what do we do?” Taika was on the verge of tears again and Faron put her arm around her shoulder. “For now I don’t think there’s anything we can do,” she answered reluctantly. “We’ll have to wait and see what happens. In the meantime I’ll do what I can to figure out what’s going on. I don’t think your parents are in any danger though, so try not to worry too much,” she didn’t seem to believe all of what she was saying, “There’s also a possibility that nothing actually happened to your parents,” “But I know what I saw!” she was exacerbated. “and I believe you, the thing is someone could have been playing a trick on you, so to speak.” She looked at the scared girl seriously, “I’ve seen this sort of thing happened before. “Why would someone even do that?” “To try and get a rise out of you, or probably me.” The old woman looked racked with guilt, but tried not to show it, “Like I said, for now there’s nothing we can do. I know it won’t be easy, but we’ll just have to wait until we know more.” |
| Reposting this again, hopefully I'll have the courage to keep posting the rest! I get so nervous about my writing when it comes to fiction. |
| “It is the duty of all those who are able to work for the greater good of the world” The sound of the rushing tide intermingled with the rustling of the leaves in the trees, making a single sound that enveloped the ears of whoever might be lucky enough to be standing between the two. A girl sat on the beach, oblivious to the harmonious sound around her, hunched over and looking determinedly at a small crab that had just made its way out of the sand. With a motion of her hand and a tilt of her head, as though conducting music, she made the little crab move. First slowly, than quickly, and finally making it move wildly across the sand, zigging and zagging. A smile cracked across her at her success and she relinquished control of the animal, letting it go back to do whatever it is crabs do. “Taika!” a voice called from behind her. “Coming dad!” she shouted in return springing to her feet and dusting off her sandy bottom. She ran back up the beach toward the cottage where she had been staying, tripping a bit on the bumpy sand beneath her. “We’re just about ready to go now,” said her father as he helped to lift a suitcase into the back of a neighbor’s old car with great effort. He was a mousy sort of fellow with a kind voice, and not a person you would particularly want to help carry your bags. “Would you like to check once more just to be sure you haven’t forgotten anything?” “I guess I might as well,” she said as slipped her shoes back on. “I don’t gather I’ve left anything though,” “Yes, well it can never hurt to check,” he replied from behind a tall stack of books. “Right,” once she had finished shaking all the sand out of her shoes and returned them to her feet she ran off full pace to check all the places where she may have left something. It was summertime and she was staying at a cottage on the beach with her parents. Though it wasn’t far from Cape of plains, the City where she lived it felt very remote. Miles of farmland stretched across the flat countryside interspersed with farmhouses every couple thousand acres along unpaved roads. Taika was beginning to tire of this simple existence she had been living for the past few weeks. At first she was excited to being coming here for vacation, but over time she had run out of rocks to collect, flowers to pick, and birds to watch. The aquamarine tinted skies and fast moving clouds, the winds gliding across the wheat in the fields and whipping up dust devils and the hawks who sit on the power-poles waiting for vermin to emerge from the crops below, had come to bore her. At her age anything becomes mundane if you give it enough time. But perhaps she was not so much bored at all this, as anxious to leave. Today she would be going to stay with her teacher, the great wizard Master Thelma Pendleton. Taika had been apprenticing under her for her whole life, but hadn’t seen her for a few months now. She would be living with her while her parents went away for work, and was excited to learn more from the woman. Compared to a great wizard, it was hard to the beach to hold interest. Her thoughts elsewhere, Taika ran from tree stump, to grassy knoll, big mossy rock, and to anywhere else she had been for more than a few minutes. Glancing carelessly about, for all of her things were already accounted for. In the back of her mind she took this time to take in the scenery one last time while brimming with thoughts of the future. Everything having checked out she returned to the cottage where her mother stood under the shade of a big ash tree examining a cicada that was sitting on it. “Ah there you are,” she said calmly upon noticing her daughter. “Are you quite ready to go?” “Pretty much…” the girl felt a sudden pang inside herself. Her life was going to change a lot soon. Once the summer was over she would be moving to a new city, to a new school in the same city as her teacher. “Why don’t you go get Molly and put her in the car?” she said with a note of concern. “I suppose I should,” she replied halfheartedly. Her father walked over to her and put his arm around her, “are you nervous about going? Here you were getting all excited about going, but now you’re worried you’ll get homesick.” She smiled wryly and looked away, “By the end of summer you’ll be sad about leaving Master Pendleton, just you wait and see. Like at the end of every school year you get excited about summer vacation and then go and miss your friends. So don’t worry, the time will fly by, and before you know it you’ll be wishing you could get away from me and your mother again.” “yeah, yeah,” she said, shrugging him off playfully and going inside. A moment later she came back to the door with a cat carrier in hand and the animal that was to go in it at her heels. The fluffy feline pranced out in front of her happily rubbing her face against the tall strands of grass that grew along the side of the house. Taika walked after her slowly, but the calico creature continued to step lightly, on her way to the beach. “Molly, come back here,” she said with a small tone of annoyance as the cat began rolling in the sand. It stood up, coated in sand, when a seagull caught her eye. She slunk across the sand, low to ground, but her location was betrayed by the glittering grains that covered her, lit up by the sun. That cat didn’t seem to care what Taika said to her. “Come on we gotta go,” the girl said scooping up Molly who dripped with sparkling sand. She pet the cat, and as she did removed all the sand from her, letting it hang in the air for a moment before dropping back down. The cat purred, but struggled in her arms to get back down. “In you go,” she said walking back to the carrier on the ground. The purring stopped and the cat grew nervous. Molly reared back and scrambled her legs in resistance, but Taika shoved her in regardless, and she sulked as the door was closed on her. “It’s only for a little while ok?” she said soothingly, but the cat remained ornery. She picked up the carrier with the handle on top and the whole thing swayed with the weight of the cat lying in the back of it. So she opted to hold it in both arms instead. “Ok, I’m ready!” she called out, walking back to where her parents were. They were standing beside the neighbor’s old open topped car, the trunk of which was slightly ajar from all the luggage inside. Her parents looked at her with a little apprehension as she went up to them. “I got Molly,” she said, not noticing the look on their faces, and climbing into the back seat of the car and putting the cat at her feet. Her mother got in beside her and sighed a little to herself. Anxiously she took of her wire rimmed glasses and started polishing the lenses. “I guess we can get going, then?” said the neighbor, a plump man with strong arms who worked on a farm. “Yes, I suppose so…” her father replied and the two men got into the front. The vehicle sputtered a bit before the engine rolled over and then proceeded to hum evenly. You could feel every bump of the dirt road as they began to move slowly across it. Taika’s father looked back at her and smiled. They pulled out onto the main road and before them stretched out miles and miles of flat farmland that seemed to go on forever. As they drove a wake of dust rose behind them, trailing higher and higher into the sky. It wasn’t far to the city, but a person couldn’t go very fast on these dirt roads, and the car probably couldn’t go to fast either. Nevertheless a few hours later they arrived in the city when the sun was hanging low in the sky and it was beginning to cool down rather than get even hotter. The pavement that had started when they got near the city turned into bumpy cobblestone left over from a time not so long ago. “Hey look we’re here,” said the driver, waking Taika from her day dreaming. Around them were lots of old buildings crammed together with old fashion looking street lamps and benches in a circle. The train station was the focus of the circle with an elaborate staircase leading up to it. Sky scrapers loomed in the background and the buildings which once served as the city hall and post office were now a restaurant and a clothing store, cast aside for more practical structures. An ornate clock stood prominently in front of the train station. “Hey look there she is!” called out the voice of a child. Taika looked about excitedly, recognizing the voice. A gaggle of children her age were gathered near the steps of the station. As soon as the car stopped she jumped out and ran over to them. “I didn’t know you were going to be here,” she said quietly, with some sorted embarrassment. “We wanted to see you off,” said a girl. “And I wanted to see you one last time before you left since you won’t be back at school next year,” another replied. “I wanted to wish you luck,” “I can’t remember what I’m doing here,” called out someone from the back. “Thanks you guys,” Taika replied with a little color in her cheeks. “I hope I’ll have friends as good as you at my new school,” “Oh course you will, I’m going to be there,” said one boy cheekily. “Yeah me too!” a girl chimed in with a giggle, “It’ll be fun. Right, Ms. Rostova?” they looked to her mother. “It’s been a long time since I was there, but I’m sure it hasn’t changed much.” “Where was it your mom and dad are going again, Tai?” “Ulkoneva,” the woman responded. “You’re so brave Taika. You’ll be so far away from your parents,” “Don’t remind me,” she said jokingly. “You better learn a lot this summer, ok? Something really cool!” “I’ll try my best!” Just then the whistle of the train blew nearby. “We’d best get going,” her mother set a hand on her shoulder. “You should say your good byes,” “Right,” and so Taika set forth, hugging each and every one of the children there before setting off, “Good bye everyone!” she shouted from the top of the stairs leading into the station, and happily went inside. There was a clamor of activity inside. A cacophony of busy people moving to and fro, trying not to be late, to find a new arrival, to buy a last minute ticket, filled the air. Her father stood just inside waiting for her. He took her hand and helped to lead her through the throngs of people. The locomotive was stopped next to the platform and the conductor was leading people onto the steely monstrosity. Steam from the engine made the air moist and sticky, and led to an almost suffocating feeling when coupled with the sound. Taika said goodbye to her parents and boarded the train alone, looking back as she did. Once she was on she ran to the back to find an empty room where she could let her cat roam about during the trip. Sliding the door open to the first vacant one she found, the girl tossed her bag onto tone of the benches. Excitedly she closed the door and opened the door to Molly’s carrier, although the cat was too startled to come out. Taika didn’t notice for she was already at the window, looking out into the crowd looking for her mother and father. Happily she got up on her knees and craned her neck to see as many people as possible. She laughed to herself in anticipation and marveled at the scene before her. After a moment she spotted her father among the hustle and bustle. He was looking about the train’s windows for her face. Knowing full well he couldn’t hear her she shouted at him and waved her arms. Even though they didn’t notice her, she was happy to have found her parents. In her mind she tried to remember the image of them standing there, for she wouldn’t be seeing them again for a few months. Up ahead the train started to chug. Her father’s glance met her own and a smile cracked across his face. He got her mother’s attention and she smiled serenely at her daughter too, waving a farewell. Taika waved back, suddenly feeling tears welling up in her eyes. The pistons on the train began to move. Out of nowhere a hand covered her father’s face, callus and clawed, it looked like that of a monster. It jerked him back, and he disappeared into the crowd. Wide eyed Taika looked now to her mother and just as quickly the same thing happened to her. She stifled a scream and looked about. No one next to them seemed to notice what had just happened. There were no monsters in the crowd. Taika couldn’t believe what she had just seen. In an instant her parents were gone, disappeared into nothingness. No, not disappeared-taken. They were taken away, kidnapped. But by who, what? Something with very scary hands, something that can move about unnoticed. The train began to move slowly and deliberately. As she moved past the spot where her parents had been just seconds ago everything looked normal, indistinguishable from the rest of the platform. No panicked people, no commotion, no trace of her mother and father. What could have happened to them? Why would someone want to take them? Why hadn’t anyone noticed? What should she do? Then a knock on the door jolted her back to her present location and out of her train of thought. The conductor slid open the door. “Can I see your ticket young lady?” he said in a friendly tone. “S-sure thing,” she tried to hide her face as she handed the paper to him. “here you go,” He tore the end of the ticket off and handed the rest back to her with a look of concern about the tear now dry on her cheeks and the redness in her eyes. “Was everything ok when we left?” she spat out nervously, “nothing went wrong did it? Like on the platform or anything?” “Oh, no no,” he said reassuringly, “everything went just fine. The train is in tip top shape and everyone got onboard before we even started moving. All those people on the platform were just getting off another train or waiting for the next one to arrive. It’s a very busy time of day. Don’t you worry, we’ll be in Port of Opportunity in just two and a half hours.” “Right,” she said trying to sound calm, “thank you,” she forced a weak smile to her face. “Well, if you need anything, just ask someone in a uniform,’ the conductor said meaningfully and closed the door, moving on to the next room. Taika sighed and sank back in her seat. No one had seen it. No one else knew something was wrong, very, very wrong. Would anyone believe her if she told them? It was such an unlikely story. That someone would just go and snatch up her parents in the middle of a crowded train station. Maybe it hadn’t happened. Maybe she was just seeing things. But what? What kind of explanation could there be for what she saw, it was more than just a trick of the eye. She knew what she saw, but what could she do? Pendleton! She could tell Master Pendleton. She would believe her, and she could do something! She’s a great wizard after all. Yes, she will help and make things alright again. Overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted Taika laid down across the bench and fell fast asleep. |
| This is about the fifth book I've started writing since age nine, but I've resolved to actually finish this one! The stuff I'm submitting is pretty much a rough draft so any advice or critique is very welcome so I can make this thing less crappy. It's a story that came about from I dream I had that I then converted to a story on the way to the dentist to avoid thinking of my emanate tooth drilling, so it's come along way from the beginning, and I'm hoping I can bring it along the rest of the way and make something half way decent. |
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