Page 19

Everetta

I was planning on visiting the royal garden anyway. Normally only the royal family would be allowed in here along with a select few permitted guests. Since, I was technically royal, or so Eli tells me, I picked my way in. What I mean by this was I used my magic to pick the metaphorical magic lock that was preventing anyone not of the Winter Court royal bloodline from entering. It was honestly just too easy. I mean the magic was practically begging me to unlock it. It was on its knees pleading with me to open it. You can't blame me for breaking and entering if I was just granting the wishes of the garden.

Speaking of magic, since I've woken up today I've had a strange buzzing in my blood. I tried figuring it out with my magic but nothing came up, at least not on the magical end. Maybe I'm just sick. Who knows. But it feels almost like- no it's probably nothing.

Scowling at nothing in particular, I strolled down the gardens, looking for one servant or another. Staring across the expanse of lilies, roses, daisies, tulips, etc., I looked around hoping to find someone dressed in one pale blue vest or another. Maybe a maid uniform, I've seen the female servants wear it here or there.

Are there no servants whatsoever here? Who the hell's tending to the flowers?

Hey, interesting fact, the winter roses and snowfall hydrangeas do not need watering; they were named that because the roses are as cold as ice, and the hydrangeas drip petals like snow indefinitely. I smiled, plucking up a few of the flowers. I know, I know, I probably shouldn't do this. I mean it does ruin the work of the gardeners, but I can't help it. I just want to pluck every single one of these little petals from their stems. ' Off with their heads ' and all that. I giggled to myself at the notion.

Honestly, it is quite fascinating how these flowers appear to look like cotton roses. Unlike others, they can change their color from pale white to red in the afternoons. Perhaps something in their genetic makeup—no, focus, Everetta, you need information.

What information again?

........

Oh right, that information- wait what info?

What was I doing here again?

I looked around confused. My mind was kicking up a thunderstorm again. I wonder why, at this point, I could barely feel the pain I mean-

Oh! Pretty flowers!

Hey, how'd these get in my hands, we shouldn't destroy the work of the palace gardeners.

Scratching my head on how these pretty little flowers got in my hand I planted them back into the soil.

Welp, at least they can go back to the ground when they wilt. Once unplanted, even if replanted, can they survive?

I watched the soft glow of the bright sun hitting the tips of each winter rose, almost a little halo glowing above each petal. The rays of light peaking out from the edge of each flower. Oh hey, look! Winter roses! I smiled as I imagined them wilting in a blaze of hell fire, the only thing that could burn them. Taking a breath into my lungs I could feel the magic flowing in the breeze as I lifted my hand to make my imagination come true, a simple heating spell or I could reflect the sun's rays and start a fire. Suddenly a piercing pain splashed across my brain.

"Roses, ya, they're my favorite, but... I'm starting to like lilies a lot more.” A boy with light cool winter blue hair and iceberg blue eyes gleaming with warmth despite his cold powers gazed back at me, a soothing smile etched across his face.

"Hey! They're my favorite too, lilies I mean. Mine are the orange ones. What about you and your roses?" A female voice replied her tone whimsical and nonchalant.

"Red. White. And Purple." The boy responded, his small smile even more comforting than the sun.

I clenched my head from the pain and the onslaught of memories as I stared back at the bed of roses. Clenching my fists I turned to walk away from the colorful assortment of roses.

Burning none.

For some reason, I-I don't want to burn anything anymore.

Why did I want to burn them in the first place?

I tried shaking off the pain, but it just won't stop. As images upon images scattered in fragmented pieces exploded in my mind. "No-No, please no-" A girl's hoarse broken cries echoed in the chaos that surrounded her like flames from hell. Her voice was so familiar. But why?

"No- Flynn, please. Please don't fucking leave me, Flynn please!" Agony, nothing but agony was left in the girl's voice as she screamed her grief into the burning air.

Flynn, the prince? Why was she calling out for him or was it another Flynn?

The voice sounded destroyed, distorted by her pain. The utter desperation in her voice was obvious. Did she care for him?

Why?

I felt my own heart tug at her cries. It was just a memory so why am I so devastated?

Was - was she me?

My mind spun.

Roses- yes, roses are nice. I was roaming the gardens- no- wait, where- where am I- what am I saying? Of course, I'm in the gardens.

"Nooo!" I bellowed as the pain lanced my heart as if I was the girl.

"Kile- that's enough, I don't know how you survived but let me tell you now you won't again." The girl, not me, no am me? No, not me-y es me-I-I don't know. Ugh! I clenched both hands against my throbbing head.

I was the one speaking.

Yes, it was me, these are my-my memories-I-think.

I was looking around or she was looking around the gardens but no one else was there. The green-haired man, who was he?

He turned, holding his hands in the air in the universal sign of surrender, placating me, "Listen to me Everetta, things aren't as they seem. We don't have time-you-you have to find them-promise me. Promise me you'll find them." He pleaded, his voice echoing like some awful drum pounding over and over again and again. Slamming my hands against the sides of my head I tried to stop this magics awful pounding.

"Please just stop," I moaned out loud to no one in particular, my knees going down from the double penetration of pain lancing my heart and brain.

"My beautiful little darling, I love you." A gentle motherly voice spoke, it sounded like a calming breeze against a Wolf Court storm, her cold withered hands tracing my cheeks.

Stop this, please someone just stop this! Slamming my eyes closed I crawled as if getting out of the garden might help heal me from whatever this was.

My magic, that's right I could use my magic to stop this. Except I can't remember the spell.

Why can't I remember the spell?

I need the spell!

I need a way out.

I need Eli.

He'll know how to help me. He always has. A flicker. "Everetta-I'm so sorry."

Ugh, what? What is he apologizing for?

Another flicker.

"Are sure about this-Eli-you can't." Another voice, her elegant white hair, and beaming red eyes glowing like fire as she quickly turned storming out.

Wh-what? What is going on? I barely managed to croak as I stumbled my way along the narrow halls. Where's Eli, where is he? He can-he could explain this right?

Somehow I had managed to transport myself to Eli despite the increasing beatings in my head. My nails were digging into my skin as I crawled my way back up. My hand latched onto the stone brick wall beside me for support.

"Evie- Evie listen to me. You have to trust me, Ellie isn't telling you the truth. YOU. DO. NOT. NEED. HIM. You just need to rest. Please go back, don't do this-" A voice- my voice spoke in my mind. But how?

Ugh! Magic's this hurts!

I can't go back. I shook my head in a pitiful response to... myself? Hah, great, now I'm talking to myself. Why is this happening to me?

Using my magic I traced down Eli's signature.

Found him!

Eli! I nearly called out to him when I heard another voice. Wait, where am I? Right, he was meeting with the king? No-no prince-right the little prince so of course there's someone else here.

"You can't trust him!" The voice bellowed, sounding more alarmed now as I shook it off. It's just trying to tear Eli and me apart. Yes, that's what it was doing.

Flynn? The prince? The guy the girl cared for? No, no, something tells me he wasn't the same man she loved, the same man I loved? What? I don't love anyone. I-

"The man we love would never cower like that." The same voice, my voice spat, as if vexed I would even think that. I frowned. I screamed from the pain in my head, not wanting to let Eli know I was here. But why? Didn't I trust him? No, I did. This must be that voice’s doing. Why couldn't I speak?

"Don't trust him." The voice echoed more firm and demanding as I staggered back as if my limbs weren't in my control.

What-what is happening?

"I didn't want it to happen like this but- he's brought this on himself." That same voice came again, mine yet not mine. What was I-no she doing to me? I fought against the restraints of my own body as if I could fight myself but how-why-ugh!

It hurts!

I-I can't move-I-I have to tell Eli-

My head was still pounding. I was going to pass out anytime now. Yet, why couldn't I move?

Lucarious?

When did he get there?

I should have sensed his energy before he even arrived, but my magic, something was wrong.

Wait- was there always a knight there? What are they doing?

It was like my mind was blacking in and out. As I fought against this throbbing pain.

"What is Eli hiding from you? Pay attention." The voice in my head repeated as I blinked, too exhausted to fight. As if sensing my tiredness the voice in my head also seemed to relax, or was it my imagination?

No, I knew what they- what I, was talking about. I had no doubt there were secrets between me and Eli, but I-no, what am I thinking? Of course, there isn't—but there is, isn't there? No, he was hiding something from me. Yes, he was—no, he wasn't—yes? No?

I don't know!

Gritting my teeth, I couldn't stop the little thoughts seeping into my mind, despite my best efforts to resist.

He had been treating me like a child lately. But he's Eli; we're partners. Surely he would tell me his plans.

"Why is he meeting the prince alone then? Why did he send you off?" The voice whispered, a smirk in its sly tone.

He—well, because—no, stop, Eli—Eli wouldn't lie to me.

A child, hasn't he called me that once? He sure has been treating me like one.

I am not a child!

But-But Eli-he-he-

Eli was now shooing the knight away. There was a little venom in the knight's eyes, but he obeyed.

Eli was offering Flynn a hand up; some words were exchanged, and now the prince was leaving.

Lucarious was there.

What are they talking about?

More importantly, when did he arrive?

Frowning, I shook my head. The pounding intensified.

No, first, let's find out what the hell is going on out there. Honing in on my magic, I amplified my hearing a little, but this only made the pain in my head worse. Where it used to be a drum beating rapidly now it was a full-on banshee screech.

"Well, that was interesting," Lucarious drawled, his face full of self-satisfaction.

Cocking a brow, Eli turned to face his intruder. I had no doubt Eli would have sensed Lucarious coming. Maybe that was why he sent the little prince away.

Eli tried his best to show indifference as I tried my best to focus on their conversation. It was clear to anyone watching he was fuming with rage,

"Oh? I would think the King of Blood and Fire would be immune to the glitz and glamour of swords," Eli sneered as if he was looking down on an ant despite his short size his chin lifted a brow cocked.

Lucarious smiled, baring his pearly white teeth like a fanged shark ready for the kill. "Oh, of course not. How could I ever find that not beautiful? I'm always ever so captivated. The red of blood just hits differently, don't you think? At last, I wasn't referring to the handling of swords but more so towards that coward that was behind your back a moment ago, Eli," He replied, staring at his manicured nails.

Was Lucarious referring to the little prince? What did he have to do with anything? Did this have something to do with Eli meeting with him without me? What was this about?

"And what of it? Not everyone is as skilled as I," Eli lifted his chin in pride as if this was something Lucarious should already know. And I suppose he should have.

I mean Eli was very skilled with the sword; the only ones who could compare to him in the past were Lucarious himself, and the little prince? No, that wasn't quite right. I mean, clearly, the little prince couldn't defend himself. If he could, he wouldn't have been lying behind Eli. Yet, why do I feel like that was wrong? Like the little prince shouldn't have been on the ground. Ugh, my head. Lights sparked behind my eyes like little sprinklers in the night sky.

Damn. But never mind that; I have to focus.

Lucarious was now laughing a lot. I frowned. What in the world was going on?

"You know I've had my suspicions, I mean you are the great Eli, with all his prestige and proper etiquette, his loyalty to family and blood, yet... why is it that I felt your rage roaring off you like the rivers of fire in the Spring Court from miles away? Tell me, does she know that you have your memories back?" Lucarious asked as ice covered the grounds. Black clouded my vision as I blinked, staring at Lucarious' moving mouth but no sounds were coming out.

What? What was he talking about? Why would Eli's etiquette and loyalty to his family have anything to do with anything ? And what was that about his memories ? Our memories haven't returned yet, at least not all of them. Right?

Unless…

"She doesn't know. Does she? Should I go tell her?" Lucarious was saying as he turned to leave, his tone like a father reprimanding his child for a silly mistake. Though the smirk on his face was obvious, he was trying to provoke Eli. So does that mean all he said was fake?

No, wait, look at Eli's face. He was never one to hide his anger well. If Lucarious was just talking his mouth off, then Eli shouldn't be so angry, right? Right ?

As I faced Eli's flushing red face, my own started to drain of any color. No, no, Eli, Eli wouldn't keep something so major from me, right ? I mean, come on; it's our memories we were talking about, a part of ourselves that was hidden away. He told me he wanted no secrets between us, so-

"Don't you fucking dare!" Eli commanded, the ground freezing over with sharp tendrils of ice as a dome was erected around them.

Lucarious, he was just playing a game again; he had to be. I mean, there is no way Eli would keep something so major as our memories coming back from me. Because-Because if he had his memories back, why not me?

Eli and I were supposed to be soulmates, half of one another, so if logic proved to be true, that means I should have also received all my memories, and I-I haven't, so-so Lucarious has to be lying; he has to be.

Yet, why does Eli seem so angry? Why did he say that?

They were saying something but I couldn't see them anymore. I could only listen to the sound of their voices.

"Oh, nothing too big, just a little modification to the bargains we made yesterday. You and Everetta will help me in regards to my status as king-" Lucarious was saying something, a bargain, what bargain?

Magics', my head hurts- it hurts- why does it hurt-why did Eli keep this a secret from me? Why aren't I getting my memories back? No, no, he wouldn't; he couldn't have, but then who? We're soulmates. "-I won't tell her about your little secret and of course of our dear little Flynn's situation. Though I suppose he shouldn't be called Flynn now, should he? What's more, who knows if the real deal is even alive." Lucarious was saying, but the only thing I could hear was the small ringing in my head.

Magics', it hurts so much. Why did it hurt so much, and what the hell did that little prince have to do with-

Memories were flashing too fast, too quickly. I needed to go back, to head back-

I can't move-

My body, ugh! It hurts.

"-she is a bit unstable at the moment and we both know what would happen if she were to ever find out about him-" Lucarious words were going in and out in and out. Ugh! Using the last of my magic I flashed myself back to my room collapsing to the ground as the air around me shifted from a warm winter's breath to a burning inferno of light. Except this wasn't my room.

It was as if this place held some sort of healing remedy for my headaches, as the rhythmic thumping against my brain soothed down. I looked around the dusty basement examining all the books confined on the shelf. The cobwebs connected each book to one another.

The dust was so heavy in the air it was getting hard to breathe. Looking up I spotted the single circular stained glass window far above. Yet despite that, the room was pretty well-lit. Glancing over at the light bulbs hanging from the ceiling I wondered perhaps if they might have been embedded with light ruins.

A fae can embed their magic onto an object or being by placing a ruin on them, for both living and nonliving. Which was why ruins were harder to cast than simple spells. Spells are like a one-and-done sort of casting whereas in ruins you need to embed more magic so that you can ensure that the magic remains even if you don't cast it constantly.

Sure enough, I could see a small ruin on the socket. A sign of a small sun. Makes sense that way you don't have to embed magic onto each light bulb you use. Walking around the room I couldn't help but feel drawn to this place, like-

Placing a hand on my chest I wondered why my heart was starting to feel- it was feeling off. From the corner of my gaze, I spotted something- a picture?

Taking a step closer I could see that it was hung in a rather odd place. I mean what kind of weirdo would place it-

Huh, that was odd, why-

A girl with bright blond loose curls held up bunny ears over a boy with light nearly white-blue hair in the photo. Her beaming face was a sharp contrast to the boy's calm tender smile as he looked at the girl. Anyone could tell how much affection he held for her, yet the girl, me, I realized, was ignorant to it all as she faced her smiling lips at the camera. I mean I barely even met Flynn, and the only time we were together was when I snuck out to meet him that one time for the red powder thingy. So how were we in a picture together?

Ugh !

I knew it was too good to be true. The throbbing began anew as it clanged over and over like an annoying cymbalist just clapping away.

"Oh, my magics! Why would you put it there of all places?" The girl with golden hair- me, she was me. She was asking the boy, Flynn, something. She was asking about the placement of the photo I had been staring at, I realized.

Shrugging, the boy stared back at the girl, his warm blue eyes conveying all he wished to say but couldn't, "Mmm, that way I have something beautiful to look at when I work."

The girl turned towards the center table, noting for the first time the odd placement made it possible that from where she normally saw the boy working, that he could see the picture every time he'd looked up.

The girl snorted a very unladylike laughter as she peered back at the boy, amused and wildly confused, "What's beautiful about that?" The girl asked genuinely curious.

Looping a lock of the girl's hair over her ear to catch the girl's attention the boy replied, "Something worth dying for."

The girl flushed finally understanding what the boy meant. Trying to cover her reddening cheeks she punched the boy lightly on the shoulders, "Pft- please, that was so cringy. Magics' is that your hook-up line for every girl you charm?"

Not put off by the girl's fluster, the boy shrugged, "I'm just stating the truth. Everett-" But before the boy could finish his words a blond-haired boy came striding in, his elegant blond waves combed to perfection with it neatly styled in the most trendy hairstyle of that era.

"Ellie! What brings you to our humble abode!" The girl grinned, her smile was ever-present as she looped her arms around the boy nearly tackling him down. With a sneer, the boy pushed her off him.

The boy, was he Eli?

"Ugh, Everetta! How many times must I tell you-" The blond-haired boy began as the girl rolled her eyes.

"Ya, ya, ya, you told me once and you told me a thousand times. And. I . Told. You . You're an uptight prick, but do you listen? No. Tell me when you stop being a prick and I'll stop being an embarrassment to you. Besides we're in Flynny's laboratory~" The girl sang as she swung an arm around the displeased blond-haired boy's shoulders once more. They were of similar height with the boy being slightly taller than her but with her heels, they were about evenly matched.

"She does have a point brother- you can be a bit of a rule follower, you're kind of like a grumpy old man." The blue-haired boy agreed supporting the girl's claims as they began to both burst into laughter at the boy's flaming enraged face.

I turned as the memory faded out and the room began to sink back into the unkempt state it was in.

There across the room laid another photo of me and the prince, or not the prince. It was the boy from my dreams. He had the same face but something about his stance and behavior was yelling at me that the Flynn I knew now was not the one in this photo. This Flynn sure as shadows wasn't as confident as the one I just saw. No, the Flynn in the photo wouldn't hesitate to stand up against Eli, this new Flynn would rather eat a bucket of nails than argue with Eli.

Stepping across the room I gently splayed my fingers against the dust-covered smiling faces of the blond-haired girl and blue-haired boy. This time she was holding her puffed-up face in her hands trying to make a funny face as the boy beside her was laughing at her antics, and there a few steps to my right was another photo. It laid against two bookshelves, it was as if all the shelves were carved into the wall so the pictures wouldn't be covered. Suddenly it was as if they were all glowing.

All across the room hung pictures upon pictures of me and... and that Flynn from my memories. Each in a separate pose but all was of us, of-

Ugh!

I clenched my head as another memory surged hitting me like a lightning bolt jolting me to death.

"I told you not to see her again-" The boy Eli was telling someone something. No- no he was angry, he was-

Suddenly another voice spoke, the girl, me, I was fuming as I stormed out of the small nook below the stairs I had been hiding in.

"Excuse me?! You were not just going to tell him what I think you were right? Eli! What Flynn and I get up to is none of your damn business." I was shoving a finger in Eli's face, my own face clouding over in a storm as I made my claims.

But like always Eli only scowled back, "Everetta this a family matter-"

"No- fuck that! This involves me, so I damn well am going to give my two shits on this!" I was bellowing back causing Eli's shoulder to tense up.

"Everetta! This is no place for such crass language!" Eli was back looking around as if anyone would have been in the dingy narrow tower stairs.

"Oh please, as if anyone else is around, don't worry I made sure of it. Back to the point- you have no right to control who and what I see Ellie." I fumed, turning around to the light snow blue-haired boy.

Startled by my sudden ire towards him the boy only raised his brows but his stance stood firm as his eyes lit with amusement and affection? "You, you're coming with me. We have another photo to take today." I had declared dragging Flynn by the hands and pulling him down the stairs.

Gripping his half-brother's arm, Eli scolded down at the pair, "Flynn, you promised me-"

The glare that the girl- the glare that I threw back towards Flynn would have seared any fae to ashes but Flynn sighed and looked over at both fae. "Yes, I did promise you I would keep away from Everetta only because she was still hurting from her break up with that bas- I mean Lucarious, but now she's better. With that said, I have every right to be with her, brother. Now as the lady said, we have a picture to take today."

Yanking his arms free from Eli, Flynn took the lead and dragged me out. I was positively glowing because I won this round. I turned back, sticking out my tongue at an enraged Eli.

The scene faded and memories upon memories of each photo flowed through me, a festival, the Spring Solstice celebration, where Flynn had bought me my first crystallized fruit. Where we had danced with the dragons.

The photo of the day I first tried making my very own potion and succeeded, with Flynn's help of course. He's been teaching me which herbs and animals to use. Since he didn't have his own magic Flynn used potions to make up for it.

The time we both snuck out of some ball and decided to play a prank on Lucarious for how he had broken up with me. We destroyed his entire wine collection and his favorite crowns as well. I remember how enraged he was, magics that were fun.

Oh, and then during that hunting game, I was finally able to slay the three-headed slither snake. Flynn had been the first to congratulate me. He's shown up with a huge bouquet of pork skewers and-

I felt something wet trail down my cheeks as a photo popped up in my mind. Flynn was lying on the ground and I- no.

No.

"No!" A flash and I was back in my room.

Agony coursed through me. A searing torment tore at the very fabric of my soul. In a desperate attempt to stop the torment from racking my mind, I slammed my head against the wall. No! No! No- I don't no- Not this one. I don't want to remember this one.

But it won't stop. Why won't it stop?!

"I am so sorry, but what needs to be done must be done. You must remember everything " The same voice said, agony and regret bleeding through its voice- my voice.

"Please, stop, just stop. I don't want to remember this. I don't want to remember what I'd done" I whimpered, my legs giving way as I crawled my way on the floor writhing in pain. I clenched my head, my fingers digging into my skull as I unleashed a gut-wrenching scream. The sound echoed through the air, my torment clear as it reverberated against the wall of my room.

Every nerve in my body screamed in unison. It felt like a series of pain and agony as I shattered the lamp against the tattered walls. I scratched at the pain in my head, my nails drilling lines down my scalp tearing out my hair.

"Everetta!" I heard a voice bellow, but from who it came from I haven't a clue. I was throwing something again. Was I using my magic? I felt a cooling sensation pass me.

No!

Not his magic!

Never again!

"No, don't fucking touch me!" I bellowed knowing fully well what that cool touch could do. I don't like it. I don't want him to touch me. Who? Who do I not want to touch me? Ugh, my head just fucking hurts like hell.

"Everetta please, you need to let me help you." The same voice repeated. As I shook my head, I could feel the room shift, as I hurled something else, my magic? What spell was I using?

"No- No don't fucking touch me!" I screamed again as if I didn't know how to speak normally. How could it be so painful?

So painful, nothing but pain.

"What's going on here?" Another voice said, deeper than the other one. I'm surprised I could tell the difference.

"You have to let me take control." Another voice said as I shook my head.

"No- No- No." I must have been too distracted as something cold touched my neck.

"No, no, not again, please no—" I searched frantically into my aching head for a spell—that's right, a spell.

I could counteract his touch, but he won't leave me alone. He'll never let me be. I can't trust him. I can't be here. It hurts. It hurts. I had to cast a spell to repel his touch.

Yes, yes, this was the only way—the only way I could escape him. I'll wait for him to leave, then make my escape. I'll fake my unconsciousness for now; I have to escape his claws.