13 Leaping Lizards

Part 1

Out of Time

“Queen serenity I fear that they have breached the gates, I fear that we don’t have much time”

“ I’m aware of that Simon , “I just need 15 more minutes then the portal will be set”

I quickly through in the next two ingredients into the pool and looked up. We were all in the time chamber in the attic of my castle. My castle that was currently under attack, I can hear the fighting that was going on outside, I could see the fire and smoke in the windows above and throughout the room. I had one of the magicians and the scientist to have the highest and most reflective part of the kingdom so they could easily see and absorb the energy from the sun in the moon. I love this room, I design this room. All that work gone.

“ Serenity, how much longer ?” I was snappedc out of my daydream by my sister Zara.

“ I’m done on my part. We just need five minutes for the pool to turn purple. Have you finish the calculations yet?”

“ Yeah, to the best of my abilities. You know I’m only a fifth level math magician… not even a good one.”

I grabbed her and our youngest sister in a hug and squeeze them like I was somehow trying to fused their body into mine and I felt them hugging me just to strongly.

“ I will hear nothing of the sort ! If I was facing the end of time,?the end of life and all of creation, and out of all the time sages to be born here in EDEN, I would still pick you! My sister, you run circles around those old stiff gargles on the council, and they hate it. You do naturally what they have to spend money, years, pride, and blood to have a fraction of the power you willed in the left corner of your eye; Never forget that.

I squatted down next to Eva. She was the youngest of us, so small. I’m not sure how much she knew or if she fully understood what was going on; she was just quietly crying clutching onto her blanket.

“Eva-,” I tried to speak but no words were come. I just felt so powerless like I was dying inside even though my death was surely on the other side of that door. The fighting was closer now.

“Serene, It’s ok, I know.” As I looked into her eyes the eyes of someone or something way beyond the years of my sweet Eva. I understood that she did in fact know and it just broke my soul into even more pieces.

“Your majesties the pool is ready.” Me and my sister each went to our corners. I’m not sure which one, us told us , Will or Wilma. Only the nine of us had made it to the top. “Zara, if you would please start.”

“OK everyone we will be splitting up into groups of three. Everyone pull out the little blue heart shaped lockets I gave everyone that will be your guide so you can find one of us me or my sisters on the other side.”

As she said this she was staring at Randall and he was staring just distant intently at her. Oh how blind I must’ve been, I knew she had affections for him and he for her , but I didn’t think they were in this deep. I should’ve minded my business whether or not I thought they were a good match. Now at the end I think about all the times I robbed them of possible joy.

“Once you have found one of us we can lead you to the others, Once we get there…” she started to trail off unsure of what was the next step

“Once are there you blend in and learn the way of the land, gather together in the middle of the three mountains, until the sun has turned green and the moon had turned blue.

“What does that even mean” I heard a voice from the back

There was a leak among us a spy it was one of the nine people in this room both old and young talented in the talentless all of Eden or DEN could be summed up to these people in this room beside me

The lock is lame should be able to translate all the spells for you if not just think back to the old song that we sing in the tree nursery

“Each of us is the flower -” That was the last thing I said before I looked down and saw that I was bleeding from my chest. I fell forward into the pool I saw a glimpse of everyone moving at once screaming scrambling trying to come after me, I guess Zeemt had reached and attacked well we were talking. While my consciousness drifted away I could not help but think about you my love. How I wish things had been differently before I sent your away, how I wish I could have shared my excitement and my joy with you when I found out I carried your child. Or how I fell into sadness and despair when I heard of your death. Whoever betrayed me and my family this time is way too close and way too corrupt with power.

It’s almost like I’m drifting away at a beach being rocked to sleep by the waves. One of the last thoughts I had was at my sister Zara, if I could smile I would. I don’t think I’m going to make this trip over. My body is already as cold as ice and my soul is just burning through memories now. I trust her to lead and restore our kingdom and just between you and me I’ve always been a little bit jealous of her talent. I’m sure as she matures she’ll be able to embrace the role she’s been called to fulfill. Funny dying doesn’t hurt as nearly as bad as I thought it was.

Part 2

October 3035

“Hey, Krista wake up we’re closing shop early. In preparation of the arrival of the Royals”

Royals more like a bunch of money grabbing families left over from a nuclear fallout war.

“Right the royal selection is happening today at three.”

“ Yes aren’t you excited!”

“Why of course the opportunity to serve the council has always been a dream of mine since elementary” I rolled my eyes.

“That’s the spirit Kay,” I forgot Amber does not understand sarcasm. I’ve been trying to teach it to her, but it truly seems like a lost art.

“How many do you think will be chosen from your cluster?”

“I don’t know Amber, you know it’s always random”

“Well I heard this year they’re only looking for seven lines to guard the outer wall.”

“Well that’s not too bad, do you know what the light color is for today? “

“Hmmm, I think it’s blue, Do you have anything blue ?”

“Yeah, I think I got an old locket from my grandmother that’s blue.”

Cool I’ll see you in town at the town Square at 2:45.