Flower Queen (Flower Readings Book 3) Page 16

  With nothing else to do, Triena settled herself by the wall and waited. She tried to keep her mind clear, but it was difficult. How dare they keep me in my room? The indignity originated from Arkina’s essence. Triena pushed the vibrations of the emotions away. They clouded her thoughts, clogged her mind and stopped her from finding a way to weaken the wall.

  There was something familiar about the wall, but Triena couldn’t quite work it out. Someone I know has made this. She rested against the wall, keeping her awareness present in this in between space. The identity of the creator eluded her. He’s concealed himself well.

  Triena extended her awareness into the matrix of the Energy to see if she could find out more about the skill used to create such a block. Small even threads crossed over each other forming individual rectangular blocks. Then each brick was systematically placed on top of another, and a sticky filament was laid between to hold them together. This would’ve taken a long time to make by someone who has more patience than me.

  Triena pushed hard to force the energy fibres apart, but it didn’t move. She threaded part of her energy with Arkina’s and made a pattern in the opposite direction of one of the bricks, which she then pressed gently against the block, aligning the shapes perfectly. The brick resisted, but then suddenly gave way, exploding into pieces and causing construction she’d made to also break apart.

  Fuck the Queens. Triena looked through the opening. It was beginning to remake itself, reforming the shape from new energy. She pushed herself into the space, but she was too slow. The gap closed up, sending her back into her body.

  Triena stood up and stretched her body and then settled down on the floor to try again. Facing the wall, she touched the spot she’d broken. It was weaker, but still strong enough to stop her from entering the Energy Field.

  Anger fluttered through her essence. She didn’t like being stopped like this. Neither did Arkina’s energy. In frustration, she sent a blast of energy at the wall, but it only bounced off and she had to duck to avoid being hit.

  Patience. That was something that she didn’t have in abundance, and neither did Arkina. On a whim, she used some of Arkina’s energy to create an opposing force in the shape of a spiked sphere. She sent it tumbling to the same position that she had managed to break before. The yellow light was absorbed into the brown murkiness of the wall.

  Damn, thought Triena when nothing happened. But then the wall trembled. Triena moved backwards providing plenty of space between her and the wall, ensuring she wasn’t going to be caught up in any potential blasts. Come on.

  The wall trembled faster. Then it imploded, disappearing into a small black hole. The wall was gone.

  Impressed with her work, she looked around the area trying to find any clues who had constructed it. She thought of the rabbit. I’m sure he’d have plenty of suggestions. She missed hearing his conversation in her mind. Uneasy because she’d been separated from him again, the distraction caused her to stop searching. I have to get ready.

  While she’d destroyed the wall, Triena wasn’t ready to go into the Energy Field. She was still anchored firmly in her body, and in the space between worlds, unable to move forward.

  It took a lot of deep, slow breaths before she’d centered herself and cleared her mind. Triena began moving toward the Energy Field, wrapped in a coat created from Arkina’s essence. She set her intention to find the Queens. Now, familiar with this process, and feeling confident, she sent out a message to the Queens, summoning them to come and meet her.

  Triena stepped into the catacombs. The place looked exactly like last time when she’d inadvertently summoned them. The only difference was that she was now alone. Very much alone.

  Turning around, she saw one flame burning on the wall, casting more shadows than light in the small space. Where are they? Moisture dripped from the rocks, creating small rivulets. Around her, she sensed the deceased Queens from years gone by. Her aura shivered violently, sparking from the echoes of the ancestors and she felt herself recoil.

  Unsettled and alone, she gathered the energy around her, and sent out the summons to each of the Queens again, her message clear and direct. Triena paced around the circular space. She twisted her hands. Where are they?

  Heaviness weighed down on her shoulders. They aren’t listening to me. I’ve been shunned. But worse, she knew what this really meant. They’d rejected her. They no longer considered her a Queen. They’d built the wall to prevent her from entering the Energy Field.

  Arkina’s essence burned with anger around Triena. The deceased Queen’s energy wasn’t happy about the demotion. Triena struggled to keep a handle on Arkina’s energy. The essence wanted to go to the Queens, hot and angry, and set them on fire.

  Later, later. Triena tried to cool the heat. But her own essence was responding, warming up and vibrating faster and faster. Triena didn’t like to be ignored either, and this was an old wound that the Queens themselves had inflicted on her.

  She’d been cast out before, had spent years dreaming of returning, and now all of those hopes were dismissed. Changed because she’d learned what they were really like, how they misused the power and the skill they were given. The Queens not coming reopened the wound and the hurt, betrayal, and anger filtered out, blending with Arkina’s.

  No. Triena pulled hard at the hot vibrations that were escaping from her. She had to get a grip. If too much of her own energy escaped, then the Queens would know she’d been here. Arkina was gone, and Triena didn’t want to lose her small advantage. Her grip slipped, and she tumbled backwards. The motion sent her back to her body with a whip-snapping jerk.

  Triena resettled in her body. The motion around her changed. The ship slowed. The engines powered down, slowly coming to a halt. Her heart increased its rhythm. I’ve arrived. It wouldn’t be long now before she met the Queens. The time had finally arrived. It was completely different from what she’d imagined, all those years when she wanted to return to them from exile.

  Chapter 16

  The rabbit bounced into the reading room. It smelled of dried flowers. It smelled of Triena and Braklen. The rabbit looked up at the dried flowers and sighed. I suppose this is some fucked up balance thing with the Energy. Give a soul the ability, but make him a rabbit, and then have him interact with people who forget that he’s down here close to the ground. Yeah, good one.

  He flicked his ears. His head throbbed from the metallic reverberations when they’d passed through the asteroid belt. It turned out Rangit wasn’t a very good driver and hit every single one of the rocky masses.

  “What are you doing in here?” Rangit poked his head inside. “Thought you’d be in the kitchen.”

  You got us out of the asteroid belt?

  “Yeah. Ship’s holding up too. We should arrive within twenty-four hours.”

  It’s too late. The rabbit’s fur stood on end. It will be too late.

  Rangit shrugged his shoulders. “Can’t do anything about that. It’s nothing short of a miracle that the ship is still moving and we are alive.”

  Let’s celebrate, thought the rabbit bitterly.

  “I think that’s exactly what we should do.” Rangit left the room and returned holding a whisky bottle. “Let’s celebrate, get pissed and forget about everything.”

  It’s not going to help. The rabbit hadn’t found Triena. The block he’d put to stop Braklen from going into the Energy Field was probably breaking down now and he was bound to go blundering back in and get himself trapped. Pour me a double.

  “That’s the spirit.” Rangit put a saucer on the ground and tipped in some whisky. “Cheers, big ears.”

  The rabbit glared at Rangit.

  “Don’t get your tail in a knot, little fellow. I’m sure things will turn out all right. Look at us. We’re alive. The ship’s still working and things could’ve been a hell of a lot worse for us.” He took a swig of the liquid, sat down and put his feet up on the table.

  That might well be the case, but I
’m meant to look out for her, for them. The rabbit licked at the whisky. Hot liquid burned at his tongue, then down his throat, warming his insides and easing the pain.

  “You did your best.” Rangit got up and went to the dried flower stocks. “What do you want?”

  About time you offered.

  “Hey, I’m about as sore as you are.” Rangit put the kettle on to boil.

  The rabbit doubted that. The whisky eased his mind and he didn’t have the strength to argue that point right now. Some lamini, and sandman and hiet, and give it to me straight up.

  Rangit raised his eye brow. “Really?”

  You can sprinkle some on my saucer if you like. That would make a good mix.

  “Going hardcore, are we?” Rangit got out the dried buds and sprinkled a small handful of the different flowers on the saucer before making himself a pot of strong tea.

  The rabbit took a few more licks of the liquid, renewing the burning sensation that flowed through his body. That’s better. His mind eased. Relaxed by the alcohol, he settled next to the saucer.

  “You really are attached to Triena.” Rangit put a bowl of the freshly brewed tea on the table.

  She looks after me. More or less. There was that one time she lost me, but I don’t want to talk about that.

  “No, let’s not. We are celebrating after all.” Rangit took a big mouthful of whisky, then sat back down at the table, cradling the bottle on his chest, as if in deep thought. “Why do you have the skill with the Energy?”

  Why do you? The rabbit nibbled the dried petals. They tasted bitter and harsh, but it was the healing properties that motivated him to keep eating. The pain had only eased because of the whisky, and that wasn’t going to last. He needed to heal, quickly, before they arrived. That would give him the best chance of helping Triena.

  “Doesn’t everyone have the potential?” Rangit took another swig from the bottle. He leaned down and splashed more onto the rabbit’s saucer.

  Yes. But most don’t know how to use the Energy unless they are trained, and even then you need to have inherited skill from your parents. The rabbit licked at the whisky, enjoying the numbing fire-like heat from the alcohol. Who trained you?

  Rangit’s expression became distant as if he was lost in a memory playing out in his mind.

  So, you joined up with the Priests.

  “Yeah.” He took a deep breath. “They helped with some of my training since I had more skill than most. It turned out I wasn’t so obedient and let’s just say I discovered I could make the most of my skill with trading.”

  In doing so, you helped Triena get the dried flowers she needed. Didn’t the Priests want to know about her?

  Rangit rubbed his temples. “They did, but I didn’t have anything to tell them, at least nothing that they didn’t know already.” He sighed. “Her potential hasn’t been clear until now. If I’d known about it, maybe I wouldn’t have helped the Priests so much either.”

  At least you’re helping her now.

  “Oh, so you think I’m helping now, do you?” Rangit looked down at the rabbit. “And you? Who trained you?”

  Well, you wouldn’t believe me if I said my mother, now would you? He shifted uneasily.

  Rangit laughed. “Nope. So, tell me.”

  It all started around the time my ears were cut off.

  “I don’t believe you,” said Rangit. “Someone gave you manipulated energy, didn’t they?”

  The rabbit looked sharply at Rangit.

  “Thought so, I just don’t know who.” He took a gulp of whisky and put the bottle down. “You’re not the only one who can use the Energy around here, remember? But you are highly skilled. Skilled enough to be a Queen perhaps?”

  Now, you are way off. I’m nothing to do with the Queens. They might think they can use me, but they’d be disappointed. The rabbit shook his body. Pain gripped him and he immediately regretted that action.

  “I don’t see that the Priests have enough knowledge or resources to change you,” said Rangit thoughtfully. “But, someone did.” He rubbed his chin. “Maybe someone close to Triena. Perhaps her mother.”

  The rabbit kept himself still and calm. He could tell that Rangit was watching him closely through the Energy, trying to look for any tell-tale signs that’d give him an idea of who’d managed to create a rabbit that used the Energy.

  “Or her father, perhaps?” Rangit kept probing.

  Or maybe it was Triena herself? The rabbit rubbed his paw behind his ear. She’d be skilled enough to.

  Rangit nodded. “But not trained enough. She makes too many mistakes.”

  And that is exactly why we need to get to her as quickly as possible. Before she blunders into something that results in her death. She’s our only chance to get the Queens out of power. The rabbit changed the direction of the conversation, hoping that soon enough Rangit would forget his questions, or have drunk too much whisky.

  Right now, the rabbit’s mind felt numb and he had trouble trying not to tell Rangit everything. Tired, tipsy and in pain, he needed rest. I think I could do with some more whisky.

  Rangit obliged and poured some more in his saucer. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten you haven’t answered my question.”

  This is such a dour conversation for what’s meant to be a celebration. We are alive, and heading towards Earth. Cheers. The rabbit licked at the liquid. It burned a fresh trail within him. Oh, that’s better. Life isn’t so bad now.

  Rangit only grunted. “Could’ve fooled me.” But he held up the bottle to the rabbit. “Here’s to getting rid of the Queens, and not letting the Priests take over.”

  Glad you are up for a challenge. The rabbit finished drinking the liquid on his saucer. He hiccupped.

  “I think you’ve had enough,” said Rangit.

  I’m starting to like this little celebration. More importantly, he was forgetting how small their chances were of succeeding and that the odds were against them.

  ~

  Triena sat at the table drinking a cup of strong tea, meleinti and lavender. The bitterness heightened her senses as she waited for someone to come and get her. They had landed what seemed like hours ago.

  The longer she waited, the more frayed her nerves became. This was her second cup. The meleinti wasn’t helping infuse her with a sense of peace and harmony as much as she would’ve liked.

  Steam breathed over her face from the cup of tea. She inhaled deeply, savoring the heat and the faint smell of lavender. Then she took a sip, careful not to burn her tongue. The hot liquid eased down her throat.

  Should I tell them? Faced with the dilemma of what was about to happen, Triena wasn’t sure whether or not she should reveal that she wasn’t Arkina, but in fact Triena. They will find out soon enough.

  The fact that none of the Queens arrived at the catacombs when she’d called them under Arkina’s identity chilled her. They’ve turned away from Arkina. This made Triena believe that Arkina was as good as dead when she next met the Queens. Except they’re just a little late with that one. She sipped her tea.

  The option seesawed in her mind. She didn’t want to reveal her cover, not yet. But, the one good thing was that if she did, she wouldn’t risk being killed. Though that appears to be my immediate destiny.

  Triena blew over the surface of the infusion before taking another mouthful. Her awareness slipped into the Energy Field looking for answers. The white-gold crown shimmered into form.

  She moved around it, but the image followed her. She changed directions, but the crown reappeared again, this time in front of her. Go away. She didn’t care about a crown. What good is a crown if I’m dead? Tell me that.

  She yelled the question into the Energy and then immediately regretted her action. She hadn’t masked her energy, and had basically shouted. Disappointed there wasn’t a clear answer, she returned to her body and drank her tea.

  The door to her room slid open. The captain stood there with two guards. “Let’s go.”

&nbs
p; “I’m not Arkina.” Triena calmly placed her cup on the table. Finally, the meleinti flower was working and her nerves faded away.

  “Yeah and I’m the head of the Queens, and really a woman.” The Captain stepped into the room to allow the two guards to enter. They each grabbed one of her arms, roughly. Their fingers pressed hard into her skin.

  “But I’m not,” insisted Triena. “I’m Triena.”

  The Captain laughed at her. “Tell that to the Queens, then.” He motioned for the men to follow him with her, and they made their way off the ship.

  Even though she didn’t struggle, they held her tight, as if she would suddenly disappear. Triena wished that she could. She kept her face looking down, hoping that no one would recognize her. It seems that I’m to be Arkina for a little longer.

  Triena didn’t know whether or not that was a good thing. Right now, she could do with the comfort of the rabbit’s thoughts in her mind. She’d survived without him, but ached to have his energy nearby, his company and his ideas, even though they weren’t always what she wanted to be hearing.

  “Where are you taking me?” asked Triena when they exited the ship through a metal tunnel and walked into the castle. No one came to meet her. No Queens, no Priestesses, no girls in training. The only people around her were Peacekeepers.

  The captain didn’t turn around. He just kept walking.

  Triena guessed it would be the catacombs, but they didn’t go down. Instead, they went into the castle. She carefully brought Arkina’s energy to the surface of her aura to help her with the new surroundings. Upstairs were dormitories, the rooms of the Queens, and training rooms.

  None of these areas were where Triena thought she’d be taken. A chill ran down her back and she swallowed hard. As a distraction, she looked around. It was dull. A few gas lights burned on the walls. Since stepping into the castle, they hadn’t seen anyone, not even the few servants who waited on the Queens.

  The gray rock walls radiated depressive energy, reminding Triena of her childhood. Her chest constricted. The air was hard to breathe. Cold and heavy, it reeked of mold and decay. Death hung close to the place, and clawed at Triena. She shivered, stumbled. The guards dragged her forward, not allowing her to regain her footing.