Flower Queen Read online

  “They killed her. My mom.”

  “The Queens?”

  “The Priests.”

  “Oh.” The kettle whistled as it boiled and Triena poured the water into the pot. The Queens and Priests had killed many over the years. Everyone had been affected. Triena looked at Rangit, saw the sorrow in his eye for a brief moment before he rebuilt his walls.

  “When the Priests learned I had some skill, they tried to teach me.”

  “So, you hate both sides.” She set two cups and the teapot on the table.

  He nodded. “But your side is the new side and it’s the one to be on.”

  “I hope so.” Triena sat down. “So, you turned Energy Trader to survive?”

  “Is it so different from your tea-room?” he asked looking at her intensely.

  “Yes,” said Triena adamantly. “I wasn’t manipulating the Energy.”

  “Neither was I.”

  “Really? What you’re saying is you didn’t trade in the animal energy that’s been going around.” She wasn’t convinced their actions were similar at all.

  Rangit paused, reached over and poured out the tea into the cups. “You did what you did to survive. So did I. One could say you landed on your feet which is something of a miracle. As for the likes of me, damaged goods for too many years to count, I molded my fate as best I could.” He leaned back in the chair, looking at her with his one eye. “Besides, you took the flowers. If I hadn’t traded like I had, then you wouldn’t have survived.”

  “You’re saying my success as an Energy Reader was because of you?” Triena hated that idea. “I can’t believe you are even suggesting that. It’s not true.”

  “True or not, I got you potent flowers. Your skill grew. Then I helped you escape from Oberon the first time, and I’m helping you this time too.”

  Emotions welled up inside of her. Some of what he was saying was true. Even if she was innocent in Oberon, what she had done for Captain Ri wasn’t. She’d taken lives, intentionally or not. She wasn’t squeaky clean.

  “No, you ain’t. And that means you can stand up to them, to both sides. You’ve walked the darker side and still you don’t want to use that power. You’ve proven yourself.” Rangit picked up his cup of tea. “Both you and Braklen. This is the one chance we get that might just work. Otherwise the Queens will end up with too much power. It will be so much harder to bring them down in the future.”

  “But not impossible.” Triena’s chest constricted with the pressure of the responsibility she held. “I can’t be the only hope. We can’t be the only hope.”

  “You are for now. They want full control of the Energy Field.” Rangit sipped his tea. “This is good.”

  “But has Braklen proven himself?”

  Wrinkles formed on Rangit’s forehead. “He will. The Energy is giving him a chance anyway.”

  “Why don’t you stand up to them?”

  “Because I’m not like you. I want the power just as much as they do. I can’t be in the center. But, I can help.”

  “There’s too many things that could go wrong.” Triena gripped the cup with both of her hands. The warmth from the tea transferred to her, warming the cold fear that seemed to be strengthening within in her.

  “It’s written in the Energy.”

  “So why can’t I see that pattern in the Field then?”

  “Because you are in it. So is Braklen. You two are clearly in the center of the web. Only you two can bring it down.”

  A shiver trickled down Triena’s spine.

  “That’s why I’m helping you.”

  She swallowed hard. She looked him in the eye with a new level of determination that was building inside of her. “You make sure that you do help us.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Deep asleep, Braklen’s mind became caught in the recurring dream. The crown on his head, heavy, dug deep into his skull, boring into bone. Blood oozed down the side of his head. He’d been trying to remove it.

  Each time the Queens descended on him and Triena, no matter what he did. He died. Triena died. The blood-thirsty Queens then read their entrails. Afterwards the dream reprogrammed and began again. He tried to take off the crown once more because if he did, he thought he’d be able to stop this sequence of death.

  For a moment, blackness surrounded him. Longer than before as the dream rested. Had the nightmare finally stopped?

  The gray color of the castle rocks replaced the darkness. He was back in the catacombs. Even though he expected this to happen, this time he wasn’t playing. He looked at the rocks. Grays mingled with tones of brown. Water dripped down the wall to his left. Moss grew in the dampness.

  Triena stood next to him, her dream form moving. He could even smell her, the floral scent that was uniquely hers, a mix of flowers which gave him hope. She smiled at him and held out her hand. He held it tight.

  It feels real. Her skin soft in his hand, some of his tiredness dissipated from his form. He turned to face the Queens, expecting them to be robed in red, sickles held high. But they weren’t. And some of them were missing. He counted them. There were six. He turned to Triena. She seemed perplexed. When he looked again, there were six more members to the semi-circle in front of him. Six men. Six women. Peace flooded over him.

  It’s balanced.

  Braklen looked around for who’d spoken. The voice wasn’t Triena’s. But there was no one else. The twelve of them, men and women bowed their heads.

  I’m not worthy. They looked up. Mouths distorted in pain, they raised knives and guns at him. He stood in front of Triena, protecting her.

  He took the first hit, the first cut. He remained standing as long as he could, willing Triena to run, but she wouldn’t. And he couldn’t hear her speak because he wasn’t able to connect to the Energy Field. Like the other repeated dream, he died alongside her.

  ~ ~ ~

  Triena sat in the reading room alone. She didn’t want to return to the sleeping chamber and disturb Braklen. The conversation with Rangit left her feeling confident, but there were so many details in her head, fighting with each other that she wanted to read the Energy again, for herself. For the first time since she could remember, she had difficulties moving her awareness to the esoteric plane.

  “Fuck the Queens,” she said aloud. “This is ridiculous.” I can do this. Her frustration intensified.

  Rangit had left her to scan the Energy Field to make sure that they hadn’t been followed. But so far all she’d managed to do was give herself a blinding headache.

  Triena slapped her hand on the table. The motion caused cups to clink together. “I can do this.”

  Instead, she rose to her feet and went over to the stock of flowers that had been Captain Ri’s, to find something stronger to ease her mind so she could do this simple task.

  They needed to sit down and discuss a plan of how they’d take on the Queens. The thought added pressure to her mind. She felt as if she was going to explode.

  Triena took out one of the boxes from the drawers. She wasn’t sure what she’d find. She wasn’t looking for anything, other than a distraction until she was more settled. The smell of dust wafted into the air as she lifted the lid. The box was full of small jars. She randomly picked up one, full of dull pink buds.

  Uncorking the jar, she held it to her nose. Angel’s Breath. The sweet perfume helped to calm her mind giving her space to think. It was a common flower, one she’d used frequently when giving flower readings in her tea-room.

  A pain of grief contracted in her stomach. Heat flooded into her eyes. Salene. The energy vibrations she had taken from Salene surfaced in her aura. No, she wasn’t a friend.

  Looking back, things hadn’t been as Triena expected. The vibrations intensified and she couldn’t help remembering the woman who had been the only person
she’d trusted when she arrived on Oberon after fleeing Earth and the Queens. Salene was my friend. For a very good reason, which was to use me.

  And why didn’t the Energy tell me? Or warn me? Triena picked up another bottle. She knew the answer. She hadn’t looked. She hadn’t thought there was a need to even look. The scent of roses drifted to her.

  The memory of standing outside the castle with her mother formed in her third eye. She lifted the jar to her nose and took a deep breath. The memory changed and she saw her mother walking away from her. The cold wind blew strong causing her mother to stumble. But, she kept going.

  The scene changed again as Triena inhaled. Blackness flooded around her, then a gentle orange light birthed in front of her just out of reach. Her mother’s image formed. The glow soft on her face, made the shadows of stress form deep. The scent of roses intensified.

  Mother. Triena wished to reach out and touch the image in her third eye. But she couldn’t move. Her mother hadn’t come to her in dreams very often, at least not that Triena remembered. And in the Energy Field the times she had met her mother were few. It had always been out of her reach.

  Triena soaked in the image, looking at every detail so that she could recall her mother’s appearance later. Her long grey curls, the way her eyes wrinkled in the corner and her high cheekbones, her gentle smile.

  You’ve grown, darling.

  Her mother’s thought shivered in Triena’s mind. There was so much she wanted to ask her, so much advice Triena craved. She already knew from the Energy her mother had used flowers for readings, but not very well. Could my father? What about my grandmother?

  Those questions don’t matter.

  Triena’s mind stilled. You had to be born with the skill to be an Energy Reader and usually that meant it ran in families, but not always. Besides she’d recently learned everyone had some skill, even men. Her logical mind fought with the intuitive side and she struggled to keep balanced. Why keep this from us?

  Power. Her mother answered.

  I know, but if they have a skill they should use it to help people as was intended.

  They’ve lost their way. Her mother’s form faded, blurred for a moment before coming back into focus. The initiation used to sort out who’d use the Energy to help and who would use it for their own gain.

  Where will I find . . .

  Answers are in the Energy.

  But I’ve missed them before.

  Her mother’s form changed. Don’t be so careless, then.

  The anger hit Triena hard and she struggled to keep looking at her mother. She had to do better.

  This isn’t the fight you expect it to be. Her mother’s features softened as the anger rippled away. Triena still felt the power behind her mother, and felt weak in comparison.

  Her mother glanced over her shoulder. Quickly. They are coming. Change the initiation.

  But how should I stop them? I’ve got to do that first.

  Flower Readings. Her mother’s form faded rapidly and she could barely see her. Go, quick, they are coming.

  Then she was gone. The faint smell of roses in the air was the only reminder as Triena stood in the reading room, holding a glass bottle.

  She blinked a few times to help settle herself back in her body from the Energy Field. Triena assumed that wasn’t really her mother, just the Energy speaking through her form, reminding her of the task ahead. Her mind was more balanced. She had to warn the others that the Queens were close.

  That’s what they expected. It wasn’t like they could go faster in the ship. It’s best I get prepared. She wanted to look at the possibilities of how she’d face the Queens. How will I defeat the Queens? How can I stand against twelve women well trained in using the Energy?

  These thoughts scared her in the past, but now they moved within her mind as she actively sorted answers. Her mother had said, “Flower Readings,” but they were something that she didn’t really want to do, especially when she’d killed Salene, Ri, Yarket and nearly Rangit. But Rangit had survived. How did he survive?

  You have Braklen. Rangit’s thought entered her mind gently. She looked up. He walked into the room holding a cardboard box. And me.

  Frustration rippled around Triena as Rangit disrupted her thoughts. She’d been on to something that might just help. I know that should make me feel more confident, but it doesn’t. Triena knew Braklen and Rangit meant well, the rabbit too, but she couldn’t help feeling that the hard work was up to her. “At least you’ve washed.”

  “Apparently I had to.” He turned around as if showing off his new clean self. He carried a small box in one hand which spiked her curiosity straight away. She felt a spark of electricity. Something familiar was inside.

  She glanced at him. He wore a clean shirt, black vest, trousers, and his boots gleamed. He smelled of soap, which was a welcome change. His dark hair, still damp, curled in a mass on his head. His beard looked clean, and he had twisted the end into a single lock. A black patch covered his missing eye to Triena’s relief.

  Rangit placed the box on the table. “Small gift.”

  “For me?” asked Triena as she walked over.

  Rangit motioned her to open it. “Thought you might want these.”

  Cautiously Triena removed the lid. She gasped with delight. “Thank you.” There in the box were small vials of dried buds. Her dried buds, from the stocks that she’d built up over the years, the ones Rangit helped locate.

  “I thought you might need an offering to show I’m on your side,” said Rangit. “I collected these flowers using the Energy. They will help us with what we need to do.”

  She moved her hand over the jars, feeling the energy that each of the buds gave. Her skin prickled. Strong. It was as if the buds said hello to her as she moved her hand over them. Having these flowers eased her grief.

  “And there’s something else.” Rangit moved his hand inside his jacket and took out a small parcel. He handed it to Triena. “The rabbit. He told me to give it to you.”

  “You were going through my things?” asked Triena, narrowing her eyes.

  “The rabbit gave it to me,” said Rangit. “Threatened to piss on my boots.” He shook the parcel. “Take it.”

  “What’s so special about your boots?” Triena took the package. A spark of electricity shot through her palm from one of the dried flower buds inside. She jumped.

  “Snake skin, cost me a lot way back when.”

  Triena opened the package. “I don’t do everything the rabbit tells me.”

  “So he tells me.”

  “I’m sure he does.” Inside were three smaller packages left. Past. Present. Future. The old man in the markets at Soneria had given her some extras. She thought there’d been more, but this was what remained. Somehow, she knew there would be a single bud inside each of them, meant for a flower reading.

  Flower reading. That’s what the image of her mother said to her. It reminded her of her train of thought before Rangit interrupted. “How did you survive the reading I gave back in Oberon?”

  Rangit narrowed his eye at her and squared his shoulders.

  Triena refused to be intimidated and held her ground. “How did you?” Her voice determined and commanding.

  He didn’t answer, just stared back at her.

  “I expect you to tell me.”

  “I’d think someone with your skill would be able to work it out.” He rubbed his beard. “It’s not difficult.”

  Her mind whirled. Easy? All she had learned recently about the Energy made her feel like a novice. “You’re not going to leave here without telling me.” She tried to think about how she had given the reading to him. The flower she used. What he could have done to change the process. But nothing came to mind.

  “Threats will get you nowhere.”

>   What are you two up to? The rabbit hopped into the room.

  Want a reading? Triena rewrapped the buds.

  Hell no, not from you. The rabbit clicked his metal ears together furiously.

  “Rangit was just about to tell me how he survived the flower reading I gave him back at Oberon when everyone else died.”

  Finally. I wondered when you’d ask.

  Well you could’ve asked too, you know. Sometimes you really don’t help when you could.

  So, how’d he survive?

  Triena raised her eye brow at Rangit.

  “Tell you what. You tell me how you think I survived, and I’ll tell you if you are right or not.”

  “Why not just tell us?”

  “You need a lesson in the Energy, to join together some pieces that are floating aimlessly in your mind. And it’s better you manage the basics before we meet the Queens.” He sat back and folded his arms across his chest.

  I don’t need a lesson, thought the rabbit.

  No, but she does.

  True.

  “Hey, I’m standing here,” said Triena. “Don’t talk about me as if I’m not here.”

  “So now, you tell us,” said Rangit. “The longer you talk the more painful this is going to be, so get started. Besides we have other things that we need to attend to.”

  Triena swallowed hard. The problem was she had no idea. Every time she thought of giving a flower reading to someone, her mind blurred with fear and she struggled to foretell exactly what might happen. Remembering the details of killing someone turned her stomach and her mind blanked.

  “Concentrate.”

  She willed the memory of giving the flower reading to Rangit into her mind and moved into the Energy Field for guidance.

  There was a big black box in the center of the image in her third eye. It belonged to Rangit. She entered the image in order to explore. She changed the perspective of the image so that she was closer to the box. A golden lock held the lid down.