Sleeping Beauty 2"

Sleeping Beauty, Part Two, The Christening 
by;fernand jiro

The Queen could have been out for a pleasure ride for all the concern that showed on her face. She was dressed in expensive, heavy riding skirts to ward off any chill and riding a dainty, pure bred mare that minced across the fields as if she were the royal one. It was a fine autumn day, one with cerulean skies and a bold colored background; leaves of gold, rust and burgundy littered the ground near the trees, though their trunks were as black as death itself. Small patches of frost shone in shadowed spots on the ground. 

“My Queen, are you sure you are not cold?” One of the Queen’s personal servants asked from a few feet away, herself bundled in cloak under cloak. Her eyes widened and she drew in a great breath. “My lady, what are you doing? Stay away from the trees!” she suddenly exclaimed upon seeing the queen near the obsidian trunks. “That is the Dark Forest! Dare to enter and evil spirits would claim your soul!” She cried, not daring to draw any nearer and turning her eyes away in fear. Even the little-mentioned legends of the Dark Forest were cruel enough to bring fear into the weak-hearted. 

The Queen discreetly pulled the pale satin ribbon tight around a low hanging bough and turned her mount. “It’s alright Lyddia, we can go, I believe I am getting tired…” The Queen over-dramatized, to draw attention away from the small artifact she had left attached to the tree. Surely Lyddia would worry more about her still being weak from giving birth not too long ago, than a small piece of paper. 

“Oh, I knew we shouldn’t have strayed out so far, are you sure you can make it back? Do we need to stop somewhere on the way? You don’t feel faint do you? I think your cheeks might be a trifle pale,” Lyddia drew her mount near the Queen’s and reached out to touch her arm in concern. 

The Queen lifted her hand to her cheek to keep up her facade, stealing a glance backwards at the trees. “No, I believe I can make it back, if only we go straight away though - perhaps at a fast walk.” She urged her gray mare a little faster. She gave a last glance at the trees and shivered as a chill raced down her spine. “Liddya? Let’s go…” Her mouth twisted apprehensively and she urged her mare even faster. Falling right into her plan, Lyddia kept her mare in step, voicing concerns for the Queen every step of the way. 

Fluttering in the chill autumn breeze, the ribbon attached to the first tree of the Dark Forest abruptly unwound as if under its own influence and disappeared within the darkness under the trees. Attached to the ribbon was a small white envelope with a lock of pale hair and an invitation within its folds. All of it was consumed by the bleak shadow under the trees. 

-- 

Soft music gently twined about the lower hallways of the castle, centering on a room far from the main doors. Most of the crowd had gathered here, rather than in the ballroom – that was earlier. Now, they crowded close in the smaller room, peering over shoulders and standing on tiptoe to see the heir of The Kingdom of the West. At a sudden flurry of trumpet, the people turned, and a small walkway through the silken and perfumed people opened. 

“Chia, Fairy of the Summer!” The uniformed herald proclaimed from the doorway, allowing her to enter. Chia was indeed Summer, from her slightly green skin, to flowing locks of fawn-colored hair. She wore a simple dress of verdant green, and had a tattoo of leaves and flowers across one shoulder. Her silver wings were conveniently folded across her back, though they caught people’s eyes when the light caught them and sparkled. 

Her voice was like the wind through the hills, gentle, touched with sunshine and warmth. “Oh, such a child shall surely be great a queen as her mother!” She exclaimed upon seeing the babe. The fairy’s olive eyes had affinity only for the small child wrapped within blankets. The fairy paused as she drew near, her eyes moving toward the Queen’s. “May I?” She asked, holding out her hands. 

“Of course,” The Queen replied, letting the fairy take her child with no fear. 

“A blessing I shall give, one of life, of love for the long days of sunlight and happiness while they pass. This I give to your child.” The fairy lifted the babe in front of her face and blew a gentle breath, smelling of fresh cut grass and the hazy warmth of summer afternoons, into the infant. 

The small child giggled, waving tiny fists at the fairy. The fairy, with a touch of regret, handed the child back to the Queen. 

“Neema, Fairy of the Spring!” The herald cried out again, bowing in another fairy. Just as Chia was an epitome of Summer, Neema was Spring in fairy-form. Her skin was pale perfection, her hair blonde, and her eyes blue. She wore a dress colored the colors of life. Her smile was full of youth, alive, and with sparkling eyes she drew near the small child. Twining down the arm she reached out with was her tattoo of budding flowers and vines. 

Her voice was sweet, like pure air clean from early rainstorms. “An exquisite child! Such a blessing I have to give!” Eagerly she waited for the child to be settled in her arms. She touched the nose of the small babe and smiled. “For you, I shall give the blessing of life and laughter, the love of spring showers, and dew soaked petals, of bright colors and crisp breezes. This I give you, little one,” The Fairy of Spring lifted the small child toward her face, and blew out a sweet-scented breath, giving life to the essence of spring. 

Again, the child cooed. Neema smiled, and kissed the babe’s forehead before handing her back to the Queen. She joined Chia to the side, along with all the other guests, who watched with smiles upon their faces that only an infant could bring. 

“Thu, Fairy of the Autumn!” The herald proclaimed, bowed and retiring to the side of the doorway as the last guest entered the room. She was draped in crimson and chocolate silk, with dark auburn hair flowing down her shoulders. She had a dignity the other fairies did not, and composedly, she gave the Queen and King a deep curtsy. Tattooed across her cheek were the fallen leaves of autumn, brazen against her bronze skin. 

“A gift for the child, I bring,” Her voice was a deep tolling bell that bespoke of early frosts and rich harvests. She held the child solemnly and did not speak for moments. “Of life and love for the shortening days, of earthen tones and falling leaves, of foggy mornings and star-filled nights, I bless you,” Thu breathed softly upon the child, and the room shivered with its aroma of moist soil and dying fields. 

The infant was still this time, though not in disagreement, but in wonder as her big eyes stared at the fairy holding her. 

The Queen reclaimed her child, and held her close. The night had fallen, and the reception almost over. The Queen lifted her chin to speak, but was silenced by a single person walking in, alone and unannounced. The herald at the door moved as if to stop her, or announce her, but at her glance, he froze in place, shrinking back against the wall. 

She wore a dress of white, stark in contract with her raven hair, though the white was bright against her ivory skin. Down one side of her face and neck, snow fell, permanently inked to her skin. Amongst all the fairies and despite her flawless splendor, she was cold, and she brought with her a regal presence that made the Queen grasp her child closer. The crowd shivered as one and instinctively drew further from her. The fairy took no notice, her frozen eyes only for the queen. 

The fairy bent her proud head to the royal couple, “Tuyet I am, Fairy of the Winter and guardian of the Forest.” Her voice was beautiful, a single song in a minor key. “For your child, a gift I bring.” She said, her red lips neither smiling nor frowning. 

The Queen, despite the King’s hand on her arm, handed her only child to the Fairy of the Winter, seemingly as eagerly as she had given her to the three others. But her beautiful features suddenly seemed strained, a pleading in them for the fairy not to harm her child. A premonition had settled over her as the cold fairy had entered the room. She was a woman of her word however, and she handed the child over, sealing their bargain created nearly ten months before. 

Tuyet took the child in her hands, “With a love of winter, cold days and long nights, of snow and pale skies, I bless you. With the appreciation and acceptance of death, I bless you.” The fairy was silent, before speaking again, her voice like ice in a language unrecognized by any but the other fairies. It rose and fell in a twisted speech, beautiful for its words alone, but deadly for its beauty. Her words could be heard through out the small room, and the people stared in awed fear of the woman. 

She went on for a moment, before the room was silent. It was if the people had lost their capacity to speak, and could only stare with wide eyes and stricken faces. 

“You cannot!” Neema burst in once she had gained her composure. “You simply cannot!” She stepped in front of the other fairies, her fists at her side. The crowd had grown silent, the dark premonition of the fairy’s words stilling their tongues. 

Tuyet raised her head and scornfully appraised her with cold, frosty eyes and spoke two words with such cold calm that her breath came forth in a cloud of icy vapor. “I have.” She handed the child back to the Queen, and turned in a flow of tinkling white silk and exited the silent room; frost followed her wake, icicles forming on the edges of her dress and hair. She left the people as stunned as when she had entered, and as they let their breath out, it came in a frosty cloud. 

The Queen drew her daughter closer and turned to the Fairy of Spring, her eyes confused and panicked. “What has she done?” She cried amid the King’s ordering of the guardsmen to find Tuyet and bring her back. “What has she done to my child…?” 

"Sleeping Beauty" by fernand jiro marantal

I was Fernand jiro marantal, from my sleep, I awoke my troubled mind .. this is because my older brother, why do not U powder in the sleeping beauty story ..'' that he'd like to turn ..

shed I found I do is cognizant that one day he read it ...

trained you like a story again to share with you ...

 I was thinking one day, and I realized that in all my nearly seventeen years, I have never read, nor seen a movie of Sleeping Beauty. So I got the notion, that I wanted to create my own version. So I found a very basic summary of the original version, and am using that for a backround to create my own Sleeping Beauty Story.

This is the prologue, or part one, or however you wish to call it.

A good queen only wishes for a daughter... 

“Tell a story! Please, tell a story!” The towns-children clamored; they were a diverse group of people. Some of the girls had hair braided into pigtails, the adolescent girls had loose, long hair, but both wore the woolen hand-sewn dresses common to the quaint town. The tousle headed young boys were in cutoff breeches and wool shirts, the older males in heavy pants. The youngest gathered around the elderly woman on a floor piled with blankets and rugs while the older children found benches and chairs behind the little ones. 

“Tell one ‘bout a beautiful princess and a handsome prince!” The small girls cried, their eyes shining from where they perched on the floor. 

The young boys wrinkled their noses. “Tell one about courageous knights and swordfights!” They too, leaned forward on their knobby knees, the firelight glowing on their freshly washed faces. The adolescents just smiled, the coupled ones cozy in the comfort of each other, and let the younger decide. A few adults entered the common room, leaning unobtrusively on a wall or finding an unoccupied chair to listen with a knowing upturning of their lips as they fondly watched. 

They all, younger and older, anticipated a magical fairytale. 

The elderly woman held up a hand, and a profound silence cast over the warm, orangey countenance of the fire-lit room. Her pallid blue eyes were kind and a smile etched across the abundant wrinkles in her timeless face. The children hung onto every one of her soft words as if gave them life. “To tell you what my story is about would be to give it away. Do you still want to hear, though you won’t know what it’s about?” She asked the many children scattered about her feet. 

They nodded vigorously, already enthralled by the mysterious glint in her eye. 

“Very well then,” The old woman resettled herself in the aged folds in the single armchair, and clasped her hands in her lap. Beside her, the fire crackled and popped, its silvery smoke ascending to the star-studded winter sky outside. 

Her voice was like magic in a silence absolute except for small shifts and rustling of clothing. “Once upon a time…There were four great kingdoms: The Kingdom of the North, The Kingdom of the West, The Kingdom of the South and The Kingdom of the East. This story begins in The Kingdom in the West. It was a beautiful place, full of green meadows, blue skies and beautiful forests. The people were prosperous and happy, with red-cheeked, laughing children, and wise, twinkling-eyed elders. There was only one stain upon this magical place: at its northern border was a dark forest.” 

The old woman’s voice slowed, and she gestured with her hands the magnitude of the vile forest. “The black trees there were bigger than any tree had ever grown. The forest was full of shadows, and had a darker magic than any of the faeries knew. Even the greatest wizards and bravest knights feared to go within it. It was said that if you ate or kept anything from within the forest, evil would overtake you, and terrible demons would rise up and swallow your soul with the vengeance of their long-lost magical knowledge.” 

The children shivered as the little girls clustered together with wide eyes and the boys tried to act brave with white-knuckled hands clasped tight to the blankets. The teenage girls sitting behind them drew closet to their companions, their eyes on the woman. 

“But nobody ever went within the Dark Forest. People stayed south of it in the gentle hills of The Kingdom of the West, and north of it in The Kingdom of the North. So very few people went there in fact, that nearly everything heard about the Dark Forest had become legend. The Dark Forest itself was a shadow on the map, a place with no sky, overrun with undergrowth and the black trees. 

“This story begins in The Kingdom of the West. At its very center was a great and exquisite castle. It rose up six, seven stories with pure white walls and to even greater heights with pointed turrets and grand flags. In this castle lived King and the Queen.” The old woman clasped her hands together and sighed. 

“They were such a magnificent couple. The king was fair and just, the queen beautiful and compassionate. For many years, they reigned in peace, but a subtle melancholy was settling over The Kingdom of the West. No children came to the royal couple, despite all their intentions; they could not have a child. The beautiful Queen’s face grew solemn, and the King’s demeanor grew disheartened. Fearing the King’s slowly disappearing love at her incompetence, the Queen stole away one night determined to find a remedy.” 

The old woman’s face grew grave, and the fire seemed to dim as she continued to speak with her captivating voice. The children unconsciously drew closer together on the blanket-heaped floor. 

“She went alone, deep within the Dark Forest. She did not know who or what she searched for, but something drew her farther and closer to the heart of the forsaken woods. Upon reaching a single, desolate clearing within the enormous black barked trees, she fell to her knees, crying for help. To her, came a small, pale-skinned fairy. It couldn’t have been more than six inches tall, and was quite beautiful. “Why do you weep fair lady?” The fairy asked, and then alighted upon the Queen’s knee and sat, folding her glittering silver wings behind her. The Queen, who did not know what else to do, found herself pouring out the whole story to the tiny creature. 

“She told the fairy how all she had ever wanted were children, in particular a little girl. She told the small fairy how she loved the King, but feared he was loosing his love of her. She told the fairy how that if they did not have a child, The Kingdom of the West would turn to civil war looking for a new regent. She poured out her entire heart and soul to this creature that sat and listened without a comment.” 

The old woman paused in her story weaving to explain the faeries. “Now, let me tell you, faeries are the only creatures, besides dragons of course - but those are so few they aren’t even in this story - faeries are the only creatures that have a natural, unlearned magic. If anybody, this small fairy might be able to help the Queen. Maybe that is why she told the small thing everything. Most faeries were kind and tender hearted in ways of helping others.” 

A child raised his chin to say something, but the old woman lifted her hand, and the boy sank back down in the blankets and rugs without a word. 

“After a great amount of silence, the Queen began to think that maybe she was only imagining the fairy, because it sat so silently and did not move at all. Finally she asked it, “Small fairy, are you there? Or am I only seeing things and talking to myself?” The fairy replied in her beautiful voice, “Dear lady, never fear, I am as real as you are. I have thought long about your predicament, and if you would grant me something in return, I would gladly give you a potion to take, and in a month, you will find yourself with child.” The Queen was so grateful she found herself speechless. Finally finding her voice, she stammered out, “Oh, little fairy thank you! I would grant you anything within my power, if only I could have a child!” 

The fairy smiled, “You must wait in this spot until the morning’s first light can be seen through the sky. Then I will return with a potion for you.” Then, the fairy unfolded her silver wings and flew once around the clearing before returning to the Queen. “I warn you, fair lady, do not leave the clearing until I return. Terrible, terrible things are in these woods at night.” With that, she flew away into the shadows of the black trees. The Queen waited within that tiny clearing throughout the whole night. By the time morning came, she was thoroughly frightened, for though she had not left her place in the center of the clearing, horrific noises issued forth from the trees, screams, moans, shrieks and laughter. 

“When she saw the light above the trees, she rose to her feet shaking. It did not take long for the little fairy to return, a miniscule bottle in her hand. The Queen lifted her hand, and the fairy stood upon it. “Here you are, fair lady, drink this immediately, and in one month, you will find yourself with child.” The fairy dropped the bottle into the Queen’s palm. It immediately resized to a proportion adequate for a human, and the Queen took it and put it within her pocket. 

“The tiny fairy cleared her throat. “And now, my request?” The Queen paused. “Forgive me, little fairy. Please, ask anything!” The fairy rose in the air until she was level with the Queen’s face before speaking. “You will let me attend your child’s christening,” she simply stated. The Queen, light-hearted with the simplicity of the request smiled, her face beautiful again. “Of course little fairy, but how will I know to find you and tell you when?” 

The fairy settled back into the Queen’s palm thoughtfully. A moment later, she lifted her head. “You will leave a lock of the child’s hair tied on the first tree you come to of the Dark Forest a week before the christening. I will find it and come. I must go now, the sunlight doesn’t favor me as it used to.” The Queen curtsied to the small fairy, which indeed had begun to look wan. “Thank you, little fairy, I will not forget.” 

“The small fairy sped away into the shadows, and the Queen went the opposite direction, walked as quickly as she could through the Dark Forest. Her earlier elation slowly sapped away, and by the time she emerged from the edge of the woods near midday, she was frightened and shaking. While going through the Forest, things had grabbed at her, voices howled about her head, and apparitions danced and tortured her vision. Her dress was torn and stained, her hair tangled and twined with leaves and twigs, and her face and arms scratched. She went to the nearest house she could find, and the people there were appalled at the state of their queen; they found her a bath, clean clothes and a carriage to take her to the castle.” The old woman paused, and in her breath, somebody spoke. 

It was one of the older males, one sitting on a bench in a corner and quite alone. It was rather odd that he sat alone, for he was fairly good-looking. Most of the people turned to look at him as he spoke. “This isn’t the same story, of the girl who pricks her finger and falls asleep for a hundred years, is it?” 

The old woman, somewhat bothered by his interruption, waved her hand in dismissal, “Of course not young lad! A story teller never tells the same tale twice!” 

“But you’ve begun it exactly the same way!” The boy continued to protest, a bit indignant of her calling him a lad. The smaller children upon the floor shifted restlessly. They wanted the story to continue. 

The old woman closed her eyes for a brief moment, “Many stories begin the same, but this one goes farther! I know you have not heard of the ogre queen, the folly of the prince, nor the evil that brewed right in the princess’ own castle!” The old woman by now was angry at the boy’s audacity. 

The boy was forced to hang his head in defeat, as he agreed to what the woman said. The woman huffed and resettled her thin frame in the chair to begin once more. The children on the floor had drawn even closer to her, intrigued by what she had given away. The elderly woman took a deep breath, and closed her eyes again. 

She was quiet for several minutes, and finally one of the children, a blonde-headed little girl at her feet tentatively asked, “Grandma, will you continue? Do the prince and the princess fall in love?” 

The old woman opened her pale eyes and smiled knowingly at the little girl. “Well my dear, we’ll just have to find out, won’t we?” Folding her arthritic hands together again, her eyes took on a far away look as she began to speak. 

The children unconsciously shifted closer, once more wrapped up within her words. Even the older boy who had spoken up couldn’t help but lean forward, fascinated by the tale. 

Room of No Strangers p-06''

by;fernand jiro
Jason shook his head, making Rob bite his lip, “No, hold on, five more minutes…” Rob nodded, sitting down on her couch. Jessica looked like she almost wanted to smile. 




Jason turned his green eyes to Ael, “Ok, crash course in shielding your Room.” First things first, we’re going to put a spell here, so nobody can do magic but you. Make a net in                     your mind, and lay it down across your Room, stretch it, fit if over and under everything and everywhere, but not the people. Put the net around, and the people inside.” 




Ael nodded, the picture in her mind looked like something computer generated. “Ok, now what.” She said, trying to keep the picture stable. 




“Put a touch of your Will along it, so it seals itself to the walls.” 




Ael did so, her eyes slightly unfocused as she watched the picture in her mind ripple and begin to pulse softly. It was an almost comforting pulse. “Ok…next?” 




“Let it go. Open your hands, and push it to the walls.” 




Ael made the motion, and the picture disappeared and suddenly her Room felt more hers, as if she were more attuned to it, and knew everything that went on in it. She turned to Jason, and she felt him press against whatever she had just done. 




“Alright, good job, it works. Rob, you can let her go.” Jason instructed. 




Rob sighed, and leaned his head back against the cushions. Obviously, Jon had done more to Rob than he had done to Ael. She at least didn’t have a problem doing magic after she had gotten out. She didn’t have time for her thoughts though, as a giant surging pressure came from Jessica on her net. She instinctually pressed bask against it, with the net-structure, and gasped as a great deal of her magic was sucked into the net. 




Rob, still on the couch with is eyes shut, had no clue what was going on, and neither did Jason. At her gasp, Jason looked to her, confused, but Rob had the sense to glance at his sister, and see the smirk on her face. “Stop pushing, it’ll just keep taking it from you.” He said in a tired voice. 




Ael stopped pushing against it, and miraculously, nothing happened. She smiled at Rob’s shut-eyed figure. “Thanks…” He made a motion with his hand in reply and didn’t open his eyes. Ael turned to Jason. “How do we get to my mom’s Room?” 




“Think about her, and her Room,” Jason said simply, and Ael did so, and a door immediately appeared at her left in one of the walls. 




She stepped toward it, and was relieved to see the familiar soft rose color peeking from beyond the far door. “Come on, somebody’s got to be in there, it’s open.” 




Jason motioned for Rob to spell Jessica again, since the spells didn’t last between the Rooms, and Rob sighed heavily as he did so, but stood up, and the both followed the two down the hallway. 




Ael pushed open the door, to find Ramona, Westly and Miles, all holding some sort of drink. She wasn’t sure what, since they disappeared as the four walked in. 




“Hey,” Westly gave a friendly glare to Ramona as he tried to drink the no longer existing drink, before turning to Ael. “About time you got here, what held you up?” 




Chairs appeared for the three of them, leaving a corner free for Jessica to stand in, which she did sullenly. Ael sat, and told them, “You didn’t exactly tell us where to go you know. We went to Jason’s Room, got Rob, and went back to Jason’s Room where Jessica was. We had to wait for Rob to wake up, and then we went to my Room, and then here.” She explained in a single breath. 




Westly nodded his head, “Alright, Rob, you okay? You look a little peaky.” 




Rob nodded, “It’d be great if one of you could Heal me…this headache is killing me.” 




Ramona gave him a look of pity and stood up and put a hand on his forehead. She closed her eyes, after a second, Rob’s color seemed to come back, and he sighed easily. 




“Thanks.” He managed a real smile this time. “Where are the rest of them?” He asked, making Ael curious as well to the answer. 




“At Westly’s house. We need to go there too. Miles, Westly, I’ll leave you with Jessica.” Ramona instructed, standing up. 




“Alright, meet you at the house in about fifteen minutes.” Westly said, before he, Miles, and Jessica all disappeared. 




Ramona looked at the remaining three. “Everybody ready? Let’s go.” 




In the blink of an eye, they were in an average, modern suburban home. A glance out of the nearest window showed it was identical to every single other house on the block. The three of them followed Ramona into an adjoining room, where the other four sat, watching a television. 




“You’re back!” Fran welcomed them with a smile. 




A small explosion sounded on the television, and Ramona rushed in front of it without a word, watching it intently, muttering, “Where…where…?”




Ael moved over, so she could better see the screen and was surprised when all that was on it was a picture of the Earth rotating. As it reached Europe, a small red spot blinked on and off. Ramona turned around, facing them, her face grim. 




“Jon killed somebody…we have to go there. Get ready, and don’t move.” She glanced at Rob as they all linked hands and the air around them froze, melting into a tie-dyed assortment and then freezing back in place. Foreign voices reached her ears as she turned to look at what most likely was France. Her mother turned to them. “Stay together and stay with me.” 




She led them along a street, searching for what none of them could guess, when a decidedly American voice yelled, ”Tim!” 




A slim figured hurtled into Tim, clinging to him, soft muffled crying coming from her. 




Tim obviously knew here, as he wrapped his arms around her, shushing her. “What’s wrong?” He was oblivious to the rest of them as he gently pulled her away from him so he could look at her. “El, what happened?” 




The girl scrubbed at her pale red-rimmed blue eyes. Her dark shoulder length hair fell to her shoulder in disarray. 




“My parents…he…killed them…” Her tears started to flow again. “I heard him come in the room, and go into their part of the suite. When they started to scream, I ran out. I think he tried to follow me, but I lost him in the crowd somewhere.” She paused, as if realizing where they were. “Why’re you in Paris?” 




“To get you,” Ramona soft said, “what’s your name?” 




“Ellen…Ellen Smith. Who’re you?” She asked, looking at them all. “Tim, who are all these people?” She moved closer to him and he unconsciously put his arm around her again. 




“This is Ramona, Ael, Jason, Rob, Briana, Fran, and Dave. Everyone, this is Ellen. She is…was my…well…girlfriend, before Jon found me.” He shrugged, not shy at all. 




“Who’s Jon?” Ellen asked him, sniffing. 




“I think we should answer this somewhere else. Let’s go back to Westly’s house. Ellen, come here.” Ellen gave her a mistrustful look, but took a few steps closer to her. “I promise we won’t hurt you. We’re friends, and we’ll tell you everything when we get to Westly’s, ok?” 




Ellen nodded slowly and then fell backwards, unconscious. Tim caught her. 




“What’d you do to her?” He asked Ramona accusingly. 




“She’ll be fine, she just can’t move, and she doesn’t’ know that. It’s better if she’s unconscious. Com on, let’s go.” Ramona explained. 




Tim glared at her as everyone joined hands, and felt somebody touch his shoulder. 




A minute later, they were back in Westly’s living room. Tim sat Ellen on the couch and sat down by her head. He looked expectantly up at Ramona as they all took seats. 




Ramona was about to walk over to Ellen, to revive her, but Miles and Weslty walked in. 




“We’re back did you – who’s that?” He asked Ramona, keeping his eyes on Ellen. 




“Ellen. Jon killed her parents,” was Ramona’s short explanation. “Did you take care of Jessica?” 




“Yeah, we put her with Michael and Julie. All in separate corners.” Miles said, grinning as if he found it funny. 




“Uh…Ramona…?” Tim hesitantly said, as if not sure what to call her. 




“Wha – oh, yes.” She went to Ellen, and put a hand on her forehead. 




Ellen blinked, and then sat up, looking around with wide eyes. She noticed Tim, and immediately moved closer to him. “Where am I?” 




“On the East side of Okalahoma City. This is my house, who might I ask, are you?” Westly asked her. 




“Ellen Smith,” She said distractedly. “How’d I get here? I was in Paris, and who’s that Jon guy?” 




“Magic,” Westly replied. “I think I’ll leave the explaining to my wife, I need a drink, and diner. Come on all of you, I’ll put a pizza in the oven.” 




Everyone got up to follow him except Ramona, Ellen and Tim who obviously couldn’t go because Ellen wouldn’t let go of him. 




About an hour later, after everyone had eaten, and the sun was half-past the horizon, spreading it’s colors across the sky, Elllen, Tim, and Ramona finally came back in from the other room, and took what was left of the now cold pizza. 




Ellen looked older than she had before their talk, and Tim continually glanced over at her with a worried look on his face. Obviously he still had feelings for her, even if she didn’t for him, but judging by her previous actions, she must have feelings for him as well. 




Westly motioned Ramona out on the porch in the back to talk alone, but everyone followed them out. The teenagers perched on railings, the swinging bench, and on the steps. Ramona and Westly sat on the free standing bench. 




Ael could almost guess this was where she would have grown up, had everything not have happened as it did. The white painted porch, the soft gray house, and even the potted plants made her wish it would have been so. She blinked, realizing Westly had begun to speak. 




“…And now, we think we kind of know what Jon wants to do. Ellen’s parents, Zach and Kelly, were running for Head, well, Zach was, Kelly was going to be vice. Obviously, Jon wants to be Head again, since his name is down for the running. Zach and Kelly were a shoo-in, had Jon not done what he did. They had good ideas, good background, everything. So now, we have even more of a reason to get Jon. But, we have to find a way to do that. Tomorrow, Fran’s parents are coming to help us as well...” He trailed off, his eyes and Ramona’s connecting as if they were speaking to each other silently. 




Ramona suddenly stood up. “I think we’re going to go to sleep early tonight. If you go upstairs, there’s rooms for you. Two people to a room, no co-ed.” She smiled, “Girls in rooms, boys in rooms. Don’t bother to break the rules, we’ll catch you too fast. Breakfast is at eight.” Westly stood up with her, and led the way into the house. 




The sky was now dark; it must have been around eight-thirty. Ael glanced back as she went in, maybe Westly hadn’t noticed, but Tim and Ellen stillsat outside on the bench. 




“Lights out at ten,” Westly’s eyes flickered toward the doorway, and he said it loud enough so somebody outside could hear. Maybe had had noticed them. 




Ael went up the stairs, and since she had walked up last, ended up in the empty room waiting for Ellen. The room was nice enough, twin beds with matching nightstands and dressers on the opposite wall. There was a closet, but Ael didn’t bother to open it. 




She didn’t really take notice of the window until she heard the voices drifting up through it. Evidently the porch was below her window, and Ellen and Tim still sat there talking. She figured it impolite to listen, so she put on the pajamas that were laid on the plaid blue comforter and folded her dirty clothes and set the on the dresser. She quietly lay in bed a few moments later after finding her way to the bathroom to wash the pizza taste out of her mouth. Staring up at the ceiling, she couldn’t help but overhear and listen to the voices drifting through the window. 




“…Did you come to me?” Tim’s voice was the first she heard. 




“I don’t know, I didn’t think. I was just running through the streets looking for anyone I knew. You were the first person I saw that I knew, and you’ve always been safe.” Ellen sighed and it was quiet for a few moments, or they were talking so softly Ael couldn’t hear them. “I missed you since you left…where did you go anyway? I asked your parents, but all they would say is that they sent you to boarding school,” Ellen’s voice came again. 




“I got magic, and I’ve been at the school we were talking about with Ramona.” He paused, “Did you know she’s Ael’s mom?” 




“Ael? Which one is she, I don’t remember…”




“The short skinny one with like…red-brown hair.” Tim told her. 




“Oh, she’s pretty. She looks a lot like Ramona now that you say that.” Ellen said, surprising Ael, and leaving her thinking .She had never been called anything even close to pretty before. 




“So what have you been doing since I’ve been gone? Any new boyfriends?” Ael could hear the tease in Tim’s voice from the room. 




Ellen laughed softly, “No, I’ve just been hanging around waiting for you to come back, and to turn sixteen.” Ellen replied almost wistfully. 




“It’s only about three weeks or so, right?” Tim asked. 




“Yeah, I can’t wait, I wonder if ‘it’ will happen?” The ‘it’ she spoke of was obviously the acquiring of magic. 




“I know what you mean, I had absolutely no clue. I didn’t even know your parents had it until Ramona told us.” 




It was quiet for a few more minutes, and then Tim spoke up again. “I suppose we should go in, I know I don’t want to be caught out too late by Westly.” 




Ellen must have agreed, because there was a creak as they got off the swinging bench and walked into the house. Ael heard their soft footsteps on the carpeted stairway, and see their shadows outside the door across the floor. 




There shadows stood there, and Ael couldn’t hear there whispered conversation until Tim said, “You sure you’re going to be ok then?” His shadow hand touched her face. “You know I’m here for you…and everyone else here.” 




Ellen’s silhouetted head looked down and Ael heard her sniff as Tim brushed something off her cheek. Ael had to strain to hear her voice. “I just don’t know what to feel anymore. I wish it wouldn’t have been my parents. You know what? This makes me an orphan, the only family I have left is my uncle, but he’s pure evil. There’s no way in hell I’d go live with him.” Her voice shook a little as she spoke. 




Tim’s shadows pulled her close into an embrace, and he kissed her on the top of his head. His soft voice was even harder to hear. “You’re not an orphan, you’re mine. I’ll always be here. Now, go to sleep, things’ll look better in the morning.” Tim gave her another hug and led her into the room. He glanced around before continuing down the hall to his own room. 




Ellen’s eyes searched out Ael’s as she shut the door and crossed the room to her bed. “You heard.” It wasn’t an accusing voice, just a tired one. 




Ael nodded, “I’m sorry…”




Ellen didn’t say anything, but went to the other bed and began to put on the pajamas. A soft chill covered Ael, and she glanced at the window to see the curtains blowing in. She got up to shut it, and shivering got back under the blankets. 




“You really like him, don’t you?” Ael asked Ellen as she was getting bed. 




Ellen paused, “I guess I love him. He’s all I have now anyway…” She rolled over to face Ael and pulled the covers up to her chin. 




Ael didn’t bother to point out that Ellen still had the whole group, Ramona, Westly, and everyone here. They would help her in anyway they could. She was about to say something but she saw the tears starting to fall down the other’s cheeks and decided against it. Instead, she rolled onto her back hoping sleep would come soon. 

"Room of No Strangers p-05

“Miles!” Westly smiled and then at everyone’s befuddled looks, he explained, “Everyone, this is my brother, Miles.” 




The taller, but barely so, man gave a distracted smile to them before looking back to Westly. Westly stood up, and looked at his brother. “So, what do you propose we do? We need to go somewhere they won’t find us, at least until we can think something up.” Westly asked Miles, who had visibly calmed down and started to think rationally. 




“Well, we can’t go to a Room, that would just be stupid until we can get them off our trail, so the best place would be…Canada?” He said making a few people’s eyebrows rise at his randomness. He looked to Westly, “It’s where I came before I was here so – wait, that’s where they’ll be, let’s go to Chile. I put a spell on the place I was in Canada, and it’ll grow stronger before fading, they’ll think I’m going to be there for a while. They won’t even know you’re in Chile, at least not for a few hours, is that enough time?” Miles’ rapid thought left a few of them behind, and some of his words weren’t even intelligible as he spoke, except for the last ones at which Westly nodded. 




“Ok, I need everyone touching another person. It usually isn’t necessary, but I don’t want to leave anyone behind at this point.” He looked over them all, and put a hand on Miles’ shoulder. 




Traveling in reality was much more different from traveling from the Rooms. The very air seemed to freeze, before heating, and then melting around them, molding and shifting from the interior of a tent to a cloudy sky, and the breeze that was once dry and warm became salty and moist – at this point, Ael heard a muffled noise, a sort of thump, and tried to see what it was, but she couldn’t move. Then, the process before seemed to happen in reverse, the air got cold again, colors stopped running together and froze in place, and suddenly, they were in Chile. 




Ael looked around, the land was fertile up to a point, and then it became rocky and black. In the distance the blue of the ocean blended with the horizon, before going to sky, a few random trees dotted the landscape. 




Along with the others, Ael turned as Westly cursed. His blue eyes were angry, mirroring the stormy sky. To make matters worse, it began to sprinkle lightly. Ael wasn’t sure what was wrong, until she saw with her own eyes: Rob wasn’t with them. 




“Dammit!” Weslty spouted off again. Ramona went over to him, and began whispering in urgent tones. 




Ael heard her name once or twice, and then Miles’. She frowned, raising her eyebrows in question as her mother looked at her before speaking. 




“Okay, we’re going to have to go get Rob. There’s no way we’re going to leave him behind. This is why you don’t move when we Travel. Jason, you and Ael are going to get him. I know, you have no clue how, but we’re going to tell you a little bit of it. Wes and Miles are going to go distract the Moore’s, who are still on our trail, and I’m going to stay with the rest.” Miles took this opportunity to disappear before Ramona kept talking. “Ok, Ael, you know what the Rooms are, right? And you know how to get into one. To get out, think of something sad, and where you want to go. Jason can help you out a little, he knows something of them. To bring someone with you, for now, just touch them. I don’t have enough time to explain the other way now…” She tensed suddenly, looking expectantly to the other two adults as Miles reappeared and nodded to Ramona. 




“He’s gone,” were his only words. 




Ael hadn’t noticed anything, and then suddenly people showed up, Michael and Julie Moore took a few steps towards them, grins upon their faces. “Ah, what have we found here? Lost puppies?” Julie’s voice dripped sarcasm and she made a light motion with her hand, a flick, and there was a sound like a sharp clap, and a blue spark of power ran between the two groups of people, making the kids jump. 




Ael looked around to see what had caused the sound. Ramona’s complete calm was almost unnerving. She was leaning her weight on one foot, arms loosely crossed in front of her, her brown eyes under raised eyebrows looking toward Julie. “You’re not taking anybody anywhere.” Her voice was almost conversational. 




Julie visibly had to steady herself, openly astonished at Ramona. It was now that Ael could feel the power almost radiating from her mother – who didn’t even seem aware of it. 




“Will you leave now?” Her mother’s voice was calm and cool. 




Julie’s on the other hand was nasty. “No. We came here to get something. We aren’t leaving without it.”




“Ok, I’ll make a bargain then. I’ll give you Wes and Miles, okay? No complaints? Good.” Something in Ramona’s voice left things unknown. 




Michael looked like he was about to say something, but didn’t – or couldn’t. Something wasn’t right, but Ael couldn’t put her finger on it. She was almost positive Julie and Michael couldn’t care less about Westly and Miles. As the thought ran through her head, the two walked deliberately, right up to the two, each placing a hand on one of their shoulders. 




Westly turned and waved, and Miles called a sarcastic, “Cheerio!” and then, they were gone. 




Ramona sighed, and the power feeling about them left as well. Ael looked at her, just as she was slipping her ring on her finger, and she began to talk. “Ok, now we really need to get out of here. That piece of magic will have told a lot of people where we are.” 




“But I thought Westly and the other – Miles - just took them away?” Briana asked. 




Ramona silenced her, turning back to Ael and Jason. “Teach her how to use the doors, remember your relations as well, I think that should be enough to get you by. Jason, take her to your Room, and you two figure it out there, don’t forget about time, now leave, hurry…” She made a quick motion with her hand, and the rest of them disappeared into thin air, leaving Ael and Jason standing there alone. 




Ael shivered as the misty rain settled onto her, and Jason looked at her and held out a hand. She took it, and felt a tiny surge of power. Blinking, she opened her eyes to another place. 




His Room was obviously that of a teenager. A futon was against one white wall, with black matching metal tables on either side, one had a lamp. Opposite that, was a matching entertainment center, flat screen, stereo, and some kind of gaming system and standing speakers on the side. 




Jason sat on the couch, and Ael took a seat in the opposite corner. He looked at her, and she suddenly shifted, feeling uncomfortable as the possibilities of these Rooms came to her. She ducked her head, feeling her cheeks redden. 




Jason actually had the nerve to blush. “I wouldn’t do that…” He told her. 




“What?” Ael was confused, she hadn’t said anything aloud. 




“What you’re thinking.” 




It was Ael’s turn to blush, before looking up at him. “How did you know what I was thinking…?”




“You know how the Creator of the Room is in control? Well…they can do that as well, find out what people are thinking. Now if you took your ring off, I wouldn’t be so sure, but leave it on, I don’t want anything bad happening.” He paused for a moment, meeting her eyes and then dropping his, sighing. “What was she talking about when she said, ‘you know where they are?’ Where what, the Rooms?” He asked her. 




She nodded. “Yeah, you know the mages’ cells? They’re a Room. The Creator creates the Room, puts a person in it, and leaves. That’s why you can’t do magic in there. Unless you don’t have Jon’s influence on you.” She held up her ring as comprehension dawned on Jason. “What was she telling me about then when she said something about the doors?” 




“The doors can only be opened between relationships, marriages, or blood. Sometimes, if two friends are close enough, they can, but that’s not likely. You have to think about that person, and then depending on the strength of your Will, it will open, and only if somebody is in the Room. It won’t open to a blank room.” Jason seemed at a loss, his voice distracted his mind not on what he was saying. 




It was only when Ael asked, “What?” that he came out of it, his green eyes puzzled. 




“Why did she tell me to remember my relations? I’m guessing we need to go to one of them, but who?” He pushed back his shaggy hair sighing. 




Ael knew suddenly. “Jon.” She said softly, making him look at her. 




“Oh, how did you…never mind…is that where Rob is then?” He said slowly. 




She nodded, standing up. “We need to go get him; we don’t have that much time.” 




Jason nodded. “You’re right.” He stood up and snapped softly, and a door cracked open at Ael’s left. She pulled it open, and saw in the splash of white light spilling from a doorway down the narrow corridor.




The ten steps it took to walk its length felt like eternity as she stepped them, glad of Jason’s presence at her back as she cracked open the far door and peered into its depths. 




A sudden noise made Ael turn, and look back at the open door into Jason’s Room. “What was that?” she said softly. 




Jason shrugged, making his way back down the hall. He peered in the Room, and then softly shut the door. The door slowly melted into black wall, leaving the only light in the narrow corridor coming from the cracked door near Ael. He walked back down the hall, waiting until he was near her to speak in a low voice. “Jessica was in there. She won’t be able to get out now either, not until I send her somewhere. No magic in that Room. Come’on, let’s go get Rob.” He nodded toward the door, and Ael pulled it open. 




It was as Ael had remembered, four white walls, the harsh shadowless light. Rob lay flat on his back, the only dark in the room was his hair, like a splash of black paint on the perfect white floor. His skin was pale and he seemed to be sleeping, or unconscious. Ael was frozen in mental turmoil, not wanting to go in the Room, despite why they were there. It was Jason who finally stepped past her, quickly going into the Room and picking up Rob’s decidedly unconscious form. He quickly took it back through the doorway and shut the door as a muffled thump issued from the now-gone door. 




At the thump, Jason pulled Ael’s frozen hand, jerking her toward the other door that appeared at his thought at the far end of the hallway. “Hurry up! We have to get through it before he comes!” He half-jogged, pulling Ael along. 




As they reached the far end, Jason pushed the door open, shoved Ael inside and then shut it, pressing his ear against it to see if anyone had followed. “I don’t think he followed us…,” he concluded, walking over to the couch, where a slightly startled Jessica sat. 




“Who?” Ael asked. 




“Jon. Move.” He directed the last word to Jessica none too lightly. “He can’t follow us unless the door wasn’t shut by the time he got in the hall.” He seemed thoughtful for a moment, “Or if he remembers I’m related to him…”




Jason put Rob down on the couch, and left a hand on his forehead, closing his own green eyes momentarily. He was obviously Healing him. Rob seemed to relax a little, as Jason took his hand away, shaking his head. “I wish I could do more than that. I’m not that great at Healing. At least he won’t be in so much pain anymore…” Jason shrugged, and then turned to Jessica. “So what are you doing here?” 




Jessica gave him an ugly look. “None of your business.” She retorted, half-turned, crossing her arms over her chest stubbornly. 




Jason just shrugged, “Suit yourself. You get to stay here until Rob wakes up. Go sit in the corner.” He snapped, and a hard, straight-backed wooden chair appeared in the far corner. Jessica didn’t move, her fair complexion stubbornly refusing to move. Jason sighed exasperatedly. “Move, or I’ll move you for you.” He said shortly, rolling his eyes. 




Jessica rolled her own eyes in return, and stalked over to the chair and turned it so that it faced the wall and sat huffily in it, crossing her legs. 




Jason shook his head and turned back to Rob, putting a hand on his forehead, his eyebrows creased. “He should wake pretty soon…He’s not unconscious anymore, just dreaming.” He made a nudging motion with his hand, and the futon-couch stretched farther sideways, creating room for them to sit at Rob’s head. 




Ael curled up against the metal armrest and closed her eyes…what she would give right now for a night’s sleep…










She woke a few minutes later, as something hit her shoulder. Blinking she turned her head to see Jason’s dirty blonde head leaned against her shoulder. Evidently, he’d fallen asleep as well. 




Ael smiled, and stood up, letting him slide down on the couch in what looked like a terribly uncomfortable position. She yawned, turning when she heard Jason’s voice. 




“Good morning,” Jason yawned himself and sat up, before looking at Rob, and putting a hand on his forehead. He nodded to himself, and then shook Rob’s shoulder in attempt to wake him up. 




Rob blinked, his blue eyes wide, and his body tensed before he relaxed, realizing where he was, and he sighed, closing his eyes again. “God I hurt.” He said to himself. He attempted to sit up, but didn’t quite make it all the way, and fell back, and hand going up to rub his eyes. “How long’ve I been here?” 




“About twenty minutes in my Room. I don’t know about the cell though. If you want to be Healed, tell me how, and I will.” Jason told him, shifting from where he sat on the couch. His movement caused Rob to look over, and see Ael as well. 




Rob attempted to sit up again, and this time made it all the way. He gave a half smile to Ael, as he looked around the rest of the Room. 




She smiled a greeting, not sure of what to say. Rob’s hair stuck upon one side, and when he smiled back at her, she had to remind herself he was her cousin. 




“Why is my sister here?” he asked, slightly incredulous. 




Jason shrugged. “She hitched a ride in. She won’t talk, what do you propose we do with her? I mean…she is your sister…” Jason asked him, watching Jessica’s back where she sat in the chair. 




Rob managed to get up, walked haltingly over to her, and stared at her despondent figure before sighing. “I don’t know, it’s not my choice. Ask Ramona, or Westly.” He turned around again, arms across his chest, his blue eyes troubled. Jessica didn’t make the slightest notion that he was there. 




Jason shrugged. “Alright, but you’re going to have to spell her when we leave here. They won’t notice it as much.” 




Ael, who had been silent through all of this, spoke up, “Where are we going?” 




Jason looked at her, slightly abashed, “-er, I don’t know…They didn’t sat where to meet them, did they?” 




Ael shook her head, trying not to grin at his folly. “Nope…do you want to try and go into my Room, and then my mom or dad’s?” How funny it felt to be saying that. 




Jason nodded, “Can you take us all to your Room?” 




Ael nodded, “You might have to tell me how again though. And I have to be touching everybody.” 




“Alright, Jessica!” Jason beckoned her over, and she gave a resigned sigh, but was forced to give up when the chair blinked threateningly under her. “Over here.” Her eyes held a slightly glazed look as she came over, obviously Rob had already spelled her, and his face was tight as well. 




“Okay, let’s go.” Ael wished on a happy thought, to a safe place, and in the blink of an eye, they were in her Room. 




Rob’s voice was just past normal as he spoke, “Can I let her go? I can’t hold her much longer…” His face was partially pale again.