FALLING,
the time your entire being surrenders to the force of gravity but not every fall necessitates a drop or was it just her mind finding it hard to comprehend all that was happening at such speed?.
–"There is no time for this Alicia!" Mrs Peterson said in one breath as she landed a slap on Tara's face. "I'm not losing another child, now you get in that portal right this minute or I will do it the very hard way!" She threatened.
"I am not going in there," Tara responded confidently and was about to make a turn towards the direction they had come from. Her refusal seemed to be eating up Mr Peterson's mind at that moment, he held onto his head rather frustrated. His wife exhaled, he knew she had an intention and now she had brought her eyes to his almost as though she was seeking approval. He gave it to her anyway with a nod. She swiftly got a grip of Tara by the arm, pulling her backwards so firmly that the force pushed her into the portal. It sucked her in. She screamed in terror as she tried to struggle, stretching her hands out if anyone could save her but there wasn't one saviour.
FALLING,
She tried to open up her eyes, this was hard. There were flashes of light and a sizzling sound that made her even more terrified. It seemed she was spinning in it or was it all spinning in her mind?. Her arms stretched out trying to reach out if it could hold onto something but it was what it was, a space where she remained alone, floating helplessly as her screams went on. Her hair had given in to whatever wind moved about in there and so did her dress.
Then it stopped.
Her eyes remained shut. She felt her feet on solid ground and her ears could tell it was the chirping sounds of birds that echoed throughout the place. Slowly she dropped down her hands to rest by her sides, taking the bold step of opening her eyes. She was standing in the woods.
PANIC,
She carefully turned to look around. It was all strange.
"Who are you?" She heard someone speak from behind her. She quickly turned to see who it was. A young lady just about her age, fair-skinned with bright blonde hair braided into a pigtail and wearing a black leather jacket, tight pants and her feet were hidden in boots.
"No. Who are you?" Tara questioned.
"I'm Beth, are you lost?" Beth inquired.
"Lost? I am not lost, I just need someone to f*cking explain to me where the f*ck this is." Tara vented.
"Amnesia?" Beth inquired.
"I do not–" It occurred to her she wasn't making any sense and now she took deep breaths while placing her hands on her waist. "I got pushed into some sort of portal and now I am here, in the woods like where is this place? Why am I here? And why are your eyes like that?" She pointed at Beth.
"What's wrong with my eyes?" Beth asked.
"Not saying something is wrong with your eyes, it's just– it's yellow," Tara responded.
"I was born that way and for a stranger, you shouldn't be asking so many questions and the next time someone asks how you got here, you should presumably just lie," Beth responded.
"Lie? Why the hell will I do that?" Tara found it amusing.
"Because apparently, you were sent here for protection or am I wrong?" Beth replied.
"I get it, you are smart. Now, where am I?" Tara inquired.
"Heaven," Beth responded.
"Excuse me. What? Like– am I dead?" Tara asked.
"Heaven–that's what here is called. Our ancestors made here a sanctuary. It's a holy ground you stand upon. It should be respected." Beth said,
"I meant no disrespect," Tara replied confrontationally.
"The anger inside of you is like a boiling volcano. I can hear the rumbling from a mile away. How sure am I that you weren't sent here as a spy or worse still a shapeshifting demon on a mission to destroy us all." Beth said, changing her position to one ready for a fight.
"What? There is no such thing as that." Tara said,
"Then you will be amazed by the things you will eventually come to believe exist," Beth assured her. "You should come with me. A fine lady in a fine dress could get you killed." She added.
"I thought you said there was a sanctuary? A safe place and how am I to trust that I am safe with you when you don't even trust me?" Tara said,
"It is a safe place, protected by all you don't believe in, making it quite unsafe for you and there doesn't have to be trust. If you were a real threat, the gateway would have sliced you in half, the gate– I suppose you didn't notice. You must have been too scared to look." Beth said, raising a brow and then turned to leave.
"Shit." Tara voiced, looking lost for words. 'Well, don't just leave!" She added, hurrying to catch up with her while supporting her steps as she held up her dress.
––––––
"How did this get out?" Stark questioned the Petersons. He wasn't looking pleased.
"I was going to ask you the same thing." Mr Peterson answered back. They seemed to be in a certain room in Peterson's mansion. His wife, as well as Cain, was present.
"Is that supposed to be a joke? Are you insinuating that I have a hand in this? That I would betray our agreement when my heart is involved!" Stark yelled.
"Let's all just calm down. This will get us nowhere." Mrs Peterson said, rolling her eyes as she got up from the bed she had sat on. "The Od'hawks will be here any minute, believing that she is here. We are not safe and neither are you Stark." She added.
"My safety should be the least of your worries. Let them come. Cain will get you both somewhere safe." Stark replied, turning away from Mr Peterson. He seemed like one maintaining his cool but his eyes went on to betray him.
"You cannot fight them all. You do not know how many of them are coming." Mrs Peterson said,
"I believe if you thought of me as incompetent, you wouldn't wish that I marry your daughter," Stark said, still with his back against them.
"As you wish." She replied.
"One more thing," Stark said, turning his head halfway towards them. "Where did you send her?" He asked.
"Somewhere safe." She replied.
He turned towards them now.
"Nowhere is safe for a she-wolf you didn't train to kill." He said,
"Heaven is." She said,
"Heaven is only hell in disguise." He told her. "We have a deal, and I expect you to keep to your end of it by protecting what is involved and not putting your trust where you shouldn't." He said, " They are close. You should leave now." He added, moving towards the window. Once he heard the door shut, he dented the wall with his right fist, inhaling and exhaling deeply. "So close." He said, "So damn close!!!" He added.
–––––
"There, change into that," Beth ordered, throwing a black dress at Tara who caught it with both hands.
"What? Someone died?" Tara inquired.
"Should in case people get nosey. You are my cousin." Beth told her.
"Okay but that doesn't mean I have to like what you like. I don't know what the other colours did to you but–" Tara said,
–"but nothing. Put it on. We are heading out. We have work to do." Beth said,
"Work?" Tara inquired as she struggled to zip down the dress she wore.
Beth rolled her eyes in exhaustion as she moved behind to help with the zip.
"Tonight is the Prince's wedding and we the people have a part to play in ensuring everything goes smoothly. We will be having a lot of foreign guests. We do not know their intentions and do not wish to disappoint," Beth replied. "So endeavour to be on your best behaviour and don't make me regret any of this." She added, walking away from her.
"With all the maids and guards allocated to a palace, they still burden the people with such responsibility and you all just take it?" Tara asked.
"That's it, you are getting me killed," Beth admitted.
"Of course, I'm not," Tara said,
"Then watch your mouth around here girl," Beth warned.
"Why are you helping me?" Tara inquired.
Beth slowly turned toward her and then exhaled.
"Look around you, it's just you and me." She replied.
"Yes I can see that and I wonder why," Tara replied.
"I just answered your question," Beth said,
"It doesn't feel like it," Tara said,
"It doesn't have to and as I said, for a stranger, you ask too many questions. Wear the dress already." She urged.
"So what's our job in all this?" Tara asked as she wore the dress.
"Hmm. It's my group's turn to keep watch and you are coming with me." Beth answered.