The Petal Kingdom (Bringing Life, Falling Ash Book 2) Read online

  “Then let’s take one of those.” Lavinia suggested. “What’s the problem in going on a longer route? It might take a while but we would avoid the worst dangers.”

  “That’s the thing; it will take at least a week to get to the Petal Kingdom with some of those roads. If you’ve ever been down them before, you’ll see how awful they can be. That’s why more people want to go through the forest. They would rather risk their lives and try to get lucky with a shortcut than spending days walking down winding roads.”

  “Well, we don’t have to be like them. I think we can brave the weather and fight off any animals that might come our way.” Lavinia thought out loud. “I have read a few things on how to survive in the wilderness. I think we can make it.”

  Kian didn’t seem so sure. “There’s a difference between reading about how to do something and actually having to do it in the face of danger, Vinnie. What if it doesn’t work? What if you forget what to do in the midst of everything? I have faith in you but this is harder than you think.”

  “I am fully aware of that. I know there’s a lot out there I’ve never experienced. Even now, there’s a lot I don’t seem to know about this world,” Lavinia sighed. “Bit by bit, I’m learning things I’ve never learned from books. I feel like I’ve been living my life with my eyes closed. I don’t know much.”

  “Are you telling me that you’ve never been around the world much?” Silas asked. “You seem like you know what you’re doing and that you’ve traveled around.”

  “I wish that were true. I haven’t been outside of the walls of my own home, let alone Themasa. This is the farthest that I have strayed from it and I’m seeing so much. It’s a lot to take in.” She looked at the two young men in the room with her. Kian knew the truth but Silas was still in the dark about it. Both of them were thieves and she promised them whatever they wanted if they helped her. However, she had to make sure Silas was trustworthy. “All right, we need to get some rest first. I’m going to look at the maps and see which route is the fastest with the least dangers. The two of you better get some sleep because we have a long trip ahead.”

  “You’re coming with us?” Kian asked Silas who nodded. “Well, that’s good. I assume you know that we’re headed to the Petal Kingdom.”

  “I know the Petal Kingdom all too well. I grew up there and there are people I’m familiar with. They may be able to help you with anything you want.” He blushed. “That’s why I know so much about the roads. I’ve heard the stories from many people. The ones who survive don’t come back the same. They go down the roads only cause they are fast. They may be dangerous but they are quick.”

  “I guess I can understand their reasoning. They want to get out as quickly as possible and that may sound like the best road for them. Still, we need to move cautiously. Kian is still sick so I don’t want to take him down a path that will be hard on his body.” Lavinia looked at what the doctor had written down. “Did he give you some medicine already?”

  “Yes, he gave me a small bottle but I may need more later. Of course, if I get better within a few hours, I may not need anything,” Kian shrugged. “I promise I’m going to try and get better. I hate staying in bed, doctor’s orders or not.”

  “I don’t want to risk that. I’ll go out now and get it for you.”

  “Are you sure? I’m not in desperate need of it.”

  “No, I want to go out. There are some things I need to see and buy before we leave,” Lavinia said. “Silas, I want you to stay with Kian for the time being. I swear I won’t be long.”

  Silas looked out of the window and saw that the snow was starting to come down. “I don’t know if you want to be out there. The snow starts slow but it will fall faster within seconds. It can get deep and hard to walk in.”

  “I’m aware of that but it will be fine. Just keep your eyes on him.” Lavinia bundled herself up and put the paper in her pocket. “It’s not like I’ve never seen snow before. I’m staying in the village so you won’t have to worry about me. Promise me that you’ll both stay here until I get back.”

  “It’s not like I can leave. My entire body hurts,” Kian murmured.

  “Not to mention, I prefer to be closer to this fire than out there.” Silas nodded toward the fireplace and got closer to it. “Well, try to come back before it gets darker.”

  “I will.” Lavinia promised. “You two have nothing to worry about. I’ll bring that medicine and we can get on with our plan.”

  She took a step outside and understood what Silas meant by how deep the snow was. Her foot went all the way down and she nearly sank into it. She had told him the truth that she had seen snow but she never told him that she never traveled in it before. The books she had read about winters and how to survive cold weather hadn’t prepared her for much. She was lucky that she was in a village where there were people and places that she could get warm. However, her mind was on something else. She would get Kian his medicine but not right at the moment. The mountains and hills on the outside were giving her an idea.

  They don’t look like they are too far away. Maybe if I’m lucky, I can find another road to the Petal Kingdom. Or even better, I can find Alice!

  Alice. Just thinking about Alice made her feel warm inside. She believed Silas that Alice had survived and was somewhere out there. She was waiting to be found. She was probably sitting by a fire and thinking about Lavinia at this moment. It was hard to be apart but there was a little relief that both of them were still alive.

  “Hold on, Alice. I promise I’ll find you.” She whispered, making her way up one of the snow-covered hills. It was sitting right outside of the village so she wasn’t worried about straying too far. Climbing that hill was difficult but she was determined to get to the top. “I never got a chance to walk on the snow-covered hills of Themasa. I might as well do it now!”

  When she got to the top, she held out her arms and stuck out her tongue to catch snowflakes. Laughing to herself, she felt a sense of peace and freedom. She was outside and no one could tell her to hide. There was no one to usher her back in the castle or scold her for going far from home. Her mother and father were never going to understand what this meant to her. Kneeling down, she picked up some snow and threw it into the air. Her laughter got louder as those snowflakes fell around her. They weren’t turning into ashes and she could dance in them. This was what freedom as supposed to feel like. This was what she had been missing for the last seventeen years of her life.

  As cold as it was, she fell down on the snow and lay there for a little while, making a snow angel. She knew about this because she had heard about it from others and had seen an occasional child try to do it. Many times, she had wanted to approach that child and ask them what they were doing but was always held back. If it wasn’t the fear of her powers stopping her, it was one of the guards or her parents. They would always tell her not to go out, pretending because they were concerned about her catching a cold. While that was a legitimate concern, she knew the real reason was that they didn’t want her to hurt anyone. They didn’t want anyone to see her.

  “It’s not safe out there for you. It’s much too cold and windy. There’s so much snow and ice that you could trip and fall.” Her mother would say. “If you were to run into someone, I don’t know what could happen. No, stay in here. You are safer in here. You’ll be warm in here.”

  Safe and warm. Those words were fine but she felt imprisoned. She was always locked up in the castle and watching everything from her window. It didn’t matter if she just went a few feet beyond the castle grounds; they didn’t want her to go anywhere. It felt like they were holding her down and now she didn’t have that. She could be herself. She could see the world.

  Still, I have a lot to do first. I cannot rule anything with this curse and I have a war to stop. So far, I haven’t seen anything happen but that doesn’t mean there isn’t trouble. She stared up at the sky and wondered about the three witches. What are all of them fighting
for? What is so important that they need to go to war? More importantly, how do I get through to them and stop it? No one seems to know about them.

  The other thing on her mind was Alice. They may have started as friends but there was something else brewing. She didn’t know why but it felt like they had a connection. It was deep and something she wanted to explore. It had started when she first laid eyes on Alice but she didn’t think about it until that night in the Frost Kingdom. When they were together in that castle, she wanted to know what it would feel like to touch Alice with her bare hands. She could feel the warmth coming off her body but it wasn’t the same. She wanted to be able to hold her and eventually kiss her. She didn’t know what that was like and she wanted Alice to be the first person she held.

  I need to find Alice though. Where could she have taken Dark and the animals? She wondered, sitting up and shaking the snow out of her hair. It felt good to see the snow but now she had to get back to the village. Kian was counting on her to get that medicine and she had promised not to stay out too late.

  “I hope that messenger bird was able to find her.” She thought out loud, standing back up and staring down at the snow angel she made. It was a little lop-sided with bigger wings than intended but it was her. It was something that she had made and she knew how it felt. That was one thing she had been dreaming about and it had come true. Those small things were making her feel a little better. She kicked up some snow and let fall in front of her.

  How I wish there was someone else with me so we could have a snowball fight! Or maybe we would be able to make a snowman. It would be more fun if we did something together.

  The excitement of the snow made her feel down again. Being away from Alice was hard to deal with. She didn’t mind being around Kian or Silas but Alice was special. She understood some things that the boys wouldn’t understand. She needed that company right now and being away from her was making things hard. So she had to keep moving and maybe, somewhere, they would meet in the middle.

  She just hoped they would meet soon. The distance was slowly starting to become unbearable.

  Chapter 9

  Alice couldn’t believe how bright everything was outside of the forest. Instead of the dark trees with their twisted branches and dead leaves lying around, there were bright flowers in bloom and petals blowing in the wind. The sun was pouring down so Coryn did her best to hide behind Dark and try to stay closer to the shade.

  “I didn’t think the light would be out today,” she said as they slowly made their way down the road. “Even with clouds, there’s so much light. We should find a quiet, darker place.”

  “We will,” Alice promised, looking down at some daisies. The petals were white and their centers were bright yellow. She wanted to pick one up but stopped herself from doing so. It wouldn’t be right to remove them from the ground. She was wearing her gloves yet she had to be cautious. Her bare wrist could brush against something here and cause more vines to grow. “So this is it. This is the Petal Kingdom.”

  “This is only the outside of the Petal Kingdom, Miss Alice.” Coryn corrected her, still standing under a large tree covered in bright pink blossoms. “You can see that there are no people because this is the edge. All you’ll find are living creatures, plants and animals alike.”

  “Well, I see the plants but where are the animals?”

  She didn’t have to wait for long for the wind picked up and all the daisies went flying up into the air. The petals turned into wings and the flowers turned into butterflies, flapping their wings and rising up into the sky. It was shocking enough to make Alice cry out in surprise and then clap her hands in delight. The butterflies were swirling around her and she turned around to look at them. She had never seen anything like this before. No doubt that the Petal Kingdom would be full of surprises and they had to be careful where they were stepping.

  “Have you seen anything like this before?!” She exclaimed, watching as the butterflies flew off. “We don’t have them in Themasa.”

  “Just like the Frost Kingdom has creatures made of ice, the Petal Kingdoms has creatures made of plants and flowers.” Coryn pointed out. “It’s quite simple, Miss Alice.”

  “Ice?” Alice turned around, suddenly remembering the dragons and Madelyn. They were all huddled up with Coryn and Dark under the tree. No doubt that the sun was not going to be a pleasant thing to stand under. “I take that it gets very warm over here.”

  “Oh yes. Summers are absolutely terrible and it’s difficult to go outside. We need to find a cooler place for everyone or else they will melt.”

  “Yes.” Alice hadn’t considered that the animals wouldn’t survive out here. “Are they fine under that tree?”

  “It’s giving enough shade but we can’t stay here forever. They need a cave just like the one in the Frost Kingdom.” Coryn looked up at the mountains ahead. “I might be able to find one there. Do you mind if I take them and try to find a cold place?”

  “Are you sure you’ll be all right?” Alice asked. “Those mountains are so far away. Besides, what if you don’t find a cave?”

  “There will be something.” Coryn promised. “If nothing else, I will be able to find better shade for everyone. Remember, I know what shadows are like. I move in and out of shadows. I will find shelter for us. Knowing the dragon, he will want to be around some cold shadows as well. He’s going to find the nearest cave to rest in.”

  “Then how will I be able to find you?” Alice wanted to know. “Will I be able to climb that mountain?”

  “Trust me when I say that they are easier to climb than the ones on the Frost Kingdom. People are always heading up and down those mountains. You can easily ride with one of them. Please take your time finding the castle, Miss Alice. That is far more important.”

  “I’d still hate to leave you behind.” Alice looked over at several roses and watched as they turned into birds made of rose petals. The petals were like feathers falling off and flying around her body. “We made it this far. Let me help you find shelter and then I can go looking for the castle. I have to plan a few things ahead of time anyway. I need to know how to approach them.”

  “Very well. Climb on board.” Coryn nodded at the dragon who had found them and lowered down so everyone could get on him. He didn’t look too comfortable out here and was ready to leave. “Let’s try to get there before the sun gets to him. You can see that the water is rolling off him.”

  Alice saw that the little drops falling off the dragon’s wings and knew that they had to get him out of there. “Yes, he needs a cooler place now. The sun and warm air are not that good for him.”

  “Then let’s move. Standing around here is not going to help any of us.” Coryn watched as Alice pulled herself up, still keeping her eyes on the flowers turning to butterflies and birds. She was so focused on what they were doing that she nearly slipped off and went back to the ground. Coryn tried to reach out for her but Alice held on and pulled herself up. “Be careful, Miss Alice. He may be melting and that will make his skin far more slippery.”

  “So I’ve noticed,” Alice murmured. “I’m sorry. These creatures are so incredible. I expected the Petal Kingdom to be filled with flowers but this goes beyond anything I imagined. They seem so delicate yet very much alive.” She reached out and felt a butterfly land on her hand. It was so innocent but it tickled. “I’ve never held anything in my hands before. Well, nothing that was alive. The only thing I’ve been able to put between my palms is dough. This is different. I was always afraid that animals feared me.”

  “Why would they?” Coryn wanted to know. “You haven’t done anything to harm them. They took one look at you and saw that you liked them. You have no intentions of hurting them.”

  “No, I don’t. It’s just…” Alice wondered if it was all right to tell Coryn more about herself. “I have never let anything or anyone get close to me before. I always felt like the moment they learned more about me, they would run away.”


  “Why? Have you done something wrong?”

  “I haven’t yet I feel cursed. I must have done something wrong in a past life because I wouldn’t feel this way otherwise.” She decided to cut it off now and motioned the dragon to lift off. “Well, we can’t waste time talking about the bad things in my life. We have a mission and I need to get these poor things into a cooler place. Let’s move!”

  The dragon let out a roar and started to flap its wings. The force that it used was enough to push the flower birds and butterflies to the side. They were soon heading into the sky and toward the mountain despite how tired the dragon appeared to be. He was still dripping off water so Alice prayed that he could make it to a cool cave in time.

  “Hold on there!” She assured him. “It won’t be long now. Those mountains should be much colder for you.” Looking at Madelyn and Elias, she could see they weren’t quite happy about being in the warm weather. Like the older dragon, they were melting so she wrapped them in a blanket to keep them cool. “This should keep you guys safe until we get into a cold place. Stay with me, all right?”