The Saturn Stone

Leaning against a tree to catch my breath, I placed a hand to the wound on my side, which was growing wider by the second. I applied as much pressure as I can, trying to suppress the blood flow, the pain intensifying every breath I’d take. looking to my right told me what I already knew: Mother Lazeria was still there, waiting for me to collapse. but I won’t. I drawl all the remaining power I have left inside of me, suppressing the urge to fall onto the red ruins of the earth and never stand again. I couldn’t do that, I told my aching bones, what with my sister, the only person I love still standing, awaiting my return with the Saturn. “Mother...” I whisper, not sure I could do much more than that. “Child.” She answered with that cold distant voice I used to think I could trust. Why had I been so foolish? As to think she would magically stand by me, in my time of need, her outcast of a daughter? I took two painful steps forward, urging my feet to move and not give out from under me. “You could just walk away, Christal. I don’t want to do this.” She said, her tone testy. “My name is Chris.” I said through clenched teeth. I was close enough I could just grab my sword from the inside pocket of my dragon jeans and hold her captive as I gain my answers. But I knew if I tried anything of the sort, I’d be too slow and in seconds I would be dead. I felt the ground underneath me, as if it were a living creature, having effectively reached the earth. Mother Lazeria looked at me, her eyes widening. She had sensed my rising power and knew what was coming before I even blinked. A massive, purple vine sprang out, but before it so much as touched her, it fell to the ground, unresponsive to my command. Fear tickled itself up my spine. She held her hand out to the side, forming a protection bubble around her which glowed blue and crackled like electricity. Pony crap, what have I gotten myself into? I tried to reach the earth. There was a connection, but it was weak. The earth wasn’t sure she could trust me again, since she had just lost a vine to me.

“New shield? I distinctively remember you saying that those things were for the weak.” I said, hoping to buy some time. “You know, like your husband. My father.” I could see her clenching and unclenching her jaw, which happened every time I insulted Father Quiviner. “He wasn’t very brave, was he? The only flame left, and he’s a coward. Ran away during the Windstorm War, without any regard for anyone’s safety but his own. Wait,” I could feel the earth returning some of my control. “don’t tell me you actually believed he was running away for the good of all Senintals.” I could practically hear the grinding of her teeth. A whispering sensation played across my shoulders. The earth, letting me know I have full control. “What I think is the most cowardly of all though, is you banning me because I was a threat. Instead of killing me, like you should have, you sent me away, as if that’d keep me from stopping you. but here we are again. In the same situation. Maybe you aren’t as tough and heartless as your put out to be.” At this, her shield weakened, fading to a hazy glow. “Or maybe...” I started, “maybe you’re just scared of me.” the blue barrier between me and her thinned to a shimmery mist. “I am not scared of you.” She bit out. “you’re delusional. Now stop jabbering on and on, because this reunion is fun and all, but I know you need the Saturn Stone. and we both know I won’t just hand it over.” she tested. “Yeah, but if you’re not scared, then why are you not doing anything? I mean, besides hiding behind your shield like you’re your brother... before I killed him, I mean.” and that did it. Mother Lazeria dropped the shield, which billowed on the ground as a vapor, and summoned all her windstorm powers. Her hands glowed with a magnificent hostility. I should be freaking out, I should be looking around for the branches nearest her, but I'm not. I am oddly calm, knowing the earth will obey me without hesitation. The look in her eyes—full hatred—is all I see before something else catches my eye. The Saturn Stone. it’s hanging around her neck on a copper chain, like some sort of pendent. she yanked a hand high above her head, and for one crazy second, she looked as if she was going to start singing. instead of a song, I got storm clouds formed above my head and explosions of deadly white booms—an electric storm. Good one, ma. The waving of the trees around me echoed as much as my heart was beating. I crouched down onto the earth, the wind swirling around me making it hard to breath. My lungs strained to get a single breath in. The pressure of the air was making it difficult to look at Mother Lazeria, but when I did, what I saw scared the living daylights out of me. she was standing there peacefully, as if she wasn’t in the middle of a huge storm, her hair barely moving. One hand held high above her head, she looked as if she were singing a sort of praise. now, or never, I thought grimly. Closing my eyes, I visualized where she’s standing, estimated how far away from me she was. I drew out every possible attack I could have on her, what she’ll do, and the flaws in them as my lungs begged to just collapse in on themselves. my eyes snapped open, bringing myself back into this deadly reality. Mother Lazeria stood there, her eyes barely open. I looked to where I should pull my strength from: the old hut I used to play in when me and Tobias were still kids. When he was still alive. I couldn’t see it, but I still looked in that direction. I pictured the hut in my mind, willing the earth to help me find it. I saw it. I gathered all the strength I have and called to the tree holding the creaking house up. Mother Lazeria’s eyes snapped open, sensing the use of my power of the earth. My lungs were burning and straining, and I couldn’t get a breath to save my life, but I didn’t stop sending all my energy to the huge oak. Both of Mother Lazeria’s hands were placed in front of her, towards me. the blinding light that was coming back from them were death-inducing. I could tell by the look on her face that she was aiming to kill, not to maim. But before she could blast all the air left in my dying lungs, a tree flew out from the perpetual stretch of forest. As soon as I saw it, it drew all my attention, forcing it to come faster than what should be possible for a tree that size. She noticed my change of focus and looked to see what it was that changed my disposition. but before her eyes so much as landed on it, there was a crash and she was gone. the storm instantly cleared, leaving only the evidence of it’s being. I hunched over, breathing hard, trying to fill my empty lungs. where she stood not a minute before was my childhood playhouse, my childhood castle. It was in pieces, the windowpanes shattered, the stained grey wood folded in on itself. The emotion that swept me up threatened to surface as I limped my way over. a lone hand curling itself, going limp as it stuck out of the pile of wood, was the only evidence I needed to know I had won. But, somehow, I still felt as if I had lost. I started grabbing the planks of wood, throwing them to the side as tears streamed down my face. when I saw her, I fell down, sobbing. She might have been an evil trader, but she was still my mother, the woman who raised me from infancy, sang me songs, who bandaged my scratches.

After I collected myself, I wrapped my fingers tightly around the Saturn Stone. but I accidently grazed her chest, which was still warm. I choked back another cry as I ripped the chain from around her neck. I stood, breathing hard. I am about to look down at the pendent in my hand when something thin and cold gets pressed onto my neck. my breath went shallow, and as I gulped I felt the knife’s pressure. “I. Am. Not. A coward.” His voice was deep and rough, as if he hadn’t had water in a while. Father Quiviner leaned in, his mouth grazing the back of my ear. “This is for her.” and then a sharp pain ripped through me, making me scream. But I didn’t scream; the world was silent as I fell to the ground and everything went into the shadows.