Chapter One: Breaking Foundation

2011-01-05T12:04:00.003-08:00

There was a quiet movement that morning, stirring in the pastel pinks of Amei's bed. She tossed amongst the blankets and abruptly sat up. Face drenched, she looked around her room in a daze. 'It was a dream?' she uncovered herself and stepped onto her plush carpeting. The room glowed gently with the rising sun, her alarm not yet signaling her own rise. She wandered around and caught a glance in her mirror - to her white eyes. 'The same...' she thought. Amei shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts and began her daily morning routine of fixing her hair and donning her employee attire – a simple pale yellow sundress with a white, ruffled apron. Once properly prepared, she began her way down the four stories and staircases, into the eatery.
The coffee pot steamed its finish as Mae gathered cups for the eager customers. The Inn had been much busier than usual and many looked forward to sunrise cups of coffee, or late night quenching for the insomniac soul. As she poured a middle aged, rugged gentleman a cup of Joe, colors of sky blue and pale yellow made their way down the stairs in the form of her adopted daughter.
"Amei. Why are you up? You still have two hours until you have to come down to help." Mae tucked away a strand of her blonde hair and looked at her with caring, lavender eyes. She had owned this Inn for a long time, and many people traveling the countryside knew well of her hospitality. Though she never required her daughters to work, they always insisted they do so in exchange for taking them in. Amei fidgeted and played with her thumbs as she responded with her head hung low,
"I had a strange dream that woke me up, and I knew that I wouldn't be able to wake up again if I had fallen asleep, so I decided to start my day." She rose in cheerfulness and smiled at Mae. "Can I help with anything?" Mae simply grinned and shook her head, pouring coffee for other customers.
"Everything's taken care of for now, it doesn't get busy until y'all wake up anyway. I thought you knew this?" She turned to place the coffee pot back on the maker and began filling it for a second round. "Anyway, Makoa normally is up right now, you should go see her up on the roof. She's painting." She said remarked with a playful tone.
"Oh!" Amei lit up and headed back up the stairs, past the two floors of guest rooms and up into the household floor, where they lived above the Inn. The fourth floor contained three bedrooms, one for each of the family, and two spare rooms. There was also a small kitchenette, two bathrooms, a dining room, and two large living rooms. The Inn was large, and the fourth floor was all for the girls. Amei went through the dining room and out to the deck where she climbed up to the roof. It was where Makoa spent most of her time. She loved to train her body in martial arts, but also loved to paint.
Amei saw her at her easel in a black tank and jeans, which were typical ware for her. She never dressed up and didn't particularly care about her looks. Her hair was auburn red with blonde tips, which tied in pigtails at the base of her neck. Her skin glistened a mocha tan in the morning sun, much different from Amei's stark pale complexion. 'But we're sisters through and through' she smiled at the thought. She crept closer to her sister, not wanting to disrupt her creativity. 'When Makoa paints, it's always the loveliest sight.'
As she came up next to her, Makoa turned to face Amei. Her long Elven ears perked up as she smiled.
"You're up early, barrette. What's up?" When infant Amei first arrived with Mae, she wore two golden barrettes in her hair. Makoa was 4 years older than her at the time and when Amei could comprehend it, she would always tease her about those barrettes. Through time, it had become a pet name. Amei refused to not wear them because they were the only relics of her original life.
"Not a lot. I heard you were painting so I came up to see! I always love your paintings." She clasped her hands in front of her chest and fidgeted her thumbs.
"Ah, really? Well then, what do you think of it?' she motioned to her painting, still grinning. Amei came up closer and as she took in the painting, her eyes widened. There was a woman standing in a wooden doorway. The scenery was stunning with intricate carvings in the woodwork and gold-framed paintings in the room behind her. It appeared that she was standing by an office. And the woman herself - Proud and strong in a white, beautiful gown with many silver accents. She wore a complicated tiara-like crown with her hair woven between it, and a necklace of golden wings with small sapphire, aquamarine, and diamond gems glistening at the center. The face had yet to be painted in. All that stood was a skin tone canvas waiting to be worked upon.
"A-Astonishing. Wondrous. Did you create this scene or have you seen it before?" Amei asked. She was very inquisitive and loved to ask questions. Makoa looked up into the sky.
"This woman saved me. She's there reason I'm here with Mae and you." She looked down and smiled warmly. Amei nodded and looked down, a bit embarrassed.
"I think I'm going to go grab some breakfast." She said as she whipped around and climbed back down the ladder and into the Inn. Makoa shrugged and continued painting.

The day passed by as the three women, dished out meals and checked people in for the day. There was a staff of locals whom either lived on site or in the nearby village that would clean up the rooms and work in the kitchen. Most of the time the customers were friendly or tired and didn't cause much trouble. Whenever someone would get out of hand, there were a handful of hired security guards to make sure nothing negative would happen. Mae made sure her daughters were safe. Once the sun began to set, Makoa and Amei's workday ended and they normally would head up to the top floor to enjoy their night.
"I think I'll stay down a bit longer. I want to try the new dish that is being served." Amei said. She removed her white apron and put on an oversized, dark magenta wool sweater that once belonged to Makoa. Her sister nodded and headed up the stairs,
"Just don't be down there too long, you know that the later it gets, the stranger they get." Makoa warned as she disappeared to higher grounds. Amei sat at the bar where Mae stayed, offering up plates of food and risky beverages. The entire first floor was a restaurant with a bar and tables to sit at. There was an outdoor area for seating when people desired as such. Mae looked over at Amei and frowned,
"Are you sure you want to stay out here? You can just bring the food upstairs. I don't mind." Amei shook her head and looked around. Though she was shy, she was incredibly curious and always liked to watch the different kinds of people who came through. "Alright then, here. Curried-vegetable pie, our new special. Enjoy, barrette." Amei smiled and began eating.
Not long after, a man with a stench of alcohol on his breath sat down a seat away from her. Her spine chilled as she smelled him. She knew that men tainted with liquor were trouble. He looked over at her and smiled.
"So what's a cute little girl like you doing here?" he leered at her in a drunken stupor. Amei stood up quietly, ignoring him, and turned to head up the stairs. "Hey. I was talking to you!" He grabbed at her billowing dress and pulled her back to him. Mae and a security guard rushed to her assistance as soon as they heard the man. Amei let out a shrill cry and pushed the man back.

Her hands, frosted over, touched the man's shoulders, spreading that frost over his skin. Amei stared at the man, who was shocked out of his intoxication. 'Like slow motion' she thought as the ice covered his face and eventually, his entire body was encased in ice. It only took a few seconds for the ice to spread, but in her time, it was sluggish and surreal. She turned her head to looks at the other diners. They all stared in terrified awe at her and the frozen man. The security guard seemed to be running so slowly, Mae next to her, shaking her head like a pendulum in molasses. 'This cannot be real. I must be dreaming.' Time lagged and eventually it stopped.

A light appeared at the center of the room. A woman with long forest-green hair materialized from it and stepped forward to Amei. She was uneffected by the time lapse and soon, too Mae was able to move at a normal rate. Once over the shock, Amei dropped her hands from the man and hugged herself, tears streaming down her cheeks. The woman opened her eyes, which were the same lavender as Mae's, and sighed. She pulled Amei into a loving embrace and cried into her shoulder.
"I wish we could have waited a little longer. Twelve is too young." As she let go and was about to speak up again, Makoa ran down the stairs, huffing.
"The.. TV.. Froze.. Is it..-" she stopped at the sight of the woman. She felt a strange mix of happiness and fear take over her body as she ran into the arms of the strange woman. "Ginnie. It's been so long.." She turned her attention to Amei who stared blankely into space without blinking. "Oh barrette!" she cried out as she hugged her sister and held her close. "I am so sorry."
"It's been a long time, Origin." Mae spoke up and approached the light-woman.
"Indeed it has, Mae. I was so worried but I couldn't make contact until I was meant to. You know, everything always has a set date." Origin said as she gave a bittersweet smile. Mae shook her head, a grin on her face,
"Always with the timing, that's how Celestials just are, I guess." Amei looked up at Mae, her eyes wide, then looked towards Origin. She then tucked her head into Makoa's shoulder and sobbed in between words.
"Wh-wh-why is e-everyone so c-c-calm about t-this? I-I-I just froze a man a-and no one t-thinks this is w-weird?" She looked up again to Origin, "Who is she?" she sniffled.
Mae came over to her daughters and smoothed back Amei's sky-colored hair affectionately.
"Miss Rayni. I apologize for my intrusion, but I had to correct time. You see, you are not of this realm, and neither is Makoa nor I, though I'm sure you've gathered that much. You come from a realm that has been waiting for your heredity to awaken. We all have been waiting and protecting you. It is time to reclaim your kingdom."
"My.. Kingdom..?"

A Strange Introduction

2011-01-05T12:04:00.001-08:00

What is this place? There is only a bright light. I cannot see. My hand shades my eyes from the burning flare, but I yearn to look.
"Ray..." A voice soft and airy calls out from that light. I struggle to glance just once. It feels so familiar and right. I see golden strands of hair. Is this a person? I try to walk closer to them, but my legs are lead. I feel strong winds pushing against my body. I am not allowed to come closer. Who is this?
"Rainy..." The voice chimes again, sounding like ringing bells in a cavern. Is it raining? No, it isn't. Why would she say such a thing? The voice is a woman's. I peek through my hands, as I cannot hold back any longer. I see her eyes. Her eyes! They're white. Just like mine.
The winds pick up as if I've broken their rules and those winds push against my body with fierce intensity. I want to stay, I struggle with all of my might but there is no luck. I'm slipping away from the voice and those eyes. The light fades and I am surrounded in darkness.
"Wait!" I scream out, but to no avail. Breezes force my voice into silence. I am alone, whisked into a floating abyss. I am nowhere. Where is she, with those eyes the same as mine?

The Twin Kingdom

Chapter One: Breaking Foundation

A Strange Introduction