Amulet - Ellis
Chapter One - Beautiful Sunset
Amulet belongs to Kazu Kibuishi 100%!
Emily woke up to the sun shining on her face. She had forgotten everything from last night. What had happened? She remembered brief moments of Trellis and Navin. Wait… Navin? Oh yeah, Navin was now officially marrying Alyson Hunter―or soon to be, Alyson "Hayes".
Emily hated the idea of her brother marrying Aly. Despite how friendly Alyson was and nice to her, she didn't want her little brother to get married―and before she did. Navin had told his mother first―Karen―who was very happy for him. Wow Mom, thought Emily, blankly.
Trellis was crowned King of the Elves yesterday. Emily still couldn't get the image out of her mind when he looked at her as the crown was placed on his thin head. He had smiled almost, and Trellis barely ever smiled. After the Coronation, there was a huge party, or as Trellis called it, a "celebration". He didn't approve of parties. Emily had called him a party pooper, although Trellis didn't know what that meant. Emily had promised to take Trellis to Earth again. Navin was having his wedding there.
Navin was marrying Aly sooner than normal. It would be in three months, a few days after his 24th birthday. Emily had already turned 26 years old.
Emily's mother had cried yesterday when Navin had proposed at the celebration on stage. Emily was kind of heartbroken. She would miss her brother sorely.
All of a sudden, she heard a knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" called Emily.
"It's me," before he had said his name, Emily knew who it was by his voice.
"Trellis?" she asked. He nodded, although she couldn't see him. "The door's open. What do you want anyway?"
"Well… the amulets… they've been acting up," his voice was shaky. She knew he was sort of lying.
The amulets had been taken off of all of the Stonekeepers and destroyed, but they couldn't really find a way how. They had destroyed some. Some were burnt by a heavy pink fire called Granite. But others were stronger and couldn't be burnt.
"Really?" Emily asked. "And how?"
"Well…" Trellis said.
"You're the King now, can't you decide yourself? I'm kind of tired."
"Sorry if I woke you up," Trellis said, finally opening the door.
"You didn't. Is there anything wrong?"
Trellis shook his head, too fast. Something was up. "Do you like that Navin and Alyson are… engaged?" It was time for Emily to shake her head. "We better get to work now."
"Yeah. We needa help clean up yesterday's Coronation."
"Good thing you're not afraid of me," Trellis said.
"Why would I be afraid of you? You're my friend. I trust you."
"Yeah, well, since I'm King, I thought people and elves would act differently around me." It almost looked like Emily's red hair was flaring.
"No," Emily said, shaking her head, "not in a bad way." Trellis cracked a smile―the same smile he had given Emily yesterday.
"Well, I am King. Bow down to me!" he bellowed, and Emily and Trellis both laughed.
"Wow, you're a true King," Emily said, nodding. "But you're friends won't be afraid of you. Probably not even your Kingdom. You're… kind, Trellis."
"Maybe I don't want to be kind. What if I turn out like my father―"
"You won't… turn out like your father," Emily said, shushing him with her finger.
"How do you know?" he asked.
"Is this why you came to my room?" Trellis nodded. Emily sighed. "Well, don't think about it anymore because it's not gonna happen, okay?" Trellis nodded again. "Now, let's get cleanin'!"
Emily met Trellis in the ballroom. They were going to start cleaning up there first.
"Wow! I didn't know elves made such messes!" Emily teased.
"Ya know, some humans and robots were here too!"
Pink punch was spilled on the floor, and ribbons scattered everywhere. On the stage where Trellis was crowned King, there were rose petals everywhere―pink, red, and white. There was also a bouquet of roses tossed to the floor. Trellis picked them up and handed them to Emily.
"For being the best friend I've ever had," he said. He leaned in closer.
Navin came in and cleared his throat. "So… I've never known there was something between you too. Well, I mean, you have been giving signs, but…"
"Shut up, Navin," Emily told him. She threw a flower at him from her bouquet. Navin laughed.
"Thank you! And what are you guys even doing down here alone?"
"We're cleaning up. Care to join us? You can bring your… bride too." Navin rolled his eyes.
"Why do you hate her so much?"
"Hate who?" Alyson asked coming up right behind Navin.
"No one," Navin said quickly, "just a famous singer from Earth."
"Ooh! I've heard about some of those!" Alyson squealed. "Are you guys cleaning up?" Trellis nodded. "I can help," she said.
"No, Aly. I won't let my girl be a chore girl." Alyson grinned but protested.
"No, I like to work. Please." Navin answered with a Fine.
"Why don't you start with the stage?" asked Emily, "Pick up all the rose petals and then you can help us down here with the punch." Alyson nodded. Navin glared at Emily. Emily grinned. "Oh, and Navin. Pick up the garbage outside please."
"It's freezing out there!"
"Then get a coat."
"Jeez, when did you become Mrs. Evil?" Navin asked. Trellis agreed, which Emily hated.
"By the way, I'm not a 'Mrs.'. I'm a 'Miss'."
"You'll probably never be a 'Mrs.' anyway." Emily was deeply affected by this insult. She avoided Navin for the rest of the day.
At dinner, it was all about Navin. Navin this, Navin that. Or Alyson this, Aly that. Emily thought it truly annoying.
"May I be excused?" Emily asked. She got up, put on her coat, and when outside with an angry expression. Where was Vigo when she needed him? Now that she thought about it, where was Vigo?
"Emily! Emily!" called Trellis, running after her. "Emily, where are you going? What's wrong?" Emily shook her head.
"Leave me alone, Trellis. Navin is… wrong. He shouldn't be marrying Aly. I'm supposed to protect him. I don't think it's right."
"Navin is 24, Emily. He can make his own decisions now."
"Exactly why I don't want you to be here. You're just siding with them."
"Oh, so now there are sides, huh?" Trellis asked.
"Yes, and it's my side versus everyone else."
Trellis nodded, "Wow. I've been needing to tell you something, Emily."
"What?"
"It's about… about Vigo. I wanted to tell you earlier in the morning, but I didn't want to break your heart. He left us yesterday in the night. He didn't want you to know because you would try to stop him."
"That's why he wasn't here?" Emily asked, shocked. "Where'd he go? Why'd he go?"
"We don't know. It was all so sudden. He had barely packed. Don't worry about it."
"What if he gets hurt, ya know?"
"It's okay Emily." They sat down on the floor watching the sunset fade away.
"The sky is getting dark," Trellis said. But Emily didn't answer. She only rested her head on his shoulder. Trellis put his arm around her and patted her back.
"The sunset is beautiful," Trellis said. Emily nodded. She would miss Vigo. A lot.
