Chapter 6
Frozen
"Well, that completely backfired on us," Vanessa grumbled the next day in Homeroom. "What happened to true love?"
This day the girls met in a separate class for their Homeroom. Aria and Vanessa chatted while they waited for the bell to ring beginning the class.
"This is a disaster," Aria commented. "Did you notice the entire atmosphere in that world felt different? Maybe true love just isn't as strong."
"I don't know. All I felt when I was there was just cold," Vanessa said. She looked at Aria and wondered aloud, "You don't think the random winter is affecting the overall atmosphere there, do you?"
Aria sighed and admitted, "I'm not sure. A lot of things are messed up in that world now so I suppose its possible."
"Do you think it's all because Kendal is living there as queen now?" Vanessa asked her.
"If it is, then all the more reason to bring her back home," Aria said flatly, with a soft pound to the table.
Vanessa huffed, looking doubtful. "You're forgetting that this entire school thinks she's a murderer."
Aria shook her head, unalarmed. "Maybe Adora or the other fairies can think of a way to deal with that. Right now, we just need to focus on convincing Kendal to come back."
"How?" Vanessa demanded. "If her own boyfriend, who's proven to be her true love, can't talk her into coming back then who can?"
Aria looked up as she felt a layer of fog lift from her mind. "Maybe we just need to try a different kind of love, family. We should bring her mother there."
xXx
That afternoon, Mrs. Lewis pulled up in front of the little building in downtown Norfolk with the girls in the back seat. It took quite a bit for Aria and Vanessa to convince her they knew where Kendal was, but her desperation to find her daughter kicked in.
As Mrs. Lewis put the car in park, Vanessa tilted her head and mouthed to Aria, "This is a bad idea."
"We've tried everything else," Aria whispered back. "At this point, I'd say we're out of options."
They all got out of the car and started towards the run down building.
Mrs. Lewis raised her eyebrow. "So are you telling me Kendal is in there?"
Aria swallowed a breath and glanced at Vanessa before answering, "In a way, yes. You'll see what I mean when we go in."
Aria led the way with Vanessa beside her while Mrs. Lewis followed still appearing quite uncertain.
Vanessa leaned over to Aria and whispered, "So what do you think is going to happen, Mrs. Lewis grounding Kendal and making her come home?"
"I'm just hoping a parent's love is enough to make her want to come back," Aria answered.
When they entered the empty building, Mrs. Lewis huffed and said, "There's no one here."
Aria glanced at Vanessa, hoping she can help come of with a way to convince Mrs. Lewis to step into the fountain. However, judging by her friend's expression, Aria could tell Vanessa was still not on board with this plan.
"Girls, what's going on?" Mrs. Lewis demanded. "Why have you brought me to this place? I don't see Kendal anywhere!"
"We need to go wait by the fountain," Vanessa said quietly, walking towards it. "She'll be able to see us from there."
Aria shot Vanessa a look of gratitude and then guided Mrs. Lewis to the fountain. She could still see the doubt that cluttered in Kendal's mother's eyes, but the desperation to find her daughter seemed to overcome that.
As the three of them stood in front of the fountain, Aria knew their next actions would have to be quick or Mrs. Lewis would walk away and likely not give this another chance. She took Mrs. Lewis's right hand and eyed Vanessa, who then took her left. Before Kendal's mom had the chance to pull back, the girls dragged her forward into the fountain.
Mrs. Lewis stumbled up, appearing quite disorientated as her eyes scurried to observe her new surroundings. "What… where are we… how did…"
She, however, failed to form a complete question as her body fell to the ground losing consciousness.
"Well, this is going great so far," Vanessa commented, letting out a huff. "You know, Kendal's probably going to kill us."
"We have to get to her first," Aria muttered looking down the path.
"How are we going to do that?" Vanessa moaned, eyeing Mrs. Lewis. "Are we supposed to carry her all the way to Bellaire on foot?"
Aria caught sight of a carriage moving in their direction. "Maybe we don't have to."
Aria rushed over to the approaching carriage and waved her hands, beckoning for it to halt. She was pretty certain the golden rose flag was the Bellaire symbol.
The driver pulled the reins and looked down at her. "Yes, my lady."
"Is this carriage heading to Bellaire?" Aria asked the driver.
He nodded.
"I am Princess Aria of Galatia and friend to Queen Kendal." Aria glanced back at Mrs. Lewis. "I have brought the Queen's Lady Mother to visit but we are in need of a ride."
The driver nodded and motioned his right hand. Two guards from the back hopped off and one opened the carriage door.
"Oh, can she get some help?" Aria asked, pointing towards Mrs. Lewis.
Mrs. Lewis did not wake up until the carriage arrived at the castle in Bellaire. She had her legs stretched out on the seat while Aria and Vanessa sat across from her. As she opened her eyes and gaped around, Aria imagined little fog puffs surrounding her head.
"Mrs. Lewis?" Aria began calmly. "How are you feeling?"
Mrs. Lewis rubbed her eyes and slowly looked about. "What… where am I?"
"It's okay," Aria said, calmly. "You'll see Kendal soon, I promise."
Sure enough, the next time Regina Lewis's eyes fell upon her daughter, Queen Kendal was sitting on her throne. Aria could not quite read her now royal friend's expression. Her eyes shielded a window of shock followed by frustration when they turned back to Aria.
Mrs. Lewis walked up to her daughter holding out her hands, touching her cheek as though to feel if she were real.
"Kendal?" Mrs. Lewis gasped. "All this time, you've been here?"
As Regina embraced her daughter tightly, Kendal returned the hug and glared at Aria and Vanessa, shaking her head.
"Well, Kendal's mad at us," Vanessa whispered to Aria. "Who'd have guessed that?"
"It doesn't matter," Aria answered firmly. "She can be furious with us all she wants. We just need Mrs. Lewis to bring her home."
Mrs. Lewis looked back towards the girls and Aria nodded at her. She turned back to Kendal and said gently, "Sweetheart, you have no idea how much I have missed you all this time."
"I know, Mom, I've missed you too," Kendal replied softly, "but I can't come back now. This is my home. I'm queen here."
At that moment, everything in Mrs. Lewis's expression changed. She clasped her daughter's hands, gleefully. "You mean… you've become… QUEEN!" She grabbed her daughter into an even tighter hug. "Oh honey, I'm so proud of you! You've really made something of yourself in this strange land!"
Aria's and Vanessa's jaws dropped as they gaped at the joyful mother and her queen daughter.
"How is it nothing we do works?" Vanessa demanded, rubbing her head in frustration.
Aria merely huffed. "Well, we've known Kendal's mom since we were five. I guess looking back on this, I probably should have seen this coming."
Vanessa groaned, "So now what?"
Aria glanced back towards the grand castle doors and then back to Vanessa. "I need you to make sure Mrs. Lewis gets back home. Kendal won't want her to stay here so she'll make sure you both are escorted back to the lake."
Vanessa eyed her suspiciously. "Okay… and what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to Evalius," Aria stated firmly. "This may be my one chance to get to Myrtle without the other fairies tailing me. I have to go."
Aria could easily see Vanessa was not to keen on this idea, but nevertheless, she sighed and agreed.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Vanessa asked. "Also, how are you planning to get home?"
"I need you to stay here with Mrs. Lewis," Aria said. "And I'll just have to hope Myrtle is willing to help me."
"And what if being a former evil fairy currently queen of an evil land gets to her?" Vanessa asked.
Aria sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "I don't think she'll do anything to me regardless. She saved all our lives in that land once. Besides, my story here is over anyway."
Vanessa still appeared doubtful. "I'm not familiar with all the rules here, but I don't think that gives you a free pass to do whatever without getting in trouble."
"Well, nothing ever happens to me," Aria pointed out. "Look, I really need to do this. I promise, I'll call you tonight as soon as I get home."
xXx
Aria deported the Bellaire carriage right in front of the castle in Evalius. The warmer air comforted her cheeks. Aria was beginning to grow quite tired of the cold. She informed the front guard she was a friend of Queen Myrtle and asked him to escort her through the castle so she would not have to figure out the maze by herself. The way he led her was mostly lighted paths ending with the hall of painting Aria well remembered. She noticed Myrtle's painting had been moved to the end and the slash repaired.
As Aria neared the throne room, she heard shouting. She recognized the voice to be Verna, the head fairy.
Aria peered in and saw her yelling, "A fairy, sitting on the throne of Evalius is…"
"An abomination, yes I know, Verna," Myrtle interjected, exasperated, leaning on one side of her royal chair.
"Just what do you hope to accomplish by this madness?" Verna demanded.
Aria imagined smoke puffing from her ears.
"It's simple really. If Kendal has a right to this throne being a former bride of Argarion than I do to," Myrtle explained simply as her fingers touched the left arm of her throne. She flinched up, muttering, "My, that's cold… Anyway, I was chosen before Kendal and survived so theoretically, this right should have been mine quite some time ago."
"This is the land is the very thing that first brought you to darkness and now you are abandoning the Sisterhood for it yet again!" Verna raged on.
"I did not abandon the Sisterhood last time," Myrtle argued solemnly. "I was merely chosen."
"I told you to stay away from Argarion when you first met him and you did not heed my warning!" Verna argued. "And now, you refuse to listen to me yet again!"
"What can I say, I was bored then and I'm bored now," Myrtle answered quite calmly. "Argarion intrigued me because he used his magic as he pleased without fearing rules or consequences. Now, I too have the freedom to do as I please. It does not necessarily make me evil."
Verna shook her head and cautioned more quietly, "There will be consequences, Myrtle. You just can't see then now. I just hope you realize it before its too late."
As Verna used her wand and vanished, Myrtle huffed and glanced at her listening subjects. "You'll have to excuse her. Some fairies are born with sticks up their rears. It makes them quite rigid."
Aria took in a breath before stepping in the room where Myrtle could see her.
Myrtle appeared startled to see her but still smiled. "Aria, what a pleasant surprise. I did not think any of the fairies would let you anywhere around here."
"Well, Adora definitely forbade it," Aria replied, "but she's currently in our world covering your teaching position."
"It might be a permanent position for her if she wants it," Myrtle commented. "So have you managed to convince Kendal to return home?"
Aria shook her head. "No, we tried her boyfriend and her mother and both plans completely backfired." She huffed and added. "Even if she does come home, there are still people that believe she murdered Becket. Even I don't know for sure."
Myrtle shrugged and replied, "Well, I suppose I could try and figure it out for you if you like. After all, Kendal was queen here so I imagine someone would know of her plans."
Aria remained quiet, not ready to accept the fact that her friend just might be a murderer.
Myrtle could see the struggle in her eyes and presumed to say, "It seems more likely Sahrissa did the deed. After all, she would have more of a motive, as a way to lure Kendal to this world and make sure she stays. It's a good strategy, probably something I would have done back in the day…"
Myrtle's voice trailed off as she let out a sigh.
Aria asked, "Do you think that since Sahrissa was initially supposed to be good, there's a chance she still could be?"
Myrtle shook her head and looked down. "I'm afraid I've ruined that chance for her. I suppose if I haven't interfered with her life none of this would be happening right now. I guess a fairy guide, or a Fairy Godmothers if you will, is just something I'm not meant to be."
Aria could easily see this was a troubling subject for Myrtle. "Well, if it makes you feel better, I kind of looked up to you this past year and so."
The fairy queen smiled. "That's nice Aria. At least someone…"
At that moment, Aria felt the same chilled air she recently felt in Bellaire. She looked at Myrtle's chair and noticed only the left arm was covered in ice. It dawned on her, this weather was not a coincidence. Someone was doing it and that very person appeared right before her eyes.
A woman with icy blue skin and a pale gown appeared just in front of the room's entrance. Her entire body appeared of defrosting ice but nothing was colder than the hard look in her eyes.
"Where is Queen Kendal?" the woman demanded.
Instead of answering, Myrtle turned to Aria. "You should leave now, really. I'll have someone take you home."
"Where is the queen?" Her voice shrilled with more impatience as she asked the question again.
"I am queen now," Myrtle informed her, standing up. "Any matter you wish to discuss in this land, you shall discuss with me."
Aria glanced back and forth between the two women, the chill within her growing.
"Queen Kendal told me she would have Sahrissa here for me," the cold woman went on. "I do not appreciate being deceived."
"And just what do you want with Sahrissa?" Myrtle demanded.
The ice lady stepped forward, building rage. "That is no concern of yours! Now where can I find Sahrissa?"
"Myrtle, maybe we should both go," Aria pleaded.
The woman tilted her head, appearing intrigued. "Myrtle, you say? You're the Fairy Godmother, right?" She lifted her stiff fingers. "Well, this should send Sahrissa a message that I'm coming for her."
Before Aria could react, the ice woman blew against her finger ice shot out, slamming against Myrtle's stomach before vanishing. Myrtle's hand clasped over the area and she knelt down, slowing sinking back in her chair.
Aria rushed over to her. "Myrtle! What's happening?"
Myrtle's flesh slowing began to transform into a pale sickly blue, starting from the center of her body, expanding to her face. Her right hand clasped the arm of the chair freezing against it. Myrtle looked Aria in the eye and started to say something but no words escaped her lips before they, like the rest of her body, became entirely frozen.
