K*H*W* (go to my profile :)


Chapter Seven

"Jump!"

"Jump?" I exclaimed. I played with the hem on my trousers and looked at my Mother. "Jump?" I repeated. Did she just say jump? Did I hear her right?

"Jump at me."

"Why?" I demanded.

"I'll throw you in the air, and you'll land on your hands, kick at Guy, and then you'll do a backflip onto your feet."

I felt sick. "Am I ready for that?"

"If you're not, you wouldn't be checking the distance between the two of us." Guy pointed out. I felt my skin turn red.

My mother smiled. "Just try it."

"What if I break my wrist?" Anora and Flynn were with Maya and Alex. Eugene was standing by Guy's side to give me moral support. He was silently laughing at me. I could see it in his face.

"Thanks, Eugene." I pouted, widening my green eyes. Eugene looked down.

"It's just that I think you're cute when you're angry." He defended himself. He walked to me and pecked me on the cheek. "You can do it," he said as he walked back to Guy's side.

"Come on, dear. We've practiced it."

"Five times," I choked.

"And you only stumbled once!" Guy exclaimed.

I looked at the distance between the two of them and bit my lip. I could do it. I just needed to concentrate on moving and not what I was doing.

"Okay."

"Okay?" Guy asked.

"Wait, no! What am I doing?" I could feel my hands begin to sweat.

"I'll throw you in the air, and you'll land on your hands, kick at Guy, and then you'll do a backflip onto your feet." My Mother repeated seamlessly.

"Right," I breathed. All that was happening was a simple toss in the air, do a handstand, kick my feet at Guy's face, and then push my feet into the air until my hands leave the ground, twist magically, and land on my feet.

That's a lot to do, I sniffed. I could do it. I could do it.

Mother and Guy got into positions.

Just move. Don't think about it. I told myself firmly.

I hurtled myself at my mother. She dropped her hands down to toss me in the air and then I was flying again.

The air was so cool as it rushed past my skin. My eyes closed and I almost sighed. Why couldn't I fly all the time-

Then I started to fall.

Handstand! Handstand! Handstand! I thought in panic.

I dove forward, angling my hands straight down. I pushed my palms apart and felt my hands hit the ground. I wobbled for a second, the jolt shooting through me. I saw Guy's boots mere inches in front of me and I kicked at his face.

"Flip!" My mother said quickly. I sucked in a tight breath, and pushed off of the ground. I arched my back, thrusting my feet out. I had to get this part right. I twisted to where I would be facing Guy, and felt shocked when I landed on my feet.

Eugene yanked me off the ground and into his arms. "You did it!" He kissed my lips and cheeks.

He released me and I sank onto the ground on my rump. I felt the three of them crowd around me. "You all right?" Guy asked worriedly.

"I. . ."

"Are you all right, Rapunzel?" My mother gazed at me.

"I swung myself. . . From my tower. . . And it was like. . . Fifty feet tall. Perfectly fine. . . I do one backflip and I feel. . . I feel motion sickness?" I groaned. "How does that work?"

They started laughing and I joined in.

Life was going on slowly. But surely.

Azalea's Point of View

She saw Nathan again when she and Fernando were given a tour of the palace by Anna-Beth and another maiden. The woman was very familiar, and she gave Azalea a hard look in her bright blue eyes.

"Will we see the Dining Hall?" Fernando's voice jolted her back. She pulled her hand from his, and went to one of the windows. She saw her dark-haired reflection looking back at her. They know how to clean the windows, she mused.

Azalea sits up, feeling warm and sleepy. "Nathan?"

"Hm?" He is looking out the window. "It's almost pring, Azalea. The flowers are blooming." His green eyes look at her and then away quickly. "Want to see?"

Azalea crawls off the bed and joined him by the window. His hand rubs her shoulder and she snuggles against him. She gazes out the window, looking at the sun's light shining down on the little homes of the villagers and the flowers that surrounded them.

"Hello," someone put their hand on her shoulder. She turned, and gazed at the familiar face. He had graying brown hair and very brown eyes.

She nodded to him. "Hi, sir."

The man was gazing at her intently.

"What is it?" She asked, unnerved by his piercing eyes.

The man shook his head quickly, and took a step back. "I just thought I recognized you." He said, and his voice struck a cord in her mind.

His voice brought back a memory. She remembered the first time she heard it. Her face was damp with tears and Azalea squirmed in the dark.

"The name is Alexander Ruffin. I'm the warden here, so just call me Warden. I don't expect you guys to be happy here, but you've must have broken a law, so I incline that you try to enjoy your stay."

"Hello, Alex." Azalea breathed, his name surfacing when the memory died away.

Alex's gaze went more intense. "Why, hello, dear." He smiled, his brown eyes crinkling at the edges. "I missed you."

"I remember you." Azalea struggles to speak.

"You do?" Alex shifts closer to her and such a longing fills his eyes. Azalea tries to smile. He had seemed so familiar for a while now.

"How could I forget you?" Azalea whispers, feeling lighter than air. "I know you, I remember your face but I can't. . ." Where had she seen him from? She had just met him in the prisons those months ago, but she seemed to remember him from an earlier time.

"I'm your father."

Nathan looks at Alex sharply. "I beg your pardon?"

Azalea's vision swims. "You're my father?"

"You missed me?" The memory was gone.

"Yes, Azalea. I missed you." Alex's arms opened to give her a hug but she backed away. Sure, she remembered him. But that didn't mean he was her father.

"Avalyn, we get to go to the Dining Hall!" Fernando's voice made her jump. She looked down the hallway and saw him walking back to her. She followed him down, abandoning Alex. Her husband was more important than a stranger who thought he knew her.

She nearly froze.

Nathan had seemed to know her.

And now Alex, too.

Azalea didn't need the woman with blue eyes to show her where the Dining Hall was. She opened the door for her husband and looked around as she walked in. The table that she heard that was empty for a time was now on its way to being crowded.

She stopped right when she knew Fernando was behind her.

There was a little boy sitting between who she could assume were the Kilters. The Stoolis were sitting down by Sarah's side and Nathan and a man who looked like her husband, Anna and her son were sitting by them. She forced herself to keep walking, trying to understand why the crowd was familiar. Rapunzel and her parents were just walking in, as well as Olivia's husband Guy. Olivia was rushing to the woman who had given them the tour and Azalea recognized her as well. Alex sat down in a familiar spot-

Sage! Azalea felt her mind swell with joy. He was eating his toast without much enthusiasm. Why did Azalea feel like she knew everyone in the room?

"What do you want to eat?" Fernando asked her, his voice low. Azalea gazed at him, confused. Why was he talking so low like he didn't want anyone to hear his voice? Did people not like him?

It was about afternoon when they got there, so Azalea decided on lunch. "Lamb stew," a recipe came to her mind instantly. "Do you want some?"

"Well, the name coming from your mouth made it sound delicious, so of course." Azalea blushed, getting up.

She felt eyes follow her as she walked to the busy kitchen. She returned with the two bowls and gave Fernando his. She started eating by his side-

Alex places an entire cooked chicken on a silver platter on the table. Maya places bowls of rice with gravy on top next to the chicken. They both bow and gesture for them to eat.

"The hell?" Nathan nudges the chicken with his fork, disbelief in his green eyes.

"My cheers to the chef," Azalea murmurs awkwardly as Nathan begins to cut into it.

She felt sick.

Where were all of these memories coming from?

"You all right? You turned green." Fernando whispered.

She nodded stiffly. "I'm fine. I just need to go to the washroom."

"Be back soon." Fernando cautioned her. She nodded and quickly left the room.

When she made it to the washroom, she put her hand to her mouth. Every room in the palace was so familiar yet unrecognizable at the same time. She closed the door behind her, unable to breathe.

She tugs the knife out of her shoulder, seeing red fall from her arm.

She falls to her knees, wheezing in pain.

She can hardly move. In and out. There's no air! Where did all the air go? She wonders through her panic.

The table is flipped over, wood slamming onto wood harshly.

The door is in sight again but she is pinned to the wall now. Her eyes go to his and she holds her breath.

She curled up on the floor, trying to fill her lungs. She wasn't bleeding. She wasn't panicking. She was wheezing, but the panic attacks had come when her memory started going.

Wait.

Why was she remembering such vivid images? She had missed her tea this morning, and now she was-

"You're moving like a bird with an injured wing trying to fly." Azalea watches her friend rush around the house. "What's happening?"

"Stay calm, stay calm." Rosemary pours her a cup of raspberry tea, mumbling frantically. "Do you want pineapple?"

She got off the floor to gaze at the mirror, repulsed by her dark hair. She wanted to cut it off. She didn't have dark hair.

And her memory wasn't failing. Azalea struggled in her mind to open the door and go to Nathan. To ask him for help. She had to.

Let me out! Azalea's hands wandered to her temples. She squeezed her eyes closed, pressure settling on her head. Let me out, Avalyn!

She opened the door, pushing Azalea away.

"You all right?" Anna asked when Azalea walked back into the room. Azalea gazed at Anna's green eyes and felt her resolve shake. Azalea surged forth.

"Just fine, Anna."

Avalyn pushed Azalea back. Stay there.

Or what? You'll erase me?

If I could, I would.

Too bad. I was here first. Azalea sneered.

Azalea put her hands to her head. "Just fine. . ." She breathed.

I'm getting out one day.

In your dreams.

You're right; I do get out in my dreams.

Hush.

Aw. You don't like me? Azalea whimpered in fake fright. I'm cowering in fear, Avalyn.

Azalea-

Avalyn-

Shut up! They both snapped.

Azalea sat down.

Now I'm angry. Azalea eyed her husband. Thanks, Fernando.

Who was Azalea? And who was Fernando, really?


K*H*W* (go to my profile :)