Aftermath: Chapter 9
Miss Carter allows me to meet with Ann and Felicity. One very hot summer's day, we meet at a café for ice cream. I spoon the cool, peppermint treat into my mouth and enjoy it slowly.
"How long will you be here in New York," Felicity asks Ann.
"A few weeks, the show is going to tour the states until we head back to London," she answers.
"Gemma, let's visit the realms while we're here," Fee says, her eyes silently pleading. I swallow my ice cream before speaking.
"All right, but I want to bring Kartik with us."
"How do you manage your relationship with him?" Ann asks.
"I usually sneak out at night to be with him. Whenever others are with us, we communicate through looks. But I hate hiding my relationship with him. Maybe we should join the bohemians in Paris," I answer. Ann and Felicity do not say anything more. We finish our treats in silence. After we have paid and step outside, I turn to them.
"Shall we go to the realms?" I ask. They smile at me and I slip up to Kartik.
"Come with us to the realms," I whisper in his ear. He nods and pays a boy to watch the carriage. We sneak to the back ally way of the café and join hands. The door appears and we step through. The colors and scents of the gardens greet us. However, Asha rushes to us, her hands wringing.
"Oh, Lady Hope, a Winterlands creature entered your world and brought a human sacrifice to the Tree of All Souls," she says in a rush.
"When?" I ask in disbelief.
"The body was discovered about two days ago."
"Take me to it."
Asha nods and we follow her. When we reach the tree, I see a pool of blood. The victim is a female with blond hair and brown eyes. She is wearing an emerald gown. The expression in her cold dead eyes is so frightened and pleading that I have to close the lids with my fingers. I turn to the others.
"We will give her a proper burial," I say. They help me carry her body to the garden. One of the forest folk digs a hole and we lay her in. The dirt is put back into the hole and I turn to Asha.
"What creature from the Winterlands did this?" I ask trying to keep the sadness and anger from my voice.
"We do not know," she answers sadly.
"I should have been able to prevent this!" I exclaim with a sudden passion. Gorgon comes over to me.
"Not all of the Winterlands creatures have joined in the alliance. There are some who still seek power in dark ways. They cannot all be controlled," she says. I no longer want to be in the realms. I walk over the door and my friends follow.
"Just take me back," I say to Kartik as soon as the door is closed. He nods and Felicity and Ann follow me to the carriage. We are silent during the whole trip. When we reach the school, I climb out as soon as Kartik stops. The groom takes the horses and Kartik follows me to the woods.
"Gemma?" he asks.
"She shouldn't have had to die. I thought that by putting the magic in the earth, the creature would all have an equal share," I say letting the tears fall. Kartik comes over and holds me. I sob uncontrollably into his chest and he doesn't say anything, but rather strokes my back and hair gently. His touch soothes me and the tears eventually subside. He leads me to a hill and we sit on top of it. I lean against him and he puts an arm around me.
"I know that you will fix this. I believe in you," he says looking directly into my eyes. I meet his lips in a kiss. He puts a hand on my cheek and strokes it. A twig snaps behind us and we spring apart. We turn our heads and Doris Eddington is staring at us. She turns without a word and runs for the school. I am up on my feet and running after her.
A/n: Yes, I know that I put Gemma in trouble, but I will never separate her from Kartik. They are among my favorite romantic pairings and I might have them end up living with the bohemians. I don't know where this story might turn next, but the ideas will come to me. Please review! Kirsten
