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Gemma
May 19, 1901
Spence Academy
Pulling you in, spinning you 'round,
Lifting your feet right off the ground,
You can't believe it's happening now.
Can You feel it, can you feel it,
Rushin' through your hair,
Rushin' through your head,
Can you feel it, can you feel it
Rush, Aly and AJ
I wake from a string of perfect dreams to the feeling of Ann's cold hand plastered on my forehead. I jump with a start and scold Ann with my eyes.
"Sorry, I was just seeing if you are still sick," Ann apologizes. I do not answer. I slide my feet out of the covers and shiver. While rubbing my sleepy eyes, I make my way behind the changing screen. I pull my corset on and walk back out to get Ann's help. The feeling of her hands pinching me in takes me back to when we were roommates.
"Oh my. Gemma, are you ok?" Ann asks when I lift my hair for her to begin tying.
"What are you talking about?" I snap. It is the morning and I am far too tired for Ann's games.
"You have…bruises all over your neck and shoulders." The realization sets in. I leap from her grip and run to my mirror. I see what she means. I have little purple circles covering my neck, shoulders, and chest like a cheetah. I slide my underclothes down, revealing more skin. Sure enough, the dark purple spots continue on.
Forgetting Ann's presence, I pull my undershirt off over my head. The bruises continue on. Some look like thumb prints; others are more like bite marks. Ann gasps when she sees my back. I turn around and peer at it in the mirror. They are everywhere. Though on the back, the bruises are paired with scratches, most likely from the tree bark. For the first time I look at my hands. My writs have grip marks around them. The memory of Kartik holding my hands too tight above my head floods my memory.
I am warmed by the bruises. It means that I did have him again. I didn't just imagine the whole situation. I have proof of his love. Our physical love left its small reminders on my body. I smile at my self.
"How are we going to hide them?" Ann asks, already thinking ahead. It had not occurred to me until now that I will need to find a way to hide the ones on my neck.
"Tie my corset," I insist as I slide the undershirt back on. "I will wear my hair down to cover the marks."
"That is improper," Ann exclaims.
"I understand that. But I think it would be worse for me to walk around all day with bite marks. Don't you agree?" I say between my teeth.
"It's just—"
"Ann, tie my corset!" I demand before she can finish.
The realms seem to be dull and lacking something when we enter. I do not know if it is because I miss Kartik or if it is just me noticing too much. Either way, I am in no mood to do what must be done tonight.
We tread our way to the Tree in silence. I think the creatures are afraid to mention last night after all my tears. I wish they hadn't seen me like that. When we reach the Tree, Gorgon steps in front of everyone else and asks me quietly, "Are you ok to do this today?"
"I will be fine," I answer, though the Tree already has me aching in my core. I step past her and look around. Others have gathered to watch. I am sure many creatures are worried that I will not return the magic. I promise everyone that I will before pressing my hands to the cold earth.
I have no idea what to say. I remember what I said to replace the magic. I give the magic back to the realms and the Winterlands, too, it may be shared equally among the tribes! I remember that day so vividly. Like all memories, the edges seem to be blurred, but the moments that were most influential remain the same. I can still smell the blood from my side, the sweat on Kartik's cheek, the vines of the Tree. It is as if it all happened yesterday. I want this to be over. I want to take the magic one last time, and then to never have to feel it again.
I grip the grass under my palm and inhale deeply. All eyes are focused on me. I look around. I wish Felicity were here. I need her to be here. A tear slides down my cheek and drops on to the grass causing it to grow longer. "I take the magic back from the realms and the Winterlands. It will live in me once again!" I shout as I feel the ground shaking underneath me.
A rush of power surges up my arms and into the rest of me. I can feel the magic, more powerful than I even remember, cycling through every pore in my body as it finds a haven. I fall back in exhaustion. The magic is too much. It burns inside me, waiting to be released. The Tree grows in size as it spurts out the last of its magic. Then it slinks back to normal size and moans deeply. The ground under me cracks. The grass dies. Everything seems to be dying.
And that is when I hear it. Too many voices are shouting at me. When I look around I see that no one is talking. I can hear their thoughts. I focus on Ann so that I can tune out some of the noise. This is extraordinary. I never thought I would see this again. I look away from her eyes and the clamor starts back up again. My eyes find Adalae's. If only Felicity were here. She deserves to see this. I shouldn't have gone and ruined everything. "Gemma, are you alright?" Adalae asks out loud.
"Everyone stop!" I shout. The world falls silent around me. I look around and see that I have stopped time completely. Using a little of the magic relieved some of the burning pain inside me. Now I know this was so difficult for Kartik. "Resume," I say.
The clamor of inner thoughts fills my head again. Relax, I tell myself. I don't want to hear thoughts. It goes silent again. Everyone stares at me like I am about to combust. I still need to get rid of some of this magic before I can stand. "Ann, come here," I demand. She walks near me slowly. "Give me your hand."
I take her hand in mine and focus on giving her some of the magic. I can feel what she feels. The connection when magic is exchanged is so intimate. Her feelings for Charlie are strong. I give her enough and then pull away. "I missed this feeling," she exclaims.
"Line up leaders. I will give each of you some magic to help me build this castle." They do as I say. One-by-one I give away some of the magic. With each person, I feel somewhat better. The magic is no longer controlling me. When I join hands with Adalae I feel a deep commitment to Felicity. I can tell that she loves Fee as much as Pippa did. For this I give her a little more magic than the others.
When everyone has a share of the magic, I begin to walk back toward the garden. "Where should we build the prison?" I ask as we walk.
"Most High," Gorgon answers. "I was thinking we could build it in the Borderlands, where the castle used to be."
"What about all the mess that is still there?" I ask.
"We could build it with the rubble," Asha suggests.
I think it over for a few minutes and then agree. Felicity already cleaned up Pippa's body so I am not worried about that. I am sure she wouldn't mind either. "Alright."
We walk on. Soon we are standing in front of the destroyed castle. "I do not know if this will work, but it is worth a try. Everyone get in a line and put your hands on the person in front of you. I will stand in front. I want everyone to focus all their magic on me. I will then focus on building the prison. Does this make sense?"
I am answered by a loud exclamation of joy. It seems that everyone is willing to follow me exclusively. I can feel the magic itching under my skin. It wants to be released. Everyone begins to line up. Gorgon stands directly behind me, and I wish it was Fee. "Alright, now!" I shout to my followers.
The magic bursts within me. There's a buzzing inside my ear. I focus all my strength on a prison. It looks like a castle in my mind. I throw my hands out and push all the magic toward the mess of rocks. They begin to move and shape. Pillars go up, followed by walls. My mind is getting weary. The determination to do this feels like my brain is exploding inside my head. There is only one heartbeat as well all focus together.
I can feel some of the creatures growing too tired. Their magic tatters to a stop. The magic I have blows through me with the force of a bomb. My knees are starting to buckle under me. Suddenly I realize that the effort has me screaming. My muscles tighten as I push the last of what I have in me from my body. I fall limp to the ground just as the last piece clatters to the roof of the castle.
I look up. We have done it! A full castle stands in front of us, sturdy and cold. I breathe heavily. We spend some time catching our breath. I know that I can do nothing else tonight. I have exerted all my energy. "We will finish tomorrow night," I announce to the group.
"What about the magic?" Philon asks.
"It will fade from you soon enough. Tomorrow night I will remove all magic from these premises. Then I will return the magic to the realms for good. For now I am too tired."
"What about the ball?" Ann ponders.
"We will slip out during the ball. Can everyone do that?" I look around my human friends. They all nod. My eyes catch Polly's. She looks absolutely horrified. I can tell this is all too much to take in at once. I really do wish Felicity was here to guide her. I know now that I must be the one to help her out since Fee abandoned her again.
"Now, I need rest. Can we please be getting back?" Adalae helps me up and then holds my hand. Together, we get everyone out. I crawl up to my room in silence and fall into bed with a thud. The soft cover of sleep blankets me gently.