Blackout One

Chapter One

New Eden Castle
Pishon, New Eden, Earth

10:45 AM
Sunsday, 31st Octimis, 2036

The Castle Gardens seem to be one of the only places in the country of New Eden that has not begun its Autumnal shift from luscious greens to crisp oranges and browns. The sun shines blindingly bright just over the top of the hills. There is a light morning breeze, and the morning dew sits like a blanket on top of the well-cut grass bordering the path and the road up to the Castle. There is a brief silence, before the sound of a car cuts through. The car coming up the driveway to the car park at the bottom of the hill. The person driving the chrome grey six-person car is an adult male, with a girl with black, magenta, purple and blue hair sitting in the front passenger seat next to them. The older male looks to be in their mid-thirties to early forties. The girl looks to be anywhere between fifteen to eighteen years old. They arrive at the car park, trying to find a space. There is a noticeably young girl sat in the back, getting increasingly impatient, restless, and stressed about being in the car for so long. The man, possibly the girl’s father, parks the car, and the older girl gets out. This girl is wearing a dark grey crop top with a light grey jacket over it, a light grey and dark grey checked and pleated mini skirt, black thigh high socks, grey trainers and two small circular pin badges. One of the badges says, ‘My pronouns are she/her’, and the other one is magenta, purple, and blue; the colours of the bisexual flag and matching with the colours of her hair. Two other children get out of the car. The first child is male, looks to be around the same age group as the girl, just slightly younger. He has black hair, just like his sister and father, and is wearing black jeans, a red t-shirt, and a black jacket. The second child is also male and is younger again. He is wearing blue jeans, a white top, and a green jacket.
“Ris, go and get Alaska out, please.” Says the father, to Amaris. Amaris walks around to the back right car seat and opens the door. She chatters playfully to Alaska, who is four years old. She then unclips Alaska’s seatbelt and pulls her out of her seat. She carries Alaska to the pathway and puts her down.
“No.” Squeaks the small child. “Want carry.” Amaris does as the child tells her and looks over to see Elijah opening the car boot. A dog gets out. The dog is white, with black spots on its torso and one on its right eye.
“Look Alaska, there’s Eclipse, there she is!” Amaris says excitedly. Alaska, who was previously staring at a clouded yellow butterfly, turns around and laughs at Eclipse the dog, who is spinning around herself trying to catch her own tail. Draven whistles to the black and white spotted dog, and Eclipse settles down, slightly dizzy from all her spinning.
“Come on, let’s go.” Draven says, and Zach pulls out a grey dog lead for Eclipse and clips it onto her harness. They all begin walking up the path to the Courtyard of New Eden Castle. Beautiful birds in stunning colours fly past and above them, twittering and filling the morning with natural music, like Gaia’s conversation with her residents. They reach the Courtyard - with its clean and well-kept stone paths and its luscious cut grass and pay their melancholy respects to the tall marble Statue of Ezekiel. They look down at the bright green Gardens, where the international football matches are held every year. Amaris asks if she can go into the Castle Café and make herself a cup of tea, but Draven says no. They approach the steps and Draven takes a short sharp inhale and exhale of breath. He is anxious about the topic of the meeting. As Draven (the father), Amaris (the eldest), Elijah (the second born), Zach (the third born) and Alaska (the youngest) Darkly, along with their black and white spotted dog Eclipse, make their way up the steep grey stone steps leading to the Castle, Draven Darkly looks down at his black digital wristwatch. It reads 10:45 in the morning. He is fifteen minutes early for his council meeting, and the kids will have to wait longer before they get to go back home, but they had all previously said that they do not mind. Even so, he wants to speak to Aldrich in his own time privately before the meeting. He knocks on the huge deep brown wooden door, four knocks, and a guard knocks back from the inside. He hears an echoing click, the sound of the guard unlocking the Castle doors. They enter. He turns around to see Amaris closing the big dark wooden door with one hand and holding Alaska in her other arm. Elijah is looking around bored, waiting for Maya and Nim. Zach also seems to be bored. Alaska is clutching tightly onto Amaris, while staring around in wonder at the decorated and bright walls of the Castle, despite having visited many times before. I suppose it is a wondrous place, with all its history. Anyway, back to the story that I am telling. Prince Darius approaches them slowly, and smiles at Amaris softly before turning to their side and gesturing with their left hand to the left, which is down the hallway.
“Hi,” Darius says softly to Amaris as the six early guests pass him, on their way further inside the Castle’s grand hallway.
“Hi,” Amaris replies, only louder. They walk to the door of the conference hall, which is usefully opposite the living room. Amaris and Elijah take Zach, Alaska, and Eclipse into the living room.
“Be good.” Whispers Draven as Guards open the door to the conference hall. Through the door, which is only partially open, the four kids can see Darius’ father, the King. King Aldrich Frost is smiling at Draven’s arrival, and before the children can eavesdrop on the conversation, the guards close the doors. The four Darkly children turn around, the dog still staring at the door. As they had expected, they are alone. Amaris carefully sits Alaska, the youngest Darkly sibling, being only four, down on the polished wooden floor.
“So, what do you think their private meeting is about?” asks Zach. Amaris and Elijah side eye each other, then Amaris covers Alaska’s ears.
“Elijah’s first transformation,” says Amaris, and Zach nods in understanding. Amaris releases Alaska’s head from her hands, which had been pressed softly against Alaska’s ears. Alaska begins crawling around the living room. Amaris and Elijah sit down on the sofa. Elijah picks up the TV remote and turns the TV on, while Amaris keeps a close watch on Alaska. Meanwhile, Zach is over at the coffee table, drawing. New Eden News is on the TV, and Gabriella and Hermia are presenting.
*I think that the Euphrates football team has potential, don’t you Mia?* says Ella, on the TV. Amaris snatches the remote out of Elijah’s hands and changes the channel. Elijah frowns and tries to snatch it back. Amaris’ eyes turn a deep golden yellow, and she growls at him.
“No unauthorized transformations in the Castle!” Orders a guard, and Amaris’ eyes fade and return to their natural brown colour.
“Sorry,” Amaris and Elijah apologize at the same time. Elijah relaxes back on the sofa and gives way, letting Ris have the remote. She changes the channel again and this time it is to Total Drama Reboot. Alaska is over by the Lego, trying to build something. It ends up looking like a wonky tower, and she takes it apart, slyly moving it towards her mouth instead.
“Don’t eat that!” Amaris warns the small wolf child, coming out of her relaxed position and sitting on the edge of the seat.
“But...” comes out of her mouth softly as she continues putting her hand towards her mouth.
“No, don’t eat Lego, Alaska.” Amaris rushes over to her and snatches the brick out of her hand. Alaska instantly begins pouting.
“Is she okay?” asks a nearby guard, stepping forward in case they need to help.
Amaris nods, mumbling “Don’t worry,” and picks Alaska up, then sits back down on the sofa, putting Alaska down beside her and keeping an arm around her. Alaska is pulling gently on Amaris’ hair. The doors open suddenly, and Maya and Jason walk through them. Elijah stands up, excited to speak to Maya. Maya is wearing pink a pink jumper, a black jacket, pink shorts, pink tights, and purple trainers. Her hair is pink at the roots, and fades to purple at the tips. Her eyes are a deep brown, her skin a smooth caramel colour. Jason’s skin and eye colours are the same, but he has bleached blonde hair with pink at the tips. He is wearing black trainers, black joggers, a black t-shirt, and a purple jumper.
“Hey.” Says Elijah to Maya, and the two of them hug, before starting a conversation.
“Heya, how are you?” Maya asks as Elijah sits down on the edge of the sofa. Jason walks over to the sofa and sits down by Amaris, with Alaska in between them.
“I’m good thanks, how are you?” Elijah replies, taking Maya’s hands. Maya blushes and tries to hide it.
“I’m okay.” She says, and smiles.
“How’s your boyfriend?” Amaris asks Jason, who blushes, then takes out his phone and shows her a picture of him. It is Haruki Yaou, Akira’s brother. Akira is in year ten, Elijah and Maya’s year. Haruki is in year eleven, Amaris and Jason’s year. He would not be in school for the next few weeks, because he is away on a trip to Korea with his grandmother. Akira and Haruki, along with their family, are all gumihos. A gumiho, or kumiho is a powerful nine-tailed fox spirit. Another name for a gumiho is a kitsune, or a huli-jing.
“That is good. Are you ready for school tomorrow?” Elijah asks, but Maya does not get a chance to answer, as Elijah’s phone starts buzzing, and he pulls it out of his pocket. As if by fate, Akira is ringing him.
“Hey, Aks.” He says as he answers the phone, and all conversations stop.
“Hey, El. Are you at the Castle yet?” asks Akira. In the background of the call, Elijah can hear a suspicious mix of sizzling and crashes. He puts Akira on speaker and video, so that everyone can hear and see her.
“Yes, I’m here, where are you?” he asks. “My siblings and Maya and Jason are here too.”
“We’re stuck in traffic on the main road from Euphrates to Pishon.” Akira complains and sighs. “Can I speak to Jason?” Elijah tilts the phone towards Jason, so that Jason can see.
“Um, yes.” Calls Jason from the sofa.
“Jason Woods, if you hurt my brother, I’ll kill you!” threatens Akira, who stays serious for a few seconds, and then smiles. “Just kidding. I am happy for you both. Elijah, the traffic is moving again now, just tell one of the guards that we will be late. Thanks. Gotta go, bye.” Akira hangs up and Elijah puts his phone back in his pocket. He turns his attention towards one of the guards.
“The Yaou family is going to be late. Please may you tell Aldrich?” He tells a guard, who nods. They then leave the room and does not come back. They sit in silence for a few seconds, filling the room with a calming silence. It is disrupted by the distant sound of multiple cars pulling up to the car park. They continue to be silent, waiting for the rest of their friends. Alaska begins to fidget with the zips on Amaris’ jacket, and Jason sighs. Maya rests her head on Elijah’s shoulder, and Zach continues drawing. Amaris looks up at the TV to check the time, not wanting to disturb Alaska by reaching for her phone. According to the time on the TV, it is now 11:05 AM. Through the window, they notice Adison and Abigael Blake walking up the path with their parents. Their parents are Samael Blake the Devil and Eve Blake the first human woman on Earth. Abigael is in year eleven, Adison is in year ten. Abigael turns to the window and sticks her tongue out at Amaris and Jason, then smiles at them. Abigael is wearing a yellow and black skirt, black knee-high socks, yellow converse, a black t-shirt with a yellow butterfly on it, and a yellow winter puffy coat. I feel sorry for that girl. What happened to her was so horrible. I never forgave him for that, nor will I ever. Anyway, Adison is wearing black leggings, black trainers, a white t-shirt, and a black jacket. Abigael’s hair is brown and yellow, the left side is brown, the right side is yellow. Adison’s hair is just brown. Both girls’ eyes are a pastel yellow. Samael is wearing black suit and black trousers with a white shirt, a black tie, and black shoes. His hair is deep brown. It is long. Shoulder length. Eve is wearing the same sort of clothing. However, she is wearing navy blue trousers, and a pink shirt with a navy-blue suit. They disappear for a few minutes, and then the door opens. Abigael and Adison walk through, and Abigael skips over to Amaris, Alaska, and Jason.
“Hi.” Abigael says. Her accent is British, specifically Cockney. Her parents spent a few hundred years in London before she was born, so they as well as her and Adison picked up the accent. This differs from the others, who are all by ethnicity from more European and Western countries. Amaris, Elijah, Zach, and Alaska are Greek and Canadian. Maya and Jason are American, Greek, and African. Their dad is from Greece and their mum is from America, with African family. “Can I pick her up?” Abigael asks Amaris. She is pointing at Alaska.
“Sure, here you go.” Amaris says and hands Alaska to Abigael. Alaska rests her head on Abigael’s shoulder, hugging her. Abigael almost dies of cuteness overload, her eyes wide and her mouth open in shock.
“Hi Abbi.” Mutters Alaska, who begins playing with Abigael’s yellow side of her hair.
“She’s so cute!” says Abigael, and Amaris laughs. Abigael puts Alaska down and sits down on the floor next to Amaris’ legs, resting her back on the sofa. Alaska crawls over to Abigael and sits on her legs.
“Sweetie no, you’re going to hurt Abbi.” Amaris says cautiously, and Alaska rolls off Abigael.
“Peoples!” shouts Alaska, and they all turn to the window. Victor and Beatrice Venator are walking slowly up the steps. The big wooden door opens, obscuring the view of the kids in the front room. Beatrice walks into the front room just minutes later. They walk up to Elijah, Maya and Adison and do not remove their gaze from Maya. Beatrice is genderfluid.
“Bea, what are your pronouns today?” Elijah asks.
“Bruh, I don’t know yet, it’s literally 11 AM.” Beatrice replies and fake cries. Maya laughs and Elijah smiles. Beatrice unbuttons their forest green jacket and hangs it up over the back of the sofa. Underneath, they are wearing a brown t-shirt. They are also wearing black jeans and black converse. A while passes, and more people have shown up. Pearl Thalas, Melody Thalas, Kelsea de la Mare, Jamie Lopez, Aoife Wyte, Mikayla Blake, Nansi Agtane, Harriet Blake, Sophie Branson, Matthew Branson and Sapphire Ciora are all hanging around the sofa. Akira is still late. Never mind. The Yaou’s car shows up and Miko, Nami and Akira Yaou step out of their white car. This is getting boring; I’ll speed up the story. All the kids are now in the living room, and they assume the council meeting is about to begin. Chronos, rewind back a little so I can talk about the meeting.