Chasing Scarlet

Chasing Scarlet: Chapter Five

Autumn surprised me at how well breakfast went. The food was already laid out, piping hot, before me or any of my guests arrived. Wonderfully warm rolls were piled in a basket, next to Autumn's splendid stew of herbs and meat. Everyone came in and enjoyed the new decorations that were set up for today.

Again, the queen loved the simple yet beautiful design of my hall. Colored leaves hung in patterns from the candle holders, the fireplace's ledge, the edge of the table and the backs of our chairs. Andra fingered her pattern and started sobbing. She fingered it once more than sat. Minerva loved how her orange leaves matched her shimmering orange dress and how they outlined a delicate flower, perhaps a daisy.

Autumn had crushed her flowers' petals, creating trails for everyone that led to their spots at my table that began at different doors, and I assumed it took Autumn some planning to know where everyone was going to be entering at. Minerva's crushed petals were a matching orange, James' were the same mischevious blue as his eyes, Calix's was the beautiful green as his shirt that he wore loosely tied around his neck, Harold's was a bright yellow, and Andra's petals were the color of the feathers she braided lovingly into her hair. Then I noticed my crushed petals, which shimmered in the firelight, but were mostly the scarlet of Autumn's hair.

A lone string of red leaves sat on the table in front of her place. Andra fingered the pattern and sighed, her small face falling. The queen turned to a shadow. "Autumn, you must come out and eat with us." The shadow stepped forward to show a girl, not Autumn.

"Autumn is missing this morning. I saw her run out crying after she finished Lord Bently's trail. She had choked up when she did Andra's and his pattern. Charles had chased her to the forest, but he lost her."

"Figures. She is of the tree spirit," mumbled Andra. "She has been feeling very weird lately." I stared at her as her murky and glassy blue eyes seemed to focus on something in the distance. "Her heart, it is breaking. Filled with anger, pain and happiness. She yearns to be alone, yet she is afraid to be because," Andra paused. Tears streaked down her hollow face. "She has every right to be afraid," she said stonily.

Harold shot his granddaughter a look. "Reasons, we need reasons why, Andrea." She tensed as he said that name. I froze, not sure what she would do.

"Do not call me that," she hissed. "Autumn is no longer with us." My mouth fell open. Was she dead? But she was fine last night! How could this have happened? "Scarlet is here, ready for a fight." Andra's cold, harsh tone made me shiver. Who knew this little lass could be so scary.

"Who's Scarlet and what do you mean by that?" I demanded. I reached for a light fluffy roll, broke it and stuffed it in my mouth, it melting on my tongue. Now this girl knew how to cook! My mother would be proud of her. I could see her now, in the kitchens working along side Autumn and watching as she made the rolls and complimenting on them.

"Scarlet is my sister," Andra replied slowly. "Only different. She looks, acts and responds differently. She's not entirely human, so tread carefully." She turned to her grandfather. "What will happen to me? Will I still be able to see?" See? Since when can she see? I thought she was blind!

"Aren't you blind, though?" James blurted out, forgetting his manners.

"Yes, but I can see through Autumn's eyes. I can know what she's thinking, what's she's feeling. We are connected."

"Are you witches?" Minerva leaned forward and smacked her son and he leaned over the table and clutched the back of his head. "Ow," he mumbled.

"I wouldn't consider them witches." I watched everything from my place at the head of the table. Everyone seemed to be paying attenion to Harold and Andra.