Surviving the Dark

Chapter 9 - Lily (FlashBack)

It's been a month now. I should be thinking about moving on to the next town or city. I'm not. Instead, I am in the preserve tending to the designated area for the day.

It's the middle of the day, so Xavier is in school. The area we are working on today is fairly big. Large enough that we all took a smaller section each. Jamie is weeding the grass; Liv is pruning the trees and anything else that needs it. And I am planting some flowers.

The area is just an array of green, and it needed some colour so I decided to plant some colourful flowers. There wasn't much to choose from at the store, so I picked up some red and white lilies.

It's starting to get warm out now that it's moving into spring. I would usually wear jeans all year, but working outside a lot more I decided to invest in some shorts, especially for the warmer weather like today.

I am sitting cross-legged in front of the area that I have dug to start planting the lilies. I pick up one of each colour, wanting to alternate them instead of having patches of one colour scattered around.

I look down slightly and spot my tattoo on the inside of my left ankle. I got a pink lily. It reminds me of the last time I was happy. My mother wore red and my sister and I wore white, so I chose pink because it combined the colours of that night.

********~Flashback~********

"Mummy do I have to wear the same colour as Isa?" Thea complained for the hundredth time. For a four-year-old, she sure did complain a lot.

Axel was sitting on the floor in my room, giggling as he played with my quartz crystal that lights up when touched.

"Yes, you do. For the lily festival, Queens wear red." Mum indicated to herself. The way the gown was made really brought the red lily to life. "And princesses wear white."

The white lily dress I was in was a halter neck dress. It was floor length, and it slightly flared out from the waist. Thea's dress finished just below her knees, and it was almost like she was in a leotard and tutu.

My long brown hair was styled in a twist braid, creating a hair crown on top of my head.

"Come on Thea; it's no big deal. And just think, you will be the only one of your friends in this colour." I tried to reason with her.

I could tell she still wasn't happy. Who could blame her? If I were her, I wouldn't want to be in the same colour dress as my older sister. But not wanting to argue with mum anymore, she nodded her tiny head. She knew I was right, but the stubborn child will never admit it.

"Right," Mum states, clapping her hands together. "Let me look at my lovely girls together. Spin. Spin!" We spun around for mum and once she was satisfied she hurried us out of my room and out of our house.

Dad and mum may be the King and Queen, but we live like everyone else. We don't live in a mansion or castle. Just a regular house like every other pixie. Made from twigs and leaves. King Aryon and Queen Ava were the most beloved King and Queen The Grove has ever had. Growing up I would ask dad why we didn't live in a bigger more extravagant house. He would always reply with 'No kingdom will follow a leader they think is above them and looks down on them. I may be King, but I want them to know I am one of them. They are not my subjects; they are my family and friends.'

I will never forget that. One day I will be Queen, and I want to rule just like my parents. But for now, I will enjoy my normal life. With dad's way of ruling, Thea, Axel, and I get to live a normal pixie life. We go to school; we have friends. No one sees us as the King and Queens daughters and son. We are more than the princesses and prince of The Grove.

As soon as I got to the clearing I left my families side and went straight to the centre. Immediately joining in on the festivities. I loved the Lily Festival. It was a celebration of all things colour. Flowers, food, people. Everything.

A few of the pixies had found things laying around and made makeshift instruments. It was what I liked to call rustic music. I was surrounded by laughter and smiles. And I couldn't help but smile myself.

I found my way back to my family. When I did, dad grabbed mum by the arm and walked her over to the area that had been made into a dance floor next to the Pixies playing the instruments. I watched my parents in awe. It never ceases to amaze me how graceful they are when they dance. I am brought back from my thoughts by Thea and Axel tugging on my hands.

I got the hint. We also headed onto the dance floor. Our dancing wasn't as graceful but how can it be when I am dancing with a six-year-old and a four-year-old.

It wasn't long until Axel spotted his friends over at one of the game stalls.

"Isa, can I go to my friends please?" I looked back over to his group of friends and spotted one of their mums not too far from them. But just to be safe, I still looked to mum for confirmation. We have a way of being able to know what the other is thinking just by a look. Mum nodded, and I sent Axel off to his friends. On the condition, he stays with them, or he comes back here and stays with me.

I could tell Thea was getting bored of dancing, and I was getting hungry. We walked over to the tables that held the various kinds of food. I grabbed a plate and filled it up with little nibbly finger food. I was sharing with Thea, and it was easier for her to have something to hold than needing to use a knife and fork. She hadn't quite gotten the hang of them yet.

After we had eaten, I took Thea around to the stalls set up. One of them was of a camera from the human world. They were taking pictures of groups of people. The rumour was that one of dad's soldiers was going to use his crystal that everyone gets when they become a pre-teen, and visit the human world and get them developed so we can all have gigantic images of the festivities. I think he was going to get them put on some sort of device as well so we can make more copies if we wanted.

We were about to walk away when Dad drags us to face the camera. Mum came over with Axel and was holding Xavier in her arms. We turned and smiled at the camera. The flash went off, and I was blinded.

"Why must it be so bright?" I complained.

All I got was laughter from my family. Even Xavier was giggling like he does.

Mum took Thea off me and told me to enjoy the rest of the festival with my friends. I thanked her and kissed my parent's cheeks.

As I was walking away, I looked back at the camera and all I could think about was getting the picture back. We all looked happy tonight like there wasn't something to worry about.

I guess we all needed a night to have a break from worrying.

********~End Flashback~********

Tracing the outline of my lily tattoo a tear escaped and slid down my cheek. I smiled at the happy memory while I wiped away the tear. This was the last night I had with them.

The last time I saw their smiling faces for myself. Now all I had was the USB with the images from that night and a print out of our family photo.

That night is the reason why I got my pink lily tattoo and why lilies are my favourite flower. Even with all the darkness, I am trying to escape; lilies are my form of light in the dark. 

*********

Authors note.

Hey, all you wonderful readers. Just a quick note here, I have no idea about gardening, so if anything from the start is wrong, I do apologise. I am hoping that even if it is wrong with actual gardening knowledge, that you will understand what I am trying to get across.

Also, I am entering this story into the Wattys this year. I know this has just started (I am not even halfway yet) I just wanna give it a go. As the saying goes "No harm in trying". I don't exactly know the rules and regulations or anything but if Surviving The Dark qualifies I am going to enter. :)

Don't forget to vote, comment and share! Would love to hear your feedback, the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

Cassandy