Nesalaini's face flushed with color again. Her pulse quickened and her lungs drew in deep and heavy breaths.
"You knew the nickname only she knew."
"Laini?"
Nesalaini just nodded. And for a second, Tracy thought she saw a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"I, I don't know what you're talking about," Tracy reassured her. But Nesalaini didn't listen. Flames flared inside her and Tracy could tell her fury was bursting out. It was lunging at Tracy, grabbing her soul and tearing it to pieces. And worst of all, pushing it away from Nesalaini.
The creature stood up and wobbled for a moment, digging her claws into Tracy for balance-and punishment. She lopsidedly walked away, out of the shelter of the hay bundles.
Tracy crawled after her, but Nesalaini was out of sight. She sat back down, shocked.
"I, I'm, I'm a peacebreaker?" Tracy whispered, hot tears streaming down her face, "and, magical?"
"Yes," a gruff voice replied, "just like you're little friend here."
A short and grumpy looking paliceo strutted towards Tracy, spear pointed outwards, dragging Neslaini by her tail.
"She wasn't the only girl who broke the peace," he sneered.
Tracy lunged at the guard but was stopped by a large claw.
Nesalaini gasped and bowed. "King Verium," she whispered.
"Ah, yes. The two who are different," He murmured.
All of these names and tales spun in Tracy's mind as she tried to make sense of them. She pondered away until being awoken in a fancy room with bright lights and many paintings.
"You're awake," she heard Nesalaini squeal, "Tracy! Did you remember something?"
She thought hard.
"No, only thinking. Uh Laini, where are we?" Tracy sputtered.
This time, Nesalaini lowered her voice to a whisper, her expression mysterious, "a room in the kings rather small palace. He says he wants to 'question us,' on how we got to these powers to heal."
"About that..." Tracy trailed off as her eyes flickered to the plump paliceo in the doorway.
"Hush your gossip," he gruffly said, "King Verium is here to see you."
Nesalaini bowed her head, her eyes glaring wearily at the door.
The king walked in, his eyes lowered and his ears back in disappointment. He then motioned for his guard to shut the door, and when he slammed it Tracy realized that the king looked more sad than disappointed.
"Not all mistakes deserved to be punished," he started, his eyes still down, "little white lies shouldn't all be made truthful, but true stories should be told. Why don't we start with yours?"
Nesalaini met his eyes, her's sparkling with curiosity. She raised her head and spoke.
"Tracy came into my world like a ladybug, slow, but lucky."
YOU ARE READING
Nesaliani - A Glimmer of Hope
FantasyWhen was the last time the only awful home you've ever known burns down and nobody but you survived? Ten-year-old Tracy Netovedmil lost her parents at the age of three, her brother nearly died with the flu, and has to live in an orphanage in the mid...
