The Rise of the Songbird

Chapter 1: The Withered Orchid

     Rose leaned over the withering orchid. She frowned at it, sure what her mother said wasn't true.

    "Rose, the flower is sleeping right now. It is resting so it can bloom again in ten years."

    "Ten years? How long is that?" Rose had asked confused.

    "You will be Noah's age when it blooms again. That's why it's sleeping. It needs its rest."

    Rose stared at the orchid, upset. She remembered how her mother had sung to her when it was time for her to wake up.

    "Do you want to hear a song?" she asked the flower. Rose softly began to sing to it. She made up the song as she went along and started to tap her foot. Rose kept singing as she danced around the garden, twirling and leaping.

    "Sol enim est, quod fulgurant radii sint splendida, et nubibus sollicita es ludere. Apes in flores sunt, exspectantes venire: et vobis nunc est rursus ad Expergiscimini.." The words rushed into her mind like a flood, even though she only began to learn the language, being five years old. Rose kept singing to the plant and dancing with the colorful petals and leaves around her, bending in the wind. Her bare feet tapped lightly against the white marble. A pink, lace dress swung back and forth with her hips. Rebellious, her curly hair shook free from the too-perfect braids.

    As she sang, Rose looked at the orchid. It's vibrant colors returned to the petals, and it resumed its upright position, turning its face to the sky. As her voice climaxed, she beamed. She had done it! She had woken up her friend! The orchid became smaller and smaller as she sang. Smaller? Rose realized with a start that she was rising above the garden as her notes rang through the air. Golden rays of sun shone brightly through the glass walls and shone upon her face. The air smelled beautifully of sweet flowers and fresh air. Vines that had once been entwined with the structure now rose up, reaching to Rose while waltzing to her song. Giggling, Rose sang louder and stronger, watching as all the plants began to grow and flourish with her notes.

   Strong arms grabbed onto her waist. She started, making her note go an octave higher. The person yelped and shook as if they were electrocuted. The hands let go as Rose's song came to an abrupt end. She fell out of the air, no longer singing, but was caught.

    "Jacob!" Rose giggled, playfully hitting her big brother. He knelt down and clutched her hands, worry on his face. His dark blue eyes darted back and forth between Rose and the flower. The flower that wasn't supposed to be in bloom for ten more years.

    "What are you doing?"

    "I was just—"

    "Don't do it again," Jacob said sternly.

    "Why?"

    "Promise me you won't—"

    "But—" Rose began to protest, but Jacob tightened his grip on her hands and forced her to look into his eyes.

    "It is dangerous. Don't ever do that again. Promise me."

    "I—I promise," Rose sighed, hesitantly, not meeting his eye. Jacob pulled her tightly against him, then stood and walked away, leaving the fully bloomed orchid behind him.   

# # #

     Now, two years later, Rose hummed softly to herself as she read, making sure no one could hear. She was in a secret part of the garden, reading one of the books she stole from the palace library. As she hummed, the plants all around her snaked towards her, hungry for her song. Her humming slowly turned to lyrics as she continued her song.

     "Modi sol et cecidit stillae pascendis gemmas esurietis. Flores apparuerunt, vineae serpere, in flumen fugatur," Rose sung quietly in Latin, bringing back her first singing memories. Although she was told singing was dangerous, Rose didn't know what the big deal was. As her notes filled the air, buds bloomed, and vines stretched towards the sky, almost covering her view of the castle. Soft rays brushed her face, the soft breeze rippled through her dirty blond curls.

     Rose stood and twirled around, being taken by the song. The wind grew stronger as her volume increased, sending colorful petals and golden pollen to swirl around her. She didn't notice the figure lurking in the shadows. The song made itself in her head, and she knew exactly what to sing.

     The sunlight started to fade, pulling her out of her song. Rose mentally scolded herself for getting carried away, and not realizing how late it was. Her mother would return to their part of the castle in only a few minutes after she finished whatever the Queen requested from her lady in waiting. If Rose was gone, she wouldn't be happy. She gathered up her belongings, and raced towards her home, brushing the dirt from her dress.

# # #

    That's odd, Rose thought to herself when her mother didn't return.

    She let out a groan as the realization hit. It was Truth day! She raced down to the throne room, trying to fix her hair and smooth her dress. Shouts rang through the hall, but she barely noticed. Before she could get to the throne room, two pairs of arms yanked her into the shadows of the corridor. She struggled to free herself but realized it was her brothers.

    "Noah? Jacob? What are you—" Jacob's hand clamped around her mouth and she saw the fear in both of their faces. She looked towards the throne, her stormy gray eyes widening. Her mom was being held by two security guards, being dragged away. The jarring, strident songs she had ignored before filled her head. Rose screamed into Jacob's hand and tried to break loose to get to mother. He scooped her up and clutched her tight, as he snuck as fast as he could away from the room, Queen Tabitha's icy voice cutting through the air. Noah ran alongside them, his eyes wide and red as if he had been crying. Rose turned to look over Jacob's shoulder but felt her back smack into someone. She felt Jacob's arms tighten around her, shaking.

    "Trying to escape, eh?" a cruel voice chuckled, sending shivers up her spine. Rose felt hands tug her backward, away from her brother. She screamed and tried to grab on tighter to Jacob. But her brothers had their own problems. Four men, their faces covered in the shadow, grabbed them both. They struggled against them, calling out to her, but they were not strong enough.

    "No!" Rose belted, holding the note. Everyone around her grabbed their ears, collapsing to the ground. The air heated around her, but she was knocked to the ground, and everything cooled. Something cold and hard was slapped onto her face and then hands, leaving them with a sharp sting. She tried to call out and sing, but whatever was over her mouth prevented her voice box from releasing anything. Hands pushed on her back, holding her down.

    "A Songbird? Wait till the Queen hears. Oh, the City of Banishment will be a good lesson for you!" Rose's captor exclaimed, his voice dropping to a low chuckle, sending chills up Rose's spine. Jacob was on the ground, a knee in his back and his hands bound together, while Noah was laying limp and lifeless on the ground. Both of their suits were ripped and tattered. Jacob looked back and forth between Noah and Rose, tears spilling from his eyes, and muffled sobs escaping his mouth.

    Rose felt a pinch as a needle slipped into her arm, causing her vision to go dark, the songs to fade.

    "Rose! No! Fight it!" her brother screamed, panicked. She tried to call back, but she slipped into unconsciousness.