Seasons Maiden

Chapter 3

Days have past since the Mist suddenly occured and Summer had called the other Maiden, convicting them to a meeting far away from their kingdoms. Winter was the first to show up at the meeting followed by Autumn then Summer and finally Spring.

"Hey ! Did you guys missed us ?" Exclaimed Summer.

"I did !" Replied Autumn raising her hand.

"It's not the time." Cut Winter. "You called us for an important matter. Please, explain."

"Oh ! Sure !" Smiled Summer. "Well, as you may all know, the Mist appeared before the predictions. But that's not all... Spring ?"

The younger nodded, slowly removing her gloves. Her hand was now sligtly black, most of its original color had turned white and it keeps slowly progressing along her arm.

"What is this...?" Asked Autumn shocked.

"It looks like it's eating you from inside..." Noticed Winter.

"It... Happen when I was on a stroll... I touched a black goo and everything happen... The Mist and... That."

Autumn approached her younger sister, looking at her hand in details.

"Can I touch ?"

"It's better you dont." Said Winter. "We don't know if this disease it can spread to us as well."

"But do we have a cure ? And how do you feel little one...?"

"I'm fine... Just very tired..."

Spring put back her glove as she sigh, her blond lock falling a little on her face as Autumn gently brushed them off, giving her a reasuring smile.

"It's not your fault... You thought about doing the right thing."

The younger smiled saddly, her body was growing weaker and weaker each day and she didnt' know why. The researchers didn't find anything about the goo and she was left alone due to the nature of her illness. She felt trapped and alone but that meeting made her feel a little warmer.

Winter looked at Summer, asking her silently to join her a little further. The later didn't waste anytime and quietly went away, leaving her two sisters together.

"Any problem ?" Asked the red one.

"I'm afraid this illness could kill Spring. It may look like nothing but I have a bad feeling."

"I'm afraid too... It wasn't like that the last time we met, it was only some black strings... Do you think the Mist could have made weapons on its own ?"

"The Mist isn't controlled Summer. It was proved over and over again. No one survive the Mist."

"But imagine someone is controlling it ! The Mist grow bigger and bigger each time it appears forcing us to reinforced our barriers. It may be a possibility, don't you think...?"

"I don't know Summer... I don't think it's possible. We saw... When someone goes inside..."

Both of them fall silent, looking at each others not knowing what to do. This tragedy, for the first time in their lives, left them worried and defensless.

Suddenly, Autumn came rushing to them, pale and sweaty.

"Summer ! Winter ! Spring fall uncounscious and she can't breath !"

The two of them quickly reacted, running to their little sister as Spring was holding her chest tightly, her skin pale and sweaty, gasping for air. Winter quickly placed the little one in a better position, placing her hand over her forehead.

"She's burning...!" She exclaimed.

Summer, placed her hands over Spring's chest, slowly making her magic work, trying to find the cause of her situation.

"Is she okay...?" Worried Autumn.

"I can't find anything...!" Panicked Summer.

"Spring, listen to me..." Began Winter as she whispered softly. "If you hear me, focus on my voice. Don't panic... I know it's hard but we're here, all of us is here for you... Focus on the pain, find it... And block it. I know you can do it."

Spring still gasped for a few second before slowly becoming calmer, her breathing coming back as Winter nodded, caressing her head.

"There, there... See ? You've done it..."

Summer and Autumn smiled at each others, placing both of their hands on Spring's chest, giving her some of their magics, the younger softly smiling and at peace.

But as they sighed in relief, in the shadows, someone observed them.

"... It seems we'll have to act sooner than we thought."