First Strikes Disaster Read online

  they cast on the stage, turned into people who put knives on their throat and not even seconds later everyone was fighting.

  "Daniel," she called, because he was already inside the room. “Daniel." Nothing. No answer. “That's no place for a child," Artisan called as she ran past him, but she ignored it. There were more people fighting than the seven that were on stage, probably hundreds.

  “Daniel.”

  "Rose," he answered. "Go back to the house."

  She followed his voice defiantly the way she always did when he was in trouble.

  People were being attacked and kidnapped left and right, even those who had nothing to

  do with this.

  The dark-haired girl who was using fire earlier spotted Rose and tried to put a

  protective crystal circle around her, but she was hit in the head, and fell knocked out.

  Rose wrapped her in a protection ball of thick glass, cursing herself for being so slow. She kept running around throwing attacks and protecting people. They had begun

  evacuating as many as they could in an effort to save them. Finally, she saw her family,

  and she knew why people talked about their fighting so much. Ana had a chain that she

  was using to whip all the shadows; when too many approached, Daniel would strike the

  chain with lightning. Daniel had a sword, and when too many people came, she would

  touch it with fire. They fought side by side. Covering each other's backs better than Rose

  had ever seen anyone do. In her moment of being intrigued, someone threw an attack at

  her.

  She fell to the ground, shocked and out of breath. The fall was small but had a

  dangerous impact. Still she pushed herself up as much as she could, for she couldn't stay

  down, not now. As soon as she stood, hands wrapped around her, and she felt like she

  was far away, watching the battle from the outside. Out of the corner of her eye, Rose

  saw a bunch of figures going for Daniel. Her scream caught in her throat, and she tried to

  break free with one last ounce of effort but failed. Ana noticed both things happening at once and looked between the two of them - Rose knew she was thinking of who to save. As she lunged for Daniel she threw out her chain, and Rose screamed as it wrapped itself around her neck. The pain felt almost unbearable. The image of a baby long gone slipped into her mind.

  Chapter 2☆

  Warm covers woke Rosalie up, and she realized she was in a bedroom. With tired eyes she looked around and noticed a slight burning in her neck. The walls were a deep, passionate red, and bunches of perfumes lay on a huge, beautiful dresser.​Could it be Ana’s?​But the bed was surprisingly small as it was only able to fit two people, and the covers were made of a rough velvet, and there was a second bed. There was no way this was her aunt's. She looked fully around and saw that someone had put out clothes her size, which she would have no choice but to change into, as the dress she was wearing was severely torn. Trying not to think the worst, she got up and peeked through the barely open doorway.

  Outside a nurse was whispering with one of the guards.​What nurse? What guard? Is this a hospital​? It surely didn't look like it. Well, if it was, the nurse would be in soon, she knew, so she quietly laid back in the bed.Do either of them know Daniel?​After three minutes of realizing that their conversation wouldn't end, Rose got an idea. She gave a tiny cough just loud enough for them to hear, hoping it would draw their attention, but instead it did nothing. She coughed again, louder, and still nothing. Their chattering continued. With a fake sigh she closed her eyes and knocked her hand right into the vase at her side, and it fell with a large crash. "WHAT WAS THAT?" yelled the nurse, running into the room. Rose pretended to be knocked out, as if she slept through the whole thing.

  "Kales, could you get me a broom?" the nurse said and Kales grunted. Quietly Rose took her chances and peeked. Whoever they were, she did not know either of them; it made her spirits crush. "The dustpan too, Kales," ordered the nurse. Rose wondered if she should fully open her eyes and ask questions. Just when she was about to give in, Kales ran in and said, "Lexa is awake," which made the nurse yell' "REALLY?" and hurry out of the room. Rose jumped up the second they disappeared, which was not really a good idea, as she was forced to catch her breath when a sharp pain rushed through her body.

  She ran out the room; down she ran until she made it to a big living room. She started to run towards the door, but then she stopped. Daniel once told her that running away from an area would never be smart unless she knew where and from whom she was running.​Where is Daniel? Is he okay?​She turned around, looking for signs of other life, but found none. The house was so big that it seemed like an endless maze and like one noise could trigger an echo - it had to be a house that belonged to a royal. The sound of voices raised, talking, suddenly appeared and made her decide to follow them down a long hallway. For a second the voices quieted, and Rose became scared she had misheard but then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the big door to her right peek open. A man tossed out a kitten and then disappeared back inside.

  Rose went to the room that was next to it and pressed her ear to the wall; from what she could hear, someone was talking to a lot of people. She wanted to go in the room, but she couldn't make out the conversation, and there was no way she could be sure if they were good guys or bad guys. She crouched down and made a little hole. After looking around to make sure no one was around her, she peeked through; it was still no good. Then she remembered that Daniel taught her a trick once where, if you were skilled enough, you could use the elements as a sort of zoom in. She pictured water coming to her, and, as if on cue, it appeared in her hand. She poured it through the hole trying not to splash it.​Deep breaths,​she thought as she closed her eyes and let herself become the water. It was strange. To still be in her body and yet be able to see and hear so clearly into the room, while also feeling all liquidy and traveling by gliding. After traveling all through the room she found a good spot on the roof she could watch from, settled there, and looked down. It was a big room that had five big golden chairs up in the front, which she knew were probably meant for the counselors. Apparently there was some type of awarding or memorial, for the pictures of many people stood on a big table surrounded by candles. Ana was seen sitting in the middle, and Rose nearly called out to her. As if responding to Rose's presence, she announced, "Let the next person come up."

  A long line of people stood waiting, and she watched as the first one, an old man, stepped up to the podium. Around his neck was a necklace with a tiny golden key on it, which meant he had been approved to trade with humans. He had on a simple white shirt with gray pants, his hair was a white and gray shade that told his age. Even from here, she could see the hesitation in his movements.

  "Good day, my lady," he said.

  Ana nodded and sat up tall.

  "My son, Jorin, was at the show last night, and I'm afraid that he never returned

  home. You may know him, as he worked as a cook before starting his career as a caterer for events at the house. He was a skilled man and very valued in my family. He was the head of the household and the last of my family that was able to care for me."

  Ana nodded. "I'm sorry for your loss, and I promise you that we are doing everything we can to find who did this and bring our people back. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

  “If I weren't too old, I would say no, but....”

  “But what?” The man was proud, and you could tell it took a lot out of him to say this. Ana sounded genuinely sorry.

  “Unfortunately, the question remains of who will come to my care."

  She sat back, considering."We will send one of our own to help you till we find your

  son. They will be with you by noon today."

  "Thank you. Thank you so much," he said.

  "Next," ordered the guard, and Ana gave her a glare for being so pushy. Rose beamed at t
he generosity of it. Many people went up to state their losses until the

  line kept getting shorter and shorter; they asked for advice and help and money. As long as it was within reason, there seemed to be nothing Ana said no to. Finally, as the line reached the end, a girl with long blond hair and green eyes stepped up to the podium. "My name is Lena," she announced instead of a welcome, and Rose had a feeling it was important. She appeared tough, though there were bruises and scratches up her arms and back that were older than anything that could have been from last night. On her back was a sword, one recognized, the blade made of an everlasting sharp glass. Many stared longingly, for those swords were hard to come by. It was then Rose noticed her truly. The girl from last night, who was the head guard, Orion's, daughter. Ana did not speak or move.

  "My father was taken last night. He served you for over thirty years of his life and is known by all. He was the head of household and the best man I have ever met. I know I want to be the best daughter I can for him, and so my one wish is that I can join the guard. I want to move here with you, train with everyone else, and eventually help you find him.”

  Many people bowed in agreement and respect.

  Ana sighed as if she had been expecting this. She sat back while she considered, and then sat up to full power again, shaking her hair out of the way. “I thank you. Your father was one of the most respected people in our land, and for that I owe it to him to let him be able to see you through when that day comes, so you may stay in the house, but you will not join. If he is not back in a year's time I will approve you.."

  A somewhat stunned silence followed, and Rose gaped, confused. Was that… bad? And why did everyone talk as if the people had merely been taken? So they were alive?

  “Thank you,” the girl said and then turned to go away. Her face showed nothing. Not sadness or anger.

  "Hello," said a voice from right behind Rose that almost made her yell. She pulled back her mind from the water and whipped around to see a young girl standing behind her, with tan skin and wavy brown hair. There was a certain sparkle in her eyes that made you wonder if someone painted them freshly every morning.

  "Who are you?”

  "I'm Aylea," she said, "and I'm at your survice.”

  "Are you a house maid?" There was no longer such thing as servants, but the payment of maids was lower than that of many other professions.

  "Yes."

  "I won't be here long so I don't need one," Rose said, trying not to appear rude and turning around. When Aylea did not go and only shuffled awkwardly behind her, she turned back and asked the only question she could think of: "Where's Daniel?"

  “You should talk to Ana. Have you had your check-up yet? Have you had any food?"

  "I think I had my check-up." Rose said, recalling the nurse.​Why does everything keep leaving my memory so quickly?

  "But have you eaten?" Aylea repeated.

  "Well.. No."

  "Before you talk to her, you have to eat."

  "But I'm not hungry," Rose proclaimed.

  "You have to,” Aylea's voice was insisting. “Come with me. The dinang room is this way, and it will only take a secund.”

  Why is food so important at a time like this?

  ​“Okay, fine, I guess I have to,” Rose stood up and followed her.

  “Thank you. I promise you'll feel better after you eat.”

  "Where are you from?" asked Rose after a pause, noticing that the girl had a slight accent when she spoke long words.

  "The great city of Chariot."

  “Like in the stories?”

  “Yes, the one with mountoins so tall and huge, people die just from looking at them, and huge forests so big they’re like countryes. Don't even get me started on the caves.” Only rich people came from there, as it was for the highest levels of citizens that weren't in power. This made Rose wonder what led to Aylea standing before her.

  "You can ask if you want; I don't mind."

  Rose instantly knew what she meant and bit her lip to try to hold back curiosity. The curiosity won. "Who are your parents?"

  "My father is Julian Marks."

  Rose recognized it instantly. He funded Maxilennium during the war, slaughtered families, helped hide the disappearance of Ana's mom, and seemed to have taken a particular dislike to all the counselors. "Nope, never heard of him," she lied.

  Aylea looked hopeful. "Really?"

  “Yeah, I don't really pay attention to those sorts of things." Family. She meant. She didn't judge other's families.

  “Oh well, maybe it would help if you did.”

  “Do you like it here?” Rose asked, not really changing the subject.

  “It took some getting used to. They don't really see the point of having seasions in the other cities.”

  Rose knew that was true. When you could control the weather and the plants would grow no matter what, it was almost strange to make yourself purposely uncomfortable; still the other cities were looked down on.

  "How many places have you been to?"

  "Anridrea, Chariot, Willow, Trearce, Farm, basically all the big cities." "And which one is your favorite?"

  “Trearce, if I'm honest. Everyone is so happy here - well, I mean, they're nice to you. Plus Ana treats us all so well.”

  She nodded, “How long have you been here?”

  “A few months. Give or take a year or two.”

  “Are you-?”

  "We're here.”

  They walked right into the dining room, which really was huge. The walls were light blue with white lines going up them making beautiful designs. Up the walls were also real grape vines that were full of lots of green and purple grapes, and in the corner was a pretty apple tree full of red and green apples. A sign next to it said,​"feel free to eat". The long table and chairs looked to be made of white crystal, and there was a huge fireplace with little glass white pieces inside of it. Rose didn't know what the pieces did, but they radiated energy. In the corner was a brown grand piano, and near it, she noticed, were people. A girl sat on it, talking to two boys, who were standing. The girl looked to be related to one of the boys, as they both had tan skin and short brown bobs. When she listened harder, she noticed they were arguing in really fast spanish. The other boy had short white hair and blue eyes.

  Upon noticing her, the white-haired boy said, "Hello, I'm Khristopher, with a K."

  "Keep talking about that K and I'll stab you with it," said the brown-haired boy, but Kristopher merely shook his head. "Don't mind him. That's Sebastian and Kana."

  "I prefer Bash. And you?"

  "Rose.”

  "Ana's niece,” he said, hardly changing his mood.

  "Do you want something to eat?" Kana asked. Aylea shook her head vigorously, and Rose impatiently took a few grapes from the wall.

  “I'll have some of these.”

  "Did you sleep well?" she inquired sweetly.

  "I don't feel too tired.”

  "Of course, poor thing, you were out like a light.”

  “How long was I out exactly?”

  “Just a night, and you were really lucky. I've heard some people won't be up for a few months.”

  Rose took in a breathe. “Do you know exactly how many people were harmed?”

  “No, but no one died, fortunately."

  “And have they found anyone?” her mind went to Daniel, who had been close to being snatched the last time she saw him.

  Kana smoothed out her dress. “No. If they went missing last night they're still gone; the three of us have been up all night, and so far nothing has changed.”

  "You stay here?”

  “Yes," Kana said.

  “And you were there last night?”

  “Only for the beginning, I'm afraid, as our​father​had us leave”

  Rose took note that she said "father" with an air of disgust.

  She crossed her arms. “So that's a memorial they're having in the other room?”

  “Kind of, in a sense. It's more
like a remembrance, since no one died. I don’t know the exact details, since the adults wouldn’t let me in, but I can tell you it’s been going on since dawn this morning, and I'm pretty sure it should be over soon.”

  “I was just in there, and I think it is.”

  “I can tell you the list of names,” Kana added excitedly.

  Rose dug in a little toiletry container to find a hair tie. “If you don't mind.”

  While Kana stated names and went on about what they saw, Rose wandered over to a stray cabinet, where there were empty bowls, and grabbed one that she filled with grapes. Her hair, as she saw in a stray mirror, looked very knotted, so she tied it back together. She studied her face in the mirror and discovered that she had developed a long scratch.

  "They couldn't have done a better job covering those," Bash snarled.

  Rose looked to where his eyes met and nearly screamed, for on her neck were bunches of bruises as if she had been deeply burned.

  "Where....?”

  “From Ana,” he said wickedly, “or do you not remember?”

  Noticing them brought attention to the pain, and Rose almost winced. "Not really. "

  "I'm sure it'll come back to you, your aunt almost killing you and all."

  "How bad of you?” Kana screeched, “like she needs reminding of that the first day."

  “She was going to remember anyway.”

  “Still, she only just woke up.”

  "You're not helping by making it a big deal.”

  "Well you're not helping by-"

  "Rose is probably light headed; aren't you, Rosie?"

  She merely nodded.

  "Come with me and I'll help you find the medicine."

  "Bye," she said, remembering it was now her job to be courteous and then followed him into the hallway. She wanted to ask Aylea a question, but the girl had gone particularly quiet and shy. Once when Kris looked back, she turned bright as a tomato, and Rose sighed - girls with their crushes - it was then she decided to really study him. He was cute in a friendly, boyish way, and everything about him seemed lighthearted and nice. Each of his movements were quick, like he had somewhere to be. There was an unevenness to his hair that showed he had cut it himself, and his clothes were dreadfully wrinkled, which was unusual when there were so many people who could keep him put together. In his hand he had a tiny globe that he continuously spun round and round.