Chapter 9
The next day Milenas and the four Earthlings are on a little excursion so she can show them around the countryside. “This land is rich and plentiful in many ways. Perhaps that is why people have been fighting over it for so long”, she says.
“Sounds familiar”, Michael says.
John then asks, “So do all the inhabitants of Prinooween have abilities like you and your sister?”
“All of our people have magical abilities. Some are more powerful than others. My parents were very powerful. Some say the most powerful that ever existed in the land. My sister took after them. But only the star people have magic. The other peoples of this planet do not.”
“What are star people?”
“People that look like us. That’s why I thought you did magic because you look like star people. There are all different kinds of people on this planet and they all have different specialities and abilities. Star people have magic.”
“Why do they call your people star people?”, asks John hanging on Milenas' every word. He still can’t shake the powerful draw he has to her and the feelings stirring in him when she speaks.
“They say our people came to this world from the stars. Brought here on the wings of a giant bird made out of pure energy.”
“So they came on a spaceship”, Sal interjects.
“What is a spaceship?”
“It’s a machine that has wings like a bird and it flies through space using energy.”
“We have flying machines but they use balloons and can’t go into space.”
“Well spaceships use energy to get off the ground so that’s most likely the bird your people were referring to. We had a ton of spaceships where we came from.”
“I always pictured something different”, says Milenas.
“It could have been a bird made of energy”, says John shooting Sal a look.
“Don’t be naive”, retorts Sal.
“I’m not being naive. Come on after everything we have seen in our lives why would a bird made out of pure energy be impossible.”
“Come on a bird made out of energy is exactly how a primitive people would describe a rocket ship.”
“I am just saying you don’t have to crush her beliefs.”
“Ok boys settle”, says Karen. “So Milenas why did your people come here?”
“The legend says we came from the stars to bring magic to this world but eventually many lost their way and forgot why they came here. That is when wars broke out.
“That’s depressing and I still say it was a rocket ship.”
“Drop it”, hisses John.
“That is why I am so excited by you four. Maybe you came from the stars to set things right again. To make everyone remember.”
“I wouldn’t hold your breath”, says Sal.
“We have all seen enough war to last a lifetime. Sorry to disappoint but unless one of our family is in trouble we run the other way from fighting. These weapons are for self defense only.”
“Oh”, says Milenas.
“Besides none of us can perform magic”, adds Michael.
“My mother used to say everyone can perform magic. They just have to find it within themselves.”
“That’s a nice thought”, says Karen.
“Your mother sounded wise”, adds John.
“Thanks!”
Michael points ahead of them at a series of bubbling pools of water in the ground. “Hey what’s that?”
“Those are hot ponds. They are naturally heated pools of water. Supposed to be very rejuvenating.”
“Are you guys thinking what I am thinking?”, asks Michael.
“Hot tube time!”, yells Sal as he starts running to the pools.
“They are safe, right?”, asks Michael.
“Oh yea no danger to you.”
“Then come on!”, says Michael running to join Sal.
John doesn’t want to make Milenas feel uncomfortable since she can’t use them so he hesitates even though he always loved a good soak in a hot tub. Milenas senses this and thinks it sweet. She smiles and says, “Go ahead it’s ok. It doesn’t bother me.”
John relieved says, “Well you did say it is rejuvenating.” He goes and joins the others.
Karen is about to follow when Milenas holds her back. “May I ask you something”, Milenas asks.
“Sure”, responds Karen.
“You four are very close, am I right?”
“We are.”
“I notice you seem affectionate to John. Is that something…I don’t know how to say…I should be aware of perhaps?”
Karen looks down and smiles for a moment. She then looks off in the distance trying to think how to answer Milenas’ question. She takes a a slow breath, “When you have seen things you never thought you would see, when you have done things you never thought you would do, when you lose things you never thought you would lose it changes you and how you look at the world. You learn what’s important in life are the connections we make and worrying about the connections others make is petty. Exclusivity and jealousy are just walls that cut us all off from what we need most…each other.” Milenas looks deep in thought trying to process what Karen is trying to explain to her. Karen turns to face Milenas, “John enjoys you Milenas and I can tell you enjoy him. Don’t let fear or ego or worry get in the way of that. Just go with it and have fun cause trust me no one knows how much longer they have.”
“Thanks”, says Milenas smiling, “That makes sense.” Karen nods.
Suddenly over at the ponds what seems like a nearby hill of grass begins to move and causes a trembling of the ground. It rises up and reveals itself as a gigantic beast covered in greenish blue fur that looks like grass. It looks at the guys in the ponds and lets out a deafening roar. Before the guys can react it begins to charge at them. The guys all scream and Sal grabs his gun and tries firing at it. “Fuck!”, he yells when it still doesn't work. The three guys begin running back to the women as fast as they can. Michael tries firing an arrow at the beast but the arrow deflects off the creature. Karen sees all this and unsheathes one of her boomerangs and throws it at the onrushing creature.
Milenas cries, “No, don’t hurt it! There is probably just a nest nearby!”
“Not hurting it doesn’t seem to be an issue!”, Michael yells as the boomerang lands on the beast but just seems to make the creature more angry. The soldiers that have been following them to guard Milenas begin charging at the creature with their spears. Suddenly everyone is frozen. It is Milenas using her magic. She makes all the people invisible and in front of the creature she makes a swirling mass of fire in the air to distract it’s attention. The fire then turns into a dozen black wings that flutter off into the air and disappear. The beast perplexed by what it just witnessed sniffs the air and looks around. Satisfied no danger remains it turns around and disappears into a nearby forest. Everyone then reappears and can move again. Michael’s arrow and Karen’s boomerang are floating through the air as Milenas levitates those things back to them.
“Are you alright princess?”, one of the guards asks.
“I am fine.”
“Thanks for the save. We owe you”, says Michael.
“That was incredible”, says John.
“Oh your welcome it was nothing.”
“How…how did she…did you just”, stammers Sal unable to comprehend logically what he just witnessed.
“Don’t break something up there”, says John mocking Sal with satisfaction that magic was proven.
“Can we go back to the castle. Every time we go out in this world somebody tries to eat me”, says Michael.
“Of course, we need to get ready for the ball. So many people are anxious to meet you”, says Milenas.
“Sounds like a good time”, says John hopeful for the evening.
Sal is still trying to process, “But she…it just….”
“Come on sweetie let it go. A little magic might be good for a change”, says Karen pulling Sal along to join the others on the trek back.
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