Silent Orchids: The Age of Alandria, #1

Prologue

Alandria. Not quite present day.

Darkness had fallen, but the stars refused to shine. Dulled light shone softly from two reluctant moons hanging, bloated with grief, reflecting the heart of Alandria. The king and queen of the Faeries had been slain, along with the princess, the remaining heir of Feraánmar. Her love and partner in rebuilding the treaties between the races, the prince of the Elves and heir to the throne of Alandria, was lost—presumed dead. As was the hope for a united Alandria.

In the depths of the Forest of Dul-Isteach, the Elders carried out their last act before they disbanded. Some would diminish with time, cloaked in glamour to live out their days. Some would go into hiding to preserve what remained of the ancient magic for another life.

Floating balls of fire along the periphery lit the clearing. There were no additional witnesses but for the forest and the creatures that lay within; their cries and calls were the only sounds to be heard in the vast silence. At the cry of the raven, seven figures hooded in ancient tradition walked ceremonially from the forest, each stopping at one of the seven points indicated on the star burned into the ground. Robes colored in blue, purple, brown, dark green, crimson, light green, and white each represented a different tribe. They carried in one hand a single candle with a purple flame flickering in the stillness of the night. In the other, a small silver dagger carried by the hilt, pointed toward the sky. The light from the flames reflected off each of the blades, dancing onto the trees and creating the illusion of a greater light. The hooded figure in green at the top point of the star said something in a very low, monotone voice. A single word in an ancient language.

"Drachmot."

Everything went silent: all the creatures of the earth and sky. Simultaneously, the flames extinguished. Darkness.

Two heartbeats of silence. As suddenly as all fell into darkness a sound arose so primal, so ancient, it seemed to come from the depths of the earth. Flames ignited with a burst of life, permitting the creatures to release their cries, their sorrows for the tragedy that had befallen them all. In the center of the star, where there had been only a large, flat-topped boulder, stood another hooded figure, this one cloaked in black. His head was bowed, his stature humbled, wrists bound in front of him by shackles alight with a fire that did not burn.

The green-hooded figure spoke out with a voice that carried power. Your crime of murder upon the Ferrishyn innocents and royals in hiding is worthy of the soul you cherish to be torn away from your body and fed to the parasite that is the land of the condemned. His voice—even filled with the power of his authority—shook with despair and heaviness. There was a moment of pause to let the gravity settle.

Responding to a silent cue, each of the hooded beings walked toward the center, toward the figure on the rock. Surrounding the boulder, they extended their hands, palm to palm, symbolically closing the circle, their reverent chanting creating a low hum. Then once again, there was silence, this time weighted with anticipation and something tangible in the air... magic, old magic. The hood in the center dropped to his knees. The candles were raised to the sky, then brought down and placed along the edges of the rock’s platform where the flames illuminated the earth. Stains of past sacrifices opened the ears of the earth and beseeched the rocks to bear witness. The green hood that opened the ceremony once again uttered a single word in that same monotone voice.

"Rudan."

The hoods reached with their left hands, simultaneously grabbed their daggers by the blades, and swiftly pulled the hilt down, slicing into the meat of their hands. They uttered not a single expression or sound. Palms squeezed tightly and blood trailed down wrists to fall on the ground and rock.

Another word spoken: "Rroonda."

The white hood released the bindings of the black-hooded being in the center with a simple touch of his hand. The black hood held out his left hand, palm up, waiting for the sting of sliced flesh as his turn had come. He closed his eyes and smelled the coppery scent of his own blood before registering the pain. He refused to flinch or utter a sound. He wouldn’t dare. He deserved this, and more. This was the commencing of his punishment.

More ancient words were uttered: "Brachtah. Gallten. Kollaque."

Then the white hood spoke so all present could understand. Earth, receive this blood, hear our petition. Rock, take this offering and bear witness to this sacrifice.

The blue-hooded figure to the right looked up at the black hood on the rock and said, The blood spilled here tonight is not only an offering, but represents what will happen to the one who breaks the vow. The boulder is the strength of the bond created and serves as silent witness. The earth absorbs the secrets of the vows; it is ever present and will execute punishment as it deems necessary, even if all others are unaware.

The Elder in the purple hood spoke. Due to the desperate circumstances of all of our people, mercy has been extended to you as you were in the service of the Orchaedia at the time of your failure. You have been spared and commissioned with the guardianship and protection of a blessed child. Let it be known... He paused, looking at the accused straight on. He gripped his blade against his palm once more. The open wound released a greater flow of blood and dripped freely from the wound, pouring out like a pot of old tea, hitting the earth in thick thuds and pools of dark sweat. You are hereby banished!

The hood in the center, head already hung with shame, dropped his shoulders, his final stand of pride stripped, wishing for death instead. The purple hood continued, Do you agree to the conditions of your pardon?

For the first time, the condemned in the circle’s center looked up and spoke. I do. As ceremonially required to seal a vow, he squeezed his hand as the others had onto the ground and again onto the rock, adding his stain among those who had stood before him, whether for ritual or retribution, but almost never for a pardon from such a sin. The burden for carrying the knowledge of what he had done would be more than he deserved. He deserved to be sent to a place far worse than death; a place that would, over time, slowly strip his soul from his flesh to be absorbed into the land. He deserved to be sentenced to Exhile.

His thoughts were interrupted by the monotone voice reverberating behind him.

Bring the child, the dark green hood spoke.

The child, barely old enough to walk, was carried from the forest into the clearing by a young woman. Blue iridescent tears streamed down the woman’s face. She possessively gripped the child, infusing every ounce of love she had to give, hoping that some day the child, though not her own, would understand, and that forgiveness could be found. With slow sure steps, her arms quaked with tremors of uncertainty. She leaned down and bestowed a kiss on the forehead of the innocent in her arms. The woman, her whole being, on the edge of a storm of tears, released a choked sigh of grief as she handed the sleeping child to the black hood in the center. She looked deep into his eyes, eyes pained with the weight of his deeds. When she was satisfied with not only the regret, but the spark of hope she saw, she gave him a frank nod and ran back into the cover of the forest.

Awkwardly, the figure in black cradled the child. Looking upon her innocence and frailty, recognizing her as his personal savior, he tenderly stroked a lock of her dark hair aside. Resolved with his mission, he then looked to the green hood, who now stood in front of him and waited.

You have been given a great gift, but one that will weigh on you for as long as you live, the green-hooded figure spoke. "Take care of her. She has been marked... the last of The Orchids, he whispered, his voice choked. Lowering his head, he then uttered in that same ancient language, Lan du hasen ie."

There was instant darkness. When the flames burst back to life, the black-hooded figure and the small child were gone.

Chapter one

Sixteen years later. Present day. Missoula, MT.

O h no! Not again, Kaeleigh said, gripping her head as the faint buzzing grew louder. She reached out unsteadily with her other hand, searching for her six-drawer thrift-store-find dresser. Though steady with its support, she couldn’t stop the flash of white light that was blinding her. She tensed and a cold sweat broke out along her forehead. Stay calm, she coached herself, but, her breathing escalated. To anyone else, this phenomenon might have driven them to seek help. But to Kaeleigh, this was a part of her life and always had been.

For the briefest second, she could actually feel the ghost of a hand engulfing her own; a masculine hand rough with callouses, but warm and safe. Kaeleigh’s skin tingled with the slightest increase in pressure from his hand, sending waves of calm deeply needed energy throughout her body. Once she could calm herself and stop her body from panicking, she could receive the vision with greater ease.

The calm fell thick, and this time…

She could actually smell the damp moss and fresh cedar fragrance of the forest. She could feel the ancient trees and the life energy flowing in them. She could feel his calm, soothing presence, making it all seem alive and real, even in the split second she had experienced it all. Then the images began, once again of places she had never been, people she had never seen. They began slowly at first, but then sped up as if she was zooming in on a particular image.

A never-ending, dense forest. Trunks the width of cars or larger, skyscraper tall as they stretched for the sky. Trees of all kinds, some enshrouded with ivy that would consume everything in its path. Ancient. Healthy. Strong. Alive.

A clearing, lit with shimmering rays from the bright of day sneaking through the canopy of leaves above.

Look, a sing-songy voice whispered through her mind, sending shivers down Kaeleigh’s spine.

An empty clearing no longer empty, but filled with a small gathering. Not people, but a variety of beings. Disjointed images flashed from one feature to the next—pointed ears, inhumanly proportionate bodies, features more animal in nature—wings!—beings small and tall, butterflies, dragonflies, and creatures likely from a fairy tale. A man, a being, upon which all were focused seemed to be speaking to two other beings—a man and a woman, both smiling. They kissed. There was clapping. Orchids! Orchids blooming all over and out of nowhere, tendrils climbing down from the trees alive with the magic of the moment.

A new image flashed, this time more like a succession of still photographs:

A young man... being. A partial silhouette, though mostly to the back. Tall with hair black as night. Another image: his head about to look over his shoulder, but stopped. Another: the same man poised with a sword in one hand and a knife in the other. Another: a tattoo; a small flower—an orchid. Another: a different marking on his wrist—tribal? Another: her hand laced in his. Another: close-up of their hands... his ring.

The images of the man’s silhouette flashed over and over again, faster and faster until they seemed to move with life of their own. As he was about to turn and look back at her, she saw his dimpled and sexy smirk just before she was ripped involuntarily from the scene, and thrust back into her apartment bedroom.

Gripping her dresser so hard her knuckles turned white, Kaeleigh held still, breathing several deep long breaths, letting her body catch up with what had just happened mentally. Getting her bearings took minutes, but this was nothing new. She had learned to cope with the onslaught of images that unpredictably flung themselves at her throughout her life. Still, and no matter how careful or focused on relaxation she was, they always took her breath away.

The buzzing finally left her ears, and slowly her bedroom came back into focus. Then the color faded, and a small depression followed. Compared to the vibrancy of the forest scene she had just witnessed, her own surroundings were drab and despairing. And after each time, her heart broke with such a sense of familiarity and longing for something or someone she had never known. Kaeleigh couldn’t understand her intense reaction or why these episodes happened at all. They just always had. And the orchids! They were always present in some way during these visions—just as in her real life. She felt as though the orchids were some signature in her life, quietly signing its way through dreams, visions and commonly, her every day experience in Missoula. Although, lately, the images had started to change. What was disconcerting, however, was how much more intense they were becoming, how much more... real.

Chapter two

Today was Kaeleigh Johnson’s eighteenth birthday. But to her, it was just another day. Another day in which she attempted to find something she was good at. Another day to find somewhere she belonged in the workforce community of Missoula, Montana. There had to be something out there for her; at least, that’s what she kept telling herself. But there wasn’t anything significant about her that she was aware of, nor was there any great meaning to her daily life. Kaeleigh simply existed.

Thoughtlessly and by habit, Kaeleigh clutched the delicate, honey-gold locket that hung from her neck. It brought her comfort. The necklace was the only thing she had of value, sentimental or otherwise. It was delicate, yet uniquely shaped and the only thing identifying her when she had been brought to the orphanage at the age of two. It was the only visible sign proving she had belonged to someone; that someone had loved her or cared at least enough to name her. Turning it over between her fingers, she recalled how the many jewelers that she had gone to had never seen anything like it or the material used to forge it. She had hoped to find out where the locket might have come from, but without success. Each jeweler had made offers to purchase it or sell it on consignment. She definitely could have used the cash, but the locket was worth much more than money to her. It was special, and she needed special.

Singular among lockets, it was the shape of an orchid, with two connecting points at a petal’s end. The front was inlaid with a much smaller orchid in a white iridescent material that baffled the jewelers. Opal? Ivory? A rare amber hybrid? None could determine its stone—if indeed it was a stone. On the back, a simple inscription reassured her of her name Kaeleighnna. No middle initial, no last name, just Kaeleighnna. It was the foster agency that had given her the last name Johnson. She hadn’t had much choice at the time, but the name felt wrong like a tight pair of shoes your feet longed to be free of, or an itchy sweater you were dying to rip off. The interior of the necklace wasn’t hollowed out for pictures like most lockets, but simply flat and smooth with two foreign symbols etched into each side.

Years of searching had yielded no information to tell her what the symbols meant, if anything at all. Yet they were important though; she just knew it! Kaeleigh could feel a faint resonance of heat and slight vibrations of energy at times, either through her hands as she held it, or against the skin of her chest where it rested. It wasn’t just another piece of jewelry; it identified her, had become a part of her.

Growing up in the system, the foster care system, that is, she had lived with several different families. Some were passably okay, sufficiently loving and some made it obvious they were just in it for the monthly check. And then there was the one that she had no other choice but to run away from. No matter how bad it got, there always seemed to be that constant reminder—in the form of a simple orchid—that she once had a family out there and that she was not alone. A source of strange comfort, the orchid would speak to her. At times an orchid showed up randomly, for seemingly no reason at all. Other times it taunted her, a silent reminder of what she didn’t have... family, people to call her own, a place she belonged. Sometimes orchid appearances were more significant, as if someone knew just when she needed guidance or encouragement.

Like today, the single-stemmed orchid in a small, but beautifully ornate antiqued pot appeared out of nowhere on her dresser. She knew that things like that didn’t just appear, at least not to normal people. But Kaeleigh had never been normal and things like that didn’t bother her. She knew it to be a message, but what that message was, she simply couldn’t discern. Deep down, she wanted to believe the lovely white orchid on her dresser today was significant. After all, it was her eighteenth birthday.

Her best friends of many years, Chel and Finn, wanted to celebrate the traditional milestone, but Kaeleigh didn’t feel like festivities. She felt raw and empty. Her heart hurt and it felt like part of her was missing, but she couldn’t seem to get her feelings into words. Embarrassed and ashamed of what she did not know, but inside an ache pulsed on—she didn’t know who she came from or who she was supposed to be.

Do other teenagers with real parents wonder about these kinds of things?

Celebrating would make her just feel worse, would make her dwell more on the what ifs and whys, when in reality, it was just another day. She felt that sticking to the normal, going to her new job at the restaurant down the street was more likely to help her find that thing she was searching for.

It didn’t matter that this was her fourth job in the last several months.

Did it?

Or even that before this one, she had multiple kinds of jobs in the last couple of years varying from fast food to front desk office work to holding signs waving at cars on street corners.

I need to try different things to find what I’m good at. I just haven’t found it—whatever it is, she tried to convince herself.

Maybe going from home to home, with an inconsistent upbringing, had influenced her more than she’d realized. She was now noticing the effects it had had—the most unsettling one was the most recent insight from today—that she not only didn’t know who she was or where she came from, but that she had no idea where she was going in life.

Alas, this is too deep for today.

Rolling her eyes at her introspection, she stretched her arms toward the ceiling. Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed her beautiful little orchid suddenly began to droop as if saddened. Kaeleigh gently placed her hand under the bloom, cradling it like the fragile flower it was.

I just got you, she whispered longingly to the flower. Please don’t leave me yet. She closed her eyes and pictured the orchid strong and healthy, vibrant and more beautiful than it had ever been.

When she opened her eyes, to her shock, the orchid had not only straightened once more, but had grown and its petals were shimmering like nothing she had seen before on a flower. Kaeleigh gasped, sucking a huge heave of air right back into her lungs and stepped back from the potted plant before knocking it over.

Well, that’s new, she said with awe as she examined the little flower. Kaeleigh then looked at her fingertips, studying her own hands searching for what she didn’t know. When she saw nothing had changed, she watched the flower again as if it might grow two heads next. After a minute of no other changes, she simply sighed and resolved it was time to get dressed. A new job with new possibilities awaited her.

After her long, relaxing shower, Kaeleigh quickly got ready, putting on the required black slacks, black shoes, and black button-up blouse that Antonia’s, the restaurant and her new employer, had given her to wear. The all black was very different from what she would have chosen to wear. Kaeleigh loved color... all colors. She even craved color. Some days she would feel certain colors for the day and had to wear them together even if they didn’t match. She felt the colors impacted her day. In turn, Kaeleigh felt they impacted others’ perspectives and moods, bringing at least a smile or even a giggle from those around her. She didn’t care what other people thought about how she looked because she liked how she felt and that seemed important. Plus, it was fun to watch the expressions on the faces of strangers, more than once wishing she had a camera phone and not her old piece of junk that hardly worked.

Kaeleigh often had impulses to dye her hair with the different colors, but she loved her rich blackish-brown hair with red highlights streaked throughout—completely natural— so she refrained most of the time. Every once in a while, though, she would use those temporary dyes that squeeze into your hair like a paintbrush, choosing colors like pink, purple, and blue. She even added green once, which she surprisingly loved.

Her hair had loose, unruly curls that reached her lower back when left down. She had moments of hair hatred, as Chel called it, just like any girl, but mostly she thought her hair rocked! The different stylists she had gone to for haircuts were always shocked that she didn’t do anything to maintain her color. It apparently wasn’t something normal, as they would tell her. She’d always been able to wave them off, assuming that they of course just meant natural, until the very last stylist she had gone to made a little too big of a deal about it and caused a scene. She had walked out with a not-so-polite hand gesture before she had broken down in tears, feeling, not for the first time, like a freak. Chel’s mom began cutting her hair not long after that.

With time for a quick pause on her way out the door, she looked briefly in the mirror to make sure everything was in its proper place. The black shirt was a little big on her slender frame but not too bad; maybe if she had more going for her in the chest department she could have filled it out. Even puffing up her chest didn’t help. She wasn’t flat, but she definitely wasn’t curvaceous. Chel, on the other hand—that girl had some curves and she knew how to accentuate them. According to a body type quiz in one of the fashion magazines, Kaeleigh had an athletic build. At least the pants fit well. It would have really sucked having to yank her pants up constantly while trying to serve food. Not the first impression she wanted to leave. However, her creamy complexion and deep emerald-green eyes—eyes that could appear a touch eerie if her mood went bad—were, in her opinion, her greatest attributes. Overall, she couldn’t complain. Kaeleigh smiled, grabbed her bag along with a bagel for the road, and headed out the door.

✾✾✾

Missoula autumns were unmatched by any others. Leaves competed with her own hair’s vibrant tones, the brisk air with her cool and calculated tone. But most of all it was the immense and vast Glacier National Park which compelled her heart, soul and mind into the outdoors, her heart falling in love with fall all over again each year. She belonged there, and yet still she felt like there was more out there for her. Living in an area with the variety and diverseness of the seasons spoke to the very core of her essence, but fall spoke the loudest. It allowed for the dying of those parts that needed to be trimmed away, and the resurgence of new life and growth.

Living on the third floor of the old brick Altadena apartment building, which the girls had affectionately named Old Dena, wasn’t so bad. They liked to say that they lived in one of those old brick buildings with the newly renovated apartments in the more eclectic art district—minus the renovations and the eclectic art. Instead, it was just an old brick building with old apartments in a decent neighborhood just outside the art district near the college. It was affordable and not too far a walk from her new job so she wasn’t complaining. Plus, her two best friends lived in the same area.

Chel—like the sea shell—Marzén had been her bestie since junior high, her hiking buddy, confidant and most recently her roommate since they’d graduated from high school since months prior. Chel, however, had recently moved out of their quaint girl apartment into her boyfriend Samuel’s man-pad against both her parents’ and Kaeleigh’s better judgment. He seemed like a good guy, but there was just something about him Kaeleigh couldn’t put her finger on that made her uneasy. Maybe it was that it had happened so fast. In any case, she knew she didn’t want to lose her friend over it so she tolerated him... for now. At least it was just a couple buildings down the street from her. To add to that Chel was now in college, they didn’t get to hike as often as they liked or talk as much either. Plain and simple, Kaeleigh missed her.

Her other friend—her only other friend—Finnlan Finn Talaín, she had only known the last few years but seemed like she’d known him her entire life. He was loyal and caring, though to some his closed off and somewhat affrontive demeanor kept them away. But he had always been there for her when she needed him.