The following day was the 4th day after Underland. Amber woke up to her duties in Isis’s home. She went from early morning coffee serving to cleaning and cooking and dish-washing at the river. When she was done, she moved close to the bank of the river, her thoughts on Mermaid. “Where are you?” she murmured. “I don’t think I have any friends. Maybe Arnold but he yelled at me. I feel so alone. I need to free my mother. She is innocent.” The water didn’t twirl as Amber was hoping. Maybe she was hoping too much. After all, Mermaid was done with her and they had parted on good terms. Amber found she could not bring herself to accept that fact. “Mermaid,” she called out several times in a louder voice but with silence, she gave up, carried her basin of washed dishes, and returned to Isis’s house. She was surprised to find Arnold leaving on his horse. He paused when he saw her at the gate and dropped from the horse. Amber paused and watched him approach her. “They told me you were at th
In turmoil and fright, Amber whipped open the door and fled down the walkway toward the gates. She had no destination in mind but the second she exited the gate, only one place came to her mind. Hence, her running feet led her straight to the dock at Isis's waterfront. Given the location of Isis's home, no one was in sight. She grabbed stones from the ground and threw them into the river as though she was throwing them directly at someone. “Come out and talk to me” she cried in her desperation and helplessness. As she threw the stones, she was speaking constantly. “You said you have extended your hand of friendship to me Mermaid and I know that you’re in there and you hear me.” Amber paused, panting from all the throwing even as there was no sign of Mermaid. “What kind of a friend are you?” she asked, allowing tears to roll down her face. “I am in trouble. Always in trouble. I need money. You know what I need it for.” Following the silence, Amber grabbed more stones. As she was
Waking up to a tremendous surprise was the last thing that Amber and her mother expected the following day. Miriam had emptied the box of coins into a bag and the moment she replaced the box on the floor, it became filled with money again in the same organized format. Miriam called Amber's attention and emptied the box's new content into the bag. As she put the box back on the ground it became filled again with money, arranged in all the denominations as before. Both of them were staring jaw dropped at the box of treasure and then getting over the surprise, they embraced each other. Overjoyed, they could barely contain their excitement. Finally, they gave up holding back or attempting to control their excitement and screamed for joy, rejoicing as people with all the happiness in the world. Later, Amber and Miriam were at an abandoned half-cleared land. It was about a couple of plots, fenced with wooden sticks for a boundary and they both stood outside its gates admiring it. A sign
It was the auction day which was held inside the ballroom at the palace. Musicians were playing as the guests socialized and made small talk. The guests were highly placed in society and it showed in their appearances. The women were in colorful, flowing, elegant vintage evening dresses and glittering accessories. The men on the other hand were in well-tailored outfits. Isis and Rhea were there, relaxed like every other guest as they sipped their cocktails, and engaged in a conversation with Arnold. At the high table though, were seated the King and Queen who were chatting as they observed the crowd and the ballroom wall clock which proudly displayed the time as seven noon. The town crier came to stand beside the King who nodded at him, indicating for him to go ahead and so he rang a bell to gain everyone's attention. “Settle down great people of Upland.” He said and the people began to occupy the seats which had been arranged to face the throne. About four chairs were arranged a
Miriam was seated inside the living room moping at the wall and Amber noticed it as she descended the stairs to meet her. Miriam smiled at her as she came close but Amber sensed that she was trying to look happy. “Since the auction, you’ve been looking worried mother. Your smile does not have me fooled,” said Amber, and Miriam gave up her act of looking alright. “Fine. Come, let’s reason together.” Amber sat down beside her. “Listen, Isis said deep things yesterday. She said they had taken care of both situations, one being how she believes I stole your father's love away from her, the other being how you caught Arnold’s eyes.” “I remember.” “Your father left the house for my materials and never returned. Arnold on the other hand suddenly stopped seeing you.” “Do you think she did something?” “Towards your father, I cannot say because it has been 11 years. Towards Arnold, I have a suspicion. Sorcery maybe.” Amber's eyes widened at the thought of such a possibility. “You said
Miriam, Amber, and Cressida were dumbfounded and tried to register the shock of the news as Isis laughed at them. “You see, he is so enchanted he's in a hurry to tie the knot. Isn’t that amazing? I wanted to save you all the shock of hearing the Town crier’s news, especially you Amber.” she said pointedly, looking at Amber who could not hide the tears of pain and jealousy that filled her eyes. “The wealth has not freed you from tears I see. Oh, don’t cry, you sad princess. Maybe someday another prince will find you. Hahaha.” Isis turned on her heels, continuing with peals of laughter as she exited. Cressida followed behind her and banged the door after her. “Amber, my star.” Miriam began, attempting to hold Amber but overcome with grief, Amber ran upstairs, already in tears. In her room she lay on the bed and wept sore, soaking her pillow with tears. Outside her door, Miriam and Cressida kept knocking, trying to get her to come out but it was useless as Amber wouldn’t come out.
Following Isis and Rhea’s banishment, the subsequent hours after the villagers left were of new beginnings for everyone.Amber’s father remained unconscious as they awaited his recovery at the palace where the healer was treating him. He lay on the bed with his eyes closed, his breath the only indication that he was alive. He looked like he was sleeping to everyone surrounding him on the bed; the king, Queen, Prince, Cressida, Amber, Miriam and a couple of guards.The healer, an old grey haired man told them that the spell had held him bound for a long time which had affected the speed of his recovery but that it was nothing to worry about because he would slowly recover and be fine. Following this, Miriam and the royals became close again. There in the room, Arnold told his parents the truth about his feelings for Amber and they were delighted about it. The King informed Amber and Miriam that they were welcome to stay in the palace during the period of the
Deep inside the woods, inside Nanna’s cottage, Amber was tied to a chair. Isis, Nanna, Rhea, and Bibo surrounded her. “Please, let me go.” She begged, but Rhea mimicked her plea. “Tell us what we want to know princess.” She sneered, “Then maybe we will.” “I told you already. It was a family treasure.” Isis stepped forward and struck her across the face, drawing blood as a cut appeared on her lower lip so that Amber broke into a sob. “Why are you doing this to me?” she wailed. “She’s so pathetic,” Rhea said with disgust. “Dear, dear girl,” Nanna said patronizingly. “Just tell us the truth. This is because you cannot fool us.” “I have told you the truth.” Amber insisted, wondering how much more pain she had to endure before they stopped or probably killed her. She had made a promise to Mermaid and Mermaid had said there would be consequences if the secret was revealed. This was why she had been enduring the torture they inflicted on her but it was gradually dawning on her that pe
A few seconds later, the four were standing outside in front of Mermaid’s fish-shaped pool. Rhea had her things in hand and a mist had covered the pool. The mist came together, forming a small twirling water tornado, the size of an adult human. Rhea was nervous. “That water tornado will take you home,” said Mermaid. “I am petrified.” “Close your eyes and jump in. If you waste any more time, you will be stuck in this place forever.” Mermaid told her. The Mermen exchanged horrified glances at the idea and Rhea eyed them with displeasure, knowing what they were thinking. Well, she was sure she didn’t want that to happen too and so she obeyed and as soon as she jumped, the tornado enveloped her, wrapping itself around her and when she dared open her eyes, she saw herself sinking inside a tunnel of water tornado. She started screaming even as she heard a sound from above her and looking up, she saw the sky above her being blocked by water as the tops of the water tornado came together
Rhea approached the beautiful bungalow and came to stand before the sturdy door with the image of a mermaid on it thinking great, I am at the right place. Let’s see you, mermaid. “Hello.” She called and met with silence, she pounded her fist on the door but there was no answer. “Mermaid, I know you’re in there.” There was no answer. She studied the door and noticed the bird drawing on the image of Mermaid’s fishtail. Out of curiosity, she touched it, and feeling that it was a button, he pressed it and the eagle bell came flying before the house, squawking aloud. Seeing that, Rhea was amazed. “How clever.” She commented. “Amazing sorcery. Grandmother would be pleased.” She pressed it again and the bird screamed so she just kept pressing and laughing. Exhausted with the fun she was having, she stopped and the bird fell, exhausted. Next, she noticed that the door had creaked open. “Poor bird.” she mocked and pushed open the door to be greeted with the darkness it held, the darkness
At Underland, Rhea had awoken at the beach just like Amber had done and scrambled to her feet the moment her eyes fluttered open. “Great.” She said looking around. “Isn’t this a beautiful place?” She gazed at the waterfall and admired its magnificent beauty. “Great but that’s not why am here. Hello,” she called out studying her new environment. “Anybody here? Because I am sure there might be.” There was still silence and she realized that the bowl was missing. “Now where is that stupid bowl?” she asked herself just as she saw two dwarfs come out from behind the palm tree. As soon as she saw them, she stood with hands akimbo and watched them come up to her. “I don’t believe this.” She said, exasperated. “You both heard me and just simply hid behind those trees?” Stopping in their tracks, they exchanged glances and stared blankly at her. “Well, who are you?” She demanded and while Stone just stared in silence, Orion cleared his throat. “I am Orion and this is Stone.” Rhea threw
Deep inside the woods, inside Nanna’s cottage, Amber was tied to a chair. Isis, Nanna, Rhea, and Bibo surrounded her. “Please, let me go.” She begged, but Rhea mimicked her plea. “Tell us what we want to know princess.” She sneered, “Then maybe we will.” “I told you already. It was a family treasure.” Isis stepped forward and struck her across the face, drawing blood as a cut appeared on her lower lip so that Amber broke into a sob. “Why are you doing this to me?” she wailed. “She’s so pathetic,” Rhea said with disgust. “Dear, dear girl,” Nanna said patronizingly. “Just tell us the truth. This is because you cannot fool us.” “I have told you the truth.” Amber insisted, wondering how much more pain she had to endure before they stopped or probably killed her. She had made a promise to Mermaid and Mermaid had said there would be consequences if the secret was revealed. This was why she had been enduring the torture they inflicted on her but it was gradually dawning on her that pe
Following Isis and Rhea’s banishment, the subsequent hours after the villagers left were of new beginnings for everyone.Amber’s father remained unconscious as they awaited his recovery at the palace where the healer was treating him. He lay on the bed with his eyes closed, his breath the only indication that he was alive. He looked like he was sleeping to everyone surrounding him on the bed; the king, Queen, Prince, Cressida, Amber, Miriam and a couple of guards.The healer, an old grey haired man told them that the spell had held him bound for a long time which had affected the speed of his recovery but that it was nothing to worry about because he would slowly recover and be fine. Following this, Miriam and the royals became close again. There in the room, Arnold told his parents the truth about his feelings for Amber and they were delighted about it. The King informed Amber and Miriam that they were welcome to stay in the palace during the period of the
Miriam, Amber, and Cressida were dumbfounded and tried to register the shock of the news as Isis laughed at them. “You see, he is so enchanted he's in a hurry to tie the knot. Isn’t that amazing? I wanted to save you all the shock of hearing the Town crier’s news, especially you Amber.” she said pointedly, looking at Amber who could not hide the tears of pain and jealousy that filled her eyes. “The wealth has not freed you from tears I see. Oh, don’t cry, you sad princess. Maybe someday another prince will find you. Hahaha.” Isis turned on her heels, continuing with peals of laughter as she exited. Cressida followed behind her and banged the door after her. “Amber, my star.” Miriam began, attempting to hold Amber but overcome with grief, Amber ran upstairs, already in tears. In her room she lay on the bed and wept sore, soaking her pillow with tears. Outside her door, Miriam and Cressida kept knocking, trying to get her to come out but it was useless as Amber wouldn’t come out.
Miriam was seated inside the living room moping at the wall and Amber noticed it as she descended the stairs to meet her. Miriam smiled at her as she came close but Amber sensed that she was trying to look happy. “Since the auction, you’ve been looking worried mother. Your smile does not have me fooled,” said Amber, and Miriam gave up her act of looking alright. “Fine. Come, let’s reason together.” Amber sat down beside her. “Listen, Isis said deep things yesterday. She said they had taken care of both situations, one being how she believes I stole your father's love away from her, the other being how you caught Arnold’s eyes.” “I remember.” “Your father left the house for my materials and never returned. Arnold on the other hand suddenly stopped seeing you.” “Do you think she did something?” “Towards your father, I cannot say because it has been 11 years. Towards Arnold, I have a suspicion. Sorcery maybe.” Amber's eyes widened at the thought of such a possibility. “You said
It was the auction day which was held inside the ballroom at the palace. Musicians were playing as the guests socialized and made small talk. The guests were highly placed in society and it showed in their appearances. The women were in colorful, flowing, elegant vintage evening dresses and glittering accessories. The men on the other hand were in well-tailored outfits. Isis and Rhea were there, relaxed like every other guest as they sipped their cocktails, and engaged in a conversation with Arnold. At the high table though, were seated the King and Queen who were chatting as they observed the crowd and the ballroom wall clock which proudly displayed the time as seven noon. The town crier came to stand beside the King who nodded at him, indicating for him to go ahead and so he rang a bell to gain everyone's attention. “Settle down great people of Upland.” He said and the people began to occupy the seats which had been arranged to face the throne. About four chairs were arranged a
Waking up to a tremendous surprise was the last thing that Amber and her mother expected the following day. Miriam had emptied the box of coins into a bag and the moment she replaced the box on the floor, it became filled with money again in the same organized format. Miriam called Amber's attention and emptied the box's new content into the bag. As she put the box back on the ground it became filled again with money, arranged in all the denominations as before. Both of them were staring jaw dropped at the box of treasure and then getting over the surprise, they embraced each other. Overjoyed, they could barely contain their excitement. Finally, they gave up holding back or attempting to control their excitement and screamed for joy, rejoicing as people with all the happiness in the world. Later, Amber and Miriam were at an abandoned half-cleared land. It was about a couple of plots, fenced with wooden sticks for a boundary and they both stood outside its gates admiring it. A sign