WONDER ( Twisted Forbidden Tales ) Book Three

Perfect Pitch and Scheming Tricks Part Two

ANFIM

My eyes nearly blinded themselves looking at my Aunt Rainbow Rose as she appeared grandly in the distance. Starting from the crown of her head, her hair cascades in luscious waves of multicolored strands, reminiscent of a blooming rose in a myriad of hues—vibrant reds, pinks, oranges, yellows, and purples, interwoven seamlessly.

Her skin, akin to the soft petals of a rose, boasts a flawless complexion with a hint of rosy blush adorning her cheeks. Yet I knew not to be fooled by that deceptive presence that was her. Her body bears the curves of a goddess, every contour accentuated with grace and allure, drawing the eye with every movement as she sauntered forward toward me.

Queen Rainbow Rose's eyes are like twin pools of liquid amber, deep and mesmerizing, exuding an aura of wisdom and cunning. They hold a glint of mischief, hinting at the shrewdness hidden beneath her captivating facade.

While her lips, full and inviting, carry a knowing smirk, betraying her selfish and self-absorbed nature. Her hands, adorned with intricate nail art and sparkling jewels, wield power with every gesture, commanding attention effortlessly.

“Honey, what is the meaning of this? Didn’t we agree to house our guests here in the castle?” I asked looking a bit confused at King Kai’s sudden rebuttal.

It was time he got his backbone back around here. Having been subjected to the force of the spell just like my people and me on Orchid Island, now was more a perfect time as any to stop pretending around my Aunt, the magic collar she had encased around his neck had long stopped working the moment the after effects began.

I stood at the entrance of the Royal Rose Castle, a cacophony of colors that assaulted my senses. The path is lined with gilded statues of whimsical creatures, their faces frozen in exaggerated expressions of joy. The stones beneath my feet are adorned with shimmering gems, glinting in the sunlight with an almost blinding intensity.

No matter how much she tried to make this place fit with Fuchsia Island, this place stuck out like an unending sore thumb, it’s grand and gaudy appearance was an uncomfortable trigger to all who were natives here like an iron brand one could not get rid of a constant reminder of what my aunt had done.

The clichéd-looking lawn stretches out before me, a patchwork of vibrant hues that seem to clash rather than complement each other. Towering topiaries shaped like oversized playing cards dot the landscape, their garish reds and blacks standing out against the sea of fuchsia and gold.

If it wasn’t for the letters appearing and King Kai Fuchsia making an unexpected visit back then, the timing was all too exquisite, for I had already owed Alissa and now because of Tilly and my Aunt Rainbow, I owed her even more.

Surrounded by her gaudy Royal Rose castle, Queen Rainbow Rose holds court with an air of superiority, her every whim catered to by those who dare not defy her. The atmosphere is charged with tension, a palpable mix of reverence and fear, as her subjects dance to her tune like mere pawns in her grand game of power and control.

“You mean, you agreed, the arrangements you made, have nothing to do with me dear. Peony Way is where we should take them after all the Orchid Sanctuary resides there now. If we want to help them as you’ve said, shouldn’t we be transparent? Someone’s life is at stake here, how can we run the mill with our guests? This is not the Fuchsia way!” King Kai’s said his last words with final authority.

I stood there my hands crossed over my chest and nodding in approval and respect. The old and formidable Kai was back, it was good to see him again, though there were a lot of things to mend here on Fuchsia Island starting with his people. The Rose guards trailing behind stood attention with the sound of his tone as he retorted back at my aunt. Her face looked of one in disbelief as he mouth opened and closed as if to speak but no words came out in the end. She had never been called out before, well at least not to her face. Kai left no room for her to refute and she stood there with her hands balled into fists at her sides.

Kai’s knights who had been renamed by her as the Rose guards eyes shone with ushered tears and triumphant glee. The atmosphere was filled with the sense of a dramatic change. They looked at their king with major respect a big difference in the look of disgust and disdain they felt for Queen Rainbow Rose and my cousin Tilly Tulip.

The sound of banging came from behind us as my eyes met with Alissa and then Hank and I sent one of my “I’ve got this!” winks their way. Hank smirked in response, he looked amused at best. I frowned a bit noticing his arms looked slightly hairy, wondering if the poison was acting up again. Alissa on the other hand let out a laugh. Triggering more banging from behind us by the person now trapped inside their device.

The door, with its gilded accents and oversized rose-shaped knockers, looms before me like the gate to a realm of extravagance. Its polished surface reflects the colors of the surrounding landscape, distorting them into a kaleidoscope of shimmering hues.

That’s right, that person was my cousin Tilly, Trapped behind me with her minions inside the castle. My emotions were beyond the word livid but I had to play my part well here as planned with King Kai and his resistance against Rainbow Rose. I moved slightly over to my right It creaks open with a dramatic flourish, revealing an interior that is just as extravagant as the exterior. Giving Alissa and Hank a good view of Tilly being trapped inside the barrier they had set up for us. It was a sight to see, her usual calm facade torn to shreds as she glared at me then towards Hank and Alissa, while her mother’s face paled as their plan C had fallen through in the worst way possible.

“How dare you speak to Mother that way! Get on your knees and apologize you ingrate! She is your Queen, how dare you show disrespect! Once I get off here you will have hell to pay!” Tilly sneered, her face looked quite chilling yet comical at the same time. Served her and my aunt right for trying to stop me. Like I didn’t know what they had done and who they had been in leagues with. The disappointment was far from any emotions to feel for them now, all I felt was revenge.

I could truly feel what Alissa had felt back then now, lost in thoughts for a moment tears threatened to fall from my eyes, thinking of how Alissa still thought to protect me by not telling me about the true side of Tilly. She knew the tense connections and hidden feud between our families, but even my parents kept me away from that conflict. However it still found its way toward me in the end. I chalked it up as fate, given my abilities both new and old, I had to deal with this, just as the letters said, this was my destiny.

“Alright! Enough of your racket Turnip! I’ll deal with you soon. Guards! Let’s wrap it up!” King Kai commanded the guards. They snapped to respond with pride and relief. The sight of my aunt’s flabbergasted face as it turned redder than the rose in her name left me feeling geared up in energy, in a good way there is.

“What are you doing? You are under my command! Wait, what is this? that’s impossible! This can’t be! No! This can’t be!” my Aunt shouted in almost manic disbelief shaking her head from side to side as she was swiftly carried away. The shock she seemed to have gotten was from the magic collars, she thought no one else could see.

The magic collar, cunningly disguised as a necklace, presents itself as a bold statement piece for men. Crafted from a blend of darkened silver and sleek, polished onyx, it exudes an aura of mystery and power. The necklace chain is thick and sturdy, with intricate etchings of ancient runes, hinting at its arcane nature to those with a discerning eye.

At its center lies the focal point of the piece: a large, midnight-blue gemstone, seemingly ordinary at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, one can discern faint glimmers of enchantment swirling within its depths, like distant stars twinkling in the night sky. The gem is encased within a framework of silver, meticulously crafted to enhance its allure while concealing its true purpose.

For women, the necklace featured a slender chain crafted from the finest silver, interspersed with delicate filigree work that catches the light in mesmerizing patterns. Tiny gemstones, ranging in hues from sapphire blue to amethyst purple, are set along the chain, adding a touch of color and sparkle to the piece.

The centerpiece of the necklace is a breathtaking jewel, a brilliant-cut diamond of unparalleled clarity and brilliance. Its surface seems to shimmer with radiance, casting prismatic reflections that dance across the room. Nestled within a setting of wrought silver tendrils, the diamond appears almost ethereal, as if imbued with a mystical energy that transcends mere mortal craftsmanship.

Her eyes kept falling to the ground and then around her as she carried off as the people of Fuchsia Island rid themselves of the shackles she placed on them like slaves with the help of my ex-lover and that woman named Christine. This gift my Aunt had presented back then had become an unending nightmare in the Fuchsia people's lives until now. They were finally free and more than deserving to get their revenge.

Even if Alissa and the Fuchsia Islanders didn’t blame me I blamed myself. Fresh in my position back then, I was too naive and too innocent in the ways of Wonder's kingdom. I wasn’t for the Kingdom's Dark side for I had only ever seen its light. With a heavy sigh, I walked over to Alissa and Hank both enjoying the show, clearing my thoughts of the past to move forward in what I promised.

“Not bad Fifi, how long have you two had this planned out?” Alissa asked with a knowing look in her eyes.

“Nothing gets passed you boo, when did you notice something,” I said looking at her and Hank’s entwined hands for a second then smiling as I thought of Alissa finally finding her Happiness.

“Eh, Tilly never runs that fast,” Alissa said nonchalantly as we looked at one another in understanding and then burst out laughing.

The sound of a very audible rumbling hungry stomach came from Hank. He frowned staying silent but his slightly pink ear gave him away against that tempting spiked silver hair on his head.

“And, that’s our cue guys, my guards can handle this much. I wouldn’t be a very good host as King here on Fuchsia Island if I didn’t house you upright, let alone feed you. Follow me, Peony Way is quite the tourist spot this time around, albeit, for the shifts, we get by just fine if you're wondering or whatnot. Excuse us, for the small tryst just now Issa, but I couldn’t hold on anymore with that shrew. Her scheming tricks have finally met their end along with that daughter of hers. I’ll set you up right with lodgings and some good grub then head back, if you don’t mind waiting a bit longer, I’ll get you what ya need.” King Kai let out a hefty sigh of relief as we walked through Peony Way a true tourist spot just like he said, big on its rarity now that shifts from the aftereffects of the spell had taken over with no end date to it just yet.

“No problem Uncle Kai, go do what you gotta do,” I answered for Alissa, sensing her attention was more on Hank at the moment. He wasn’t looking so good, the fur becoming more pronounced as we walked. This poison was strange in how it interacted inside his body with the two other ones he was subjected to. Uncle Kai had wanted us to wait for him in Buttercup Village. Was something wrong with the Orchid Sanctuary? What more had Tilly and her mother interfered with?