The Bewitched

Episode 4: Something Beautiful

    Maybe... the colors are brighter? 

    Alexa squinted and noticed though it was still light outside all the plants and trees around them were giving off a faint glow in the twilight.  She rubbed her eyes, just to see if it went away.  If anything it seemed to get brighter as the trees continued to get more dense.  Elonwyn pulled over at what looked like a small parking area just off of the side of the road.  No other cars were around, but she could make out the faint lines of paint that made up the parking spaces.

    As everyone exited the car, Alexa heard and felt a faint hum enter her body through her feet as she touched the ground.  The look of surprise on her face made the group chuckle, and immediately a faint blush rose to her cheeks.  Shaking off the embarrassment, she stepped down and shut the door.  She looked up just in time to see Elonwyn quickly grab her hand.  At that, she turned bright red.  The connection she felt with her felt stronger here, so strong in fact, that she had a hard time meeting her eyes.

    "Don't let go," Elonwyn said, squeezing tightly.

    As the sun continued to go down, all the plants seemed to pulse with a low energy that gave off enough dim light to see by as the four walked into the woods.  Alexa had not asked what the place was, but it felt like she belonged here.  Each crunch of the grass beneath her feet made her feel closer to an answer.  She was somehow confident that the purpose of this place would revel itself to her, either through her new group of friends or through the trees themselves.

    Teal was the first to break the ice as they wove in and out of the fauna in the woods.

    "Soooooooo, what's your family like Alexa?"

    "Average, I think?" She timidly responded.

    "I haven't had a family in years, nothing seems average to me.  Everyone has a secret.  C'mon there must be something interesting!"  They gave a dramatic wave of their hand as they twirled around one of the trees in exasperation.  A leaf fell from it, and Alexa gently caught it with her free hand.  It stopped glowing as soon as it had been separated from the tree, and she frowned a little bit.

    "Oh stop it," Camilla chided, "You have us!"

    "Ugh, as though you really understand me.  I'm a rainbow in a world of clouds," Teal retorted.

    The group gave a hardy laugh and shook their heads.  Even so Teal looked earnestly at Alexa.  After a moment of silence, she decided to give them a real answer.

    "Well, I'm the oldest of three.  I have two younger sisters.  I was always the odd one out, you know?  A little clumsy, average grades, nothing incredibly unique.  My parents didn't dislike me, but they fawned more over my sisters.  They required more attention than I did.  My younger sister Ada, she's incredibly smart and very studious.  The kind who got straight A's in school without much effort, and got into Harvard just as she had expected.  My youngest sister Vera is a trouble maker.  Always wants attention, always getting herself into things she shouldn't, always needing to ask others for help when her plans go awry.  As long as I call once in a while they don't much worry about me, and they have a lot on their hands with the other two.  Usually the oldest is the overachiever I think, but that gene must have skipped me."  Alexa gave off a little chuckle at her last comment, but the others didn't seem very amused.

    "I'm quite sure that can't be right," Teal said, "You must have LOOOOOOADS of untapped talent up in there honey."  He tapped her on the side of her head.

    Sorin nodded but didn't say anything,  Camilla agreed.

    "Exactly.  Everybody's got something."

    "I'm just glad I don't have a bad relationship with them," Alexa confessed, "Maybe I gave up some part of my childhood to do it, but I always wanted to keep a low profile and stay out of the way.  I'm so sorry to hear about your family, Teal."

    "Better off without 'em," This time Teal waved their hand dismissively and the group nodded.

    "Would you be scared if I covered your eyes?" Elonwyn suddenly asked.  Alexa was a bit nervous at the question, especially since she had noticed the hum she felt when she got out of the car was only growing the farther they walked.  Then again, she couldn't deny that she was a little excited for the reveal of a surprise.  Everyone else seemed antsy to share whatever they were about to do with her too.  Even Sorin's lips were perched in such a way that you thought he might smile.

    "No?"  Alexa didn't sound confident, but Elonwyn obliged.  Her hand was gently placed over Alexa's eyes and Teal took her other hand to lead her through the brush.

    "Wait til you see it!" Camilla squealed.  "It's just the most beautiful thing.  Amazing."

    "It's pretty incredible." Sorin's voice was close behind Alexa and she could feel the deepness of his voice.

    "We're here," Elonwyn's voice was calm and proud.  She waited for Alexa to come to a complete stop before slowly removing her hand.

    A full beautiful tree with thick snaking roots stood before them.  Of all the trees around them, this one was the largest and gave off the brightest glow.  Emerald leaves made a delightful canopy over the small clearing in front of them, sparkling like fairy lights in the night.  Towering before them, each branch seemed perfectly molded and shaped, all the way down to the base.  At the very bottom of the trunk was a knot in the tree, perfectly placed right in the center as to not at all effect the tree's stability.  Looking at it reminded Alexa of the time she spent meditating beneath the weeping willow in the woods, letting herself connect to the earth.  And yet somehow, this was a thousand times more powerful.

    "It's magnificent," she breathed and without thought, tightened her grip on Elonwyn's hand.