Fire Rises

Gal Pals

I replaced the cool cloth on Ari’s forehead again. She had been out for a few hours and Clara and I hadn’t strayed from her side since Archer left us in my room. I had told Clara everything. Not just about the argument, but the fire, and the burning flowers, and the trip to the Dark Place, and my apprehensions about the prince.

She spent a little time trying to talk me out of my worries, but ultimately decided that I should trust my gut. I couldn’t decide if she was agreeing with me because she actually agreed with me or because she didn’t want me to breathe fire at her. 

“So, is it that you think his intentions aren’t pure, or is it that he is a little… gregarious?” We had been quite for a while, but I wasn’t surprised that she was ready to end the silence. I was saved from answering, though, as Ari’s eyes began to flutter open.

“Wh… Where am I?” I backed away not wanting to startle her. Clara was quick to move to her side.

“You’re in Far, Far Away. How much do you remember?”

Ari’s eyes darted around the room trying to make sense of her surroundings. “It wasn’t a dream?”

Clara let out a light chuckle, “No, it wasn’t a dream. You’re really here.”

“Did Eve really ask them to bring me here? Did she really breathe fire? Did she really defend me to the prince? Is the prince really that handsome? Did he really speak-” Clara cut her off.

“Shhh, shush, sh, you’re okay. Yes all of that really happened and yes he has that effect on women. My name is Clara. I’m Eve’s handmaiden and friend. Eve is right here, too, if you want to talk to her.”

Ari glanced around the room until her eyes found mine. She didn’t look afraid, but she didn’t exactly look excited to see me either. “Hi, Ari. Are you okay?”

“Ummm, no. What the f**k was that?! You can breathe fire? How long has your face been smoking? Why… how… you spoke to the prince so harshly! I mean he was being a d**k, but you’re so brave!” I had to laugh a little at that. Of all the things I was, brave was not amongst them. Stubborn, short tempered, easily annoyed, fire breathing monster? Sure that was me all day. But brave? No. 

“I’ll answer all of your questions, I promise. How are you feeling? Are you hungry or would you like to rest a little longer?” Ari looked at my face intensely for a moment too long and finally I realized she was trying to see what I wanted her to say.

“Ari, you don’t have to do that. Tell me what you want. If the answer is more rest then that is perfectly okay. Clara will stay with you until you are ready to venture out. I’m getting a little peckish though and that tends to bring out my more… tumultuous traits so I’m going to head down to the kitchen.” Ari looked at me for another moment and then giggled when she realized I wasn’t kidding. 

“I’m hungry, too! Let’s go!” She hopped out of bed too quickly and wobbled for a second as the blood rushed from her head. Once she had her footing she looked down at her clothing. She hadn’t expected to come here today and much like myself when I first arrived, she hadn’t packed any clothes. “Um, would it be alright if I borrowed some clothes?”

My stomach rumbled and I wasn’t sure how long I’d be able to hold my temper. Clara heard it and headed over to the pastry stand she now kept in my room. She tossed me a croissant and chirped, “We always have time for dress up! Don’t be a b***h, Eve! We’re having a girls day!” Ari’s mouth hung open as she looked at Clara like she was insane. She would have been insane if it wasn’t for the snacks she kept on hand to maintain my sugar levels. I laughed as I led her to my closet.

I needed a camera. Ari’s face when she entered my closet was everything. Unlike the initial shock and strong aversion to pastels I held, Ari looked like a kid in a candy store. Clara had stepped out for a moment but came in shortly after with a bottle of champagne, three glasses, and a tray of fruit and cheese.

Gods bless this woman. 

After a few glasses of champagne, plenty of snacks, and a full on fashion show we were all smiling from ear to ear. Ari seemed to be free of any reservations she felt towards me, at least for the moment and had taken to Clara as quickly as I had.

“Ari, I wanted to ask! How did you heal so quickly? You were looking pretty rough when you limped up those stairs and then suddenly you looked like a vision of health!”

“Oh! It was so cool! I went to the office Archer pointed me to and Genie was leaning on his desk clearly waiting for me. He’s so nice, Eve! I’m so excited to work there! We didn’t get to talk for long, but I can tell I am going to be so happy there! Anyway, he literally just nodded his head and all of a sudden I was completely better. In fact, I was better than better. I was the best I’ve felt in my whole life! It was amazing! Well, until I fainted, but that was unrelated.”

Clara clapped her hands excitedly at the mention of Genie. “I’ve heard about Genie! He’s allegedly the most powerful being in existence, but also like a really, really cool guy. His wife is supposed to be awesome, too! I’m so jealous you got to meet them and get to work with them all the time!”

“I’m so relieved. I didn’t know what to expect once I got here or how I would fit in beyond the Dark Place, but I think FFAA is going to be perfect for me! I am honored to have been chosen for the role, honestly. I never want any kids to have to grow up like we did, so if I can help some of them learn a better way of life, then I am all for it.”

It seemed the fashion show was coming to an end so we began planning where to show Ari first. The gardens seemed like as good a place as any to start, but we all agreed to dress for anything. 

I had decided to wear my new outfit I purchased in town with Archer a few days prior. As I was showing Ari around my closet I noticed he had in fact bought what appeared to be everything the store offered in my size. The outfit I picked out was still my favorite, though. I pulled my long black hair into a ponytail that still bounced from the curls Clara had styled into my hair that morning.

Ari found a beautiful short gray velvety dress with purple and silver swirls. It was not my style at all, but it fit her body and personality perfectly. She was a little taller than me but not by much at only five foot three inches. Clara knotted Ari’s blue dreads into a thick fishtail braid and dabbed some blush onto her prominent cheekbones.

She looked at herself in the mirror and squealed in excitement. This outfit was a far cry from anything that had ever graced the Dark Place.

Clara had landed on a light pink dress that I was sure was supposed to come down to my calves, but only came to her upper knee. It looked adorable on her and was accidently that babydoll dress style that she loved so much. Her short brown hair was in a half-up half down style, which was perfect for the dress she had chosen.

We looked at ourselves in the mirror one more time before we locked arms and headed out of the door.

As we walked Clara seemed to notice Ari’s arms- or rather the lack of what was on Ari’s arms. “Why don’t have the same tattoos as Eve?” She asked. I knew she didn’t mean any harm, but it still hurt to be reminded.

Ari looked at me apologetically before answering, “I didn’t have the same... responsibilities as Eve. I do have some though. They’re all on my ribs. My mom made me get them. She would love me to have as many as Eve, but I’m what my mother likes to call ‘a dissapointment.’” This was news to me. I thought that my mom was the only ultimate psycho. Sure plenty of people had tattoos in the Dark Place, but I thought only Lucian and I had been forced to get them.

“What tattoos do you have?” Now she had piqued my interest. There was only one way to get tattoos in the Dark Place- you had to ‘earn’ them.

She nervously twisted her fingers together, so I decided to save her from my own question, “Don’t worry about it. I shouldn’t have asked. You don’t owe anyone an explanation here. If one day anyone does see them, no one has to know that they tell a story either.”

Ari let out a deep breath. I reached for her hand and gave it a little squeeze. I was both amazed and elated that she after only a few hours of girl time she no longer flinched at my touch.

We made the trek through the castle towards the garden. Along the way, Ari’s jaw remained unhinged as she took in all of the sights. We stopped to look at a few art pieces that especially caught her eye and to look out of a few windows that offered exceptionally special views of the kingdom.

“Wow. It’s so big! Look! Eve! There’s no walls! It just goes and goes- and oh boy, I’m feeling a little dizzy again.” I could completely understand that feeling. Remembering how I had emptied my stomach upon realizing how uncontained I was in this foreign realm, I offered Ari a seat to regain her composure.

“I know it’s a lot, Ari, but you really are doing so much better than I did when I first got here. Hell, you’re doing better than I am now!”

“You really are! Eve is a hot mess! I swear all this girl does is freak out and gossip with me. It's cool though, as long as I keep her fed she can manage.” Clara gave me a playful push before helping Ari back to her feet. “Come on! You can hold onto my arm while we walk if you want! You’ll be fine!”

We continued down the hall until we came to the grand doors that lead out to the garden. The doors swung open before anyone touched them revealing the rows and rows of rose bushes.

Again, I wished I had a camera. 

Is that what I looked like my first time seeing this place? Ari’s face was priceless. She slowly approached a bush of roses, leaned down, and inhaled deeply. When she turned back she had tears streaming down her face. Her excitement quickly turned to panic when she realized what was happening.

“Holy s**t are my eyes drooling?! I mean this is all so special, but DAMN! Wait, oh god, no, these are poisoned aren't they?!” Clara and I both laughed.

“No, no but I definitely had a similar reaction the first time I cried. I thought my eyes were peeing! No one explained it to me though so I thought I had some crazy disease.” Clara explained the whole crying and tears thing again to Ari who looked relieved. 

After we strolled around for a while longer in the gardens, Ari came up to me and did the unthinkable. She wrapped her arms around my neck and said, “Thank you so much for bringing me here. I think I’m going to be very happy.” 

She really was adjusting much better than I was.