Legacy (The Biodome Chronicles) (35 page)

“Leaf?” she asked softly. He raised his green eyes,
the circles under his eyes blackened by pain and exhaustion. “I trust you. Cross my heart and hope to die.” Her fingers crossed her heart before they reached out for his hand. “I am most sorry for causing you further grief. Do you forgive me?”

This earned her a smile.

“Did Willow Oak Watson just ask for forgiveness out loud?” Leaf squeezed her hand.

“Do not become accustomed to such gifts.” She giggled as she stood up, and then kissed him on the forehead before walking toward Laurel’s room.

***

Adams
: How is this different than a reenactment or a simulation?

Hanley
: Well, for starters, you can’t reenact something that has never happened. Has there ever been a colony on Mars, let alone one that emulates a medieval culture? No. So how can we reenact that? A simulation has a known outcome. Firemen simulate a house fire to train on how to work in that situation—from responding to the call, saving any victims, to fighting the fire. There is a known outcome, and therefore, a known procedure. The military have simulations to train soldiers on how to respond, react, fight, and use specific items such as guns or tanks. Once again, there is a known outcome, and therefore, a known procedure. This is an experiment. We are collecting data, and using LARP as a vehicle for the test.

—Hanley Nichols and Jennifer Adams, on
Atoms to Adams Daily Show
, August 15, 2030

***

Saturday, October 3, 2054

L
ying in bed, Oaklee watched the shadows dance upon her wall. Sleep had not visited her yet, even though she sent the invitation hours ago. After they had tucked in Laurel, Leaf left for nearly an hour, delivering his decision to Connor. Her brother returned with an announcement that he was the new Earth Element Noble, and that he would share the stipulation with her tomorrow, as well as another situation before she reached The Door—and no sooner.

She gripped her blanket and tossed and turned, the suspense keeping her mind in motion, restless and yearning for predictability. Trying on Ember’s personality for size, she did her best to remain calm and enjoy Leaf’s company on his last night rather than begin another fight. She was too tired to fight anyway, and too tired to sleep, and grateful she did not internally collapse.

She rolled onto her side and reached beneath her pillow, pulling out her token. She thought back to the day she lay on her back and watched the leaves fall, her golden tribute marking her as its owner.

Her thoughts shifted to Coal, pondering the look in his eyes, such an enigma. She understood the longing, perhaps even the sadness, but why did he look on her with fear? Exactly what was he afraid of? Her rejection? Or something else? He knelt next to their father in The Rows and watched as Joel gripped Leaf’s hands, listening to her father share the most coveted secret in New Eden. And then, Coal listened as the Earth Element told his children to leave for the Outside. Ember was right. Coal had much grief to process as well, and she had been unfair to her friend. Did her selfishness know no bounds? Perhaps Coal feared she would leave New Eden, never to see her again. What would she do if the roles were reversed? Would she try and prevent Coal from leaving?

Oaklee relaxed her muscles and lay upon her back. She stared at the rough timber beams across her ceiling as if she could see straight into the heavenlies, imagining that she could see the multitude of stars twinkling their delight with their majestic role. Her family was royalty. Leaf was King, and she was next in line to receive The Legacy should Leaf not father an heir. Gently, her fingers sifted through loose strands silvered in the ambient light this moonless night, winding the hair around her index finger, mesmerized by the motion.

How many knew
their family secret? Did they know before her father passed away? Did Coal? Did Ember? Were the Hansens strategically positioning their family, securing their place and that of their future generations? As peculiar as all the events appeared and felt, her gut twisted, shouting they were not capable. They were friends. They were an extended family.

Now, Leaf was also the Earth Element Noble. Pride in her brother instantly soared in her heart. The rightness of that position restored a piece of their life that had been missing. On Saturday, would Leaf meet Hanley Nichols? Would he introduce himself as Claire’s son, the firstborn and ready to set in motion The Legacy as the next Aether? Oaklee smiled, thinking of how regal and noble Leaf would reflect the responsibilities. Their father would be so proud. She could almost hear his gentle voice praising his son for becoming a man worthy of the responsibility entrusted to him, a Legacy gifted to their family line to carry with respect and duty.

“I could not agree more, father,” Oaklee whispered to the darkness, her heart constricting as his voice echoed in the far recesses of her mind.

Unbidden, a thought of Master Fillion crossed her mind. His voice was quiet, almost sad, carrying undeniable authority. A strange tension fluttered in her stomach as an image floated in her mind’s eye of his smile when he baited her to respond to a challenge. It was a look she had thought of often as they wrote letters back and forth magically through the Scroll portal. Since their exchange on Thursday, she had continually thought of him, frustrated that the journey had begun despite her declaration that she would never allow her mind to travel his direction. And yet, she did not wish to interrupt her distracted thoughts.

Without question, she was intrigued with his Outsider ways and looks. His aloof bearing and flirtatious witticisms flustered her sensibilities. He was angry about something. The sardonic and mocking tones pulled her into his invisible pain, and Oaklee wondered if it pertained to the information he was hiding from them. How did he know her full name? It seemed everyone was carrying secrets, and her family was the center of them all. Was it because of The Legacy?

She pressed the golden leaf against her heart as she conjured up a vision of the blue-eyed and black-haired young man. He had made himself honor-bound to them, declaring he was their way to salvation. Did he know their secret somehow? Was this why he wished to protect them? She could hear her heart beat, an audible response to her thoughts as she yielded to her imagination. She was lured by the mystery of Master Fillion’s life and world, wondering if he was lured by theirs. Did he feel the unexplained connection, or was this another type of magic from the portal?

Excited, she stood up and jumped up and down as quietly as possible, hugging herself, a feeling she had not experienced in nearly a week. She had discovered the Scroll, and in all the drama she had forgotten to share with Leaf. Where was her mind? Perhaps she had lost her senses. This was an opportunity to cover her tracks, even though her brother never knew she activated the Scroll and spoke with the Dungeon Master without his presence. Would Master Fillion have information regarding the candle picture? Counting the days in her head, she rejoiced internally as she landed on the correct day. Here was a chance for Leaf to learn how to use the device. And she would act ignorant, a notion she knew would humor Master Fillion, bringing a satisfied smile to her face in the darkness.

Oaklee whispered his name to the shadows a few times, enjoying how the sound rolled off her tongue effortlessly. It was a name she had never heard before, not even in any of the books she had read. Where did it come from? It was French, a language she had learned from a linguist inside New Eden during her education. She pondered the name longer and decided it must mean “son,” an Old French derivative from “fils.” Whose son was he? And why was that so important as to be named “son”?

Not wishing to miss another moment, she slipped out of bed, opened her door, and tip-toed down the short hallway to her brother’s room. She turned the handle and glided across the room, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Leaf,” she whispered while gently shaking him. He grunted and rolled over to his back, sleep choreographing his disjointed movements. “Leaf, it is Oaklee.”

“What time is it?” he asked in a sluggish tone.

“I believe two in the morning time.” She smirked remembering this was the time Leaf interrupted her sleep five days ago.

“What is wrong? Are you unwell?” Leaf lifted himself up on his elbow, squinting at Oaklee through heavy-lidded eyes.

“I am quite well. I forgot that I, too, have a secret.”

“Willow, can it wait until morning?” Leaf collapsed back onto his pillow.

“We need to go back and activate the portal. It is essential,” Oaklee said. She listened to Leaf sigh, long and heartfelt.

“Willow, what is your secret?”

“
Oaklee
!”

Another sigh of frustration followed by, “
Oaklee
, what is your secret?”

“I found the Scroll.”

“Pardon?” Leaf asked, quickly coming to a full sit.

“I found it accidentally yesterday morning while you broke your fast.” The white of his eyes popped out in the darkness. “Please do not be cross with me. I became consumed with preparing for the Third Ceremony and forgot. And we never had a moment alone until late this evening. We need to take it to Master Fillion so that he can explain how to operate this type of technology. It is Saturday morning.”

Leaf remained silent, and she knew he was deliberating. Oaklee sat next to him on the bed, pulling his covers over her shoulder for warmth. The nights were becoming a bit cooler now that they were well into fall.

“I will go. You stay here and rest.” Leaf braced himself for a strong reaction, his tense posture gaining her attention.

Oaklee responded softly. “Please do not worry about me, Leaf. I need to go as it may be my only way to communicate with you for the next three months. I wish to partake in the lesson firsthand in case you forget some of the information.”

Leaf nodded his head in the darkness, her explanation apparently making sense.

“All right. But if you become inspired by Master Fillion’s rebellious nature, I shall send you home, in the dark, by yourself.”

Oaklee almost laughed. Exactly how did her brother plan on accomplishing such a task? She was not a babe who could be scooped up, carried up the ladder, and then plopped onto the rainforest floor. Leaf still looked upon her as a child in many ways. Heat flushed through her body as her irritation rose, but she remembered how effective Ember’s approach was and willed her impulse to behave. An outburst, no matter how justified, would accomplish nothing at this juncture in their negotiations.

“I understand.” Oaklee stuck out her hand, surprised by the warmth in Leaf’s grasp. “I am going to change, and shall meet you by the front door shortly.”

Back in her room, Oaklee quickly removed her long chemise nightgown and donned her gardening work clothes. Displeased, she removed the work clothes and put on her day dress and added a woven belt intricately designed by various natural shades of linen and hemp. Remembering the thick rainforest and the ladder, she gave a disgruntled sigh and put the work clothes back on, tying her cape around her shoulders for extra protection and warmth.

Flustered that she could not wear a more traditional garment, she decided to wear her hair down. She picked up her wooden comb and brushed out her long strands, the waves bouncing with each stroke. Separating a small chunk on the side of her face, she braided the wavy tresses, beginning with the roots by her forehead, plaiting in small woven trim, and then tied it off with another piece of fine trim. Before reaching the ladder, she would see if she could find her reflection in the pond to give final approval. Satisfied with her quick attempts at grooming, Oaklee reached under her bed, found the Scroll, and then left her room, noticing Leaf leaning against the front door with closed eyes.

“What took you so long?” Leaf asked, sleepiness still edging his voice as his eyes slivered open.

“Oh, I could not decide which clothes to wear. It was most frustrating.”

Leaf raised an eyebrow as she crossed over a faint beam of low light from the reflective sky through the opened doorway.

Oaklee sighed. “Stop staring at me so!”

She pushed him out the door while listening to him softly chuckle. A strong blush warmed her cheeks as she realized the implications of her grooming, and she was thankful that the hood concealed her reaction from Leaf. Oaklee simply wished to represent her position as a noblewoman rather than appear dragged from her bed as she did on the last visit.

With quiet concentration, she and Leaf worked their way down the large spiral staircase. They moved quickly through the temperate forest. The birch trees nearly glowed, ghosts haunting their every step as they traversed the familiar path toward the tropics biome.

Five days ago she could not keep her eyes away from The Rows. But tonight she refused to glance that direction. She had changed already; her life did not resemble anything it had six days ago when their father had passed away. Her parents rested in the living soil not too far away and Oaklee kept her eyes focused on Leaf, not wishing for her father, and perhaps even her mother, to know their daughter was on her way to remake her destiny. She was about to connect to the Outside world through a portal for the third time. She would also see
him
, the Outsider so strangely connected to them.

Hypnotized by her thoughts and images blurring her vision as they ran, Oaklee did not realize they were upon the rainforest until she entered the South Cave.

Leaf opened the door, and a whoosh of hot and humid air greeted her, rushing through her hair and blowing down her hood. Her hands itched to feel her head, ensuring everything was still in alignment. But she refrained, not desiring to earn any taunts from her brother who was waiting for her to enter the rainforest. Closing the door behind them, Leaf pulled Oaklee behind the large leaves of a banana plant, and then stilled.

Oaklee closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the rainforest sing its nocturnal music. Insects hummed and chirped, birds squawked and condensation dripped from one leaf to another. Once she acclimated to their new surroundings, she raised the hood back onto her head, and nodded to Leaf. He grabbed her hand in response and led her toward the pond with hurried strides.