Novels by Seafoam

Dazed and confused, I awake in my room. Well, not exactly my room, but the chamber Lucas offered me when we first arrived at his mansion. Panic seeps through me as I realize where I am. By my side, Lucas stares through my soul with his glossy eyes.“Thank goodness you’re awake! I was waiting for you to wake up so we can revive Mary together.” He coos.Scared out of my mind, I back away, which greatly displeases him.“Is this about Sarki? Because if it is, I was simply avenging my father-in-law’s honor.”“What?” I mutter, trying to wrap my mind around his words.“Sarki and Esme, my mother-in-law, used to be engaged before her family arranged a marriage with my father-in-law. Any decent person would break off the relationship, but she continued to cheat on her husband until Sarki got married to another woman.”“And you killed them both!” I lash at him, spitting fury against his dumbfounded face.“Macie…”“DON’T CALL ME THAT! MY NAME IS MANSURAH!”“Macie, Esme is a whore. If she can’t be

The next morning is quiet. Too quiet. Lucas sits on the opposite end of the table, looking dully at his food. I try to speak, yet the words are caught in my throat.“You don’t realize how dangerous this forest is.” He mutters.“I do! There’s nothing but a barren world beyond this point!”“What if you got hurt?!” He yells quietly.“It would have been worth it! Now we know the true cure for Mary! We need to return to-““No, WE don’t! I’ll go alone. I made a mistake bringing you the first time.” He eats the last crumb on this plate and retreats to his room before I could protest. At least he’s willing to trust Sarki’s words. That’s somewhat of an improvement.As he gets ready to head out, I do the same. I don’t plan on staying home and doing nothing. Lucas mounts Chocolate and sets out, taking another path than the one we originally traveled on. I wait a few minutes then depart as well, walking on the original trail.After a while, Morning Star comes to a halt and begins examining a smal

I return to Lucas’ mansion to pack supplies for the trip. The living room is empty. My curiosity gets the better of me so I go to his room to check on him. There he lays, dormant and corpse-like, in his bed. I wonder if he’s asleep, yet I do not approach him. I let him sulk in peace while I get leftovers from the pantry. I pack some clothes, food, and feed for Morning Star. In my head, I’m debating whether to tell Lucas about the trip or not, but the chiefess’ words ring in my head. Maybe Lucas’ presence might upset the tribe since he’s not native to these lands, or maybe he was rude when Esme first took him to the healer. Who knows? Is it worth mulling over something I can’t know right now?Before I depart, I go to the shed Lucas showed me. Inside, buried under a pile of tools, I find a bow and a set of arrows. Though I have never held a bow before, I take it with me, just in case I need to hunt for food… Or to defend myself.I check on Lucas again to see if he’s asleep. He is. The s

After we treat our wounds, we embark on the journey home. Though the difference is not noticeable, nature seems to be healing. The grasp of the Twelvemonth Blossom has loosened; now all that’s left is a space that will surely thrive…in time. On the outskirts of the ruined city, there waits Morning Star and Chocolate. Their eyes lighten when they see us. I brush my hand gently on Morning Star’s mane. Lucas does the same to his horse while smiling from ear to ear. The way home is serene, full of nothing but peace. On the way home, Lucas tells me stories about Mary. “Mary’s mother has never liked me. She always thought I’d be the downfall of her daughter.” His eyes lower. “But the father’s opinion is all that matters in our society, so I was lucky he liked me.” “Why didn’t Mary’s mother like you?” “She thought of herself as a witch. A witch who could foresee the future. She predicted that her death will be my culpabi

The cave is emptier than I expected it to be. The entrance leads to a long hallway full of nothing. The walls are harsh to the touch. The darkness inside the cave isn’t anything similar to the darkness I’ve grown accustomed to. This one is raw, almost painful. My heartbeat quickens as my eyes meet the obscurity of the grotto. Lucas pulls out a match and lights it using the cavern’s walls. In turn, he lights a lamp with it. The blankness dissipates. Now that I see better, I notice the cave is not empty at all. It’s full of little flowers scattered around every surface. Lilies, roses, peonies, and daffodils surround me. They’re all conspicuously smaller than they’re supposed to be, and they look like they’re hanging on for their dear life. Their stems catch my eyes; they’re all tawny brown. There’s no tint of vibrance in their hue. I must admit I feel bad for the poor flora of this place. “I thought they were supposed to be moving.” I turn to Lucas, who seems fo

I get up early, excited for the day ahead. The sun has settled over a pink sea of clouds, not yet risen to its apogee. I shower, get dressed, and head for Lucas’ room, where I gently knock. My knocking doesn’t elicit a response. Unsure of what to do, I sit on the floor outside his room, hoping he would come out soon. He exits the room several minutes later. “Macie? What are you doing here?” He asks me, full of surprise. “I was waiting for you to wake up. Good morning.” “Good morning, Macie.” “When are we heading out?” “After we eat.” Lucas pats my head. Breakfast is uneventful. Or maybe I’m simply not paying attention to the world surrounding me. I’m too busy thinking of the Cave Queen, the Twelvemonth Blossom, and whatever other nicknames it has. At the end of the day, it’s just a creature like the rest of us. I want to see it with my own eyes even if it’d mean I’d lose my sight. We only