04: House Of Cards

Branches Of Sunshire

Chapter 4

House of Cards

Andreas glanced down at the tarot card with the burning tower on it. He then looked up at the collapsed stage and winced at his bleeding leg.

Blake: “Let me help you!”

He approached him, holding his hand out to him. Andreas glanced up at him under the moonlight in his white hooded robe and sun symbols, sliding the card back into his jacket pocket.

Andreas: “Thank you…”

He went to take his hand when Craig barged in between them, shoving Blake out of the way.

Craig: “I got ya, Andreas!”

He rushed over to Andreas, scooping him up in his big arms.

Andreas: “CRAIG!”

He groaned in pain as Craig haphazardly lifted him up, squeezing his injuries. Blake glared at Craig.

Nari stood at the gate at the front of the mansion, holding her staff up at Craig, barring him from entering.

Nari: “Ah, ah! Not you. You’re not allowed in.”

She narrowed her glare on Craig.

Craig: “Like fuck I ain’t!”

He protested, shoving past her and kicking the gate open with his foot. Suddenly, he was pushed back by an invisible force coming from the fence, making him drop Andreas to the ground as he went flying back onto the road. Andreas landed with a hard thud onto the nature strip lawn. Blake rushed over to Andreas.

Blake: “Are you ok?”

He offered. Andreas pursed his lips and nodded.

Craig: “ARGH! What the fuck?! You got an electric fence?!”

He twitched and whined on the road. Nari rolled her eyes at Craig.

Nari: “No, you idiot, I cast a block-shield spell around our property to keep vermin out.”

She scoffed and laughed at him.

Craig: “Spell?! Vermin?! I’m NOT a rat and magic ain’t real!”

He spat, staggering to his feet. Andreas frowned at Craig.

Andreas: “I see.”

He sighed.

Nari: “Dalnim, bring me the block-shield list!”

She waved her staff, holding her other hand up. Dalnim fluttered down to her, perching herself onto her fingertip with a black silk pouch frozen in ice in her beak. Nari melted the ice, undid the black string around the pouch, pulling out a pile of Polaroid photographs from inside. Each photograph had a red string wrapped around it. She held up one of the Polaroid photographs, undoing the string around it to reveal a candid photograph of Andreas hanging his washing up on the Hills Hoist clothesline.

Andreas: “...Is that me? You took a photo of me doing my washing?!”

He gaped at her.

Blake: “What the fuck?”

He arched an eyebrow.

Nari: “Yes, you are now un-blocked and may enter now!”

She waved her hand, stepping aside and gesturing for him to enter the property. Andreas swung his gaze to her, apprehensively reaching for the gate, but there was no spark this time. He sighed with relief and gripped onto it for balance as he entered the property.

Blake: “I got you.”

He assured him, placing his arm around him to help his balance.

Andreas: “Thanks…”

He smiled, pleasantly surprised by his help.

Craig’s loud booming voice cut in from behind them.

Craig: “OI! GET YOUR HANDS OFF HIM! HE’S MINE!”

He rasped as he charged towards them. Blake gaped at him, and Andreas twisted his mouth. Suddenly, Craig went flying back as he reached the fence again, landing on his ass.

Craig: “ARRGGHHH! FUCK!”

He wailed and sulked. Nari chortled with amusement.

Nari: “You’re right, you’re not a rat. A rat is smarter than you.”

She laughed at him. Craig glared at her.

Craig: “SHUT UP! GIVE ME MY MAN BACK!”

He screamed, charging for the fence again. Once again, Craig jolted and flew back as he hit the fence.

Craig: “ARGGGGGHHHH!”

He rasped and winced. Nari burst out laughing, cackling with amusement.

Andreas sighed and shook his head. Blake rolled his eyes.

Blake: “Ignore that idiot, he needs medical attention.”

He huffed, looking down at Andreas.

Andreas: “Craig always needs attention.”

He groused.

Nari: “Follow me.”

She led them through the garden and down the stone stairs, where they came across a large black door on the side of the house.

Blake: “What is this?”

He eyed her sceptically.

Nari: “A secret passageway!”

She exclaimed, sliding in the lock and unlocking the door.

Nari: “Into my dungeon!”

She exclaimed, spreading her arms as they entered her basement apartment. Blake blinked mutely.

Blake: “Why couldn’t we just go through the front door of the house?!”

He gaped at her.

Blake: “Is this a trap?! Are you going to torture us?!”

He glared at her.

Andreas: “Torture?”

He quirked an eyebrow. Nari scoffed loudly.

Nari: “Absolutely not! I have no interest in doing that with men!”

She snapped and pulled a face.

Nari: “You can go find Juniper or Madelyn. I am sure they can accommodate you with feathers!”

She waved her hand. Blake furrowed his eyebrows.

Blake: “NO!”

He blurted.

Andreas: “Oh? What’s this about?”

He laughed and gave him a curious look. Blake reddened.

Blake: “Never mind!”

He said quickly, shifting his eyes.

Nari: “Regardless, it’s time for you to go.”

She ushered Blake to the door, waving her hand at him as if she were shooing a bird.

Blake: “What?! Why?”

He countered.

Nari: “You have served your purpose and are no longer needed here now.”

She stated. Blake gaped at her.

Blake: “What are you going to do to him?”

He pressed.

Nari: “I am going to heal him in exchange for his services. Weren’t you listening?”

She folded her arms across her chest.

Blake: “I don’t trust you.”

He narrowed his eyes on Nari. Nari laughed bitterly.

Nari: “You don’t trust me?”

She narrowed her eyes on Blake.

Andreas interjected between them.

Andreas: “Thank you for your help and concern, but I will be fine. I can feel her energy, and she means no harm.”

He assured him.

Andreas: “Go check on Ashley...”

He added. Blake froze when it dawned on him that Ashley was alone with those people.

Blake: “ASHLEY!”

He gasped and rushed out the door.

Andreas turned to Nari.

Andreas: “Why don’t you trust him?”

He asked her.

Nari: “Nor should you. Or his sibling, for that matter.”

She sauntered over to her cabinet, rummaging through various glass bottles and flasks.

Andreas: “Why? Because they’re Sole-Wielders?”

He replied matter-of-factly. Nari paused and turned to him.

Nari: “...So, they told you?”

Andreas shook his head.

Andreas: “No. They didn’t have to. I could tell right away.”

He drew a breath.

Nari: “How could you know that? They don’t have platinum hair and amber eyes!”

She scoffed and waved her hand.

Andreas: “Because I am a psychic, and I have encountered a Sole-Wielder before to know what their energy feels like. They also have the markings on their thumbs.”

He explained. Nari froze, thinking of Juniper figuring out they were Sole-Wielders.

Nari: “...Juniper isn't psychic… nor is she terribly bright.”

Her voice trailed off. Does that mean what I think it means? She pondered as she stirred the potion under the moonlight.

Andreas: “It also came up in my reading this morning. I conjured up "The Tower and the Sun.”

He explained, holding up ‘The Tower’ and ‘The Sun’

Nari: “Great, so the sun will set the tower on fire, making it crash and burn in devastation, dooming us all!”

She threw her arms up. Andreas quirked an eyebrow at her.

Andreas: “No? More like the sun sheds light on old structures that will collapse.”

He explained.

Nari: “Oh, like that pathetic stage hammered together by that stupid oaf?!”

She rolled her eyes. Andreas bowed his head and looked down at his broken leg.

Andreas: “Yes…”

He nodded.

Nari: “You don't strike me as stupid, so why are you with that stupid man? Seems it does you more harm than good.”

She asked him as she swirled the potion under the moonlight.

Andreas: “It's complicated…”

He sighed.

Nari: “Well, are you ready?”

She pressed him.

Andreas: “I don't know…”

Nari: “What do you mean you don't know? Do you want to be healed or not?!”

She held up the potion, which contained a glowing purple liquid.

Andreas: “Oh, the potion. Yes, of course!”

He waved his hand. Nari administered the potion directly onto his leg, making him wince as the cold liquid hit his bare skin and seeped inside his bloody wounds. She waved her staff over the wound and chanted under the moonlight.

Nari: “Healing moon water, washing away his pain, sealing his wounds. Cleanse and purify. As I will it, so shall it be.”

She chanted. Andreas gnashed his teeth and groaned as he felt his broken bones slowly mend back together and watched as his wound healed over, condensing five months or healing into five seconds before his eyes.

Andreas: “Thank you!”

He smiled and slowly rose to his feet, bending his knee and feeling whole again.

~

Blake barged into the backyard, where Madelyn and Juniper sat.

Blake: “Where is Ashley?!”

He commanded.

Madelyn: “...With the Hamburger Viqueen.”

She sighed.

Blake: “The What?”

He slowly tilted his head.

Juniper: “Oh, she's talking about Makayla! She calls her The Hamburger Viqueen because she loves Voyage Burger.”

She smiled. Blake blinked mutely.

Blake: “What the hell is a Voyage Burger?”

He asked. Madelyn and Juniper exchanged a look.

~

Makayla led Ashley down the street towards a large wooden building shaped like a Viking ship surrounded by a mossy mote of water. The bows of the ship were shaped like hamburgers, and a tattered red and white sail flowed at the mast. Round windows peered into the dimly lit tables and chairs. A large sign towered into the night sky with flashing neon letters beaming “VOYAGE BURGER” written in runic font over a Hamburger logo with Viking horns on it.

Ashley's eyes widened like a curious cat.

Ashley: “Uhh, what is this place?”

They tilted their head. Makayla turned to gape at them.

Makayla: “WHAT?! You don't know what Voyage Burger is?!”

She gasped and cupped her cheeks.

Ashley: “Nope!”

They shook their head in confirmation.

Makayla: “How can you NOT know what the best place in the world is?! Let me fix that!”

She exclaimed, grabbing their hand and leading them over the bridge to the big red wooden door at the entrance.

A six-foot-tall statue of a muscular man in a loincloth with a hamburger head and horns stood at the doorway. Suddenly, it jerked its axe and rotated its hamburger head to them, startling Ashley to jolt.

Ashley: “O-Oh my stars! What is that scary, weird thing?!”

They stammered. Makayla placed her hand on Ashley’s shoulder to comfort them.

Makayla: “It’s okay, sweetheart, it’s just the Burger Berserker!”

She assured them gently.

Burger Berserker: “RAAAGH! I am the Burger Berserker! Welcome to Voyage Burger! A feast to ravage! Eat like a savage!”

A muffled voice rasped through the speaker. Ashley laughed awkwardly.

Makayla: “We will.”

She replied to the animatronic, pulling the big red door open.

Makayla burst through the large wooden doors, dragging Ashley inside. The restaurant was dimly lit by hanging chandeliers, casting a warm red hue. Plastic swords, axes, and shields were mounted across all the walls. The red wooden booths were empty, except for a group of drunks seated in the corner, slumped over from a long night. A haze of cigarette smoke permeated the diner.

Makayla carried her guitar with her and led Ashley to the booth by the restrooms. The men’s room was labelled: “Vikings” with an illustration of the Burger Berserker holding up an axe, and the women’s room was labelled: “Viqueens” with an illustration of the Burger Berserker in a dress, holding a shield. Behind their booth at the end of the restaurant was a playground with a multicoloured slide and a red seat with the Burger Beserker sitting in a position for a photo with your child.

Ashley: “Uhh, this is the best place in the world?”

They scratched their head with a laugh.

Makayla: “Yes!”

She grinned proudly and shoved them down into the booth.

Ashley: “Whoa!”

They laughed awkwardly as Makayla shoved her ass into the booth beside them, pushing them up against the round window.

Ashley: “Uhh, how am I supposed to get out?”

Makayla: “You don’t!”

She sang sweetly with a wink and a chuckle. Ashley laughed awkwardly.

A waitress came over to their table, dressed in a uniform consisting of an ivory shirt with a red tie, a long brown skirt and sandals and with a plastic Viking helmet on her head.

Waitress: "What can I get you?”

She droned as if she would rather be anywhere else.

Makayla: “Give us the usual and put it on my tab!”

She winked at the waitress. The waitress drew a breath and nodded as she left the table.

Ashley: “The usual? What's that?”

They tilted their head at Makayla.

Makayla: “You will love it!”

She grinned at Ashley.

Ashley: “Oh, pawesome!”

They chirped.

Makayla rested her head on the palm of her hand and smiled at Ashley.

Makayka: “Thanks for coming here with me and cheering me up!”

She cooed at Ashley.

Ashley: “Of course! I’m just glad you didn’t get hurt! That would have been so scary! Maybe you guys could ask Blake if he can help you build a new stage! He’s really good at all that stuff… so was our dad…”

They assured her, placing their hand on her shoulder. Makayla bowed her head and sighed.

Makayla: “But I DID get hurt! My hurt is on the INSIDE!”

She cried, placing her hand to her chest. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Makayla: “Madelyn tormented me!”

She cried.

Ashley: “...What do you mean?”

They gaped at her, taken by surprise.

Makayla: “She hexed my sounds in the air to turn them into stupid noises and make me look stupid!”

She bawled into her hands.

Ashley: “Oh? Really? Wow, I didn’t know Vernal-Wielders could cast majique with sound!”

They gasped.

Makayla: “Of course! Sound IS air, and air is our element!”

She grinned widely, holding up her bass guitar.

Ashley: “OH! You’re a Vernal-Wielder, too?”

They smiled.

Makayla: “I sure am. That’s why I’m so good at music!”

She gloated, strumming her guitar. Ashley smiled.

Makayla: “I taught Madelyn how to cast sound spells, and she used it against me!”

She cried.

Ashley: “Why would she do that?!”

They knit their eyebrows.

Makayla: “Because she’s jealous of me!”

She cried.

Ashley: “Oh, why would she be jealous of you?”

They tilted their head.

Makayla: “Because she still wants me and she’s bitter that I broke up with her!”

She explained.

Ashley: “Oh! You dated?!”

They gasped.

Makayla: “Yes, but it’s over, and I’m moving on now…”

She smiled and flicked her gaze to Ashley.

The waitress came back to the table, carrying trays of food. Ashley was amazed at how such a tiny person could carry so many plates. She filled the entire table with salty, battered delicacies, hamburgers, and dairy treats.

Ashley: “W-wow! What’s all that?!”

They gasped.

Makayla: “Odin Rings, Freyja fries, Ragnarok burgers, Valhalnilla shakes, Chockorok pies, Little Berserker meals, Feathered and battered burgers, and bruised and battered pancakes!”

She sang, gesturing to various items spread out across the table.

Ashley: “Oh wow! That’s so kind of you to get everyone dinner… or breakfast, haha! I’m sure Blake would love that hamburger! I dunno what Nari and Juniper and Madelyn like though.”

They scratched their head, looking out the window as the sun was rising. Makayla gaped at them and laughed.

Makayla: “No, no, silly! This is just for you!”

She cooed at them, poking their nose.

Ashley: “...Uhm, what?!”

They gaped at her as if she had three heads and laughed awkwardly as she must have been joking.

Makayla: “Enjoy!”

She beamed, gesturing to the food on the table.

Ashley: “I can’t eat all of this, haha…”

They awkwardly scratched their head. Makayla frowned.

Makayla: “Yes, you can! Believe in yourself! I believe in you!”

She cheered, placing her hand on their shoulder.

Makayla: “From the heat you eat, spill your fill until you’re full. So shall it be.”

She sang into their ear, poking their tummy. Ashley froze in a daze, and their pupils grew large like a hungry stray cat.

Ashley: “Oh, okay…”

Their voice trailed off as they bit down into the feathered and battered burger, which was a piece of fried chicken with garlic aioli, Swiss cheese, mushrooms, and lettuce. Makayla smiled widely as she watched Ashley eat the burger whole.

Makayla: “Good.”

She petted Ashley’s head, picking up a spoon and feeding pancakes into their mouth.

Makayla: “Good piggie!”

She cooed, stroking their tummy.

Ashley: “Piggie? No, I'm a kitty–”

They pouted in a daze. Makayla frowned and shoved a Ragnarok Burger into their mouth to silence them.

Makayla: “Now you're getting punished!”

She smirked, pulling out a feather and tickling their tummy with it.

Ashley: “Mmmndfffh AhHHHAHAHAHMEMMMFFFFHAHAHA!”

They muffled behind the hamburger, gagging their mouth, writhing and squirming. Makayla bit her lip at Ashley.

The group of drunks in the back stared at them and laughed. The servers behind the counter had no reaction, as if this wasn't unusual or unexpected.

Suddenly, the doors burst open as Blake marched in, with Madelyn following behind him.

Blake: “Ashley?!”

He hollered out for them and narrowed his eyes when he saw Makayla tickling Ashley and shoving hamburgers into their mouth.

Blake: “What the hell are you doing to them?!”

He barked at her, storming up to them.

Makayla: “Don’t yell at me! You're ruining our fun!”

She cried. Ashley was caught up in a daze, sipping on the Valhalnilla shake with no reaction. Blake knit his eyebrows.

Blake: “Ashley? What's wrong with them? What did you do to them?”

He snapped at her. Madelyn glared at Makayla and stepped forward.

Madelyn: “I know exactly what you're trying to do!”

She scolded her.

Makayla: “Jealous?”

She draped her arm around Ashley.

Madelyn: “There’s nothing to be jealous of!”

She laughed at her.

Blake: “Let's go home, Ashley.”

He interjected.

Makayla: “He doesn't want to go home with you; he wants to be with me!”

She cried, strumming her bass guitar. Ashley nodded in a daze.

Blake: “He?!”

He gaped at her.

Makayla: “Yes, Ashley is bound to me, so shall it–”

She sang in rhythm with her strumming when, suddenly, Madelyn shoved a hamburger into Makayla’s mouth, gagging and cutting her off.

Madelyn: “NO, BAD Hamburger Viqueen!”

She interjected, summoning her staff and waving it in the air, forming a scented breeze around them, transforming the bass guitar sounds into kazoo noises. Ashley caught the waft of a sharp, invigorating aroma, snapping them out of their daze.

Ashley's eyes widened when they saw Blake and Madelyn.

Ashley: “Hey guys, what are you doing here? Want some breakfast?”

They chirped, gesturing to the table of half-eaten food.

Madelyn: “Okay!”

She laughed and sat down at the booth, digging into the Odin Rings.

Blake: “No, we're going home NOW, Ashley!”

He said firmly, folding his arms across his chest.

Ashley: “Aww, but this place is so cool!”

They sighed.

Blake: “No, it's not! A ship should be in water, not on land! And why is there a man with a hamburger on his head?!”

He groused, looking around the diner. Madelyn laughed at his statement.

Ashley: “Because, he's the Burger Berserker!”

Madelyn: “Legend has it that he was cursed to have a hamburger for a head to spread his tasty flavour across all the land!”

She chimed in, munching on a Ragnarok burger. Blake gaped at her.

Blake: “That's so stupid!”

He groaned.

Madelyn: “That’s what the ad says!”

Makayla furiously devoured the hamburger in her mouth and seethed.

Makayla: "DON’T TALK SHIT ABOUT VOYAGE BURGER!”

She snapped at Blake. Blake was taken aback by her explosive reaction.

Blake: “Why not?”

He folded his arms.

Madelyn: “Uh-oh, duck for cover, you just triggered her Hamburgery rage!”

She laughed. Makayla glared at Madelyn.

Makayla: “YOU! You ruin everything! I will get you for this!”

She bawled, pointing at Madelyn.

Makayla: “Don't trust her, Ashley!”

She cried to Ashley and stormed out. Ashley knit their eyebrows and sighed as their head spun with confusion and conflict.

They turned to see the remaining patrons and servers staring at them.

Ashley: “Buongiorno!”

They chirped and waved at them. Blake grabbed Ashley's arm, putting their hand down.

Blake: “Let's go!”

He hurried them out of the diner.

Madelyn: “Hey! Wait up!”

She laughed, grabbing the food off the table and rushing out after them.

~

Ashley, Blake and Madelyn returned to the mansion with boxes of Voyage Burger. Ashley went to open the gate to enter, when an invisible force shoved them back.

Ashley: “Argh!”

They stumbled back onto the nature strip. Blake knit his eyebrows.

Blake: “Ashley?!”

He gasped and went to open the gate, but he was also shoved back by an invisible force.

Blake: “What the hell?!”

Madelyn gazed up at the sitting room window, where she saw Nari staring down at them.

Madelyn: “NARI!”

She shoved open the gate with ease, marching through the garden path, up the stairs and into the house.

She barged into the sitting room where Nari sat in a black leather chair, leafing through a book.

Madelyn: “Why did you cast a block shield on them?!”

She protested.

Nari: “I had to before the sun came up!”

She declared, flicking her gaze up at the sun through the window.

Madelyn: “Why are you scared of Sole-Wielders?”

She pressed her.

Nari: “I am NOT scared!”

She huffed, putting her book down.

Madelyn: “Hahaha, yes, you are!”

She laughed and shook her head.

Nari: “No, I am just not a fool, like you are!”

She huffed and rose, leaving the room. Madelyn poked her tongue out at her and marched back outside.

~

Madelyn came back outside and approached Blake and Ashley by the gate.

Madelyn: “Sorry about Nari’s block-shield! She’s being a stick in the mud!”

She pouted, stomping the ground.

Ashley: “Block-shield?”

They tilted their head.

Blake: “Enough of these games, let us back in!”

He heaved an exasperated sigh.

Madelyn: “No can do, sorry! Only a Hivernal-Wielder can work with block-shield spells!”

She clicked her tongue.

Ashley: “...Why did she do that? I thought we were friends?!”

They knit their eyebrows.

Andreas: “Because the sun is out now.”

He interjected from over the fence, wearing round sunglasses and a black wide-brimmed hat. They all turned to him. Blake reddened when he saw him.

Blake: “Oh, hey there… how are you feeling now?”

Andreas: “I’m fine now, thank you!”

He smiled a bit. Andreas flicked his gaze to the boxes of Voyage Burger.

Andreas: “So, you went to Voyage Burger, huh?”

He flicked his gaze to the boxes of Voyage Burger.

Madelyn: “Yeah, the Hamburger Viqueen was so kind to get us breakfast.”

She laughed and ate a burger.

Andreas: “I might have guessed.”

He sighed. Andreas flicked his gaze to Ashley and Blake.

Andreas: “It’s probably not a good idea to wander around dressed in those robes… especially in broad daylight.”

He lowered his sunglasses at them.

Ashley: “Oh, no! Why? Will they catch on fire?!”

They gasped.

Andreas: “...No? But I doubt that would be a problem for Sole-Wielders.”

He replied. Blake froze.

Ashley: “H-How did you know?!”

They gasped. Blake drew a long breath.

Blake: “Look, we’re not Sole-Wielders-”

He countered. Andreas held his hand up.

Andreas: “You can’t lie to a Psychic-Hivernal. If you’re trying to be discreet and start a new life, you’re not doing a good job of it.”

He said firmly, but gently. Blake bowed his head.

Blake: “What do you propose we do then?!”

He folded his arms across his chest.

Madelyn: “OOH! I know! You totally need a makeover!”

She beamed, raising her hand above her head to summon her staff.

Madelyn waved her staff over the sunflowers, transforming them into orange sunflower-patterned coats with matching pants.

Ashley: “OH MY STARS! It’s perfect! I love it! Thank you!”

They beamed and clasped their hands together, pulling Madelyn into a hug. Madelyn redenned and beamed.

Madelyn: “You’re very welcome!”

Blake twisted his mouth at the garment.

Blake: “Do you have something more… masculine… and less sunny? Something dark?”

He asked.

Madelyn: “OH! You mean like his clothes?”

She teased and pointed at Andreas. Blake redenned.

Blake: “...Something like that…”

He ran his fingers through his hair.

Madelyn: “If you can find me some black flowers, sure can do!”

She laughed.

Andreas: “Or, I could find some clothes for him from my wardrobe.”

He teased. Blake flushed red.

Blake: “Thank you.”

He rubbed the back of his neck.