06: The Osennikovas

Branches Of Sunshire

Chapter 6

The Osennikovas

The tall woman with flowing crimson hair led Ashley back to the gates of the mansion.

Woman: “Now, Ashley, I need you to do me a favour…”

She cooed, stroking their cheeks.

Ashley: “S-Sure, Juniper!”

They chirped.

Woman: “Would you be so kind as to let me in?”

She gestured to the gate.

Ashley: “Huh? Why do you need me to let you in?”

They tilted their head, gazing up at her.

Woman: “I… forgot my key! Silly me!”

She stroked her chin.

Ashley: “I’m sorry, I can’t…”

They sighed and bowed their head.

Woman: “...Why not?!”

She gaped at them.

Ashley: “Nari block-shielded me…”

They sighed sadly.

Woman: “So?! Aren’t you a Sole-Wielder?”

She pouted.

Ashley: “Yes… That’s the problem.”

They bowed their head. She gasped dramatically, cupping her mouth.

Woman: “That’s not a problem! That’s a wonderful thing!”

She clasped her hands together.

Ashley: “It is?”

They titled their head.

Woman: “Yes, Ashley, you have the power to melt away the ice from her block spell! You can unblock us and let us all back into our home! All you need to pry her spell bag out of her cold hands and wave that pretty little staff of yours!”

She waved her hands around. Ashley’s eyebrows rose.

Ashley: “...She block-shielded you, too?!”

They gasped. The woman paused.

Woman: “...Yes, Ashley. She’s so mean!”

She huffed.

Ashley: “...I thought you said you forgot your key?”

They scratched their head. She twisted her mouth and narrowed her gaze at them.

Woman: “Stop asking stupid questions! Are you going to help me or not?!”

She folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot.

Ashley: “Are you okay, Juniper? You seem… different.”

They gazed up at her, noting her dramatic change in demeanour and the darker tinge of her hair.

Woman: “I’m fine, Ashley! I just need you to work your Majique for me!”

She cooed at Ashley, stroking her long ref fingernails across their chest.

Ashley: “Hehehehe hehe!”

They giggled and shivered.

Woman: “Ticklish, huh?”

She smirked.

Ashley: “Heheh, yes! VERY!”

They laughed. The woman smirked and bit her lip.

Woman: “Well, it looks like I’ll just have to tickle you into it then!”

She sang wickedly into their ear as she fluttered her nails along their tummy. Ashley gasped and dropped to the ground.

Ashley: “HAHAHAHAHHA HEEHEHEHEH AHAH OHOHOHO NOOOHOHOHOHOHEHEHE!”

They rasped with laughter as she tickled their sides with her fingernails.

~

Meanwhile, Blake anxiously paced around as the sun started to set.

Blake: “Branch…”

He muttered to himself. Andreas quirked an eyebrow at him.

Andreas: “Branch?”

Blake paused and looked away.

Blake: “Never mind.”

He sighed. Andreas leaned up against the tree, shuffling his cards, focusing his cool blue gaze on him, when a card slipped between his hands, landing between his feet on the ground. Andreas picked up the card, revealing the moon.

Madelyn: “...Ooh, what's that sound?”

She placed her hand to her ear as she listened in.

Blake: “What sound? I don't hear anything?”

He gaped at her.

Madelyn: “Hehe, sounds like someone's having fun!”

She snickered as the sound grew louder.

Madelyn: “Wait… is that Ashley?”

Blake's eyes widened when he heard their strained laughter in the distance.

Blake: “Ashley?!”

He gasped and stormed off through the trees in the direction of the sound.

Madelyn: “Oh, that evil Hamburgeress!”

She snapped her fingers and huffed. Andreas: “I'm not so sure about that…”

He pondered in the direction of the laughter.

Madelyn: “What makes you sure?”

She looked up at him.

Andreas: “I don't know… something doesn't feel right and it doesn't seem like Makayla.”

He looked pensively towards the trees.

Nari: “Where the hell did Juniper go?!”

She looked around for her. Madelyn froze when someone dawned on her.

Madelyn: “Oh no…”

She cupped her mouth.

~

Ashley: “HAHAHAHAHAHHHEHEEHEHEHEEHOHOHOOOOHEHEEEEEEE! OKAY! OKAY! I'LL DO IT!”

They rasped with shortened breaths, on the verge or passing out. The woman smirked at them.

Woman: “Good kitty.”

She cooed at Ashley, stroking their head.

Ashley: “I'll ask Nari nicely if she can give you another key!”

They smiled, catching their breath. The woman gaped at them.

Woman: “...W-What?! No, Ashley! You need to destroy her block spell on the manor!”

She protested, stamping her heel.

Ashley: “Uhh, but that block spell is there to protect the manor from negative energy!”

They knit their eyebrows. The woman clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes.

Woman: “You can’t just put up walls and hide behind them like a coward! You have to face and fight your problems!”

The woman raised her hand as dry leaves began to flutter across the ground around her, and she summoned a long, black staff with a crimson jewel at the centre of it, emitting a red glow.

Ashley: “W-woah….”

Woman: “And that is exactly what I do! If you’re not going to help me in this way… you can help me in other ways!”

She cooed at them, holding her staff up to them, casting a red glow over them. Ashley felt a pulsing vibration throughout their being and their vision began to distort as the sky faded to night. They felt as if their feet were being pulled into the soil beneath them, holding them into place like tree roots. The drum of their heart beat throbbed in their head as their light energy started to dim and drain, making the red glow of her staff glow brighter and smile grow wider.

Ashley: “W-what are you doing to me?”

They stammered, limping over with sudden exhaustion.

Suddenly, a large foot barged in, knocking her staff out of her hand, breaking her spell. Ashley collapsed to the ground and panted, catching their breath. The hallucinations had faded away, but now they were seeing double, as Juniper appeared beside her.

Juniper: “I KNEW something was afoot! What are you doing, Jacqueline?!”

She exclaimed. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Woman: “HEY!”

She snapped at her. Ashley blinked as they observed the two women beside each other.

Ashley: “J-Juniper?! You have a clone?!”

They gasped.

Woman: “CLONE?! How dare you!”

She seethed through clenched teeth.

Juniper: “Haha, oh, no, that’s my twin sister, Jacqueline!”

She waved her hand, turning to Jacqueline. The woman rolled her eyes.

Jacqueline: “I am NOT your twin. You are nothing but an imposter and a poor imitation of me!”

She huffed.

Juniper: “No need for mean lies!”

She forced a smile.

Juniper: “Are you ok, Ashley? Did she hurt you?”

She knelt to them, tending to them.

Ashley: “No… but… I feel really tired and like something is missing.”

They looked down at their hands and held their hand out to summon their staff, but only a dim light surrounded their fingertips.

Ashley: “...M-my staff. I can’t summon it!”

They gasped, feeling their heart sink.

Juniper: “You drained their energy?”

She frowned at Jacqueline.

Jacqueline: “Sure did. I’ve never devoured Sole-Wielder energy before. You should be honoured.”

She smirked at Ashley, licking her lips.

Ashley: “W-What?! Why did you do that?!”

They cried. Juniper sighed.

Jacqueline: “Because I needed your help and you weren’t helping me!”

She pouted, folding her arms across her chest. Ashley knit their eyebrows, feeling guilty.

Blake: “ASHLEY!”

He emerged from the woods, rushing up to them.

Blake: “What happened? Are you ok? Who the fuck is she?!”

He shook their shoulders, noticing something was off.

Jacqueline: “Oh, Juniper didn’t tell you about me? How rude!”

She shook her head at Juniper.

Jacqueline: “I am Jacqueline Osennikova, the crimson queen of your dreams!”

She declared smugly, placing her hand to her chest.

Blake: “...Not my dreams.”

He huffed.

Jacqueline: “Don’t flatter yourself, that’s not what it means.”

She scoffed at him.

Jacqueline: “Nice of you all to show up to celebrate my birthday!”

She flicked her gaze to Nari, Madelyn, and Andreas as they emerged from the woods. Andreas recoiled to her energy. That can’t be good, he thought.

Nari: “YOU! Get the hell out of here!”

She hissed at Jacqueline, waving her hand at her in a claw motion as if she were warding away flies.

Jacqueline: “Oh, Nari, you were always so overdramatic! It’s hilarious!”

She laughed at her.

Jacqueline: “I am so flattered to have a party clown at my birthday.”

She smirked at Nari, making her fury soar.

Nari: “I am NOT a clown!”

She snapped. Jacqueline laughed with joy and amusement to her reaction.

Jacqueline: “Two party clowns.”

She smiled at Madelyn.

Madelyn: “Nah, I’ll perform party tricks for Juniper, but not you!”

She poked her tongue out at her. Jacqueline twisted her mouth.

Blake: “What did you do to Ashley?”

He glared at her as Ashley started to doze off.

Jacqueline: “She will be fine! I just needed her energy!”

She waved her hand dismissively.

Blake: “WHAT?! You drained their energy?!”

He rasped. Madelyn knit her eyebrows and glared at Jacqueline. Nari’s eyebrows rose and she looked down at Ashley, looking weak and helpless. They no longer looked like a threat to her, unlike Jacqueline with her menacing aura. She worried about what she could do with Sole-Wielder energy.

Madelyn: “That’s it! It's time to take out the trash!”

She clicked her tongue, summoning her staff.

Madelyn: “How many times do we have to do this song and dance, Jacqueline?!”

She spread her arms out.

Jacqueline: “I won’t stop singing and dancing with you until you give me what’s mine!”

She taunted her, summoning her staff. Nari rolled her eyes at her.

Juniper: “It’s not yours, Jacqueline. Mama and Papa bound it to me!”

She held her hand up firmly. Jacqueline glared at her.

Jacqueline: “It’s not fair! It should be MY MANSION!”

She rasped, stamping her staff onto the pavement, and the glow brightened.

Blake: “Well, it’s not, it’s our mansion, so.”

He interjected, gesturing to himself and Ashley.

Ashley: “And Juniper’s and Madelyn’s and Nari’s, too!”

They added. Blake rolled his eyes. Jacqueline turned on her heel to face him.

Jacqueline: “You can’t be serious?!”

She scrutinized Blake.

Jacqueline: “You let some vagrants in, but not your own sister?!”

Her right eye twitched at Juniper.

Blake: “Vagrants?! Our father owned that mansion long before you were born!”

He countered. Jacqueline gave him a scrutinising look.

Jacqueline: “Really now? Your father was that missing guy, huh? I guess he’s dead now, so null and void.”

She shrugged with a smug look on her face. Ashley swallowed hard.

Ashley: “D-dead? He’s not dead!”

They cried. Blake shook with rage.

Blake: “Mind your own business and fuck off!”

He snapped at her.

Jacqueline: “Oh? Did I touch a nerve?”

She purred. Andreas scrutinised her closely, noting how happy and full of energy she became when they responded to her.

Andreas: “Don’t give her an emotional reaction!”

He nudged his arm and whispered in his ear. Blake froze to his touch and turned to gape at him.

Blake: “What?!”

Jacqueline smirked at Blake, noting his reaction to Andreas’ touch.

Jacqueline: “I already have enough energy now anyway!”

She waved her hand.

Jacqueline: “So, breaking that little spell of yours shouldn’t be too hard now.”

She smirked at Nari. Nari furrowed her eyebrows at her.

Nari: “I’m not letting you in!”

She hissed at her.

Jacqueline: “That’s your problem, Nari, you never let anyone in. That’s too bad.”

She scoffed and ran her finger down her staff.

Jacqueline: “I don’t need you to let me in though. I can do it myself.”

She waved her staff and firmly held it between her hands.

Jacqueline: “Break these bonds and clear my path. As I will it, so it shall be.”

She chanted as her staff glowed red, sweeping up the dead leaves around them all, forming a clear path for her towards the gates of the mansion. They all fell to the ground as if they were being pulled down by an invisible force, and a wave of paralysis coursed through them, unable to speak or move. Jacqueline’s eyes widened, taken by surprise.

Jacqueline: “Well now, your energy was not as weak as I expected. Thank you for your help, Ashley.”

She smiled at Ashley and chuckled at the boost of power surging through her. Ashley knit their eyebrows. Juniper had a pained look on her face as she looked at her sister.

Jacqueline sauntered towards Nari who glared at her with hatred. She knelt to her, pulling a black pouch out of her pocket. She untied the black string and clicked her tongue at the dozens of photographs of people frozen in blocks of ice.

Jacqueline: “Wow, is the whole town here?! Pathetic.”

She laughed sardonically at Nari.

Jacqueline: “I don’t have time to sift through all that and I don't care!”

She scoffed, spilling all of the photographs out of the pouch and onto the ground, causing the ice to shatter and release the bonds. Jacqueline glowered at the photo taken of herself candidly eating a hamburger at Voyage Burger.

Jacqueline: “You couldn’t have taken a better photo of me?!”

She stomped on the photo with her heel as she marched towards the gates of the mansion.

Jacqueline: “Finally, at last, I’m home!”

She sighed happily, placing her hand on the iron bars of the gate. Suddenly, she gasped with a rasp of laughter, striking her like an electric pulse.

Jacqueline: “W-WHAHAHAHT IS THIS?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA?!”

She shrieked, glaring furiously in the direction of the hands around her waist, and saw Ashley tickling her.

Jacqueline: “YOU?! WHAAHAHAHAT ARE YOU DOING?! HOOWOHHOOHOW? HEHEHEHEHAHAAHHA?! STOHOHOHOHOHOP!”

She wailed between short breaths of laughter.

Blake: “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, ASHLEY?! GET AWAY FROM THAT CRAZY BITCH!”

He exclaimed, rising to his feet. Andreas grabbed his arm halting him. Blake paused and turned to him.

Andreas: “NO! Keep tickling her, Ashley!”

He hollered at them. Blake gaped at him.

Blake: “WHAT?! Are you crazy?!”

Jacqueline’s laughter could be heard in the distance.

Andreas: “Look! We’re able to move now that she can’t!”

He waved his hands in face. Blake paused when it dawned on him. He dove to her photo on the ground and picked up the pouch.

Nari: “What are you going to do? Cast a block-shield spell on her? You can’t. You’re not a Hivernal-Wielder!”

She folded her arms across her chest.

Blake: “No, but you are. Do it!”

He handed her the photo of Jacqueline and the pouch. Nari looked up at him and nodded.

Nari: “As I will it, so shall it be!”

She held up her staff and laid the photo on the ground. Madelyn laughed at the photo of Jacqueline.

Madelyn: “I’ll help Ashley hold her over!”

She exclaimed, rushing over to Ashley, diving onto the ground and slipping of Jacqueline’s heel, tickling her foot, sending her collapsing to the ground.

Jacqueline: “HAHAHAHHAHHEHEHWH HAHAHHAHAHAHA NOOHOHOHOHOHOHOH NOOHOH MOORORORE! STTTOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOP!”

She wailed and pleaded, glaring at Madelyn and Ashley in a fury. Through her hot tears, she saw the others moving and surrounding Nari as she chanted a spell.

Jacqueline: “NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHHO! W-WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?! G-EHEHEHET OFF ME!”

She rasped and writhed around.

Ashley: “O-oh no!”

They cried as they grew weary and she was getting harder to hold down.

Madelyn: “Come on, Nari!”

She pleaded as she tickled Jacqueline’s toes.

Nari waved her staff over Jacqueline’s photo as she chanted her spell, causing a cluster of ice to form around her photo. She then threw it into the pouch, sealing it back up again with the black string. Jacqueline’s rasp interjected as she shoved Ashley and Madelyn away, panting with shortened breaths of fury, glaring towards Nari.

Jacqueline: “YOU!”

She panted and fumed, staggering to her feet, towards them.

Suddenly, the pouch was swiped out of Nari’s hands as Blake grabbed it from her, running towards the mansion.

Nari: “HEY!”

She snapped at him. Blake threw the pouch over the fence, landing in the garden fountain.

Jacqueline: “NOOOOOOO!”

She screamed as she chased after it, being zapped and thrown back by the iron gates. Madelyn laughed at her as she tumbled over, breaking her heel on the pavement.

Jacqueline: “ARGH! YOU STUPID PEASANT!”

She spat hatefully at Blake.

Blake: “Get out of here and stay away from Ashley!”

He stood over her, clenching his fists. Jacqueline stared at him for a moment and then smirked.

Jacqueline: “This isn’t over. I won’t stop until I get what I want, and I always get what I want.”

She rose to her feet, dusting herself off.

Jacqueline: “Pleasure to meet you, Ashley! Until next time!”

She winked at them, blowing them a kiss, before turning on her heel and walking down the street, disappearing into the night. Juniper drew a long breath, watching her go.

Blake turned to Ashley.

Blake: “Ashley? Are you okay?”

He knit his eyebrows as they slumped over, drifting off to sleep, now depleted of energy.

Juniper: “I'm sorry about my sister.”

She knit her eyebrows.

Madelyn: “It's not your fault she sucks!”

She groused.

Juniper: “She's headed down a dark path. Her dark Majique is consuming her more and more.”

She bowed her head.

Ashley: “Oh, no, that's really sad!”

They knit their eyebrows.

Juniper: “I know there's still some light in her somewhere.”

She pursed her lips, looking hopeful.

Blake: “What, the light energy she stole from Ashley?”

He folded his arms across his chest.

Juniper: “I'm sorry about that. Your energy isn't gone forever. It will recharge with rest and rejuvenation.”

She turned to Ashley. Ashley smiled relievingly.

Juniper: “I hope she sees the light someday...”

She clasped her hands together, with a hopeful sigh.

Nari: “There is no light within her, Juniper! She’s always been rotten to the core! Why do you hold onto hope for her after everything she did to you?!”

She threw her arms up as her voice rose.

Suddenly, Craig's booming voice cut in.

Craig: “ANDREAS?! Where the fuck have you been?!”

They turned to see Craig peeping his head over the fence, barking like a dog. Andreas jolted, startled by his intrusion. Nari twisted her mouth and rolled her eyes with an exasperated groan.

Nari: “Ugh, that harlot broke ALL my block-shield spells!”

She huffed as she knelt down to gather the photos off the ground.

Craig: “YOU!!”

He seethed and bared his teeth at Blake.

Craig: “You kidnapped my man and stole him from me!”

He bellowed at him. Blake gaped at him.

Blake: “...Are you serious?”

He asked sharply.

Craig: “Fuckin’ oath, I'm serious! Let's sort this out like MEN!”

He stepped out from behind the fence, raising his fists. Ashley knit their eyebrows, looking worried for their brother.

Blake: “What are you doing? I'm not going to dance with you.”

He looked bemused and bewildered.

Craig: “Dance?! Do I look like a sissy?! Fuck off, we're gonna FIGHT!”

He rasped, clenching his fists. Andreas glared at Craig, stepping forward.

Andreas: “Knock it off, Craig!”

He snapped with exasperation. Craig dropped his fists and knit his eyebrows.

Nari emerged from the gate with her pouch, holding the pile of photos. She pulled out a photo of Craig, lounging in the backyard in his underwear and a photo of Makayla stuffing a hamburger in her mouth at Voyage Burger, sitting next to a fat man with his face obscured out of frame.

Nari: “Time to ward off the vermin!”

She groused, pulling out her staff.

Nari: “Clear this space from this disgrace! Keep them away with a barrier around this place! Send them away with a jolt to astray! As I will, so shall it be!”

She chanted, waving her staff over the photos, casting an ice shield around them. Suddenly Craig was thrown away from the property, back onto his side of the fence, landing with a hard thud onto his overgrown lawn.

Craig: “ARGH! WHAT THE FUCK?!”

He rasped as his head spun with confusion. His eyes pinned to Blake for an explanation.

Craig: “HE PUSHED ME!”

He whined at Blake. Andreas shook his head at Craig.

Andreas: “No, he didn’t. Nari warded you off from here again. Even if he did, you were asking for it. You push and push people, but when they push you back, you can’t take it!”

The words flowed out of his mouth before he realised what he said.

Craig: “W-what are you saying, Andreas?!”

He warbled.

Andreas: “How do you not understand what I just said, Craig? A kindergartner would get it!”

He threw his arms up in frustration. Craig’s bottom lip trembled.

Craig: “W-Why are you being mean?!”

He whimpered. Nari laughed with amusement over their quarrel. Andreas drew a breath.

Andreas: “I’m fed up, Craig!”

He sighed with exhaustion and hurt in his tone, looking away from him. He turned in the direction of Blake and Nari.

Andreas: “Sorry you had to see this. Craig and I need to go talk in private...”

He embraced himself and shifted his eyes in Craig’s direction.

Andreas: “Have a good night.”

He nodded to Blake before turning on his heel and walking back to his house with Craig. Craig peered over his shoulder and smirked at Craig.

Craig: “I win! You lose!”

He mouthed to him. Blake rolled his eyes.

Blake: “What does he see in that asshole?!”

He huffed bitterly.

Nari: “Hell if I know. Life is full of strange mysteries! But it seems he is seeing the light…”

She watched the silhouettes of Andreas and Craig next door as Andreas argued with Craig and Craig slumped down.

Nari held up a photo of Ashley and Blake. Both were dressed in their robes, standing side by side.

Blake: “What, are you going to block-shield us again?”

He huffed. Nari wordlessly shook her head and tore up the photo. Blake's eyebrows rose surprisingly. Ashley gasped.

Ashley: “Yay! I’m glad we’re friends now!”

Nari frowned and held her hand up.

Nari: “We are NOT friends! I still don’t like you! But I hate Jacqueline more than I hate you and if you can keep her away from here, we have some use for you, after all!”

She folded her arms across her chest.

Madelyn: “Don’t forget electricity and delicious cakes, too, Nari!”

She chimed in.

Nari: “You could have sabotaged us… but you didn't.”

She softened.

Nari: “Don’t make me regret this or I will make you regret it!”

She narrowed her eyes on them. Ashley swallowed hard and nodded. Madelyn smiled.

Madelyn: “I told you not all Sole-Wielders are bad!”

She stated. Nari didn’t reply, she just went back inside the gate.

Madelyn knelt to Ashley.

Madelyn: “How you doin’?”

She asked.

Ashley: “I’m feline fine… but tired, haha.”

They laughed a bit.

Madelyn: “How did you overpower her spell?!”

She enquired.

Ashley: “Oh, I used Tickle-Wando!”

They laughed.

Madelyn: “Haha, I mean, how did you break free from her poison paralysis?”

She asked. Ashley paused.

Ashley: “Huh… I don't know? It was like I felt super happy and drowsy and hungry and then I got a spark of light energy?”

They pondered, groggily. Blake gave them a look. Are they describing what I think it is?! He froze.

Madelyn: “You need sleep! Come on, I’ll help you to your bed!”

She smiled at Ashley, leading them towards the gate.

Ashley: “T-thank you!”

They smiled at her. Blake interjected between them.

Blake: “I got this. I will look after Ashley!”

He insisted.

Madelyn: “Wow, you’re such a Helicopter!”

She gaped and laughed at him.

Blake: “Helicopter? What is that?!”

He blinked mutely.

Madelyn: “Oh man… You have a lot to learn!”

She laughed and shook her head. Blake frowned. Blake: "No, I don't!"

~

Nari lay in her bed that night, startled by a knock at the door. She rose to her feet, and her eyebrows rose in surprise to see Blake standing there.

Blake: “I need you to do something for me that will also benefit you, too.”

He began.

Nari: “What do you want?”

She folded her arms across her chest.

Blake: “So, I know you can cast a block-shield spell on a place to keep a person away from that place, but what about on a person? Is it possible to cast a block-spell on someone’s body to keep someone from locating them, no matter where they are?”

He asked. Nari paused and slowly nodded.

Nari: “Yes… as a matter of fact, I have.”

She pursed her lips. Blake sighed with relief.

Blake: “I need you to cast that spell against someone on Ashley and me… but you mustn’t tell Ashley.”

His voice lowered into a whisper. Nari gave him an incredulous look.

Nari: “You’re trusting ME with a secret against your own sibling?”

She gaped at him with a laugh. Blake drew a long breath.

Blake: “I wouldn’t if it wasn’t important, and I think it would be important to you to keep them away, too.”

He said firmly. Nari’s eyebrows rose.

Blake: “I need you to cast a block-shield spell on us from a Sole-Wielder named Ravi.”

He declared.