• [align=center]II
    An hundred years later, Lily Petal wandered through the woods without a thought on her mind. Bone Staff often follow her, hidden the dense forest growth to avoid detection. Dagger attempted to do the same but the two were quick on distance though they walked at a leisurely pace. Lavender Blood and Talon Key kept the two identical sisters inside for two to six hours then allowed them to explore after they proved their powers satisfactory to the two Human Masqueraders’ milestones. Despite being allow this slight freedom, they never went far and sat out in the open looking up at the sky. Talon Key took it upon himself to get them interest in exploring deeper into the forest but the two weren’t motivated. Their loyal subjects they ruled over had questioned them about the sisters and why they don’t visit any colony or village within walking distance. Talon Key could only say the two were stubborn to gain interest in anything.
    Up from the villages, several young boys with the same abilities as theirs tried to win them over with praise but it fell on deaf ears. Some even took saying the identical sisters thought themselves too good for anybody to get close to them. Yet, on occasion, Lily Petal and them could be seen talking and making wreaths with smiles on their faces.
    Dust Luna and her sister’s daughters didn’t bother to try to join them knowing that the three would stop and leave. Lavender Blood was told about the wreaths and at night, she would go quietly through the twins’ treasure chest. There, on the side next to the jewelry they made, the crystallized wreaths sat neatly stacked on top of each other. The workmanship amazed her as she studied the intricate woven threads and vines forming a patterns among gleaming flowers. Talon Key quit taking his strolls as he check in on his mate, studying the wreaths. Kneeling beside her, he said “you should stop this, love. They’re bound to wake up in the middle of the night if you make one wrong move.” She look at him in disbelief then nod her head and close the treasure chest quietly. Together, they left the bare backroom to their own decorated section.
    Pulling the thick purple velvet curtain over the backroom’s entrance, Talon Key knew from the look on his mate’s face that there was something bothering her. “All these years and we haven’t even got pass the surface of those two sisters. Lily Petal brings that out but that’s because she is like them, which leaves us in the dust of things. What do we have to do to gain their trust?” Talon Key put an arm around her shoulders then replies “we just might have to split the three apart and work on getting use to us like they do with her.” Lavender Blood looks in her mate’s eyes then smile as an idea took shape in her mind. “We can have a masquerade ball; invite our subjects and they’ll be surrounded by other faces then Lily Petal’s.” Talon Key liked the idea immediately that he sent messengers out after discussing it with his mate.
    Within a short amount of time, the whole redecorated citadel castle was busy with list of tasks to be done. Lily Petal was ushered to her room decorated by her own hand though sparse from a full prophetess look. Dagger told her to get dress in full attire and gave her a mask that Talon Key made specifically for her. She frowns at the serene angel face looking up at her despite its realistic appearance.
    After Dagger left, Lily Petal threw in on the bed and sat down regarding the room. A masquerade ball, how quaint, she thought as the constant sounds of hurrying feet occupied the hallways. Ironical, Lily Petal missed Bone Staff’s presence as Talon Key kept him busy. Dust Luna watched him from afar as she had done in the past, a dwindling shadow of her former self. She had gone reserved and wondered if he would ever forgive her despite what the unforgivable past between them. Strangely, Dust Luna went in search of Lily Petal in hope that she would have some possible answer. Bone Staff saw her then look away when her eyes to look in his.
    This had gone on for years, a long time to hold a grudge against somebody.
    There came a light knocking on her door as Lily Petal stolidly put on the last of her full attire as a prophetess. At first, it felt heavy as if to crash her under then lighten as she got her body accustomed to the long forgotten attire. She hadn’t worn them in years after the death of her lover many centuries back. “Prophetess Lily Petal, can I ask you something?” Dust Luna’s voice asks outside the chamber door.
    Opening the door after a few minutes, Dust Luna was taken aback at the prophetess’s sudden change in appearance. She had always seen the prophetess dressed in low ranking clothing dulling the true nature of her being.
    “What is your question, Dust Luna?” Lily Petal asks, sighing.
    Dust Luna couldn’t help herself as the words come flooding out of her mouth from the pent-up emotions. She listen, motionless and blank as Dust Luna collapse still sobbing to the floor. Her hands wrapped around her head, face hidden, and curled up like a frighten child. “I do not know why he acts the way he does but he had a passionate heart scarred by the past. This much you told me and the rest eludes me as to why he does this to you. However, I can tell you this much; there are those who only give their hearts once and others who keep their heart to themselves.” Lily Petal takes up the angelic mask then walks out leaving Dust Luna to her tormenting thoughts.
    At the masquerade, Lily Petal kept to the fringe of crowds but unsuccessfully evade Talon Key and Lavender Blood. The sisters were broken apart by numerous colony leaders wanting to get to know them. They, unlike Lily Petal was successful as they managed to escape a few keen eyes. Talon Key caught a young scholar looking at Lily Petal and move to follow after her. Lavender Blood smiles then said “it looks like Lily Petal has scholarly admirer. Let him follow her and you, my love, follow after them and I’ll hold the fort here.”
    It was no wonder he fallen in love with his mate, she was strong independent type with battle experience. Heading off after the two, Talon Key caught sight of the twins avoiding some colony leaders. He block their escape route and they got caught by four of them. Flower and her sister struggle in the firm hold of two of them as they were taken back to a tight ring of colony leaders. When they were out of sight, Talon Key spied Lily Petal on the moonlight balcony looking up at the moon. The young scholar caught up with her and stood on the other side.
    She regarded him with a faint smile then turn back to the moon. Her mind somewhere else in another time that none of them existed. “I couldn’t help but see you in the crowd, angel. What is your name?” Talon Key inch his way closer to the pair but there was no change in Lily Petal’s behavior.
    “My name is famous, scholar. How is that a young scholar like you doesn’t know the name I go by? Talon Key knows it well enough to have me captured many years ago and besides, you’re too young to be wooing the likes of me.” The young scholar was discouraged quickly and left saying goodbye in a quiet voice. Talon Key made his way over to her but she knew he close by already and turn sideways to look directly at him. “You saw the drawing, Talon Key. He’s was my only true love during and after the time I became what I am now. He didn’t care if I was such many people had come to despised for the unpredictable growth in powers. I lost him in a battle that was uncalled for at the time; a silly feud over land that belong to the dead past.”
    Talon Key smiles then replies “your kind had always been despised as our kind is throughout history. It was not because of how we used it ourselves but how others has used us to gain an advantage in the world. If he was your only and true love then no other could claim your heart.”
    The moment faded after that day that and the two rulers harden their emotions. Flower and Petal was dragged around meeting the other rulers while Lily Petal was stuck with Dagger. She mediated most of the time, focusing on her restless powers that yearn to be exercise than suppress all the time. “You should use your powers more often, Lily Petal. It’s not wise to leave them restless.” Talon Key said, entering her room one day when she was mediating. Dagger had let him in and he knelt down in front of her. “There is no reason I should use them at this time or any time, Talon Key. Besides, I’m getting tire of Dagger’s presence around me.” Dagger walk over to her side then harshly “I’m just as good as my brother, Prophetess Lily Petal.” She opens one eye and looks at him with a harden look in her beautiful eye.
    “At least he didn’t get too close and his presence was masked enough to avoid annoying me.” Talon Key wave a dismissal hand and told Dagger to stand outside while he and Lily Petal talk. When the door was close and locked, Talon Key saw her close her eyes then smile. “It’s too risky leaving you in Bone Staff’s care and besides, he need to spend time with his mate. Now about your powers, you need to use them.”
    Lily Petal opens her eyes then regarded him in silence. “You’re just as stubborn as Petal and Flower when it comes to accepting things as they are now. You mediate to escape and to suppress everything that you should be showing but the worst of it is your outfits. A prophetess such as you should wear your full attire then walking around half-naked or scratching the surface your true nature.” There was a harsh edge to his words but Lily Petal been around long enough and been through the same harshness that it didn’t phase her. “Talk harsh to me and you would not budge the stone of the past. The sisters are distancing themselves and like me, not even a harsh tongue could phase them so easily.”
    Talon Key kneel down beside her and said coldly “that may be true but one way one or another, you will have no choice to use your powers.” She regarded him then stood up. “Oh, how do you propose to do that when there is nothing to persuade me to do otherwise?” He smiles then replies “I can ask around of the colonies for someone to bring your dearly beloved back from the dead.” She gave a dark look then sharply respond with an orb of dark blue. She threw it at him and caught him square in the chest as his back slam into the locked door. Dagger quickly unlocks the door and haul Talon Key out to get hit by another dark blue orb.
    Safely on the other side of the thick door, Talon Key coughs then look at Dagger nursing his shoulder. “I think I got her full attention but not quite the way I had planned it.” Dagger tried to smile but the pain in his shoulder made him grimace instead. “What about the sisters?” Talon Key shook his head then answers “we don’t know much about their own desires for one is already here and they know that she can fend for herself.”
    Bone Staff tolerated his mate as she talked about this and that most mates had already. “Do you want children, Bone Staff? It would be a wonderful thing to have children then watching others have fun with theirs. My sister told me that having and raising children is an experience that goes both ways but I have a wonderful feeling that ours will turn out right with the both of us teaching them.” He remain silent as ever as he thought about Lily Petal and the sisters.
    “Bone Staff, I need to know your thoughts on these matters.” Dust Luna said, losing her patience. He looks at her then replies “personally, I don’t want any of that with you so will you be quiet for once in awhile?” She huff up her cheeks at his statement then replies “fine, I would shut up but you have to think on what I say before I have to remind you all the time.” Bone Staff preoccupied his mind with Lily Petal and how to reverse everything that had happened.
    Flower and Petal tolerated unwanted company well that they fooled everyone around them. The false smiles seemed so real while underneath, the sisters wanted to get away and be themselves. Lavender Blood couldn’t even find the gifts they received from the colonies and when asked, she got no reply from the twins.
    Everything was falling apart after all the carefully prepared preparations.