A-Z Challenge. Day eighteen.

Here it is, day 18.

R is for Rainbow

Glenn Karasik stood in front of the stained glass window of the church that stood atop a hill and overlooked the small town of Falconbourne. Behind the church stretched the cemetery, surrounded by the only trees in and around the town. Below where Glenn stood was the path that led up to the church from the town. It was empty, as usual; everyone believing the Gods had abandoned them.

Glenn cast his deep emerald eyes over the dry and dead grass of the town, the empty farms where farmers still tried to grow crops to feed the town; another dry spell. This one going on eight months now. Glenn couldn’t understand what it was they did to anger the Gods.

“Father?”

He turned, not hearing the door open, and watched as eight-year-old Raine walked into the church, her hands twisting together as if she were nervous. Glenn put on a smile. “Yes dear?”

“Forgive me,” she said before dropping to her knees just before the stained glass, head down and hands in prayer above them.

“What is it that you think you’ve done, child?”

“I caused the dry spell.” Tears choked her voice. “I didn’t mean to. It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way.”

Glenn stepped forward and crouched down in front of her. “You didn’t cause the dry spell.”

“Yes I did,” she argued.

“What makes you think this?”

“I did a spell,” she started, curling her hands into her hair and keeping her head down. “It wasn’t supposed to do this.”

He shook his head, a smile on his lips. “What was it supposed to do?”

“Make rainbows,” she whispered.

He laughed and patted her head. “Rainbows are supposed to be a gift from Alear.”

Raine sniffled.

“I’m sure if you told her just how sorry you are she’ll bring them back.”

Raine took her hands off her head and looked up at him, eyes wide and rimmed with tears. “Really?”

Glenn nodded and gestured over him to the altar.

Raine stood up, a serious look on her young face, and walked to the altar, getting back down on her knees before it, hands in prayer in front of her face.

Glenn stood up, knees creaking as he did, and watched her for a moment with a smile before he looked back out the window. His eyes widened as he watched dark clouds roll across the sky, rain coming down in sheets and heading to their town. He turned back to see Raine still before the altar on her knees, hands in prayer and eyes closed.

He turned back to the window as he heard cheers come from the town and he watched as farmers pulled their wives into a dance, laughter filling the town once again.

“Thank you, father,” Raine said and he looked down to see her standing beside him.

He smiled. “No, dear, thank you and Alear. You are truly blessed.”

Raine looked up with a smile. “I’ll be good from now on, and I’ll remember rainbows are Alear’s gifts to us.”

Glenn nodded and patted her shoulder before turning back to the town. Rain continued to pour and as it did he watched the grass turn green before his eyes and he knew Alear had not given up on them and never would, so long as Raine was here.

“Let’s go play,” Raine said and tugged on his hand.

Glenn laughed and shook his head. “I need to stay here, protect the church.”

“Alear will watch it for us,” Raine said and her eyes glowed a light pink as she said this.

Glenn let her pull him outside and he tilted his head to the sky, letting the rain kiss his face.

“Look, father, look!” Raine tugged on his hand and he looked down at her, following the finger she was pointing across the town to see a rainbow painted against the dark clouds shining brighter than normal. “I told mother I’d behave,” Raine whispered. “But she said I need to keep practicing; I’m still learning.”

Glenn studied her face, watching her eyes glow pink again, before she smiled up at him. “Don’t forget to be a kid every now and then,” he said and she laughed, letting go of his hand.

“I’ll never forget that,” she said before running into the trees around the church, kicking off her shoes behind her and jumping into the mucky soil underneath a tree blooming with pink flowers. Her head tilted back and he swore in that moment he would protect her with his life.

A-Z Challenge. Day seventeen.

This is just a cute piece I came up with. Q is a difficult letter. Hope you enjoy day seventeen :)

Q is for Quidditch.

Her blue eyes were wide as she watched the chasers fly above her. She grasped the railing between her tiny hands, gasping when the quaffle swished past her nose that was pressed against the chainlink fence.

The players flew through the stadium, chasers throwing the quaffle and ducking from the bludgers that the beaters were aiming at them.

She gasped excited as the seeker on the blue team dove for the snitch. A smile started to spread across her lips. She clapped as he grabbed the snitch.

"Kaylee, come on," her mother said, pulling on her shoulder.

She blinked and stepped back, watching the teams walk off the field, brooms clutched in their hands. The stadium faded from her imagination to reveal a soccer field, quidditch goals set up on either end by the soccer nets. The blue seeker waved at her with a wink. She smiled before turning to her mother.

"Did you enjoy the end of the game?" Her mother asked as she grabbed Kaylee's hand.

"Yeah," Kaylee said as she skipped along beside her mother. "They were really good fliers."

Her mother laughed as they walked away, down the sidewalk towards home.

A-Z Challenge. Day sixteen.

Since I ran out of time yesterday, here is day sixteen.

P is for Palace.

Music from the piano echoed through the ballroom, girls in ballgowns twirled in the arms of men in tuxedos. King Rowan gazed out at the dancers, a smile twitching on his lips.

"Talia shouldn't be dancing with that one," his wife, Queen Calista, said.

He looked over to see a frown marring her beautiful face. "Now, darling, you know Talia is doing it to get a rise out of you."

Calista sighed. "Of course she is," she muttered, watching as Talia twirled, shooting her a smirk. Calista rolled her eyes. "Today is supposed to be the day she chooses a husband."

Rowan laughed and scooped up Calista's hand. "I do believe she's chosen already and is merely dancing with those she considers friends."

Calista linked their fingers together. "And who has she chosen?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

Calista spared him a look.

"Mother, father," Katharina, their second daughter, curtsied before them.

Rowan grinned at his daughter. "Katharina," he said and held out his arm, still holding his wife's hand. "Enjoying the party?"

Katharina shrugged. "Sure," she said, not bothering to walk into her father's embrace. "Has Talia chosen yet?"

"Why don't you go ask her yourself?" Calista asked. "Your father believes so but both him and Talia are strange at the best of times."

Rowan turned with a pout.

Calista smiled gently at him, patting his cheek. "We love you just the way you are."

A bright smile before Calista kissed him. Katharina rolled her eyes and turned away, stepping down off the dais.

"Katharina," Talia said as she came up and threw an arm around her sisters shoulder. Katharina wrinkled her nose at the heavy sent of wine wafting from her sister. "Dance with me."

Katharina shrugged her arm off. "No thanks."

Talia pouted. "What's wrong?"

Katharina smiled. "You should be dancing with your soon to be husband."

"I've got all night for that," Talia said and headed back to the bar.

Katharina sighed before heading out to the balcony. The night was a little chilly, a wind blowing in from the ocean their palace overlooked. The balcony was lit by the two moons and Katharina tilted her head back, breathing in the fresh air.

"What is a pretty thing like you doing out here?"

Katharina turned to see Prince Alec leaning against the doorframe. She shrugged and turned back to the ocean. She heard his footsteps as he walked toward her.

"Tired of being in your sisters shadow?"

She looked at him from the corner of her eye before sighing. "No," she said. "I have no desire to run a kingdom. Talia is more than capable."

"Why the long face, then?"

She turned to face him and only saw curiosity, no judgment. She smiled. "I want to join the army."

His eyes widened.

She laughed. "Father had the same reaction. He hasn't said yes or no yet."

"You want to join the army?"

Katharina nodded. "The most enjoyable lessons for me are archery, sparing, and horseback."

"I," Alec started before laughing. "I'm impressed."

She smiled at him. "Thanks."

"Have you held a sword before?"

Katharina rolled her eyes. "The captain is generous and has been giving me lessons on and off since I was sixteen."

"And your father doesn't want you in the army because?"

"I'm sure it's something about not wanting me to be hurt."

The music stopped inside and Katharina turned around. "I guess Talia has finally chosen."

Alec held out his arm and Katharina took it, using it to guide him back into the ballroom. Talia stood beside her mother and father up on the dais, smiling at those gathered. Katharina stopped just inside the doors and smiled up at her sister.

"Ladies and gentlemen," King Rowan said, his voice booming across the ballroom. Those gathered buzzed with anticipation.

Talia crooked her finger at someone in the crowd and Katharina watched as Prince Carver made his way through the crowd. Katharina shook her head, wondering why she didn't figure it out before. Carver and Talia have always been close since they met when they were five.

Rowan beamed at Carver as he stepped onto the dais beside Talia. "Welcome to the family," he said and the room cheered, calling out catcalls as Carver dipped Talia, pressing a deep kiss to her lips.

A-Z Challenge. Day fifteen.

Used a picture prompt for this one. Hope you enjoy day fifteen. :)

O is for Ocean.

Waves kiss
sand, squished
between my toes.
Suns rays caress
my cheeks
as the earth
turns away
from its heat.

Salt lingers
wafting from blue
clinging to my hair,
my skin.
An arm drapes
my shoulders. I
lean into his strength. Smiling.
He presses his lips
to my hair, guides
me back towards
our hotel.
Our friends await
margaritas in hand.

A-Z Challenge. Day fourteen.

The form of this poem is the Sestina. One of my favourites and I thought I'd try my hand at it again. Hope you enjoy day 14 :)

N is for Night

Shadows cling to the sidewalk,
houses around me are dark.
I stumble along, grasping at the light
provided by the street lamps, glowing
golden. Guiding, the full moon
creates a path for me home.

It feels like ages since I left for home,
my heels click along the sidewalk,
I turn my face to the moon,
trying to ignore the dark
demons around me, eyes glowing
giving off an unnatural light.

Turning down a street, a light
breeze blows my hair and I can see home.
A beacon at the end of the street, glowing;
flowers growing over the edge of the sidewalk.
Dog barks, silhouette a dark
smudge against the fence lit by the moon.

A deep breath of air, the moon
guides me with its light
passed the houses clawing from the dark
to keep me from home.
I quicken my steps, jumping over sidewalk
cracks, aiming for my glowing

goal at the end of the street with glowing
fairies sitting beneath the moon,
legs dangling over the sidewalk.
I pause in the light
certain I heard a sound from the home
of my neighbours, the windows dark,

the Mazda absent. Stretching from the dark,
shadows start to tear into the glowing
gold, and I just want to be home.
A quick peek at the moon,
I take strength from its light,
to guide me over the last bit of sidewalk.

I pass the last dark house, using the moon
and the glowing gold of the light
posts to reach home. One last step and I'm off the sidewalk.

A-Z Challenge. Day thirteen.

Here it is, day 13!

M is for Music.

I sit with my back against the trunk, up on a branch a few feet from the ground and hidden from view of the house across the street. Her voice gently caresses my ears from the open window on the second floor. Every Thursday is the same; I come here to sit and listen to her sing. On Tuesday it's the violin. She knows I'm here, says she sings for me.

I lean my head against the bark, smiling, as I hear her instructor praising her. At least, that's what I think he's saying. I can't make out his words but she deserves all the praise in the world.

It feels a lot sooner than usual when I hear the front door open and the telltale sign of a mustang starting up before it drives away. I look down at my watch; the lesson ended ten minutes early.

I shift slightly and look towards the house between the leaves. Her window is still open and it looks like her mother is in there yelling at her judging by the gestures of her arms. I furrow my brow. What happened?

I hear a truck pull into the street and look over to see her step-father's truck driving up the road to their place. What is he doing home so early?

He parks on the driveway, not bothering to go into the garage, and gets out with a slam of the door behind him. He looks pissed. I bite my lip as I watch him storm into the house and soon I see him in her room. Only he's yelling at her mom. I tilt my head. He looks to be standing in front of her as if protecting her from her mother. Her mom is yelling back at him and I want to go in and make sure she's okay. But I know if I do that it'll just make things worse.

The mother leaves with a huff and it's then I notice she's crying. Her step-father grabs her in a hug, cradling her against his chest.

The front door slams and I look down to see her mother storming out of the house, hands clutching a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She pulls one out and lights up. She starts pacing then and I look back up to her room. Her step-father is wiping away her tears and she smiles at him, saying something that gets him to laugh. He leaves after and she turns to the window, giving me a smile and a thumbs up. I'm not quite sure I understand yet.

The front door closes again and I look down to see her step-father ask her mom a question. Her mom interrupts, throwing the still lit cigarette at him before pulling off her wedding ring and doing the same. Her step-father remains calm through this and it's then I clue in. She had said something earlier today at school about telling her mother about us and that we were more than just friends. Her step-father has known for a few months now, and he accepts us, loves her as his own more than her own mother.

I watch as her mother gestures to the house and her step-father laughs. He looks happier today than I've seen him in a while. I watch his lips clearly state that the only thing that's hers is the Mazda in the garage. She is legally his by adoption, not that her mother wants anything to do with her anyway it seems like, and the house has always been in his name. Her mother huffs, enters the house only to go to the garage and speed out in her little yellow Mazda, tearing down the street.

I jump down from my perch and cross the street.

"Hi Mr. Sobeck," I say.

"Hello Raven," he says sounding tired. "Melody's up in her room."

I nod and head passed him, opening the door and toeing off my shoes. I climb the steps, lightly brushing my hand against the rail. I open her door to see her sitting at her desk hunched over a book, eyes devouring the page.

She looks up and grins. "Raven," she says standing. She walks up to me and brushes a hand down my cheek. "How was I today?"

I laugh. "Perfect, as always."

She grins. "It's a lovely day today isn't it?"

I step closer, bringing my hand up to curl around her hip bone. "It is. Though your step-father doesn't seem too happy."

"He'll be fine," she says and cups the back of my neck. "He'll find someone actually worth his time and the woman that gave birth to me will be gone from our lives." She wraps her hand in my long, black hair. "But enough about that." She pulls on my head so our lips are a hair's breath away. "Let's focus on us and the night that lies ahead of us."

I grin before my lips are taken by hers.

A-Z Challenge. Day twelve.

Yes this idea came because of Thor, but I kind of hinted at something else from one of my previous entries. Hope you enjoyed! :)

Day 12. L is for Lightning.

Rain poured from the grey clouds, soaking her turquoise dress to her ivory skin. Her face was tilted up, green eyes closed and strawberry blonde hair matted over her shoulders and down her back. A smile was on her lips.

She stood in an open soccer field, the only sound from the odd car that passed by on the street a few yards away. She stood alone in the grass. Thunder rolled through the clouds and she laughed.

Lightning flashed and she started to twirl, skirt flaring out slightly from her legs despite the rain.

"Rosalyn!" A voice called.

She stopped and opened her eyes, watching Zayden run through the field squinting.

"What are you doing?" Zayden asked as he stopped beside her.

She laughed and twirled. "Don't you feel energized when the lightning strikes and the thunder roars?"

"No." He looked at her like she was crazy. "Come on, let's go home."

She shook her head and took a step away from him. "I'm fine."

Zayden rolled his eyes. "You're going to get sick."

Rosalyn smirked. "I don't get sick when it thunders." She turned and started running across the field, heading towards the path just down the hill.

"Rosalyn!" Zayden sighed.

"I'll meet you at the house!" Rosalyn waved as she started down the hill. Trees grew randomly among the path that curled behind a school. She stopped when she was hidden from view and she was sure Zayden hadn't followed her. She tilted her head to the sky and smiled. Lightning flashed above her and she seemed to glow with it, her green eyes turning gold as power seemed to fill her body. She spread her arms out, palms up, and breathed deep.

"My beautiful daughter," a voice cooed from in front of her.

She looked over to see a man standing in a golden light, armour covering his muscled body, blonde hair blowing in the wind. "Hello father," she said and took a step forward.

He opened his arms and she ran into them. He lifted her off the ground, a happy laugh bursting from his lips. "How I have missed you!"

She laughed and clutched him tighter. "When can I come home?"

He sighed as he placed her feet back on the ground. "Soon," he said. "It is still far too dangerous for you."

She let her head fall to his shoulder, her forehead clinking against his armour.

"I know you think you can fight, but I will not risk you."

She nodded.

"Another fortnight, I should think."

She gasped and jerked back to look at his face. "Seriously?"

He grinned. "Your mother will need you home then."

She lurched forward to crush him in a hug. "Oh father," she whispered.

"Your mother misses you terribly."

"I miss her too," she whispered. "Say hi for me, yeah?"

"Of course." He stepped back, gently pushing her away. "A fortnight."

She nodded and a flash of lightning took him away again. She sagged slightly, a pout forming on her pink lips. She started to tread through the grass, back the way she came, heading to the place she's called home for five years. She clenched her fists. A fortnight. She could do this. She could live on this primitive world for fourteen more days. It wasn't long now; she would get to be reunited with her family and finally help her mother take back her kingdom.