Aurora Magazine 2019

reuniting moment of a much more affecting sort. Before Marigold finished the spell, Juniper gifted to her daughters each a letter, explaining the situation, and how their separation would soon end. When she returned to Tjolfdin, the queen grew ill, and died days later. Distraught, Xavier withdrew into the walls of his castle, and was not seen for many years. So Everly, being the naturally more optimistic of the two, was sent to Hell, where she was tortured at length for years. The punishment inflicted on her was harsh, unfair, and unfounded; but she still learned hope in Hell. She awoke every morning, be - ing affected by all manner of pain and misery, waiting for the day she could be reunited with her sister. Her sister, Aileen, learned a different lesson. Through the endless pleasures of Heaven, she learned an entitlement usually reserved for the angels who earned their place; she grew harsh and spoiled from the pam - pering, and increasingly dreaded her seventh birthday, when she knew the pleasure would end and she would meet the pains of Earth. --- The seven years passed, and slowly too. In Heaven, Aileen grew vainer and less concerned with her life in Tjolfdin. In Hell, Everly counted the moments until she could reclaim her birthright. In Tjolfdin, Xavi - er grew more and more inward, eventually driving himself mad. Eventually, June the first passed a seventh time, and Marigold completed the spell to summon the girls. Everly greeted her summoning with open arms, nearly sprinting to escape Hell. Aileen, on the other hand, fled from Earth, but could not outrun the hands of fate. Quickly the two girls were brought to Tjolfdin, in Xavier’s hall. There was no pompous ceremony for their arrival. No drums or bugles sounded the girl’s return. No, Xavier’s main hall was cold, dark, and quiet. Aileen, distraught, was not interested in her surroundings, 84