Helpless

The day was a humid one and Alicia hated humid days. Her hair was always more frizzy than usual, her skin was more moist than usual and her breath was shallower than usual...or maybe it was because she was so stressed and she didn't know what to do.

"You do know we're not getting off this one easily, right?" Lucian asked, and they weren't because yet again, their mother arrived early from work as soon after they had stepped into the house after they had spent some time at their favorite spot; the mall.

Mrs. Jackson was skinny and lithe like Lucian, and short and curly-haired like Alicia, however, the older woman looked nothing like her children when she was furious because like all moms, she was terrific then. She dropped her bag on the counter and yelled for them both to come down stairs "NOW!!!"
Alicia raised her hands in an attempt to calm her mother, but it was like trying to baptize a cat.
"Mom, we can explain."

"Then explain and make it good because I had to beg off for the rest of the day and you know the boss doesn't like that."

"Please sit down, I can't tell you when you're agitated."

"Oh you can and you will. But I'll sit."

"I think we'll have to wait to tell dad as well." Rocky suggested.

"No, I want to know right this minute why this one," pointing at Alicia "Is suspended and why you've gotten a written warning?"

Well that was a bit of an overreaction from Mr Foster.

"She got suspended?!" Rocky yelped in surprise and turned to Alicia worriedly.

"Missing school is one thing. Getting suspended, Alicia, that's another thing." Their mother said softly, her anger quickly forgotten. She was like that, Mrs Jackson; quick to anger but just as quick to forgive.

Rocky looked at Alicia almost desperately now.

"What's happening, my angel? Is it because...because it been almost a whole year since...Claud..."

"Died? Yes and no."

"So then what's wrong? Should we get help? A therapist? We could find a way to afford one."

"Mom," Rocky said, "no. We can't. She's fine. You're fine, right Alicia?"

"Then what's wrong?!" She asked agitated. Mrs. Jackson could never handle stress with the coolness that their father always managed to handle stress with. Maybe they should wait for him, but Alicia figured that their mother would not wait any longer. They couldn't hide or deny it either; moms are human lie detectors.

Alicia looked at Lucian and lifted her chin bravely.

"It's okay, Rocky. I'll tell her. Mom," she said, calmly turning to her mother. "This is something I feel you would want to hear with dad, but if you want to know, I'll tell you. Do you really want to know?"

"Well that's very adult of you, Alicia, to offer me an option and a warning like that, but I do need to know. I'm your mother and I know something's going on and I've known for a while but your father and I, we chose to ignore it, blaming it on Claud's..."

"Death. Mom, Claud's death. You can say it, you know."

She gave her a small, sad smile. "I know, angel. I know. But anyway, let me hear it. I promise not to get too mad. Are you...pregnant or like, hooked on drugs? You know you can tell me anything."

Lucian snickered and Alicia looked at her mother incredulously.

"Mom, I am not hooked on drugs!"

Their mother shrugged. "You always have those dark circles under your eyes and your skin looks a little unhealthy. Your breath is slightly shallow and you always have that sheen of sweat. I work at a hospital reception; what am I supposed to think?"

"Well, it's not that. I'm not pregnant either. It's just that..." Mrs. Jackson lifted a brow at her hesitation. "It's just that, um, Imsortofaqueenatthishiddenkingdom."

Her mother blinked as their father walked into the house and saw them sitting in the lounge with grave looks on their faces. He, then, sat and turned to his wife,

"I believe, we're about to find out what's going on so we can finally hand out punishments?"

"That's right. Alicia was about to tell us slowly this time."

They both looked at her and she looked at Rocky - who still thought it was still a bad idea - helplessly.

"Alicia?" Their father prodded.

Alicia sighed.

"So you know how I was lost for like, seven days?" Her parents nodded silently. They all knew which seven days she meant. "Yes, and you know how I said that was brought back via helicopter here, from an island?" Her parents nodded, a little impatiently. "Well, that...wasn't whole truth."

Her father frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Listen, I love you both and I need you to not only understand that I am and I was completely sane-minded and I need you to keep a very, very open mind, okay? The island I told you about exists but it's not a small tropical island, but I'd say it's the size of a small continent instead. But that's trivial. I want you to both know that, this island Alfairia, is a kingdom that is not only run by magic, but by me too. I was sort of chosen to rule as monarch there."

Her parents looked at each other in silent communication. Her father nodded and her mother turned to Lucian.

"And this isn't the first time you're hearing this?"

"No, it's not. In fact, I've been to Alfairia myself."

Their mother looked at their father and did that silent communication thing again, but this time, her face was full of concern. Were both their children going mad?

Mr. Jackson cleared his throat and asked Alicia, "so you're a queen of some sort?"

She nodded. "That's right."

"And this...island continent thing; it's hidden in the middle of the ocean?"

"That's right."

"Hidden by magic?"

"Uh-huh, there's a magical force field that hides the island from the rest of the world. There's no satellite that can read or pick up its location."

"So according to the rest of the world, this island...Alfairia is practically non-existent?"

"Oh they know a part of the island. Remember the Bermuda Triangle? Yeah. That's one of the entrances to Alfairia."

Mr. Jackson quickly glanced at his wife.

"Alicia, sweetie, your mom and I need time to process this. We need to talk about what will happen next."

Alicia looked at both her parents; they didn't believe her - it was written all over their faces. She shook her head and sighed.

"There's no time. There's absolutely no time. Lucian, mom, dad: it calls to me. It calls..." Her parents gasped as they saw her hand begin to fade into thin air. It was time for her to return to Alfairia, where she had been banished, where she would probably be arrested by rebels who had not existed in her world until 48 hours ago. The thought made her feel helpless.

"Alicia, I'll get your stuff, you explain." Rocky said before he dashed to her room. He probably wouldn't get to her in time. She began untying her sneakers and changed into her favorite pair of shoes; Doc Martens, for she probably would need the comfort, extra height and warmth of the boots in a jail cell.

"I should be back soon. I don't usually get summoned for long; at least not here." She looked at their lost faces and explained, "Time doesn't work the same way. But anyway, mom and dad, you have absolutely nothing to worry about; I've done this a thousand times before and I know it looks freaky," her legs were started to fade now. "But don't freak out. I hope you believe me now. Rocky," who ran into the room with her gym bag stuffed before tossing it to her. "Will explain everything. I love you all." Alicia said, almost breathlessly before she disappeared.

Her parents sat in the lounge of their small house in Califonia; their faces portraying shock and worry, staring after their only daughter who had suddenly faded completely in thin air and had reappeared in a very dark forest in a distant kingdom, the sounds of the wild a few paces away.

~~~~~

Thanks for reading. I'm updating as much as I possibly can. I hope you understand.