The Hut In Argod

By Darshna Rekha

Shine has been a statue for a while, it has been the first time her mind has gone on a vacation. There are no words, no feelings, no sight, and no sense in everything that has just happened. Her life has been sorted - she was born with no powers, her path was set - read books and go to Earth. Before she stepped on London Station for the first time she knew what she wanted to do - research - any field. Though not given the gift of magic she was given the gift of time. She did not age after hitting 22. Her parents loved her and made sure that she was never left alone. Fearing for her safety had become their second nature. But today they were less afraid but more confused.

It has started as a usual day of a grand celebration. Shine's elder sister Raya is getting the highest honour the kingdom provides - The Princess - the chosen one who is on the path of becoming the Queen of Januvia. The honour is open for every girl in the world - no matter their background but for centuries the Evans Line has passed the tests. Raya is the beloved daughter of the Evans family and Januvia. There was never a doubt she would carry the family's glory. Then came Ryan and the last one Shine. With Raya and Ryan's powers and charisma Shine has been given a pass. No one hated her for being a human. She loved it, no powers, no expectations, and held her head high.

The celebration has made Shine travel from Earth to the magic lands of Januvia in an hour, her head was spinning and have been looking for Vodka when her loyal and oldest friend Lily yanked her out of the cell and made her stand in the centre of the main hall in front of an odd-looking old lady. She was aware of her whole family, extended relatives, family-friends standing and looking at her in a scared expression.

"Who exploded?" Shine tried to lighten the mood. She did not want to be there, her gut feeling was to run as fast as possible towards the door. But who was she kidding, she would never outrun anyone in the room. When no smile or words came she knew she had to face the woman in front of her.

"I apologise on behalf of them because they have no sense of humour. I am Shine Evans, a human, no power, not a trace in the last 60 years. Are you sure it is I who should have dragged her?"

The old woman seemed to be in a trance. Shine was not new to this. She was the most beautiful person anywhere she went - her thick dark-violet hair, light complexion, naturally red lips, and eyes that changed colour made anyone go in a trance but this was taking too long.

Shine looked around for help but everyone seemed to be scared. She wanted to think that they were scared of the old woman but the psychologist in her shouted at her to be real. They are scared of her. The source is the old woman and if this is not sorted soon she might lose her privilege of visiting Earth - again!

"Madam, can I help you?" She tried again with the calm face that worked every time in getting the truth out.

"Do you not recognize me?" The old woman finally asked but in a grave voice.

"No, I do not remember having met you before."

"I am Magdalena."

Queen Magdalena is the creator of magic. Long back when she realised that humans did not want magic around them she created another world. She cast a spell to rip off magic from wizards when leaving Januvia. This is how she had known of every wizard who travelled outside Januvia. Until last month when she found that a human travelled between the two worlds - unnoticed. No magic went to the child, only the age.

Shine has read all about her and bowed. Her smile was so real that Queen Magdalena could not help but lose her stare and seriousness. She looked calm.

"I have not been to the local school or the college. My studies have happened in my father's library and human educational establishments on Earth. I have never seen your picture to recognize you."

"You should not need one, I thought you would know. But alas I was wrong. I had expectations which I must say were failed."

"In my case, you are not the first one." Shine has grown to this since her birth.

Queen Magdalena smiled and spoke in a clear voice "You are my daughter."

This did not make Shine lose her mind. She looked intently in her eyes. She knew it was not the birth mother scenario. She was indeed her parents' child. This was something else and her logical mind shouted to shut it out.

"Long after the worlds were created I fell in love with a human, we got married and we made our home on Earth. My daughter was born, a human. We loved her and then one day she died. She was 22 years old. That day many things ended for me - my love, my happiness, and my husband. He could not bear the pain and died after two days. The place reminded me of the loss and I left. Until now when I found out about you. You look just like my daughter." Her tears were like pearls and the hall was echoing with droplets falling on the ground.

Shine was stunned. When she did get her bearings back she knew there was something wrong. A human daughter - possible, dies - can but why does she feel that it is a lie, because it is a lie. Shine has another gift. She knows when someone is lying to her. One more thing that does not add up is the fear in the room. Why should one be afraid of a human? Though the similarity in features is not new and there has been evidence that proves them. But the lying and fear do not add up. She knows her questions will not be answered but she does not want to drag this further. And she gets what she wants - well usually.

"You are lying, the death of your daughter. There is more to it. But you and I both will agree that we are still governed by human laws and one of them is empathy. Today is a big day for my sister. I do not want to shadow it. I will ask you for the same. Let us celebrate today and this can continue tomorrow."

Queen Magdalena was filled with emotions - she was her daughter she knew it but still, her personality was arguing otherwise. Her daughter would never cut a conversation but Shine just did. She made it clear. She also caught the lie, but if she does not recollect the past how did she know that there is a lie. Is she bluffing or good at sensing lies?

"I apologise. Everyone. I was overwhelmed and ignored others. I would like to make up for it by giving grace to the new Princess. I will stay for the ceremony."

This was the cue for Shine to run back to the kitchen and gulp the entire bottle of Vodka down her throat. She knew under the influence the day would be bearable.

Queen Magdalena was kept busy with the Kings and Queens of the three worlds. They spoke of the prosperity of their lands and fondness for humans. The children surrounded her and asked for stories. Ryan stood by her and did the introductions. But Queen Magdalena was looking for Shine. Somehow she feared that she would lose her daughter again tonight.

Chapter 2

"How? What is going to happen? I am not letting her take my daughter. I will fight... I will pray, plead, anything. Why are you not saying anything?" The Queen of Januvia - Anastasia Evans implored her husband for words to console her.

"I know Queen Magdalena left after the death of her child and husband. Nowhere I have heard or read about the daughter. No one knew her daughter. The written texts only speak of death but no reason for the child. We need to know the truth."

These were not the words Queen Anastasia was hoping for, she sat on the couch and wept for the coming doom. She loved Shine, and be forgiven for loving her the most of all her children. She was proud of her and saw the strength in her she hoped other women had, including her. And now Queen Magdalena was here, for her daughter.

The King came out of his thoughts, "Dear, we will protect our child. We have to be strong. And remember Queen Magdalena is going after Shine. We know our daughter, she will not make it easy. She never let things go easily."

This made them both smile. They knew Shine is not going to make this easy for Queen Magdalena. And they will protect her no matter the outcome. They went ahead with the celebrations. Despite the setback, Raya found the celebration a great experience. Queen Magdalena graced her with the magic of healing plants. It was a wonderful day.

Chapter 3

Shine woke up with a start, she had a heavy head and she knew she was late for something.

"I lied to the Committee that you broke your leg." Lily was talking out loud and typing furiously on the little Laptop she carried everywhere. "They send their condolences. I have asked them to keep it to themselves. But you know them. It will be all over the world, then a press conference, and... Oh! You are not wrong, everything that you think happened - did happen. That old lady, your "past" mother is very real. She is waiting for you downstairs. I asked her to let you sleep peacefully for the last time this month. I do hope it will be sorted in a month."

Shine wanted to die, then and there. Wasn't it enough to be a human, daughter of King and Queen to the most powerful magic land, that she was now going to be the daughter of the one who created magic and still be human? She does not want magic, she loves her life, she only wished for non-magical parents but one does not get everything.

The water did the trick - Shine was feeling herself, upbeat and ready to deal with whatever life gave her. She went downstairs, had breakfast with her parents and talked about her latest research. Recently a plant has been discovered that influenced dreams - or so it is said.

Queen Magdalena entered and asked for the audience of Shine alone. Interestingly and expected the guests have stayed after the celebration. Some got ill, some weren't fit enough to travel so soon, but the truth was clear as they had slowly filled the room as soon as Shine had stepped in it. Queen Anastasia stood up and asked the guests for privacy. Reluctantly they left, the Queen herself, her husband King Ahmet, Shine, Raya, Ryan, their Aunt Jennifer, Lily, and Queen Magdalena. Before Queen Magdalena could ask for Shine alone again, she sensed her request would not be taken well by Shine herself.

She did not want Shine on the other side. "Very well. I mean no harm to Shine. I am here to get to know and get acquainted with my daughter."

"Cut the crap," Shine spoke in a flat tone that took everyone by surprise. She is not known to have the etiquette of a royal. "I understand I look like your daughter. Being human is another one. You found out about me, must have seen my picture which brought you here. Your daughter died at 22 which is the age when I stopped ageing. I do not conclude anything on this. You proved who you say you are by giving grace to my sister yesterday. Thank you for that but now I want you to tell me what exactly you want from me?"

"I sense you think I have an ulterior motive. I do not. I have been grieving since my daughter died in my arms. But let us not waste more words on this. You ask what I want from you - I want to know you, spend time with you. What else could a mother ask for?"

"Good luck with that!" Queen Anastasia spoke under her breath. Shine has stayed with her only for a month in the last year. Before that, she did not speak to Shine for 6 months. And now she comes and asks for time from her daughter.

"Where do you want to start?" Shine asked Queen Magdalena.

"I would suggest my home on Earth. It is where my husband is buried. I have never dared to go back. But now I think I can go with you. If you will?"

"Where on Earth?"

"Egypt, when it was filled with nature's gifts we made a small house there. It was a small village, hidden from the world deep in the forest. I used to heal people and my husband taught farming. He was an orphan and had a small land. We met when he lost his way and found me healing the trees at the end of the forest. We met frequently and then we got married. He made me a house on the land he owned. I made more land and he farmed there. Then we had you."

Queen Magdalena was in her thoughts no longer aware that she wasn't speaking out loud. She was reminiscing about the past when Shine jolted her out of her thoughts.

"What happened after that?" Shine asked her to proceed.

Queen Magdalena looked at her intently, "We were a family. I took care of the child and house, he farmed a little less because he could not get enough of you." Queen Magdalena was smiling. She remembered how he would make excuses to be with their daughter. He would take her to the fields and teach her about everything he saw. She loved it, exploring and knowing. "But time passed, you grew up. We were so proud of you. I felt I did not need anything more. And then you fell ill. We did not know what it was, we could not treat you, we went out of the forest to look for a cure, but to no avail. He had stopped smiling, he would not leave you, and then one day we woke up and you were gone."

Queen Magdalena looked like stone. Her eyes were fighting back tears. She has cried long enough but still, it was not enough.

All eyes were wet, everyone thinking of the loved ones they witnessed dying, parents, partners, friends, and more. But none of them could even begin to imagine the loss of a child and partner. But then there was Shine, she has seen loss on a different scale. Her first experience with death was when she witnessed a terrorist attack in Afghanistan. She travelled down there with a team of 10 renowned scientists to research a new disease known to have killed hundreds - children, adults, old - all alike. This sent her to the fields of microbiology. Finding cures for many diseases and breakthroughs one after the other. But this also made her closer to humans. She learned a lot about them and extended to the magical lands - at the bottom, they were humans too. Her medicines have worked on them, treating many diseases, and educating them on their body and minds. And so it was understandable for her to not shed tears. There was more suffering outside. But she was angry. And the one feeling that made her scared was anger. Anger came to her when there was manipulation of the wrong kind. And Queen Magdalena was being manipulative. She just needed one more piece of evidence before she gave in to her anger.

"You have been through a lot. I am sorry, the years have been unkind to you. But let us not dwell any longer in the past. I would love to go to Egypt with you. I have been there. It is beautiful. If you can give me a specific location I can get the jet to leave in the next 15 minutes."

"Thank you, you are kind. But we can wait if you want. There is no hurry. I do not want to rush you or this connection." Queen Magdalena sensed confusion in her words. Shine seemed to give in. There was no fight or resistance. Neither her family opposed it. This was easy.

"It is Argod now".

Queen Magdalena gave away what Shine had wanted.

About 30 years ago, Oliver Gustov, a then failed historian, had been digging 400 miles East of Argod believing there is a treasure buried deep down the lands. But all he found was old stones. They had markings but no one could translate. The writing was so obscure that it was dismissed to have no importance. The stones did not find a decent place in any museums and ended up at his place. But then things changed, Oliver made more discoveries and eventually made his name in the field. Shine and Oliver became friends when both were out in Cairo working on different projects. One day, Oliver showed her the stones. He knew she would appreciate what others failed to notice. The instant Shine saw them, she read them. It was the lost and ancient language of magic. She had learned it from her father. The stones could be called the journals - of a father. It missed a lot of pages but when Shine told this to Oliver he set out to dig more. After 3 years of digging about 300 stones were found. Shine translated them and it was published as "The Lost Words of a Father" by Oliver Gustov. It was not a bestseller. There were only 100 copies sold. The journals spoke of a happy family and then the death of the daughter, blamed on the mother.

“I worry about her. I am afraid 'my love' will not find the love for her in her heart."

"'My love' has lost love. There is no love."

"I will never leave her alone with 'my love'."

"I will never forgive you, 'my love'."

The father witnessed the death of her daughter by her mother. He travelled far and alone for the cure. When he could not save her he stayed to witness the death. His last words were to never forgive her wife. No other rocks were found to know what came as an end.

The wife, the mother who killed her daughter, was sitting in front of her daughter - Queen Magdalena. Life can be interesting sometimes. Shine smiled and looked at Lilly. Lilly was wondering the same thing since she had heard the name Argod.

Her face was stuck with horror. She knew, she made the connection. She had read the translation. But right now her fear grew with the thought that she is a threat to Shine. Shine, sensing this, stood up and placed her hand on Lily's shoulder. They knew the real truth. But they still did not understand two things - there was fear yesterday. Could have been false, assuming the aura of Queen Magdalena that made everyone speculate. Another was the way Queen Magdalena insisted on taking Shine to that place again. Bring back the dead?

No one can bring back the dead. No one, even the one who created magic. The man Shine read about in the journals was not someone who lacked courage. He never once talked of suicide, but only to protect his daughter. What if he did not die, with a powerful magic that can be preserved…

"Queen Magdalena, it must have been hard to face a dead daughter, the reason for all your sorrows. But I think you are repeating the same mistake. You still do not love your daughter. Your husband will not be thrilled to see me. He will be reminded of the betrayal, and to add on that the inhuman act of replacing his daughter with someone who has no recollection of the past. I will come with you, you can bring back your husband but it will not bring back the love."

Queen Magdalena was stunned. Her husband never died, she cast a spell on him and preserved his body with her magic in hope that one day he will look at her with the same love she had been used to. She had tried many times to see that love but every time the husband came back to life hated her even more. She thought this time with the daughter things will be sorted. But it did not seem to be going in the right direction.

It was not difficult for the rest to follow along, they can connect the pieces later. That has lost its importance. Everyone was alert to protect Shine. She just proved that Queen Magdalena wanted her and not out of love.

Queen Magdalena rose and the anger enclosed the palace. "You have always been hard to deal with. But today, I want to take you to my husband. I know he will forgive me. I know he will love me again."

Chapter 4

"Why did you not try to erase his memory?" Shine asked Queen Magdalena as they were flying to Argod in her private jet. Everyone has insisted on travelling. Roxy, Shine's security in-charge was informed of the whole story and she did not like any bit of it. She has protected Shine for 60 years, since her birth but this was pushing it too much. She did not know how to protect someone with magic who created magic.

"It did not work. He would remember everything again, sometimes in a day, sometimes in a year. But it always came back. He gets a feeling of missing something." Queen Magdalena responded.

"Why did you hate your daughter?"

At this point, everyone was hoping for Shine to stop probing the Queen but curiosity took over their judgement.

"She was a human, my daughter - a human! I tried to give her magic but it would slip like water on a smooth pot. She never liked it. Before her, my husband was in awe of my powers. He would adore me but then you came and everything changed," Queen Magdalena was not even trying to hide her hatred.

"Your daughter, not me. I am their problem." Shine pointed to her parents.

The rest of the flight did not go in silence. Shine told them about the rocks and gave everyone the online copy to read.

She was not surprised when Queen Magdalena showed only contempt after reading the translation. She was lost, Shine knew that from this point it would be a downhill journey.

They reached Argod. They came out in the open, the place was deserted and Queen Magdalena without wasting any time started walking, everyone following the pursuit. It was magic, the surroundings changed, there was forest again. As they walked there were huts, farms, soon humans and children were seen going about their day and then came the little house which was no doubt her home.

Queen Magdalena went inside alone, soon voices were heard - angry accusations by a man. He asked her to leave, she pleaded with him to come with her outside. She spoke about Shine, hastily and that made him stop short in his words.

"If I have all the ears, let us go," Raya turned to her family.

"If they come out and not find Shine it will be deadly for all of us. And if you are there it might be deadly only for Shine," Ryan suggested.

"Trust me, he is not coming out. We can leave and wait for the Queen of Magic to be back," Shine looked at her mother. "I believe you know how to go back. He will not come out, he might have if she would not have spoken about me too soon. She made the matter worse."

"Even if we leave she will come after you whether he comes out or not. And I am not going to live my life in that fear. We will wait." Queen Anastasia has never entertained fear.

They slowly started sitting down on the land, people moved to mind their own business. Children played and never bothered them. The silence had been long and it seemed to have gone for eternity when the husband’s sound came louder from the hut.

"You should kill me. I cannot kill myself. I will forgive you but only if you kill me."

The voice sounded sincere and defeated, Shine knew he would not come out. Love cannot be replaced. Time does heal all the wounds but Queen Magdalena was stubborn. If only she would have left him in his grief it would have done well to both. But her husband never had the time, he had been reliving the pain for ages. He does not want to see her dead daughter, he wants his death. She knew it was a stretch but there was a solution cooking up in her mind.

The husband was not coming out, her mother had made clear she is not leaving unless Queen Magdalena comes out, they are going to be here for a while, and if Queen Magdalena does come out either only her or her entire family is going to die, or live in fear. Just like her mother, she was no fan of fear as well. With that, she made up her mind, stood up, asked Roxy for a favour and then went straight inside the hut.

The husband, who looked nothing like a human, stood with his face towards the wall. Queen Magdalena was reasoning with him. Seeing Shine she went to her husband and asked him to turn around, see his daughter. This seemed to make the husband more rigid.

Queen Magdalena begged him to look once and promised that things will be better. It did not work, the husband stood there waiting for nothing.

"I am not your daughter," Shine started hoping to live another day, "I look like her, as I have been told. Even if you decide to look at me, it will not do anything. But I do know I have one thing in common with your daughter, I cannot bear your pain any longer. If you will, I can end your life."

Queen Magdalena would have killed Shine then and there if her husband had not turned around that moment. He did not have a face, it looked like two eyes, a nose, and a mouth hung on a flat surface. The sadness was etched on his face. His arms hung around him. He looked at Shine. He did not feel the connection he once had with his daughter. She was gone. He had seen her lying on the bed asking him to promise her forgiveness for her mother. He could not promise her, he said he would do so tomorrow, but that tomorrow never came. His daughter died, and he could not give her the last thing she asked for, but for a while, this has stopped bothering him. But today he felt one more thing, he has not felt in a long time - happiness.

There is this girl, in front of him, who looks familiar, not afraid of the woman he once loved unlike anyone else he met before, offering him the happiness - death. He fell to his knees. He joined his hands up in the form of a prayer and closed his eyes. He was murmuring, words just fell out of his mouth but never touched the ears. Shine moved forward and with the precision of a hunter cut the veins of the husband with the sharp hunting knife she got from Roxy. It was a swift death. The husband died. There was sand all around and stunned faces.

Shine dropped the knife beside her and looked into the sky. The evening sky was one of the most beautiful things she has seen. She always admired it no matter where she was.

"You know where to find me when you decide what to do with me."

Queen Magdalena was left alone in the desert as the Evans journeyed back to their home.

Chapter 5

"Do you think she will come back? I think she would, she might make your life miserable before killing you," Lily speculated.

"She is healing now. We will worry once she has healed."

"Heal from what?"

"The disease of 'I'," Shine replied and immersed in her book as the jet took off for London.

By Darshna Rekha