WINDOWS: A BROKEN FAIRY TALE by Casey Bramble

fragrance wafted
from the flowers, almost intoxicating to the blacksmith who grew up in the
slums.   Breathlessly she wandered under a
nearby tree, speckles of green tinted sunlight filtering through its thick
plumage.  
    “Raven!”  
    Sarah jerked out
of her revelry at the unexpected scream and saw two women rushing towards them.   A redhead with alabaster skin ran full tilt, grinning
ear to ear.   The other, an olive colored
beauty with rich brown hair, trailed the energetic younger girl, but still walking
at a brisk pace.
    “My sisters.”
Raven murmured before the two could reach them.   “Just address ‘em formally until they give you
permission not to.”   Sarah nodded then jumped
out of the way as the redhead leapt at Raven, wrapping her in a huge bear hug.
    The two redheads
broke apart with wide grins as the other approached.   The brunette greeted the newly returned
sister with a warm hug of her own.  
    “Welcome home,
Raven.   Did you encounter any trouble?”
she asked.   The youngest girl gave her a
hip bump and started fussing.
    “Quit being so
formal, Liz, we have important things to discuss.”   She faced Raven with thinly disguised
expectation and Sarah noted that the younger girl had dark brown eyes.   She expected them to be green, like Raven’s
since they were so matched in skin and hair.   “So, did you bring us any presents?”
    Raven laughed, “Yes
I did, in fact.   The best present ever
for the best little sister ever, a new friend.”  
    Sarah watched the
three and saw that while both the other sisters were close to her height, Raven
was at least five inches taller than them.   She was starting to feel a little awkward but Raven introduced
everybody.  
    “You two, I want
you to meet Sarah Petty.   We’re going to
open up a store in that shop I bought a while back.   Sarah,” Raven motioned her forward; “these
are my two sweet sisters.   The beautiful
and very lady like one is Felicity and the cute, hyperactive one is Amanda.”
    Bowing her head
graciously, Sarah said.   “Lady Felicity,
Lady Amanda it is a pleasure to meet you both.”
    Lady Felicity
smiled and extended her hand for Sarah’s, “Please call me Liz.   Any friend of Raven’s is a welcome and
honored guest in our home.”
    “And you can call
me Mandy!   Any friend of Raven’s blah,
blah.”   Amanda wrapped Sarah in the same
bear hug she had used to greet Raven moments earlier.   Sarah felt at ease with these two.
    “Say,” Raven stood
apart, looking off into the red flower garden, “Where’s Sis at?   She was supposed to…”   Sarah screamed, Felicity and Amanda hopped
backwards, and Raven went tumbling head over heels as a fireball crashed into
her from behind.   When she came to a stop
she rolled over, slightly singed, and muttered, “Never mind, I found her.”
    Sarah turned back
to the castle and saw a girl storming their way.   Another redhead, but this girl’s hair was
much darker than either Raven’s or Amanda’s, almost brown.   She had bronze colored skin, closer to
Felicity than either of the pale sisters.
    “What did I tell
you before you left, brat?”   The newcomer
marched into the circle of grass, glaring at Raven who was still struggling to
get to her feet.
    “To come see you
as soon as I got home.”   Raven stood
shakily.
    The other girl
stopped and put her hands on her hips, “And did you?”
    Raven started to
say something but another fireball raced through the air between the two but
this time the girl under attack was ready.   She jerked her left hand up and a block of earth ripped from the
ground.  
    The fireball
exploded into the wall loud enough for Sarah to feel the vibrations.   She was starting to get very worried and
looked for help but Amanda and Felicity were already sitting down with their
backs resting against Bryson’s scaly hide.   They motioned for her to do the same.   With more than a little apprehension, she nestled down to