GetLit is a semimonthly series featuring works of fiction and creative nonfiction submitted by New School students. Each month has two opportunities to submit: an open call and a themed call. To submit your work or find more information, please visit GetLit’s submissions form.
Due to an influx of fiction submissions, we have chosen two fiction pieces this month. Our second selection is “Above the Clouds” by Mel Pecegueiro, the prologue of her novel-in-progress.
Mel (she/her) is a second-year in the creative writing MFA program, where she studies writing for children and young adults. She grew up in Portugal and Spain and mostly writes young-adult fantasy.
All the lights had gone out. Two tiny hands squeezed each other in the dark as if looking for warmth in the middle of a storm.
The princesses’ beaded eyes were glued to the curtain, eagerly awaiting the start of the show. They weren’t the only ones; many gods, deities and their children filled the castle gardens, their bated breath and gasps of admiration intertwined.
They all looked up.
Splashes of light and color danced above their heads. Fireworks.
“Welcome, welcome.” The velvety curtain opened, revealing a man in a silver suit. He wore a bright smile as a sign of pride. “Let us celebrate the history of our thriving kingdom by sharing its tale with you. And…” He winked at the two rapt girls, thrusting his hands upwards. “Happy birthday, Your Royal Highnesses. May your next seven years be as wonderful as these were.”
Lights illuminated the night. The girls’ hearts pounded in anticipation of what would happen next.
Hundreds of yellow fireflies merged to create the image of the First God, one of the most important rulers of Cloudiness. His booming voice echoed through the castle’s gardens. “My dear friends, we will rule Cloudiness for as long as we live. Our mission is to bring prosperity to our realm. The kingdom beyond the clouds will never rot if the three of us stay together.”
The First God’s two best friends flared like comets crossing the sky. Hues of blue brought the Wind God to life and the First Goddess appeared in violet tones. Right there, in the starless sky, the three huddled close. Crowns were placed atop their heads, signaling a new era. The Wind God and the First God fluttered like ghosts until they stood center stage before the royal family.
If there was something the princess of Cloudiness was proud of, it was knowing this story. “The sun! They are creating the sun!” Sunie squeaked as soon as she saw a swelling bright ball of gases.
Mother Goddess, her mother, turned toward her. In her melodious voice, she said, “The First God had the power of creation just like you, my little fire.” She caressed Sunie’s cheek. “Thanks to your grandfather and the Wind God’s magic, the sun was created. Special things can happen when siblings work together.”
“But they weren’t even siblings,” Sunie pointed out, “They didn’t share any stardust.”
Mother Goddess seemed lost in her thoughts for a while, but then she said, “You don’t have to share any stardust with someone for them to feel like family. It is your choice who you give a piece of your heart to. And it is up to them to treasure it.”
As the performance went on, The First Goddess and the Wind God left the First God behind. With the passing seasons, the kingdom expanded and the First God was lauded as the best king Cloudiness ever had. Eventually, his son, Moonlight and Sunie’s father, was born.
Fireworks morphed into younger versions of the Great God and Mother Goddess. Their vows to protect the kingdom echoed through the trees, their crowns glittering like stars.
Without a sound, the real Mother Goddess rose from her chair. Having seen enough of the show, she stormed out of the gardens, making her way to the big oak door.
Sky goggled at the empty seat; Moonlight noticed their father clenching his jaw. It didn’t take long for him to go after his wife.
“Let’s follow them.” Moonlight grabbed her sister by the arm, shaking her slightly.
Sunie frowned. There were too many guards stationed at the entrance. They wouldn’t stand behind the princesses’ decision to miss out on their birthday celebration. Scanning the grounds, Sunie found a flaming torch in one of the castle walls. Snapping her fingers, the fire grew and grew, traveling down vines until it ignited the grass.
“Fire!” One of the performers screamed, his eyes bulging.
The show ended in the blink of an eye. Guards left their posts, dashing in the direction of the fire. Not wasting a second, the two magical girls ran through the clouds, reaching the great hall.
Taking a deep breath, Moonlight forced her mind to go blank. For her reflection magic to work, she would have to find a glass source that would grant her access to the inside of a room. As she connected herself with all the existing mirrors within the castle, fleeting images of empty chambers swept her brain like a hurricane. One window caught her attention; she could make out the striking shadow of their mother.
“In the study.” Moonlight’s deep berry-blue eyes bore into Sunie’s. “I saw mother there through a window.”
Moonlight’s fingers skimmed over the marble walls, seeking out an embossed rose. It hadn’t been that long ago since they had discovered their first hidden tunnel. After a while, they started using them almost every night to slip outside undetected.
A secret door slid open, leading them to their father’s study. Hand in hand, the two sisters walked through the narrow, gloomy passage.
Muffled sounds turned into strangled whimpers. Mother Goddess was crying.
The passage ended abruptly at a dead end. Taking turns, the girls gazed through the eyes of the First God’s portrait, which granted them an unimpeded view of the study.
Mother Goddess paced back and forth, restless. “You know the show they were putting on is woven in lies! Visions of my island crumbling are plaguing my dreams. Even the people are now rebelling. All because of me… Our daughters will never see my home the way it was before.”
“No, they won’t.” The Great God’s final tone resonated far beyond the cramped space. “I will not send my daughters on a fool’s errand so they can die trying to save a home they never knew. Moonlight and Sunie have a bright future here, in Cloudiness.”
Mother Goddess sighed. “We must protect them.”
“You should rest.” The Great God kissed Mother Goddess’ forehead softly.
“And you should return to the gardens. I don’t want the troupe to get the wrong impression. Their show was lovely.”
The Great God withdrew, leaving Mother Goddess alone amidst shelves overflowing with books.
Mother Goddess crossed her arms, tapping her foot on the floor. “You can come out, now.”
Sunie and Moonlight stepped into the study, their mother quirking a brow. Moonlight’s cheeks flushed red, but Sunie darted ahead.
“Mother, were you upset because of the performance?”
“It wasn’t our intention to eavesdrop.” Moonlight felt the need to apologize. “We were just worried about you.”
Mother Goddess broke into a smile. Staying angry for long had never been her style. “Actually, I am glad you came. Come here; I think it is time you heard a true story.” She sat on a velvet chaise and beckoned to her daughters.
The three snuggled close, a tangle of limbs where no one could tell where one ended and the next began. The queen’s nimble fingers plaited the princesses’ hairs. She started her story.