Chapter twenty-two-The Box, the Questure, and the Letter
It was early morning of Saturday, the white light of the windows on the top most parts of the tower shone through the darkness I felt. I held the music box in my hand. Was this really my father’s wedding present to my mother?
I don’t understand why my father told me I could open it. I didn’t even have a key. I shook the box, and something rattled inside it. Could the key be inside the box?
“Ugh, why won’t you open?”
Suddenly, something hard fell into my lap. I looked down, and saw a brass gold key. “What the he-“
Then I noticed a little opening at the bottom of Music box. They key must have fallen out.
When I picked up the key with my hand, it seemed to glow. It was a rather beautiful glow, its colors of deep red to orange, to a bright emerald green, to silver. However, only one color stood out and stayed through the process of colors- gold.
Watching this beautiful key, I felt something heat up against my chest. I reached up, and touched my amulet. It, always icy cold, was now glowing with the same revolving colors and almost too hot to bear.
I put the key into the lock of the music box, trying see underneath the beauty. This could not have been the work of my father- it was the work of my mother. Obviously, she bewitched it to only open with the amulet as worn.
I put my hands on both sides of the box. This was the moment. This box was one of the last things of her that I had.
Whatever is in this box, Malistaire wants.
I opened it.
Sick, tinkled music filled my Dorm, and in desire I searched for the thing that Malistaire wanted so badly. But there was only a letter.
Why would Malistaire want a letter?
It was crammed into the box, as though in a hurry. I wondered if my mother wrote this letter right before she was-
Right before my father found her.
I opened it up, and flattened it clearly on my desk. It was indeed my mother’s handwriting. I began to read:
Dear my Daughter,
If you are reading this, I am most likely gone. I couldn’t tell you anything in this letter before, since you were not near ready. However, since you had the ability to open this music box, I know you are ready to read the things that will forever change your life, as it did mine.
By now, you must know that I am not Amber Dreamhunter, as I was Sylvia Drake. And yes, you knew me as an Amber Ravengem as well. That was my maiden last name.
But whom did I get Dreamhunter from? My second husband’s mother. Yes, second husband! Malistaire was not the only one, but he was indeed the one I loved the most.
I did not love my second husband, and yet I bore a child with him, Sabrina, but I did not love him. I married him to help disguise my past life, and to protect you. When he left, I was not heartbroken, but betrayed. He had a feeling of who I was, and yet, he did not stay to protect us! Such a coward, that man was…
Now, you must know what I am, and what you are. You, Mary, are a Witch, but not just that. As you are fuming over these newfound words you are hearing from my pen, let me explain.
There are powerful things called the Fates. The Fates decide your destiny, where you go, and what you do. They are very dangerous. The only thing they can’t do, is control what you think. Only a few creatures get to have that advantage, and you are one of them.
You may notice I called you a “creature.” This type of creature is pure, beautiful, and like me, for I am one too. Mary, do you understand what I’m talking about?
I’m talking about Angels.
My eyes widened. Could this be? Could my mother really be a… Angel? Could I be one?
If you do not believe me, then think back when you were learning how to Port. The process of the Porting triggered your Angelic growth, which knocked you out. You could have killed somebody if your powers had actually shown; which is why I gave you that amulet. That amulet protects yourself and others from your powers, and gave you access to this music box.
However, you are not a normal Angel. You were asleep when I put that amulet on you for the first time, and I saw your aura. You, in fact, also know what your aura is. It was the colors of the key, and it glowed from your amulet. An Angel’s aura is supposed to be all, purely white. Yours, however, were many colors. Only one caught my interest, and that was the pure Gold color. Do you know what that color of an aura means? It means the color of enlightenment and divine protection. When seen within the aura, it speaks that the person is being guided by their highest good. It is a divine guidance! Protection, wisdom, inner knowledge, spiritual mind, and intuitive thinker.
And I think I know who that higher power is. Mary, the Fates have chosen you- you are one of the true race. Hidden away, there is a legend inside the story of Angels. Six girls are chosen by the Fates, and named as one of the Seraphina-Alleyen, which means God’s Beautiful Enchantresses or messengers on earth. In the Spiral of magic, it means Fate’s Enchantresses.
I know your one of them; I have been having dreams about it. Mary, I believe you may be the Angel of Wisdom and Spirituality-but only you can prove it; and you might find it in the quest I must give you, since I failed at doing so myself.
The letter wasn’t even close to ending. Could this be true? Am I really one of the “Seraphina-Alleyen?” Was I really chosen by the Fates?
My mother thought so.
My father doesn’t know anything about this, considering that my mother didn’t want him to know. If he did, I knew exactly what he would do.
He would try to steal my powers.
What about the five other girls?
I read on:
You must find the five other girls, for you share the same blood as them. The Fates made you all sisters, in the way Sabrina and you would never be. Sabrina was not one of the chosen- she was a normal witch.
The Seraphina-Alleyen has five genres. One Angel has the power of Love and Beauty, another of the Hunt and Battle
When you father figures this out, he is going to seek them all out, and kill them for their powers. You must find them before he does. All of you together, will be as powerful as the Fates themselves.
If you are to follow your destiny, then become a Questure, find your Seraphina-Alleyen sisters, and defeat your father before he overpowers the whole Spiral. Your father cannot open this box, and you have a head start to begin the search. Trust me; you are more than powerful enough.
I love you with all my heart and I will be watching! I must go now; I think someone is in the house…
Love, your trusting mother.
“Oh my-“I sobbed. She had just finished this letter, when Malistaire had entered the household. Little did she know- I choked back.
I thought the surprises were done. Everything was becoming uncalled for, and I didn’t know if I had the ability to think straight. How could I plan, if such things like these keep occurring? However, it’s not just that… I thought I was just a witch, but I really was an Angel. A Seraphina-Alleyen. Angel of Wisdom and Spirituality, and she knew this because of my aura.
I didn’t know who I was, but I did know who I am not.
I was no longer Mary, the girl whose father killed her family and ruined her life.
I am Mary, the Angel who fought back.
Nobody whispered behind my back anymore, or gave me suspicious looks. Now, it was just stares and glares. Mothers were afraid to have their children near me. Students avoided me at all cost. Teachers would make glares, and the Life teacher made a sad frown whenever she looked at me.
But that wasn’t even close to the worst part. I had no friends, besides Abby. Richard and I had separated, and he hasn’t been near me since. Now, it’s only Abby. At least she was loyal.
Choosing not to remember my mother’s chilling words as long as possible (which, apparently, is not), I reached the gates of the Headmaster’s Estate. Just two days ago, I had been forcefully dragged here, sobbing from my family’s death. I still felt that way when I walked up the steps to the front door.
I will never recover, forever doomed to have a bleeding heart, after it being shot with the black fire that killed the life I loved most. My heart certainly cannot heal, because everything is different. I felt like if I could experience, or at least see, the life I used to have. I felt like it was the only thing that could heal me- or the only thing I could think of. Nothing will ever be the same.
I never knew that I would take the saying “Never know what you have until you lose it” would ever appear important to me. I should have known better; I should have realized that just because people say it all the time, doesn’t make it any less stupid or true. Before this tragedy, the saying was pure normality, and nobody expected it to come to life. Nobody would expect to lose their family or anything else as such.
It’s just too different…
And yet, nothing was different from entering the Headmaster’s office, save nobody was there. Usually, it was a crowded room, but I suppose nobody felt like talking to the Headmaster at the moment.
I walked in. By his desk, he was looking out the window, watching the snow fall, as if in thought. “I thought you might come.”
He turned around, and took in my bloodshot eyes, messy hair in a pony tail, and red cheeks from walking fast. I straightened up. “I wan-need to become a Questure.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, that cannot do. I won’t allow that you go around fighting beasts, risking your life when you’re this valuable, not to mention- vulnerable.”
“I may be valuable, but I’m never vulnerable.” I took out the letter. “I need you to read this. It was inside the music box my father gave me, and it was written by my mother right before she was murdered. You need to read it now, please.”
The Headmaster nodded, alert from my urgency. He shifted his spectacles on his nose, and took the letter cautiously. I waited for him as he read it, his face expressionless. I kept my face the same as well. I wondered if he would be scared of me, after he realized what I was.
I saw the Headmaster’s eyes shift from the middle of the letter to the end, and just when I thought he was done-
Somebody opened the door.
A pretty girl with snow white skin, fluffy white hair, and crystal eyes burst through the door. I recognized her from the Library two days ago, with the pointy ears and Ice book. It half surprised me she opened the door with such force, for she was very petite and thin.
“Excuse me, sir.” She looked at me and her eyes widened a little bit, her lips forming an “o”.
“It’s alright.” I smiled a little, and she smiled back weakly. I wondered if she was scared of me. She looked back at the Headmaster.
“Yes, Sierra?” He did not look at her; he was still staring at the letter. What was he thinking?
“Err, Headmaster… The KQF field left me behind on the trip to Krokotopia. Is there any way to get there? I’ve been looking forward to writing about the world, there!”
The Headmaster sighed. “I can alert them to send an extra boat to come back for you.”
“What does KQF stand for?” I asked, curious, trying to take my mind off the Headmaster’s hidden thoughts.
“Krokotopia Questure Field.” She answered, avoiding looking at me.
Questure.
“Headmaster!” I gasped, whirling around. “You read the letter, right? Can I go with? I need to do this! It’s my mother’s last wish!”
The Headmaster frowned. Evidently, this was everything going against on what he was thinking in the first place. He looked at Sierra. “Will you be fine taking Mary Ravengem along the trip?”
I saw Sierra swallow nervously, but then she looked at my face and sighed. “I’ll be alright, as long as she doesn’t interfere with my writing.”
The Headmaster nodded, not as pleased, but still accepting. He turned to me. “You will be going with young Sierra Winterbreeze here, while she is on a studying trip with many Questures. Sierra will take you to the school, where the Bartebly tree stands. There, she will know what to do. I will fetch people to pack up your stuff, and you will find your things when you set off.”
For the first time in a couple days, I smiled. But only for a second. “Thank you, Headmaster. I will make you, my mother and sister proud.”
Then Sierra told me to come with her, and we began walking out the door.
“Mary, wait!” The Headmaster gave me back the letter, almost forgetting. He looked at my face for the last time. “Mary, be careful.”
“I will.”
“And Mary.” He added. “Remember when I told you about something powerful, something that controls everything, and that you were too young to understand?”
I nodded. “Yes.” I knew what he meant.
“I was wrong.” He looked truly sincere. “And your mother knew about it, too. Little that I knew that you-“
I looked around, not wanting to be late. “I know, I understand. You and I both know what I am, and I have to find my sisters.”
Then I left him, at the door, following Sierra to the school.
I did not hear him whisper: “Seraphina-Alleyen… I never knew.”
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