Chapter 28. I have to say that this is a weird one 0_0

Chapter twenty-eight—Snow White’s awakening

I had ported back to the Order’s island a hot, sweaty mess. However, I was chilled and excited. I had not gotten answers on how to save the girl’s life, but I had been able to hear my mother’s voice.

Suddenly, I felt selfish. I could have just asked the rain how to save her, but instead I was too damn distracted.

I climbed the ladder to the entrance of the Order, and to Alhazred. He was still working on the girl, whom had grown paler in the hour. Her hair was the color of blood, as though she had a runny head wound.

“Welcome back, Mary.” He greeted cautiously. “Did you become one with the wind?”

“No, but you wouldn’t believe what had happened.” I exclaimed, walking up to him. He searched my face in surprise. “It had rained!”

“Rained?” Clearly that was unexpected. “The rains visited you?”

“Yes, but I heard my mother.”

Alhazred put the bottle he was holding on a counter. “You heard your deceased mother?”

“Indeed.”

“Well,” He stared at the girl. “That was much more than expected. Obviously, the Fate’s have taken liking of you. My dear scholar, you are now in the Order of the Fang; forever in debt to the protection of Balance magic.”

My eyes slid to the girl. “Can I be alone with her?”

Alhazred nodded, and put his books on another table. Quietly, he walked out of the room. I was alone with the girl.

I tried to think some things out. I thought of the spell that Malistaire had cast- I decided it was him- and thought of the words he had used. Fairytales, perfection, disguise, enemies.

Then I realized something. This woman has a curse that put her as Snow White.

“By the Fates, I’m so sorry…” I don’t know who she loved, or who her true love was. “Please forgive me for not saving you fast enough…”

There was silence.

“Please,” I begged. “Wake up, as a friend, as a sister…” I thought of Sabrina. If I couldn’t have protected her, I will give my life to save another sister. I put my lips on her cold forehead, and thought how much I already loved her. As family- the only symbol I had left. I’m not going to let her die, and Malistaire win once again. Once she’s alive, I am going to find the others. Then I’m going to kill Malistaire.

Strangely then, I felt a flutter against my chin, like little hairs. I moved away from her, and concentrated on her face. Her eyes twitched.

Her eyes began to move, as though watching something, but they remained closed. I cupped her face in my hands, and started to shake. “Wake up! You can do it. Please, try as hard as you can!”

It was a few moments too long. Her eyes stopped moving, and she went limp once again. Disappointed, I gently put her face back on the stone. I sat down and put my face in my hands in misery.

Then I heard movement. Just slightly.

Then: “How did you do it?”

I looked up, and gaped in shock. The girl was sitting up, her moonstone eyes wide, and strands of hair over her face.

“I- I’m not sure.” I stuttered in amazement. “Whats your name?”

“Melissa Nicole; we are the same race, aren’t we?” She stared in my eyes with content. “Seraphina-Alleyen.”

I nodded. “You are my blood sister, and you must be the person who has been watching me.”

Melissa nodded. “I was not sure… It was such a convenience that one of the Seraphina-Alleyen would be the daughter of the man we are supposed to destroy.”

I smiled weakly. “How did you figure out?”

“The Fates.” Melissa smiled. “They sent me messages in dreams. How did you… Find out..?”

I shifted my position, awkwardly. “It’s hard to explain…”

Somebody gasped at the doorway. I looked over to see Matt, with extreme surprise in his eyes. “How did you possibly get her awake?”

I looked at her, then back at Matt. “I think its something about our sisterly bond… Well, something cheesy like that.” I smirked.

“Sisterly?” Matt frowned, and my breath caught in my throat. Oh crap. “I thought your sister was recently deceased?”

“Oh-“I started, but Melissa interrupted me.

“We are good friends, like sisters.” She nodded at me to understand.

“Yes, we are.” I agreed half-heartedly.

Matt stared at both of us, disbelief written all over his face. “You never said anything about knowing her, Mary.”

I cleared my throat. “That’s because you weren’t there at the scene.”

“Indeed.” He observed. He straightened up, and looked at Melissa. “Do you need anything? Pretty soon you’re going to have to explain to the Order what happened.”

“No, and call me Nikki; after my middle name. Also, are we in the Order of the Fang?” She replied, curiously.

“Yes, we are.” I answered for her, rubbing my eyes. I was so tired. I looked up at Matt. “Could you go and tell Alhazred that she is alright? I have a feeling he will know already, but go tell him just in case.”

Matt nodded, and stalked off in annoyance. I turned to Nikki. “Do you know what Angel you are?”

Nikki grimaced. “How could I not forget? How could I not know?” I saw a tear run down her face. I patted her back smoothly, but she waved me away. “Every single part of my life- every second, minute, hour, I remember. I know and remember every piece of knowledge that I’ve learned. It may seem nice for a pop quiz, but it feels like hell after you have to relive a moment in time that you never want to think of again, every single day.”

“You’re the Seraphina-Alleyen of Knowledge?” I concluded.

“No,” She corrected, “I’m the Seraphina-Alleyen of Knowledge and Remembrance.”

I frowned in pity. To think that she has to live through torture every day pierced my heart. I don’t know what happened to her, but I couldn’t imagine reliving my family’s death everyday in my mind. I touched my amulet gently, remembering my mother. “My mother thinks I’m the Seraphina-Alleyen of Wisdom and Spirit. Before she died, I mean.”

Nikki nodded at my words. “Do you think you are?”

I groaned in confusion. “Oh, I don’t know. It just seems too improbable, you know? I can’t see myself as an Angel of Wisdom, when the absolute thing I am doing is following the yellow brick road to revenge. And the thing is, I don’t want to follow revenge, I just want to make peace.”

“Then don’t follow revenge.”

I sighed. “But I don’t want to be held down by who I used to be, either. Quitting will just kill our other sisters, kill me, and let everybody down.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Nikki leaned over, and whispered. “I meant that you can become a good new person, without following revenge. In our case, it’s our only choice, now.”

I gazed at her, staring into my own eyes. “We need to find the others.”

Nikki nodded. “I think I know where the next sister is.”

Chapter 27!! I got this chapter from "Listen to the Rain" by Evanescence. :D Good ideas from that band!

Chapter twenty-seven—Listen to the Rain

Rowan, Sierra, and I took the girl to the Order. There, Alhazred greeted us with mere surprise. He glanced at the girl, and ordered us to lay her on a table by his desk.

“Where did you find this girl?” Alhazred asked, deep in his storage room.

“People had found her unconscious back at mainland.” Sierra replied. I noticed that she was holding Rowan’s hand tightly.

Despite their genetics, they looked nothing alike. It was only their petite shape that gave them resemblance.

Alhazred walked out of the room, and stopped to stare at me. I frowned, and looked at Rowan and Sierra. They noticed it too, but they didn’t know why he was staring so strangely.

“What is it?” My heart was racing with my amulet’s pulsing.

“Sierra, Rowan,” Alhazred nodded to them. “I am not in your assistance anymore. You may go.”

They looked as though they wanted to protest, but they just bowed and reluctantly turned to walk out of the area. I began to follow them, until Alhazred spoke again. “Mary, you must stay here.”

I turned my head to stare at him in wonder. “Why is that, professor?”

“We have something to discuss.”

I frowned, and sat by the table the girl was lying on. She was tall and slender, so out of the ordinary. I watched Alhazred as he began to study the girl. “Why did you want me to stay? What could we possibly discuss?”

Alhazred straightened, and put his clawed hands behind his back. “I knew there was something strange about you. I see it in your appearance, your personality, and your amulet.” He nodded to the necklace. I touched it gently. He glanced at the girl. “And I see the same thing with the girl, as well.”

I stared glumly at her, hoping that it isn’t too late for her to be saved.

“She’s not going to die, Mary. Not yet, anyhow.”

For the first time in ages, I did not cry about something so drastic. I just curled up my hands in a ball. “How long?”

“Until she starves in her sleeping state.”

I ran my fingers through my hair. “How do I save her?”

He bore a disappointed look in his eyes. “I don’t know.”

“Oh, by the Fates, why couldn’t I save her?” I put my face in my hands, and sighed. I treasured the darkness.”

“Mary.” Alhazred leaned forwards towards me. “I don’t know what you’re up to. I don’t know what you’re looking for, or how much trouble you could possibly be in. However, I want you to join the Order of the Fang, so you can find what you’re looking for; so that whatever that is connected with this girl and you, won’t happen again.”

I looked up into his golden-green eyes, with pupils like a cats. “You would do that?”

He nodded. “But you must do one thing, first.”

I stood up. “What is it?”

“I want you to walk twenty miles into the desert, and listen to the wind. Become one with nature, and you will truly know what to do.”

This seemed crazy, but I had no choice. I nodded, picked up my canteen, and touched my amulet. I hoped it would help me from the dangers of porting. If not, I was going to have to go through the pain all over again.

I remembered the words that Cyrus Drake- my uncle, bore me. Then, remarkably, I ported.

I ended up in the Oasis. Looking all directions, I headed off for the part of the desert most flat with sand.

I counted each step as I walked the twenty miles. Each step, the sun burned my back and shot pains through my feet.

After a long amount of time walking, I sat down to rest. The Oasis was just a spot, and I felt relief that I could port back. I knew what the Oasis looked like, unlike the desert. That gave me the ability to port.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, I felt a raindrop. I looked at my wrist in shock, watching as the drop of liquid dripped off it, and onto the ground. I looked up. It was only scorching blue sky, with no clouds. I looked back into my hand, and I felt another drop.

What the hell?

All a sudden, it felt like a huge pail of water was dumped over my head. It was raining so hard, that I couldn’t see outside of it. I couldn’t see the sand, Oasis, or the blue sky that shouldn’t even be bearing rain. This may be magic rain.

Then, I heard this kind of music. This kind of song. It was like beautiful whispers, a chorus of angels singing out of the rain drops. It was so mystical; it took me moments to figure out what the words spoke.

“Listen… Listen… Listen…” The chorus of whispery, beautiful voices spoke the word high and low, making it sound like a symphony.

Then more voices rang out of the rain, except they were deeper, richer, and slower. I wondered if they were Angels that the Fates sent down. Could have Alhazred known about this?

“Listen to each drop of raaiin…”

Memorized by their voices, I listened harder. “Whispering secrets in vaaiin.”

Male voices, soft and gorgeous, sung out their “Ahh’s” like in a chorus. It was a musical never before seen heard, in the middle of a rainstorm with no clouds. How could this be possible?

“Frantically searching for someone to hear… Their story before they hit ground…” I stiffened, surprised. It felt like they were singing about me, all a sudden. In a way, it made sense. That was how I felt. Now afraid, I tried to move- but their voices rang out once again.

“Please don’t let go, let you listen for a while?” I stopped and listened.

Then all of the voices, male, female, angelic, and whispery sang, “Listen to the raaiin… AaAh.”

“Listen, Listen, Listen, to the rain weeping…”

Then I heard it. The sobbing. Each raindrop hitting the ground like a tear, and I felt one of my own on my cheek, hot and wet. However, instead of making me feel weaker, I felt stronger.

I stood alone in this magical storm, and then a sweet voice comes out. It was too familiar, too painful to hear-

How could I hear her voice? My heart was pounding. She’s dead.

“Hurry, you haven’t much time…” She sang. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block it out. I felt something slightly tugging at my clothes and hair.

“Open your eyes to the love-around you…” I reluctantly opened my eyes, and I didn’t regret it. I saw warm, beautiful faces in the rain, but there was something else. There was wind all around me, like I was in the middle of a huge tornado. However, it only tugged at my clothes and hair, too gently and safe.

“You may feel you’re alone,” I nodded, my lip shaking.

“But I’m still here with you.” She sang. “You can do what you dare, just remember to listen to the raaiin”

Her voice went soft, and the chorus died down with the rain. It stopped abruptly, and the wind slowly died down enough to see the oasis. I looked around, and there were no wet spots. No sign of it ever raining.

But that wasn’t what gave me the chills.

I had just heard my mother’s voice.

Chapter 26 :D

Chapter twenty-six-Visions

Matt showed up after study five or six hard hours of studying. He greeted Alhazred and Rowan, and then ported me back to my tent. Unfortunately, Sierra wasn’t there yet.

          “Sorry Mary, you’ll just have to wait a while.” Matt grimaced. I wonder if he was told to be overprotective.

          “I can take care of myself, Matt.” I grumbled. He nodded, then turned and disappeared in the flash of porting.

          I turned around and whisked into my tent. Everything was as it was this morning- clothes neatly in piles, books on the beds, Sierra’s mirror on her suitcase, and a newspaper.

          Actually, a newspaper was kind of odd. I didn’t know we got news around here, and it was especially strange that it was on my cot. I walked over and picked up the newspaper as if it was very fragile. There was nothing much on the headlines, just something about a woman being jinxed badly by leprechaun. I flipped through the pages, and yet nothing caught my attention. Until I saw my name.

          It was a small article, but big enough to see it:

Mary Drake- Another Malistaire or Sylvia?

       Mary Drake, a poor, petty girl, or a girl with a good-looking destiny? Let’s see what the readers have to say about this “One-of-a-kind” confused subject.

          “She’s a liar, and she’s going to all bring us to our deaths one day.” Speaks Helga Nightborn. “Never trusted Malistaire, and its terrible that the Fates bared us another little clone of his. Somebody needs to have her dealt with, that’s what I say.”

          A liar for what, you say? Well, it seems to be that this “special girl” is working for Malistaire herself. What else would she be doing, disappearing to some world or two? Robert Seaglade speaks his opinion:

          “I bet she’s killing off babies.” Tells Robert Seaglade. “She’s not to be trusted. Its total stupidity that the Headmaster gives her a chance.  We’ll regret giving her chances after she kills our children!”

          Its all true, my friends. The people have spoken- but are they all the same opinions? Let’s hear from Laura Lionwhisper (90 years old):

“I think everybody is forgetting that she is just a little girl, only 16 of age. Her own father killed her mother and sister for the Fate’s sake- why would she join the murderer of her family?”

          “She hasn’t even learned any dark magic yet.” Speaks Celtic Mayflower. “I don’t understand how she could be evil. That sort of thing doesn’t come in genetics.”

          Well, we will all learn once and for all. Is Mary Drake a liar, or innocent entertainment? We will all know soon, folks!

                                                -Sarah Lifewinder, Journalist

         

I winced. First, there was the fact that they called me Mary Drake. Then, they had called me a liar, a killer, a traitor, and innocent entertainment?

          I watched as a tear slid off my cheek and hit the paper, and I screamed and threw the newspaper on the floor. “Who the hell would leave that there?”

          Why do people keep badgering me? Why do people keep underestimating or overestimating me? Why can’t I be normal?

          Why should I be tormented daily defeated by people I don’t even know, just when I thought I’d reached the bottom of a bully’s fire.

          In a way, I felt like I was dying all over again. I put my head in my hands, trying to figure things out. I just feel like I keep falling, and falling, and falling until I realize there is no way to break out. Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies like in some big pot, then spilling it in my mind so I don’t know whats real and whats not.

          I didn’t want to do this anymore, but it was against my limits to stop. I have no choice. If I stopped now, then my sisters would die and my family will never be avenged.

          Avenged? What does that word even mean? I don’t want to follow the path of revenge. I want to follow the path of peace and clarity… So why is fighting the only choice? Why can’t my father just listen?

          “By the Fates, I can’t even trust myself anymore.” I murmured. “Oh mother, please help me… I don’t know what to do with the Seraphina-Alleyen. I don’t know how to find them.”  Suddenly, I heard a rustle outside the tent door. I jolted, realizing somebody could have heard what I just said.

          I rushed outside of the tent, and saw a flicker of fiery red hair. I suddenly thought of Rowan, but the hair was too bright, like a flame, to be her. “Whose there?”

          Nobody answered. There were no footsteps, no nothing. Perhaps it was only somebody passing by- I’m sure nobody heard me.

          I walked back into the tent, exhausted. I fell onto my cot, and pulled my blanket over my head. Slowly, quietly, I fell asleep.

         

          The sky was a large mass of swirling red wind, as demons flew in circles around a scepter as cursed as hell.

A chorus of darkness sprang around a room of onyx marble. Shadows ran like wolves around a man whose shed blood of love.

          “O’ bewitching of life, in Magic’s name I do call thee forth, cast thy blessing; I do ask, upon the magic that shall be worked here!” Spirits, demons, the man in black, sung the spell of dark certainty, like a never ending chorus.

          “O’ fine lies, in Magic’s name I do call thee forth, bringer of happy nightmares and power of flawless perfection, I ask its aid in the curse I do here work.” They sung this, raising higher and higher, making shadows of wolves, arrows, beasts, and wind.

          The man turned, and Malistaire’s black eyes glittered in joy. He had my smile, full and stubborn.

          “O’ torrents of evil, in Magic’s name I do call thee forth. Join me with your everlasting strength in performing this most powerful of lies!” Red, the color of blood, ran deep through the walls like cracks of lava. A black smoke began to form around his ankles. Power seared through Malistaire’s veins, glowing red and black under his skin.

          “O’ fairytale, deep and lovely, in evil’s name I do call the forth, that I may feel the power itself move in the roar of enchantment to disguise- which doth come to kill thy enemies-!” The shadows moved as fast as lightning towards the Malistaire, his grin bloody and horrid.

          Suddenly, the scene changed, to a dark oasis. In front of the Krokotopian Library. Stars sprung in the sky in beauty, and that little pond, so small and weak, suddenly became gorgeous in the moonlight.

Then there was a woman, whom looked 17 years of age. She was staring at the moon, illuminating the colors of her eyes- blues with a shimmer of mixed bright colors. She had hair the color of flames, pouring down her back and shoulders. She is pale as snow, with deep pink in her lips. She was absolutely beautiful.

Suddenly, a red mist began to surround her. Pooling around her knees, she looked around in shock. It seemed that she couldn’t move. I could see fear in her eyes, so similar to mine, until the red mist covered her whole. The red mist seemed to go inside of her, and she collapsed. Asleep, dead, I could not know.

Somehow, I knew deep inside that she was not the only one to fall…

I woke in the morning, hot and sweating from the heat. Sierra was reading the newspaper that I had threw on the floor.

My heart was pounding, but there was something else hot and pulsing on my chest. I looked down to see my necklace glowing. I stuffed it under my shirt, so that Sierra wouldn’t see. The hot amulet burned my skin, but I didn’t wince.

“Hey, Sierra?” I breathed out cautiously. She looked up in response. “Did you for any chance leave that newspaper on my bed last night?”

She shook her head and frowned. “No, why?”

I showed her a fake smile, to pretend everything was fine. “Nothing.”

If she hadn’t put that newspaper on my bed, then who did? Was it the same person I saw with the red hair? The woman in my dream?

I shuddered. There was something strange about these dreams; I just couldn’t put my finger on it. The fact that they are happening in real life scares me; considering that I just saw a woman die or something.

Who was that woman? I had never seen anybody like her in my entire life. I recognized her eyes, not unlike mine, and had seen Malistaire saying this kind of spell.

O’ fairytale, deep and lovely,

What was he saying?

Which doth come to kill thy enemies?

What the hell did that mean? Is that woman dead, or in some kind of sleep? Perhaps it has something to do with old fairytales.

Snow white! I remember she had skin as pale as snow, and how she collapsed in the red mist, a color of a red apple. However, such an inference couldn’t be true. I needed more proof-

No. I needed to step up, try harder. I haven’t even found one of my sister’s yet. I sighed.

After many hours, I still couldn’t get that woman out of my head. She was connected with something, and I felt like a magnet to her. Could she possibly be a Seraphina-Alleyen? I thought about this while studying in the Order. Not completely lost in hieroglyphics, books, artifacts, and history; it was difficult to perceive everything at once.

Alhazred used his clever comments all throughout the day. I was starting to wonder if that is the only way he knows how to speak. It seemed the more I stayed there, the more I wanted to learn what exactly this Order was. Why it was so secret, and why it was so important. Maybe it was something to do with Malistaire.

I was piecing everything together, and yet I had no answers. Maybe those words that I’m looking for aren’t the ones to make it better. If only I knew how to pull myself apart, I could get some answers.

The night came along once again, and I retreated back to my tent with Sierra. There, I studied the book Matt gave me, and Sierra was resting on her cot. I sighed, and an idea sprang into my mind.

What if I write to Abby? I sat up and grabbed a piece of parchment, a quill, and some ink. I had written “Dear Abby” when shouts began happening outside.

“By the Fates, it’s too dark out for people to be going chaotic!” Sierra exclaimed furiously. She sat up and rushed to the door. She stood there, looking out at the Oasis. I noticed her white skin go a shade paler.

“Sierra, what is it?” I put the quill down, sudden chills going down my spine. My citrine amulet was searing in heat.

“Mary, stay here.” I got up and tried to walk past her, but she pushed me aside and walked outside. Stubbornly, I followed.

I gasped in horror at what I saw. There were crowds of people, surrounding a small part of the pond. However, in the middle, was the woman with the fire hair and colorful eyes. Sprawled in the sand, pale as snow, eyes glued shut. Her lush, pink lips were now pale and sullen, and she looked almost thinner than in the dream. This had actually happened.

I rushed over, despite Sierra’s protest. I pushed past people, and some of them barked at me with annoyance.

I knelt over the girl. She looked about my age, sixteen or seventeen. I put two fingers under her jaw, and felt her pulse. It was slow, but still beating.

“Hey, you’re not supposed to be touching her. Get away from her, you idiotic moron!”

I felt anger flash in my eyes when somebody harshly touched my shoulder. I stood up and whipped around, my lips pursed and face flushed. “Don’t tell me what to do, or you will regret it.”

The man, scared at my identity, walked away very fast. It didn’t seem that he was in the mood for arguing with “Mary Drake.”

Then I looked at the rest of the small crowd, whispering and gawking. I seemed to be the only one who knows what happened. I glared all of them in the eye. “I mean all of you. Leave us.”

They glanced at each other, and left silently. I never noticed how much seriousness and power was in my voice, until then. Sierra walked slowly towards me, shaken, and also felt the girl’s pulse on her wrist. “She’s still alive.”

“We need to take her to the Order.”

Sierra stared at me strangely. I wondered if she knew what I was up to. “Why?”

“Because, this girl is not who she seems. We need to take her to the Order now.”

“I can help with that.” A voice sprang out of nowhere, and Sierra and I turned to see a small, petite girl with reddish-brown hair and green eyes; she stood with the moonlight glowing on her skin, and half her body covered in the darkness of shadows.

“Rowan.” Sierra whispered with a smile.

Quote :)

The Unlike is joined together, and from differences results the most beautiful harmony.
:D
Next time, i'm going to add some clips that i didnt put in the book... Unfortunately. I liked those clips. :(

Chapter 25, guys :D

Chapter twenty-five~ Order of Learning

          I woke up earlier this morning, even earlier than Sierra. Shocked to see her sleeping for once, I did not notice a parcel by the door of the tent. Only when I got up to look outside and embrace the sun, did I almost step on it and notice it.

          I picked it up. It was wrapped in light blue tissue paper, and was hard as a rock. Ripping off the paper, it was a book. The Making of Runes and Stones, by Jonathan SoulWell.

          “Go figure.” I muttered. I opened the book, and on the first page, there was writing.

          Hope you learn lots

                                -M

          I made a silent thanks to Matt, and put it on my cot.

          “What was that you had?” Sierra’s voice made me jump, alive and cheerful.

          “Thanks for startling me.” I turned around to face her, sitting cross-legged on her cot. “How did you wake up so quickly?”

          “I usually get up on the same time. However, how did you get up so early?”

          “I don’t know…” I told the truth.

          “That answer makes sense.” She chuckled under her breath. “Did you get something?”

          “Yeah.” I pointed to the book. “It’s from Matt.”

          “Mmm.” She put a white, dainty finger on her mouth. “Probably for school.”

          “Yeah.” Suddenly, I widened my eyes. “What time did he say that I had to be at this school?”

          Sierra laughed. “Relax. It’s all figured out. Matt is going to pick you up in-“She looked at her wristwatch. “A half hour.”

          “What am I going to wear?”

          “Here.” She walked towards a stack of clothes on a dresser near her cot. “He gave me these clothes to give you last night.”

          She handed me the robes. They were made out of a very soft material, soft and silky. It was a bright maroon color, with a tan trim. I didn’t quite favor the colors.

          “Why tan?” I asked, disappointed.

          “Its balance school colors.” She smirked.

          “Great?”

          “Just get dressed.”

          Twenty minutes later, my hair was put into a pony tail and covered by a maroon hood. The hood covered half my face, only revealing my eyes. Because of that, I felt less vulnerable, and more dangerous.

          Most people only need to look at my eyes to see who I am, anyways. I glance at a mirror hanging by Sierra’s cot, and I saw a glimmer of colors in my eyes. There was something else, though. Pain and fear of what comes ahead. I sighed.

           I was wearing the maroon and tan robes, which felt more comfortable then they looked- and colder, which felt amazing in the burning heat.

          And of course, my citrine amulet. Whenever I wore this amulet, which is all the time, I felt that I wasn’t alone. It’s as if my mother’s presence still lingers here, making my wounds impossible to heal.

          Right on the dot, a swooshing sound came from outside the tent, and I knew it was Porting.

          The tent door opened, and Matt appeared. Glancing at me, and then looking at Sierra. “I see she’s ready. What time are you going to be back from your appointment?”

          “Six hours, at the most.” She replied, twisting a lock of silver hair with her thumb and forefinger.

          “What appointment?” I interrupted.

          Sierra’s crystal eyes twinkled in delight. “It’s for my writing, you see. I’m going to meet with the librarian in the Krokotillian Library, and study their culture.”

          Matt smirked. “Are you sure you that you don’t want to see your little sister?”

          Sierra grimaced, while I perked up in surprise. “You mean she has a sister?” I turned to Sierra. “You have a sister?”

          Sierra did a little smile. “Her name is Rowan.  She is Life, like my father, and she is an apprentice in the Order of the Fang. You might see her there.”

          Matt looked at his watch. “We need to go, Mary. You will not obtain any pleasure being late for your class.”

          I nodded. Matt held out his hand and I took it eagerly. In a moment, Matt nodded to Sierra in a goodbye, and we hurtled into colors of wind and heat.

          After a few seconds, I felt my feet sink into the ground an inch deeper. Sand was everywhere and a huge monument stood in front of the scolding sun. It seemed to be made out of some kind of golden stone, almost gleaming in its age.

          “Welcome to the Island of the Krokosphinx.” Matt walked forward, and in the shadows of the huge monument was a large, hidden hole. Before I could figure out what the hole was, I finally figured out what the monument was. It seemed to be a statue of a lion’s body and a lizards head, with a Krokotopian crown upon its head. 

          “The architecture is amazing, here.” I exclaimed, as Matt took my arm and led me to the hole. In the mist of the haze, I noticed a ladder that went down the hole. It was all so hidden; I wondered how I could see it at all.

          “I trust that your school will allow you to see the entrance.” Matt examined the hole, and glanced at me. “All you have to do is climb down the ladder.”

          “You mean the Order of the Fang is in a hole?”

          “Yes, why?” He looked surprised at my doubt.

          “If it’s a place so sacred, then why is it in a hole, where some assassin could find it?” I stated, completely lost.

          “That’s the thing,” Matt smirked, “Only people who know true balance magic can see the entrance.”

          My mouth went in the shape of an “o”. I stared at him suspiciously. “How do I know it’s not a trap?”

          He laughed at this. “Because your Headmaster knows about this place. Why in the worlds would he send you to a trap?”

          I sighed, defeated in one quick blow. “Alright. Will you be back?”

          “Yes, and hopefully Sierra would be back from her appointment by the time you reach your tent. I will see you in six hours.” He turned and ported abruptly, leaving no trace behind. Perhaps he didn’t want to speak anymore.

          I turned, and gazed at the hole. Matt was right; the Order of the Fang wouldn’t be a trap. How could it, if Headmaster Ambrose knows about it?

          I slowly touched the ladder, and began to work my way down. The light got dimmer and dimmer, until my feet touched wood to stone.

          I turned around, staring in wonder at the room before me.

          It was almost like a library made out of old stone and artifacts. Row after row, there were books, harps, crowns, parchments, scrolls, mirrors, and more. Desks surrounded the room neatly, with one scroll on each tabletop. There were many large goblets full of this reddish-glowing liquid. On the walls, were torches of blue fire, flickering shadows against the hieroglyphic wall.

          Flying around, quicker than a snap of your finger, shot past me; pixies. They seemed to fly randomly around the room, while some were actually reading, or studying. They were tiny little things; about the size of your hand. I wondered why they were here.

          Three girls and two boys were deep in their books, reading at their desks. One other girl with light brown hair seemed to be making a potion, and a boy was reciting hieroglyphics on a piece of parchment. None of them happened to notice me.

          I walked forward slowly, cautious, trying not to disturb the students. I saw another room with an arched door in the front of the library- room, and I walked gently to that door. Once there, I peeked inside, but only saw shadows. Only one fire was lit in this room.

          But there was definitely something alive in here.

          “Hello?” I murmured. I coughed quietly, and held on to the stone wall for support from whatever was in here.

          “Come in, young witch.” The voice was dry, crackly, and a mans. However, it was gentle and kind enough for me to walk in without feeling unsafe.

          I squinted in the shadows, trying to see this man. “Who are you? Are you a professor?”  

          “A teacher? That is everything and everyone, my dear.”

          “What do you mean?” I asked.

          Something moved in the darkness. “Everything teaches, and everyone teaches to another. It’s a giant web of knowledge, a magical connection that cannot break. In the end, it shall be a cup of knowledge, never stopping, never spilling.”

          “Sounds fascinating.” I breathed out, full of wonder. It took me a second to realize that I still didn’t know who this man was.

          “However.” The thing moved again. Was that him? “I cannot teach you, if one’s cup is already full.”

          “You just said that a cup of knowledge could never be full?”

          “Ah, yes, but do you believe your cup is full?” The man insisted.

          “No.” I replied. “I wish to learn.”

          “Why are you here, young witch?” The man grunted, despite my last comment.

          “My Headmaster from Ravenwood sent me here to learn, sir.” I replied.

          “That is an answer, but not a true one. Speak why you are here.”

          Confused, I spoke, “I will speak when you show yourself.”

          “I will teach when the student is ready. Tell me, what is your breaking point?”

          Shocked, I stepped back. “I shan’t speak my breaking point until I know who you are, sir.”

          I heard a chuckle in the distance of the shadows, all scratchy and loud. “I must learn your breaking point to make you stronger. As for my appearance, I must know you’re aware of your judgments in equality.”

          “Am I being tested?” I examined warily.

          “We are always being tested, my dear witch.” Then, suddenly, he emerged from the shadows. I held in a gasp, and bit my lip.

          The man was a lizard. A large, crocodile-like lizard, standing on his hind legs. He wore silks of balance colors, and wore a headgear thin enough to show that he was bald. He bared a snout, with teeth poking out his mouth. “I, dear child, am Alhazred; member of the Order of the Fang.”

          “You’re a lizard.” I eyed him, and wondered if that wasn’t obvious.

          “Indeed I am. Now, what is your breaking point?”

          I pinched my lips together, focusing on his yellow eyes. “I will not tell. I’m not ready yet.”

          Alhazred bowed, and looked me in the eye. “You have passed the test.”

          What test? I thought. Then I realized- perhaps he was teaching me to never fall for my weakness?

          Which was what- did I even know my breaking point?

          In a way, I was tired of my body being here, while my soul was secretly hiding in the back of my mind. I wish my mother’s presence would just leave, because it wont leave me alone, not letting my wounds just heal.

          But the pain is too real, as well. I wanted my mother and Sabrina to come back. I had fought for their happiness, held their hand when they had cried. And for what? Death? Leaving me here, to fight for myself- which I had not done yet in my entire life? I didn’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to get rid of their faces which they haunt my once most pleasant dreams. I don’t know how to break the bond from the life that they left me behind in.

          Could I tell myself, or convince that they are gone forever? If my mother’s presence was still haunting me, then why do I feel so alone?

          Damn myself for such childish fears. I should know better- I’ve kept these thoughts in the back of my mind since the deaths occurred. I opened my eyes, and realized that Alhazred was watching me. Suddenly, I trusted him.

          “You had a question, and I shall answer.” I decided. “Even in death, love lasts forever. That is my decision to tell you.”

          Alhazred nodded. “And I agree.”

          I stared into his eyes. “So, will you teach me?”

          “You should do it, professor.” A young girl’s voice rung out from the entrance, and there stood a girl with dark reddish hair and green-brown eyes. She was a small thing, skinny and narrow. She looked about eleven years old.

          “Why do you think, dear Rowan?”

          Sierra’s sister!

          “Because,” She glanced deeply into my face. “You can see the longing in her eyes. She wants to learn, professor.”

          Alhazred stood there, gazing at me. “You have quite extraordinary eyes. In fact, there is something very strange with you, young witch. What is your name, child?”

          “Mary Ravengem, professor.”

          Rowan gasped. Alhazred’s expression never changed. “Mmm, Sylvia’s daughter. Yes, there is something quite the contrary with you, Mary. We will understand each other soon enough.”

          He was the only person I’ve ever met that called me Sylvia’s daughter the first time, and not the daughter of a mad man. It sent shivers of pleasure down my spine for this to actually happen once.

          He spoke again. “Rowan shall share her books with you, and you may explore this little school. Beware; however, do not try to spill your cup before it is even enough yet.”

          I nodded, and began the school of the Order of the Fang.