#0 - Prologue
“C’mon Penny!!” I overheard a few classmates, which were beckoning me towards the door. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and we had plans to hang out.
“Hey, you ok? You look a little sick.” My fakest friend, Marcia asked. She had her brown hair tied back in a high ponytail, bringing her golden eyes to the center of attention.
“I’m fine.” I brushed past them, hearing them whisper to one another. ′Marcia why do you hang out with her if she’s so rude?′ ′Yeah you should totally dump her ass.′ ′C’mon guys I can’t do that.′ This was something I had gotten used to. I knew I should’ve started to be kind towards Marcia, but I was the only one who saw what she was really like. Because she would always take her stress out on me..
“Penny!” Marcia landed her hand on my shoulder, making me stop in place. “I’m gonna lose you if you keep running ahead!”
“Good.” She looked puzzled, as did the rest of my classmates who all stood behind her. She pulled her hand back, holding it like she’d been hurt.
“Penny what’s gotten into you lately?...” She started questioning me, until one of our other classmates stood beside me. I knew this boy. Dennis Elliot, my childhood friend. Although we kept it secret. He was known for hating Marcia because he had seen what she did to me. It made no sense to me why Marcia still liked him after he ridiculed her in front of the whole school, almost destroying her reputation.
“Carter wanna hang out with me?” He held his hand out, which I gladly took. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t help it. Seeing the despair on Marcia’s face was priceless.
“I was just gonna hang around the river.” Dennis smiled as we walked out of the school gates together, laughing at Marcia and her gang. Dennis chuckled, placing his arm around my shoulder. I felt so comfortable around him, even in tough situations.
“The one down by the skatepark? Isn’t it rumored to be haunted or something?” Dennis agreed, but shook it off soon afterwards. I didn’t want to question him about it, since his mother died in the river while protecting us from the strong tides the river was known for. It was a hard topic for the Elliot’s and my mother since she lost her best friend.
“Anyway,” I decided to ease the tension by going off topic and speaking about something he would talk about for hours. “How’s the college applications going?”
“Eh, rejected again.” I felt bad for asking, but wanted him to keep talking to ease tension.
“Sorry Dennis. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up..” He ran his fingers through his pure black hair, his hair falling onto the right as we walked.
Eventually we arrived, sitting beside the riverbed. Dennis sat by a tree nearby as I sat on the dock watching the fish swim around freely. I felt myself go back in time, back to when Helen was still here. The smell of fresh blossoms in the trees filled the water with a soft feeling.
“Penny watch out!!!” I heard Dennis yell, only to realize it was too late. I fell into the strong currents, unable to catch a breath. Every time I would reach the surface, the only thing I could focus on was Dennis running alongside the bed. I wanted to call out, scream or just say something. But I hit my head and it all went black..
“Little Mistress?” A woman stood behind a late teenage girl, brushing her hair. She felt odd, seeing such a sight and feeling like she was there. But she couldn’t let it stop her from being who she was.
“The Lord wished to see you, Little Mistress.” She immediately knew who she meant. Her Father. A cruel man with a short temper, unless his daughters were in the picture. He would want to discuss the passing of the lands with her sisters.
“Carissa.” The woman placed the brush on the table beside her, sitting next to the girl. She held her hand, tightly. Carissa was her favorite. Which was why she asked for her to be the personal maid.
“Did you have the daydreams again? Little Mistress this must be brought to the surface!” Carissa held the girl close, gently playing with the newly-brushed hair. Winora felt so comfortable around her. She was the only maid around her age, so they grew up together.
“I know..” Her voice sounded like a squeak, but Carissa understood her more than ever. She always had, even when she first started. Another maid came in, informing Winora that her Father was waiting for her presence in the garden.
The gardens of the home was filled with exotic plants, shrubs and trees. Unique flowers blanketed the lands of the North. The North was known for the rich soil and large mines filled with jewels and stones.
“Sister Winora..” Her attention was snapped back to see her half-sister, Lady Cecelia. She was only a few months older than Winora was, but she resented her like a commoner. Her Mother was the Duchess Meira. Winora’s Mother, our Father’s current wife, was the Grand Duchess Astris. Both of them had high ranks in nobility, but Winora knew Cecelia wanted to be in her position of the daughter of a Grand Duchess.
“My my, am I lost?” They both looked behind them, seeing their older sister Archduchess Heira. She was Cecelia’s full-blooded sister, but she treated Winora as one as well. She loved this woman more than the Goddess of Creation loved the Earth.
“Of course not, dear sister.” Cecelia was cold and harsh, as usual. The only person she seemed to show any kindness to was the Emperor, although he resented her as she resented Winora. Heira, however, was known for her kindness and generosity to all people of the lands. She had left the North to marry Archduke Heston in the East. So, why was she here?
“Chin up, my dear Winora. You look sad as a toad on winter’s day.” Winora couldn’t help but smile. She knew exactly what to say to make anyone smile, except Cecelia. She hugged her tightly, feeling Cecelia’s gaze stab her in the back.
“Winora, how are the visions going?” Heira said in a whisper, making sure Cecelia didn’t hear. Heira was referring to the visions from another life Winora had suffered from since she was a child. She and Carissa were the only people Winora had told. They were the only people she could speak to freely without worry of rumor or judgement.
“My daughters..” They all looked towards their Father, seeing him in one of the gold and white gazebos. They joined him for tea, hoping for it to get the conversation over it.
“I’m glad you could make it, Heira.” Heira smiled, stating it was her pleasure. Cecelia sat by Father and Heira. Winora next to Heira and an empty chair.
“Father, why is-” Cecelia started to question the single chair, until Winora’s Mother appeared. She greeted them, sitting beside the Father. Cecelia gritted her teeth, showing an undying hatred for the Grand Duchess. Cecelia resented her as much as she did Winora, but her hatred for her sister was more open to the world.
“Mother! I didn’t expect you to join us!” Heira smiled at the Grand Duchess, something she returned as a grateful gesture. The Grand Duchess Astris was known throughout the lands to be quite collected and often reserved, but had a strong will of magic.
“How is your marriage Heira?” Heira looked a little flushed, but still managed to be calm and speak of her marriage happily. They discussed it until the Grand Duke Heston spoke up.
“Now, you girls both know why you’re here.” Winora felt Cecelia staring at me, so she did the same. They both knew Father called them here; to discuss what would become of the land after he died.
“Cecelia,” The girls looked at their Father, unable to guess what he would finish his sentence with. “You are the oldest, however, I cannot allow you to rule over the lands..” All women could sense Cecelia trying to contain herself but failed.
“FATHER ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! I’M MORE QUALIFIED TO RULE OVER THE LANDS THAN THIS--”
“Cecelia!” Everyone stopped, looking towards the sudden voice. There, stood Duchess Meira alongside Winora’s Grandmother, the Former Grand Duchess of Avalon. Cecelia instantly sat back down, silent.
“This was not his decision. Cecelia you are a talented woman, but you have a grave temper which will not be tolerated in this household.” Winora’s Grandmother stood behind Heira, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“And you mustn’t raise your voice around a pregnant woman.” Heira smiled, tears rolling down her cheeks. Winora placed her hand on her sister, unable to contain the happiness she felt for Heira. Father looked shocked, but was soon laughing with happiness.
“Grandmother, may I know how you-”
“I am the greatest mage to live, Heira. Nothing goes on without my knowledge.” They all agreed. The Former Grand Duchess of Avalon, Ellie, was the most feared person throughout the lands, even in foreign countries. Even the Imperial Family treated her like some sort of a goddess. But, for some odd reason, she was the sweetest person in the lands. She often attended social gatherings. She adored commoners, even the thieves trying to make a living. It was widely known she traded with the best merchants in the region, explaining her extravagant gifts she handed out to those around her. Sadly, she was coming to her deathbed quite soon..
