Chapter 3

I was outside in the most beautiful garden I had ever seen. There were flowers and plants that I had never seen before, everything was so bright and vibrant. I sat at the edge of a small pond that was filled with crystal clear water.“Scarlett, come here!” I heard a woman say. I stood up and ran to where I heard the voice. I reached a massive door where a beautiful women stood. She had long raven hair and the most beautiful sapphire eyes. She leaned down and took me in her arms. She smiled at me and brushed my equally hair out of my face showing off my emerald green eyes. Her sweet smile faded into a sad frown as a tear formed in her eye. I reached up with my little hand and wiped the tear from her eye. “Don’t be sad.” I said in a small voice. “I’m okay princess, I promise.” The woman replied in a soft voice. “Mommy has something she needs to tell you though.” She added before carrying me inside. I shot up in bed and put my hand to my side. I slowly lifted up my shirt and saw that I still had a cut on my side telling me that what had happened wasn’t a dream. Suddenly it was almost impossible to breath. I clenched my chest as I struggled to catch my breath. I managed to get out of bed and stumble down the stairs. I went into the kitchen and got a glass, filled it with water then drank the soothing liquid. Once again I heard the front door open. My heart started racing. I looked around then grabbed the biggest knife I could find. I stepped out of the kitchen and sighed in relief when I saw that it was just my mom. I went back into the kitchen and put the knife away. I left the kitchen and simply stood there holding myself. A few moments later my mother turned around and jumped at the sight of me. “You scared me dear.” She said with a hand over her chest. She walked over to me and lifted up my shirt and added, “Why don’t you tell me what happened?” I nodded and followed her into the living room. I sat on the couch next to her and took in every little detail about her. She’s not the same woman from my dream that claimed to be my mother. This woman in front of me had lighter hair and her eyes were a golden color. The woman in my dream had tan, flawless skin whereas my mom had light skin with a few freckles spotting her face. Her voice was also a different tone. The woman in my dream talked with a soft, loving tone that was also powerful. The woman in front of me always spoke with a tone of what sounded like fear. I looked deep into the woman’s eyes and told her about what happened with the girl then about my dream. “Are you my real mom?” I asked as a lumped formed in the back of my throat. “No. I’m your mother’s sister, when you were eight she asked me to take you away for your protection.” My mom-aunt-informed me. Tears started to form in my eyes as I spoke. “To protect me from what?” She looked down and exhaled deeply. “Your sister, Stella. She’s five years older than you are.” “I have a sister.” I whispered mostly to myself. “Yes, but she hated you. She was always trying to hurt you, so your mother locked Stella away but she got free. She sent your mom a letter saying that she was going to kill you no matter what it took, so, she sent you away with me.” My aunt told me. “Why did she try to hurt me?” I questioned as the tears trailed down my face. She looked up at me and replied, “Stella knew that you were going to become more powerful than her and she hated that so she wanted you dead. Your mother wanted you to be safe and since she’s queen she couldn’t just leave, that's why I took you instead of your mother. But, unfortunately your sister found you and is again trying to kill you before you can remember anything and come to your true power.” “You said my mom’s name was Ruby but since you aren’t my mom, what’s your name?” Was all I was able to say as I tried to take in what I was told. “Evelyn.” She replied with a small smile. “So, I guess I should start calling you Aunt Evelyn?” I asked. “I think that would be okay.” She said. After a few minutes of silence I spoke. “So, if what you told me is true, then why don’t I remember any of it?” I questioned. “She had a block put on your memory.” Evelyn stated. I could feel the anger rising up in me. “Why would she do that, doesn’t she want me to know who she is, did she do it to hide the fact that she obviously doesn't care about me or love me?” I rambled on. “She loves and cares for you very much Scarlett, she did it so you wouldn’t live in fear and pain of not being with her.” My Aunt said. “I want to see her.” I stated standing up from my seat. Evelyn stood up as well and said, “I don’t think-” “She gave me up, blocked my memory, prevented me from being able to make these so called powers stronger so now I can’t protect myself from my so called sister. If my mother really is a queen then that makes me princess so you have to do as I say and I demand to see my mother” I all but yelled. She sighed and nodded slightly before taking out her phone. “What are you doing?” I questioned. “I’m calling someone.” She replied. “Who?” I asked. Evelyn simply looked at me then dialed the number. About thirty minutes later there was a knock on the door. Evelyn went over to the door and opened it. I looked on in confusion at who I saw. “Mr. Rashford, what are you doing here?” I asked the man as he walked in. “I told you, call me Eli.” He replied. “Why would I call my teacher by his first name especially when I don’t even know you?” I countered. “Yes, you don’t know me, I’ll give you that, but I’m not your teacher.” Eli stated. Before I could say anything else, Evelyn spoke. “He works for the kingdom, he’s one of your mother’s best Knights, she sent him here to look after you.” “If she thought I needed someone to watch after me why didn’t she just come and take me home?” I questioned. “Well, she sent me mostly just to check up on you, you know, make sure you’re okay, plus she's the queen so she can't just leave. But, since your sister has found you I have no choice but to take you back with me so you can get all of the protection that you need.” Eli informed me. “What about dad? Or, your husband, since you aren’t really my mom I guess he’s not really my dad.” I said. Eli and Evelyn both looked at each other then Evelyn turned to me with a sad look on her face. “The man that is always here, who you believe to be your father. He’s not real, he’s an illusion.” “What do you mean he’s an illusion?” I questioned getting very upset. “When your mother put the block on your mind she made it to where your mind would trick you into believing he was really here.” Eli replied to my surprise. “Wait, so you guys are telling me that not only has the past few years of my life been a lie and the rest of my life’s erased from my memory but I don’t even have a dad?” I asked tears stinging the back of my eyes. “Your memory isn't erased it's just blocked and it’s not that you don’t have a dad-” Eli started to say when I just him off. “No, you don’t get to talk anymore. I don’t even know who you are. Evelyn, you lied to me. For the past nine years all you’ve done is lie.” I paused to look at Eli. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” I turned my attention back to Evelyn and added, “I can’t even look at you right now.” I turned away and ran up the stairs to my room slamming the door behind me. I paced back and forth in my room trying to wrap my head around what I was just told. “Are they telling the truth.” I said outloud to myself. “It would explain the chick who showed up.” “But if she wanted me dead why didn’t she just do it when it was just us two?” “Maybe there’s something that she wants from you.” “I don’t have anything, what could she possibly want?” “Evelyn said you have powers, that you’re more powerful than your sister. Maybe she wants to take those away for herself first.” “Oh shut up.” I sighed and laid down on my bed. A moment later I got up and grabbed my phone. I dialed Emma’s number and when she answered I told her I needed her to come over. An hour later I heard a knock on the door so I walked out of my room but stopped at the top of the stairs when I heard Eli and Evelyn talking. “I don’t think you should open the door.” I heard Eli say. Evelyn looked at him then turned around and opened the door. To my surprise it wasn’t Emma. Instead, it was somebody who was dressed in a cloak that covered them from head to toe. “Evelyn?” The person at the door ask. “Yes, may I help you?” She replied. “Yes, actually, you can.” I heard the all too familiar voice say as she came into view. “Stella, what are you doing here?” Evelyn questioned. I could hear the fear in her voice. “Nice to see you too Aunt Evelyn. Aren’t you going to welcome me in?” She asked with a grin. “No, you aren’t welcome here.” Evelyn stated firmly. “It’s because of my stupid little sister isn’t it?” Stella questioned, her voice full of hatred and disgust. She started to approach Evelyn and Eli clearly upset. Eli pulled Evelyn behind him and pulled out a large sword seemingly out of nowhere. “You and mom both have always liked her more. Ever since she was born it’s like I wasn’t even there anymore. I knew the only way to make sure that I would be seen again was to get rid of her. When I found out that she would be more powerful than me, that made me want her gone that much more.” Stella said. “It took me nine years to find out where you were hiding her and now that I’ve found her again I will make sure she is killed before she realizes just how powerful she is and stops me and takes my kingdom. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she’s gone even if it means killing the both of you and anybody else who gets in my way.” “Stella, your mother and I both love you so much, but we will not let you hurt Scarlett.” Evelyn replied. “So be it.” Stella said. The person who knocked on the door took his hood off and I almost laughed at what I saw. He looked like something straight out of a fairy tale. He had bright blue, spiky hair that showed off his pointy ears. He walked over towards the Evelyn and Eli but Eli stood his ground ready to fight. The man reached into his pocket and pulled out his hand which held a black dust. He blew it into Eli’s face and just like that he fell to the floor unconscious. “Now that he’s out of the way…” Stella said as she came face to face with Evelyn. She brought her sword up and right before she brought it down I looked away. A second later I heard my Aunt cry out. I put my hand over my mouth trying to muffle my cries. I crawled to my room and quietly shut it and locked it behind me. ‘What am I going to do?’ I thought. I stopped dead in my tracks when I remembered. “The book.” I whispered to myself as I stared at my bag laying on the floor. I ran over to it, opening it up and taking out the book. I opened the book but it was still blank. I closed the book, grabbed my jacket and phone, then opened my window. I always knew that the ledge would come in handy some day. I was about to climb out when I heard a loud bang on the door. I jumped which caused the book to fall to the ground with a loud thud. “I know you’re in there little sis, open the door.” Stella ordered through the door. I picked up the book and thought about what to do. I heard her say something to who I assumed was the man who was with her down stairs. I quickly ran to my closet and climbed inside of it. Not to long after I did that I heard the door to my room slam open against the wall. “Come out, come out wherever you are.” Stella called out. I tried to slow my breathing so she wouldn’t hear me. I saw the shadow of feet right underneath the closet door as the door knob started to turn. “Scarlett, I’m here.” I heard Emma call out. The door knob stopped turning and I could hear the footsteps getting further away. I took out my phone and texted Emma as quickly as I could telling her to get out of the house. Then, I got out of the closet and climbed out the window. I hid in the bushes next to the porch and stayed there until I knew that Emma was out of the house but instead of seeing her leave I heard voices. “Who are you?” Emma asked. A second later I heard a thud on the ground followed by Stella’s voice. “Oren, take the girl and my Aunt, I’m going to take from her what she took from me. The people who mean the most to her.” “Yes your majesty.” Oren replied. They both walked of the house, Evelyn and Emma over Oren’s shoulders. They got into a car and drove off. I climbed out of the bushes and went back inside of the house closing the door behind me. I slid down it and began sobbing uncontrollably into my hands.

Reviews

[Joe W]

A lot of dialogue but I absolutely love it. It really allows you to connect with the characters in a way that only dialogue can really. I'm super excited to see where this will continue to go. Savannah has such a talent for writing and I'm glad she's pursuing this passion. I'd just say to keep up the good work and I can't wait to read more. I know it's only 3 chapters in but I'm still going to give it a 100.