Lenora went into the sitting room and sat at the desk. Out of the drawer she took paper and a pen. she drafted two letters, one to Marc and one to Serena. As she did this she thought of her own mother and the letter she had received at the age of 16 which had sent her racing home. One line stood out vividly from the page.
If you are reading this there is someone coming to take you home and I am dead.
That line had broken Lenora’s heart and sent her spirit on a path of revenge against any who had harmed her family. Years had gone by before she had realized that the harm had come from war and the ward was far from over. Now it was her turn. The letter began
Dearest Serena
You are 16 years old, even though I have not seen you grow I know I am proud of you. I know you are a beautiful, well mannered young lady. I also know that your magic has begun to grow and develop and that this is very strange as you don’t remember it.
Do not be frightened. It is natural and normal. Use it, grow with it, experiment with it, but be careful it is very powerful. Rely on Marc to teach you control as he was sent to protect and teach you.
In six days a man will come for you, he is your betrothed, he has come to bring you home, if you are ready. If you are not ready know that you will have an extension of time, two years, before another traveler will come to retrieve you.
I also must tell you about the war. The fighting between those who wish magic to help all and those who seek to subvert it for their own uses. This war is unnecessary, but members of our own family fight to subvert the magic that sustains us. They had been banished to a world without magic, but have found a way to return home, very bitter and angry at what we did to protect our world.
Please understand that the steps taken were necessary to save both people and the land and we will do it again if we must.
There is a prophecy. A book that no one in numerous generations has seen. This book holds the history and knowledge of how to end the misery and how to fix the damage done. How to make, change, the way those who fight against us think or believe so that they will see what they do causes more damage.
The prophecy also indicates that once complete the gates between the worlds will once again be freely opened to transport and peace will be a reality on all worlds.
I don’t know if the prophecy is truth or has been tainted over the years, but I do know that the time for change is very near and that you are the one that the prophecy has spoken.
Enjoy your time on earth and make as many friends as you can. Learn all you can about everything. The more knowledge you have the more prepared you will be.
I hope to see you all grown, but know that it may not be possible. I wish I could impart to you all I have learned, but I know you will gain the knowledge you require.
Live long, and happy with the knowledge that your father and I are both very happy and extremely proud of what we know you will become.
You will be a grand, generous, fair and understanding leader of our people. We love you and keep you close to our hearts.
Your Mother
Mystic Lenora
Lenora signed. The next letter was going to be just as difficult to write. Lenora stood and walked to the balcony and looked out over the court yard.
Both children were going to have both a wonderful childhood and a challenging one, but they would be fine. This would help to build character and develop them both.
Lenora walked back to the desk. She took a deep breath and sat back down at the desk. She picked up the pen and drafted a letter to Marc.
Dearest Marc
I thank you for looking out for Serena. For keeping her safe and helping her grow and thrive. At this point she is going to need you even more.
She has turned 16 and her gifts should have manifested themselves. She will need your guidance and teaching to help her control her gifts. Teach her, help her grow.
I also must ask that you leave Lady Amelia’s care and find your own residence. As well as a job. The job can be at Amelia’s, but does not need to be. You must also still keep tabs on Serena.
There will be a man coming for her in six days. This man is her betrothed. If she is ready to come home you both will leave. If she is not a two year extension will be granted at which time a traveler will come for the two of your to bring you home.
You may also comfort Serena when she finds out that her father and I will not be around to guide and direct her.
You must not allow her to become to distraught and bent on revenge. She must focus her strength and energy towards the battle for peace as that will be the ultimate revenge and way to avenge our deaths.
You proved yourself the first night at Amelia’s. I know you will continue to protect and direct her.
Thank you
Mystic Lenora.
With a sigh Lenora put both letters into separate envelopes and labeled them. She set them aside to give to Talia for safe keeping until Serena’s sixteenth birthday. She then took out the enrollment cards and filled out one for each of the children.
Surname: Viche First/Given Name: Serena
Date of Birth: Earth date June 27, 1997
Location: Eaon
Parents: Lenora & Dillon Viche
Emergency Contact: Talia Rumalda & Marc Dupuis
Surname: Dupuis First/Given Name: Marc
Date of Birth: Earth date December 12, 1993
Location: Eaon
Parents: Zana & Korem Dupuis
Emergency Contact: Talia Rumalda & Serena Viche
That complete Lenora yawned, stretched and stood. She tidied the desk and walked to her room. She crawled into bed and was asleep in minutes.
Lenora slept peacefully. She had no bad dreams and no visions of the future. She woke sometime before dawn feeling refreshed and alert. She showered and went to watch the sun ruse. Someone had set the coffee pot so Lenora took a cup out onto the balcony.
The sun was just starting to brighten the sky. The air was crisp and clean, scented only by night blooming flowers. Lenora breathed deep and relaxed into a chair beside the table on the balcony. It was so peaceful.
A small tug at Lenora’s awareness brought her back to full alert. Someone was trying to break the guard she had placed around the room. Lenora stood and surveyed her web to pinpoint the area being pushed. She located the area. It was near Serena’s room.
Lenora let the guard at the living room fall. Instantly the intruder appeared. He looked around to get his bearings and instantly realized his error. Before he could correct Lenora snapped him into a bubble from which he could not escape or perform magic.
“Mystic,” He gasped.
“Your name,” Lenora demanded.
“His name is Alexander,” Marc snapped from the doorway. “But he looks different.”
“Is Alexander your true name?” Lenora questioned.
“Alexander Deonnan,” Alexander replied, then shook his head as if trying to clear it from some sort of spell. “You can not win here.”
“Ah, but you forget who I am,” Lenora smiled. “Who sent you?”
“You know who,” Alexander sneered.
“And you are afraid to name her,” Lenora’s grin broadened and the bubble began to shrink.
“Mistress Elixia sends her greetings to you. You must be careful you don’t get lost when you return,” Alexander cackled.
“Thank you for the warning,” Lenora nodded tucking that very useful piece of information away.
“Were you sent to kill?” Marc asked.
“Yes,” Alexander responded. “All of you must die.”
“Why?” Lenora demanded.
“Because that’s the way she wants it.” Alexander snarled.
“So you do not think for yourself?” Lenora continued to smile. “Do you believe everything you are told? Or is it only what she tells you?”
Alexander shrugged looking around for a way to escape. He expelled a small amount of energy towards the bubble to see what would happen. The bubble shrank more. It was now only a few inches from his outstretched fingertips.
“What should we do with him?” Marc asked. “He seems completely corrupted. No mater what you tell him he will not listen.”
“Yes, she has done a fabulous job on breaking this one,” Lenora mused. “But I do not think death is appropriate here. I wonder if he knows that he can not return to Eaon?”
“What?” Alexander exclaimed. “What did you say?”
“That you can not return home,” Lenora explained. “You are not a traveler, you were sent here with a purpose and no guide for when you had completed your goal. You are stranded on this planet for the rest of your natural life with no way of returning to the place of your birth.”
“How do you know this?” Alexander demanded. “She told me, promised me, that I could go home if I completed my task. That someone would be waiting.”
“That is where you have been led astray. Once you have killed someone you can not return without a guide,” Lenora smiled. “So if you do this you will be lost forever.”
“No you are wrong,” Alexander yelled. “She would not abandon me.”
“She already has,” Marc sighed turning back to the hall. “Try your magic.”
“You are both wrong,” Alexander fumed. He tried to let out a string of magic to release the bubble, but it just fizzled and popped. “You are just trying to trick me.”
Lenora sighed and released the bubble feeling what Marc had. The energy that had sustained Alexander had been stripped. He had nothing left, nothing he wasn’t naturally born with. As soon as the bubble released Alexander tried to create one of the spells he was taught which would keep Lenora here. It failed.
“I’m sorry,” Lenora whispered. “But what she did to you is unnatural. You were not born with such power and to tease you with it is cruel and mean. I’m sorry Alexander.”
Alexander looked determined to complete his mission, either through magic or without it. He pulled a dagger from his belt and moved quickly towards Lenora. He raised the dagger and aimed as if he were going to stab her between the eyes. He was not fast enough.
“I’m very sorry Alexander, but you will not get to do what she sent you for,” Lenora sighed raising a hand freezing Alexander.
It was a magical freezing holding him entirely motionless. His eyes tracked Lenora as she approached. He strained against the force holding him, but was locked in her magic. Lenora touched the arm that held the dagger.
“Put it away,” she instructed. “There is no need.”
Alexander’s arm moved to obey the instruction. The dagger no longer a threat. Lenora thought about what to do with Alexander who had been tainted, corrupted and changed by Elixia. Removing his memory and taking him home seemed like a good plan, but once back on Eaon Elixia would be able to sway him again.
Alexander had to stay on Earth. Lenora touched his forehead and recited the words of the spell she had chosen.
“You will forget who you were,” Lenora began. “You will forget what you were sent to do. You will go into this world and seek happiness and joy for both yourself and those you meet. As I see it, it shall be.”
Lenora released Alexander from the web around who he was and what he was meant to do and secured the new compulsion and new desire for life. Her weaving so fine that no one would be able to break it. She saw glimmers of the original Alexander weave into her web and knew that it would hold true for the remaining time he had on earth. Finished Lenora removed her hand.
Alexander blinked hard three times. He looked around nervously trying to figure out where he was. Then looked directly at Lenora with lost eyes.
“I’m sorry, I think I am lost,” He shuffled nervously.
“Yes, I believe you are very lost.” Lenora agreed. “Let me see if I can find anyone that can help you.”
‘Talia,’ Lenora sent her thoughts out. ‘The threat has been neutralized, but we need to put Alexander to work somewhere close to keep an eye on him for a while.’
‘Nora, I am almost to your door,’ Talia returned. ‘I think kitchen duty might fit, clean up crew.’
A knock sounded on the door announcing Talia’s arrival. Alexander jumped and turned toward the door with fear in his eyes. Marc moved back into his room now that the threat had been secured. Lenora walked to and opened the door allowing Talia entry.
“Alexander, what are you doing up here?” Talia asked her voice harsh. “Your kitchen shift started ten minutes ago.”
“Apparently I got lost, though I don’t entirely remember how I got in here,” Alexander spoke looking at the floor. “I am sorry Lady. Can you direct me to where I am supposed to be?”
” Yes,” Talia responded a little less harsh, but still commanding. “Go out to the left and you will see a mirrored elevator. Take that to the ground floor and you should be able to find it from there.”
“Thank you, Lady,” Alexander bowed and started to move quickly to the door.
“When you get there,” Lenora added to the instruction causing Alexander to slow. “have someone send up some bagels and spreads, and juice.”
“Certainly. Thank you,” Alexander nodded practically running from the suite.
“I will follow to ensure he ends up where he should,” Talia nodded. “We will talk of this later today after the tour. I will be back in a few hours to take you around the grounds and school.”
“We will be ready,” Lenora returned the nod as Talia left the suite closing the door.
Lenora sagged into a nearby chair. Everything seemed fine now. Though there was a slight worry that one day Alexander would want to know where he came from and who he was. There would be a way of breaking the web, but it was difficult and only Alexander could do so by finding his true nature, his true spark. Lenora hoped that day would never come.
Marc came back into the sitting area looking more awake and dressed to meet the day. The sun was just cresting over the trees. He went out onto the balcony and leaned against the railing watching as the plants below began to awaken. Lenora walked over to the small table holding a coffee and watched the sun rise.
“I’ll have to watch for him won’t I?” Marc asked looking over the courtyard.
“Yes, but he will be gone for a long time.” Lenora smiled. “You should not have to worry for quite a while.”
They silently watched the flowers open to the sun lost in their own thoughts and daydreams. Lenora casting her senses out over the area to make sure that everything was as it should be and Marc sitting silently watching the insects and birds in flight.
The early morning hour passed slowly as Marc watched the flowers open and the wildlife wake up and start making noise.
* * *
The Adams-Schlag Family 