December 20th 2022 7:45 P.M.

I watched as Jenna worked on Tarik.  Jenna looked so skilled at what she was doing as she was trying to make it so he didn’t feel as much pain as he was really feeling.  Jenna’s hands glowed red with the Magyk of chaos and I stepped back in horror.  I remembered….

Four Years Ago

“Mother!” I called.

“What do you need, Andrew?  Your father and I are busy right now!” My mom yelled at me. “Give us a few minutes!”

“Okay then.” I yelled back. “Take your time!”

I was really upset because my mom just didn’t let me talk to her anymore.  Ever since she lost her brother she has been so upset and unable to talk to me because I look like her brother too much.  She thinks that ignoring me will lessen her pain but I think that it has just made the pain worse.  She has begun to sink into the pain and let it take over her mind.

“I’m going to go to my friend's house!” I said. “I am going over to talk to Tarik!”

“That’s fine!  Be back in half an hour please.” My mom yelled at me. “And don’t go anywhere else except to Tarik’s house!  I will figure it out if you do, so don't forget it!”

I rolled my eyes, we would be together a lot longer than that if anything went wrong and why did she care where I went anyway?  She doesn’t even look at me, so why would she care where I am going to begin with?  We were planning on working together to build an observation tower on top of the school building.  First I was going to go meet up with my other friend.

I walked out of the front door into the nice Autumn breeze.  I walked slowly to my friend's house.  We would practice our Magyk.

My friend was best at water Magyk while I was best at the Magyk of visions.  They always managed to come and go as fast as they had originally appeared.  It was insane but we had to continue to practice.  For the war with the hooded one was upon us

Present Time

I looked towards Jenna and wanted to leave.  I didn’t want to be near her for one more second.  I finally remembered my mom's face and somehow, Jenna looked identical to her.  I looked at her and realized that she was at work on Tarik.  She had already started once I had my little flashback.  I watched her closely.  Very closely as she worked.

I had to be able to do this.  I had to.  For my friend.  I just couldn’t leave my friend behind, slowly losing his life force as his Magyk fed off of it.  I had to say it.  I had to force myself to say the word, “Mom.” My voice was barely audible.

Jenna glanced up before hurriedly looking back down as she worked.  “I don’t have long.  Andrew, leave us.” she said without looking back up.  “Leave us now.  I need to focus if Tarik is to survive this day.”

“As you wish.” I said. “Good luck.”

“You don’t care and we don’t care about you so just leave already.” Marcia said, “You don’t belong here anyway.”

Tasha muttered, “You don’t care so don’t act like you do.  I hate people who act like you, Andrew.  I just hate them!”

Jenna nodded, “Thank you.” As she turned back to Tarik once more.  She was so focused on her work, I couldn’t help admiring her.  She was an amazing person, she was always there for everyone in the town and even out of the town.  She always did her best and would always help whenever needed.

“I do care actually,” I said. “I don’t want him to die because of me.”

“You don’t care at all so just leave!” Victoria said.

“Just walk out,” Maya said.

“Yes, I do.” I glared at them, so irritated that they kept doing this to me.  Do one thing wrong and they will never let you forget it.  Do one thing you shouldn’t do and you will be reminded by them forever more.  It is so frustrating!

I started to leave the room but something was holding me back.  I went right next to Jenna and Tarik and knelt down next to Jenna.  “I can’t leave.  It won't let me.  My body won’t let me leave.”

“Yes it will.” Tasha said in anger. “Just walk your awful little self out of here.  That’s all there is to it.”

“No!  It’s not letting me leave!” I exclaimed.

***

I saw the star as it went over my new house.  I made a wish, I wish Tarik would like me too.  Tarik is my only human friend and I haven’t seen him in such a long time.  I just wish he would show up at my doorstep, that he would be here for his best Midnight Elf friend.  I had a note written to him and even signed it with my name, Brianna.

I used to be such good friends with Tarik but then things happened and I didn’t see him forever after that.  I got into a fight with someone who tried to hurt him and got into trouble for that.  I gave them what they deserved but I haven’t seen Tarik since then.  I can’t wait to see him again.

I have daydreams about Tarik almost every single day.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him at least once.  I wrote him a friendly letter but don’t know if I really want to give it to him.  I am worried that he will say he doesn’t like me and then laugh at me because I like him.  It really worries me.

I care if he says no.  I care if he doesn't like me.  I will care if he says no to loving me.  He is like family to me though so It might just be seen as weird because we are almost like brother and sister.

I sat there in my room waiting for morning to come.  I could see my reflection in the window, my eyes were squinted, my white hair was so long it flowed behind me even though there was no breeze, and my face was white as snow.  I feel like I don’t fit in with Tarik but honestly, at this point, I have no idea.

I looked at my note again before deciding that I had nothing to lose.  I am going to give this to Tarik, I thought to myself.  If he likes me then he likes me and if not then I have nothing to lose.

I looked out of the window again and saw something in the dark.  I could barely see it except that it looked like a shadow so that meant that it was a Midnight Elf.  I decided that I was going to go find out who it was and what they were doing.  I hoped that it was my mom and dad coming back but I had no idea.

I got up and left my room, slightly gliding above the floor.  I opened the front door and peeked outside before realizing someone was coming up the path.  I squinted at them and realized that it was my mom and dad.  I glided fast down the path so that I could hug them before seeing the baby in my mom’s arms.

“She is the most beautiful little girl!  What is her name?” I asked.

“Amanda.” My dad said. “Are you so excited to have another little sister?”

“Yes!” I looked at them, so excited to have yet another little sister.  I couldn’t believe that I couldn’t tell my mom was pregnant.  I just couldn’t believe it.

“Wonderful!” My mom smiled.  She looked exhausted, worried lines all over her normally smooth face.  Her normally bright ice blue eyes were dark and her smile didn’t crinkle her eyes.  She looked like a dead version of my mother but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.

“I can’t wait for her to grow up!” I exclaimed.  I knew that it would only be at most five days until she was an adult and then she would stay like that for hundreds of years but I still couldn’t wait!

“She will look as old as you in just a few days.” My dad said, his hazel eyes brightening in the darkness.

“I know.” I sighed happily, “Soon I will have yet another friend!”

As we watched Amanda started to appear older, she couldn’t have been any less than six months old.  I know that the Midnight Elves grow quickly but I forgot just how quickly.  Amanda’s piercing ice blue eyes shone bright in the darkness and her long silver hair flowed in the breese.  Her little hands grew until they looked like they might be the hands of a young child.  Not of a baby girl.

“She is so beautiful.” I said as I continued to watch her grow.

My dad gently placed Amanda in my arms.  She just stared at my eyes to the point where it seemed as if she was looking into my soul.  I can see the fire in those eyes that just wouldn’t go away.  I could tell right then that Amanda would be a fighter.  She just had the intelligent look in her eyes and just radiated power.  She is power.

I look at my parents with an uncertain glance, “She seems very powerful.”

My parents looked at each other before smiling at me.  “She is.” They replied together.

I looked back at Amanda and realized that she had grown yet again.  She looked no younger than seven months old and her hair just kept on growing.

“I love watching them grow.” I said as I looked at the stars and prayed to Eva. “I wish I could have a little brother too.”

One of the stars seemed to move as it gave me a sign, it showed me a face, the face of a little boy.  A little boy who obviously looked serene and kind.  His face shown with happiness and he looked down at me.  I felt for sure that he had to be real because he was moving but then as soon as I reached towards the sky…..he disappeared.

My parents could tell something was wrong but then as I looked back at Amanda, I realized that I have everything I need.  “Come on guys, let’s go inside!”

They both smiled as my dad lifted my mom into his arms and carried her inside.  He gently set her down on their bed before closing the door and turning off the light.  She seemed really happy that we made her rest but I was no longer sure about any of that anymore.  All I know is that I have to find a crib to put Amanda in.

“Where’s the crib?” I asked.

“In your room.” My dad replied with a small smile.  I could tell that he had spent quite a while planning that she would be in my room but I was just so thankful that they would trust me to look after my sister.  I laid Amanda down as she opened her eyes, looked at the ceiling painted with stars and the moon and said, “Stars!”

***

For the first time in many years, the goddess Eva moved in her rest.  She had of course been presumed dead because she was in a tomb but that was evidently not the case.  She moved and the whole tomb shook before she stopped.

She looked like the Midnight Elves except her skin was darker and she had long silky black hair.  She was laying in her coffin but you could tell she was still alive because you could see her breathing.  No matter what happened, she was always breathing.

Whenever she moved, the whole tomb shook and several objects fell off of shelves by her coffin.  One was a staff equipped with an orb at the top that was filled with what looked like little specks of light.  Those specks are her spells that she likes to use.

Another of the objects was a little sphere filled with what looked like water.  In reality it was what the human race calls, ‘The Holy Water of the Goddess Eva’.  The water would instantly cure you of any ailments or any wrongdoings that you have committed within your rather short lifetime.

No matter how much you have done wrong in your lifetime, the Goddess Eva is here to help you through it and to show you that you are never alone.  She will always be with those of the human race and will always take pride in helping them.

The Goddess Eva rolled onto her back and didn’t move again.

***

Jenna looked at me in anger. “I believe, Andrew, that I said to leave us.  That means leave this room now.  Don’t come back in.  I am giving you permission to go home so take that chance and just go home!”

I looked at her in shock and tried to leave.  I really did.  I tried to walk out the door but fell, tried to crawl and I just couldn't.  I couldn’t move away from Jenna and Tarik.  It felt like my body was being ripped apart.

“Leave this room now!” Tasha yelled at me. “I will come after you if you don’t leave right now!”

“Leave and never come back!” Victoria said.

“Leave our brother alone!” Monte glared at me.

“If you don’t leave my brother alone I will haunt your dreams,” Maya said pleasantly.

“I c-c-c-can’t.” I said.  I tried again because I wasn’t about to ignore Jenna again and it felt like my brain was going to explode. “I’m t-t-t-trying.”

“You just walk out of the room.” Marcia said as she grabbed my arm and tried to pull me out of the room.  She couldn’t manage three more steps before she had to stop.

I kept at it anyway.

“Andrew, slowly walk back over here.” Jenna said without looking up. “Don’t do anything you may regret.” she smiled grimly. “I will make sure that you do not leave this place if you do so you had best be careful.”

“No.  He cannot be allowed to stay.  He just tried to kill Tarik!” Tasha said.

***

We had made our way home a few hours before and were now just starting to talk about the tomb.  I disagreed with everyone and was insistent upon not opening the tomb or the gate.  I believe that if we open either then all of our lives are over.

“How are we supposed to find the tomb?  We don’t even know where to start looking!” Sabrina said.

“All we have to do is use a compass that points towards the East and we will eventually hit her tomb.” I replied.

“Ugh!  Marcellus!  Speak English please!” Sabrina said, “How far do we have to go?”

“Not far.  Don’t worry, it’s not far at all.” Marcellus replied.  “It’s not far at all.” He repeated.

***

“Please don’t let him stay,” Victoria said. “He needs to be taught a lesson for his insolent behavior.  We cannot allow for this to continue!”

“He can’t be here, mother.  He has done too much to hurt us.  You cannot allow him to stay here.  Especially not whenever you are healing Tarik.” She whispered the last part, “Or at least, trying to.”

“I said he could unfortunately stay.  He needs to hurry it up and get over here if I am to not change my mind.”

I slowly got up and walked over to them.  I knelt down next to Jenna and reached out until my hands were outstretched over Tarik’s body.  Jenna didn’t even notice as I started chanting under my breath.  I watched as my fingers grew purple with Magyk.  The Magyk slowly encased Tarik’s body as he started to slowly age.

“Mom, watch out.” Marcia said. “He is doing something.”

Jenna looked over at me.  She seemed curious. “What are you doing?  You could slow down the healing process.”

I didn’t stop but tried to send my thoughts to her.  Hoping that there would be a connection between us.

***

I felt Andrew’s thoughts flow into me and started to worry that he was going to somehow manage to kill us all.  I could see that his intentions were not malicious.  But as I watched, Tarik began to look younger.  I could see that Andrew was trying his best to heal him but it was making him look younger.  As Andrew’s hands lowered onto Tarik’s chest as he poured more of his Magyk into him, Tarik still looked younger.  By the end of it he looked no older than thirteen.

“Stop.  Andrew, stop this now.” I said. “You will overload his Aura!  He can’t live through that, Magykal or not!”

“Stop!  He is glowing too bright.” Tasha yelled, “Tarik might explode at this rate!  He needs to stop right now!”

Andrew looked at me as his eyes turned into flat gold disks.

“No.” I gasped. “Who is your twin?  You are the gold?” I asked, unable to believe it. “The twins have been gone for so many years.”

“Marcia is silver.” Andrew responded as he finished with Tarik. “I did all I could for him.  Now help me please.  Find whatever it is that you need in my memories.”

“I will leave you alone.  Don’t touch my child again.” I said.

“Tarik isn’t your child.” Andrew said. “I am.  You gave birth to me, not to him.”

By the end of that conversation everyone looked at Andrew as if daring him to continue.  He did not continue to speak but instead smiled.  He looked at each of us in turn as he said again, “Tarik isn’t your child, Jenna.  I am.”

His smile terrified everyone in the room as he started to tell us what he meant.  He didn’t even have time to do so.