Written by HomeschoolGirl and Kassady

Chapter One

 

Witten by HomeschoolGirl and Kassady

Sheylyn Mae Stevenson, sometimes called Lyn, looked out of her second story bedroom window onto the busy streets of New York City. Lights flashed and neon signs advertised popular shopping destinations.

Sherylyn would miss this when they moved.

"I sure will miss this place," someone said, voicing her own thoughts. Shearylyn forced a smile and turned to look into the face of her father, James William Stevenson. His job as a manager of a popular office work place that did real estate had provided the new home. Sure, the apartment was cramped and crowded, sometimes even a but annoying, but she liked it that way. Things seemed right.

"Am I going to the same school?" She asked for the millionth time.

"You can finish out the last three weeks befor Summer vacation." 

"Good. We have this really cool project on mythical creatures." 

"That sounds nice." 

"Yeah." 

There was silence as Sherylyn thought some more. "How about my friends? Emma? And...and Sam too." Sheylyn hated to admit to her father how much she would miss Sam, mainly because Sam was a boy and James certainly wasn't fond of that.

"You'll get to see them! Did you think you wouldn't?"    "I guess I don't know anymore."    James went over to pat his daughter's light brown head sympathetically. "I know how you feel."    "Certainly you don't!"    "I'm having to leave my friends too."    Sherylyn dropped her head into her arms. "Fine." Her voice was muffled.    "Ashten's coming over," dad said slyly, walking out.    Sherylyn stopped a groan. Ashten was dad's girlfriend. She had short blonde hair and a boyish quirk to her. Ashten was smart and although very pretty, uncomforting. Sherylyn knew Ashten would never be a mother to her, so she ignored her. Why form a relationship with something that wasn't going to work out? Sharylyn had already done that.                                                                   *********** Starlight blinked her large grey eyes, framed by thick white lashes. She fluttered her small hands nervously, and peeked out the window overlooking Darkrade again.    "Starlight, what makes you so anxious?" asked her sister, Darkerose, from her perch on a large flower stem. She slid down it gracefully and flew over to where her sister sat. Darkerose wore a long deep red vest with a black blouse underneath and red leggings. Her straight black hair was pinned up in complicated braids. She had black lips and pure white teeth. Her complection was tinted red, which gave her a creepy appearence. Big red hoops dangled from her large ears, elf-like.    "Just wondering," answered Starlight vaguely. The girl was wearing a dress spun from silver thread that stopped just before her knees. The white hair on her head hung past her shoulders with silver strands intwined between the curls. Her lips were almost white, with just a little drop of pink in them. On her feet were silver slippers. Her wings were the largest of any in the kingdom but not the most beautiful. In a way, that made her even prettier.    Darkerose's twin, Darkethorn, flew in and landed beside his sister. They linkled arms and flew off, chattering excitedly. Starlight was glad Darkerose was gone because, in truth, her sister scared her. Most of them did. Meadowlily was the only one Starlight bothered to have conversations with and even she was a bit frightening.    "Miss Starlight?" Said her maiden from the large door entering Starlight's room. "Dinner tonight will be dew with a side of fresh grass. When do you fix to have it?"    "When ever you get the time, Whitestorm," Starlight answered dismisively. She turned to the beautiful girl and smiled. "Isn't the day lovely?"    "Quite, Miss Starlight," Whitestorm answered. "I'd love to stay and chatter but I must be on my way to ask Starscraper what he wants." She was also a maiden to Starlight's brother and the one closest to her in age.    "Be on your way then," Starlight said graciously. "You don't want Starscraper angered."    "Yes, Miss Starlight." Whitestorm skimpered away, a gust of fresh wind following her.                                                              ************* Thorra Marie Lane jumped into her family's minivan, shutting the door with a click behind her. Thorra wasn't too happy to be making the trip all the way to New York City from their small town in New York state. Her mother, Rebecca Rose Lane, climbed into the drivers seat. Her father, Bruce Clark Lane,  who usually drove,  had broken his hand about a week ago doing construction. He climbed in the passenger seat with a sorry smile and rubbed his arm.    Reid, Thorra's brother, crossed his arms and refused to sit next to Thorra who he referred to as, "Stupid Slimy Disgusting Witch." Rebecca sighed and asked Thorra to move to the backseat.    "I'll take care of Reid later," she promised, as Thorra moved begrudgingly.    Reid stuck his tongue out at Thorra and grinned impishly.    The ride wasn't pleasent, but it wasn't unpleasent. There was a silence other than the murmurs of her father and mother. Everything seemed right. Except for the fact that Thorra was going to go say goodbye to her beloved younger cousin.    Thorra didn't even like to think of Lyn's story. It made her heart ache because she had known Alice Jeane and loved her. Rebecca and Alice had been sisters and best friends. But several years ago, when Sherylyn was three, her mother had gone to pick her up from daycare. Who knows what she was doing but she had missed the red light.    Thorra shuddered just thinking of this. Sherylyn couldn't really be sad...she just ached. But Thorra still felt a pain that cut through her at the mention of Alice's name.                                                            **************** "Mother, how absurd!" Jenniffer (Jenny) Andia Sirley mused. She had once been Jenny Stevenson, and now she wasn't.    "Oh, Jenny! I'm not near as old as you think!" Ann Bree Shirley replied, frowing. "I can do plenty by myself."    "You shouldn't have done that, mother." 

"Pish posh! You can go home now, dear. You have a life at home." 

After another goodbye Jenniffer walked slowly outside. The cool wind whipped her dark hair across her tanned face. She once had a life at home. And it was perfect. With James William she had a life. She had cared for him deeply. But that little girl...Jenniffer stopped to clench her fists and grind her teeth. Well, that little girl was another matter. She was in the way of a perfect life. Jenniffer didn't like children, oh no, she didn't. They were quite annoying and she had no use for them. Especially that one. Especially since she was Alice Raymond's daughter, the one who had revealed a secret to her all those years ago.

Then Alice had left! How DARE she! Alice had a baby girl to care for and everything but the car accident had given her an excuse...

No matter. Jenniffer knew the secret and she wouldn't stop at anything tnow that she had a reason to expose Alice for what she was.