Ivory peered out of the old wavy glass and watched December slowly make its way across the grounds of Atwood hall. She, Avery, Rowen, Melinoe, and Macaria, all gathered around some dark mahogany school desks in Josephine's office for their lessons.
Josephine stood to one side of the room holding an old book a little too close to her face and recited lines that went through one ear and out the other. Ivory was too mesmerized by the new snow that lightly powdered the lawns that were now turning deep shades of brown and gold.
She imagined dancing in the snow. And looking up at the pearly grey sky as she tilted her head back and caught snowflakes on her tongue.
Even now, as the fire warmed her skin, Ivory could feel the ice inside of her. But it wasn't cold; not really. It was more like being homesick for a home that she had never once known. The ice continued to form under her skin. It lined her stomach and traced her veins. It covered her heart and froze in her lungs. And before she could understand what was going on, and knock sounded at the door of Josephine's office.
Mr. Anne burst into the room looking utterly annoyed.
"Jo." He said simply.
"Sam." Josephine sighed as she let the book fall away from her face. "What do you want?"
Mr. Anne fished in his pocket for a small folded piece of yellow parchment and tossed it onto Josephine's desk.
"We had a deal Jo." Said Anne.
The girls watched, quiet as mice, as the tension in the room seemed to become more and more suffocating with each word they spoke.
"I don't know what--"
"We had a deal," Anne repeated himself. "Ivory dose lessons with me from now on."
Suddenly, Ivory was the center of attention.
"Ivy," Anne jerked his head toward the door, and Ivory didn't hesitate to be finished with Josephine's boring lectures about gods know what.
"Another letter came this morning," Anne said once he and Ivory were safely out of earshot.
"What?"
"Don't worry, it's not from them. It's from your family."
Suddenly, Ivory didn't know either to feel angry or excited or nervous. It had been weeks since her parents had talked to her. Were they reaching out to her out of pity? Had they heard what was happening here and decided that it would be best to tell her that they loved her one last time, or did they know at all?
"It's alright Ivy," Anne said as if reading her exact thoughts. "If there were anything truly wrong, the wind would have whispered something by now. But it hasn't. So everything is going to be fine."
Ivory nodded, but she hardly felt better.
Eventually, they reached Anne's office, and Ivory caught sight of the letter. It was in a brown envelope and it was open, and it was left in the middle of his desk.
"You...opened it..." Ivory sighed.
"Well, yes; that is my job now. To monitor every letter that goes in and out of this manor."
Ivory nodded dreamily as she made her way across the room to the desk. She took the letter in her hands and began reading it: Dearest sister, I have heard rumors of what is stirring within the walls of your secret hideaway. I send my best wishes and love. I hope to see you very soon.
P.s, Don't forget about my gift to you. I hope you can recover all that was lost within its contents.
Ivory laid down the letter with trembling hands.
"The snow globe..." She whispered to herself. "It's in the snow globe..."
"Sorry," Said Anne, "What?"
Ivory looked up at Mr. Anne with pleading, tear-brimming eyes. "My parents, they're in danger. Find them, bring them here, and then find my sister Olivia!" She called to him as she sprinted out of the room.
"Ivory!" Mr. Anne yelled after her, but she was in too much of a rush to look back.
This was it. The war had officially begun. And she was in the center of it.