"I knew we were going somewhere." Ariana remarked to her twin. It was the same time Susan was mixing the Forgetfulness Spell potions with Anna. The twins were in their room, dressing to go out for lunch. Ariana continued. "I could feel it."
"We are only going to lunch with Mother." Aluna remarked. "That is all."
Ariana shook her head. "There is something fishy about it. I do not think we will be returning, sister."
Aluna ignored her, brushing her hair in front of the mirror. She thought instead of why she was having visions, and whether or not to tell anyone about them.
Ariana sensed her thoughts and sat on the bed beside the vanity mirror. She caught her twin's silver-blue eyes in the reflection. "Lu-Lu, please tell me."
Aluna set the brush down and sat next to her sister. "We are different from Mother. I do not know how, but I sense we are."
"What have you Seen?"
"It is not only what I See, but also what I Feel." Aluna responded softly, her head down. "I See the two of us in a different world: both in the future, and in the past. In the present, I look around us at other children our age. We are developmentally superior to them. They tease us because we are smarter and different. We know things they do not, yet I do not know where it came from."
Ariana nodded. "Aye. I know what you mean. I do not know where it came from, either." She hugged her sister. "As long as we are together, we are better, stronger, smarter and much more powerful."
Aluna blinked, nodding, staring into her sister's eyes. "You have Seen it as well, have you not?"
Ariana nodded.
A knock on the door interrupted whatever she was going to say next.
"Hey girls. Are you ready to go?" It was their mother, Susan.
They nodded and stood, taking each other's hands.
Susan told Ariana to wait in the car while she talked to Aluna.
"I need you to keep a secret for me."
"We know you are going to separate us, Mother." Aluna supplied. When Susan gasped in shock at the statement, Aluna continued. "We both have Seen it. We will not be returning for several years. We just do not know why."
Susan cleared her throat, trying to think of a way to say her next words. In the past few months, the twins have been slowly getting used to their life in the Mortal Realm. They spoke like Dream Realm Companions, without using contractions. They were also very smart and powerful for their Earthbound age of five. They had the vocabularies of adults, but only with each other. Did that mean they also had adult comprehensions?
"My Granpere is a very powerful wizard." Susan began. "He saw a vision of his own death in his Sphere."
"He would die by the hand of his own twin brother." Aluna nodded. "I have Seen that as well, and Ariana has Felt it."
"That's why you both must be raised separately." Susan tried. "It's for the safety of the Realms, and Destiny of our family, the Ancient Mystics."
Aluna nodded, understanding. "What do you wish of me, Mother?"
Susan tapped her purse at her side. "I have a vial of rose-colored liquid the Mystics call the Forgetfulness Spell. Near the end of lunch, when I leave to pay the check, you are going to slip some into your twin's drink."
"She will have no memory of who she is." Aluna said simply. "Will I?"
Susan took a deep breath and nodded.
"Why use the Forgetfulness Spell on Ariana?" Aluna asked.
"It's for the sake of Destiny. One day, you will understand." She held out her hand for Aluna to take. "Let's go."
Aluna took it and followed her mother out to the car.
Aluna stared out the window, thinking over their conversation. After a few minutes, Ariana Felt something from her twin and placed a hand on hers.
What are you thinking about? Ariana asked telepathically.
Aluna shook her head, not wanting to tell her. She returned to the scene, closing her mind to her sister and thinking. I do not want to lose her. She is my twin, and the only other person to understand me. Taking all her memory of me is going to be hard. I just wish there were a way to give her the Spell and still maintain most of her memory of me. Aluna sighed, her mind working fast. I will think about it during lunch. In the meantime, I will pretend nothing is wrong and make our last hour together memorable, even if it is only in my memory.
Just thinking of losing her dear twin made her cry.
Sissy, why do you cry? Aren't you happy anymore? Ariana's voice was inside her head once again.
Luna could only look at her twin and nod.
Aluna. It was her mother's gentle voice this time. It's for the sake of destiny. I thought you understood that.
Aluna looked at her mother's reflection in the rear-view mirror. There were worry lines on Susan Woods' face. She nodded her response, turning back to her twin.
"I love you, Ariana Moon." Aluna whispered, hugging her twin tightly.
Confused, Ariana could only answer. "I love you, too, Aluna Star."
It was then the car pulled into the restaurant, and Aluna was well aware of what would happen next.
Wanting to make the last hour together happy, Aluna smiled at her sister.
Nearly an hour later, they were sitting at a table in the corner of the restaurant. It seemed right, hiding in the shadows amongst the bustle of the crowd.
The waitress came up to the table, eyeing Susan. "Is there anything else I can get for you tonight?"
"Just the bill, please." Susan replied. "Thank you."
Ariana yawned as the waitress walked away.
"Getting sleepy, dear?" Susan asked.
Ariana nodded her head. Red-blond hair whipped her face, making her nose itch. She scratched the spot, making her sister giggle.
"Don't laugh at her, Aluna." Susan playfully remarked. "You do that too when you wear it in pigtails."
"That is why I no longer wear it in pigtails." Aluna said knowingly with a grin. "Just one. That's all."
Susan shook her head, clearing her throat. "Now, I have to go pay the check. Aluna, can I count on you to do it?"
Aluna nodded.
"Do what?" Ariana asked.
"Make sure you don't wander off." Susan said as she nodded.
"But I am the good twin, remember?" Ariana argued. "I will not wander off, Mother."
"I know dear, I know." The woman replied. With a moment's delay, she walked away from the sisters.
Aluna stood up and reached something from their mother's purse.
"Don't dare steal anything, Aluna!" Ariana whispered. "You could get in trouble."
Aluna continued to ignore her. Ariana watched as their sister pulled out a tiny vial of rose-colored liquid.
"What is that?" Ariana asked. Then she knew. "That is one of Mother's potions, is it not? Do you know what it does?"
"Aye, I do." Aluna stared at the vial in her hands then looked at her sister.
"Well, what is it?"
Ariana was inquisitive, staring at the vial.
Aluna uncorked it, putting a few drops of the liquid into Ariana's drink. Staring into her sister's eyes, which were transfixed on her own, Aluna said softly. "You thirst. Drink."
That's exactly what Ariana did, too. She drank the rest of her pop, gulping it down as Aluna watched.
Aluna put the cork back in and placed the vial back into her mother's purse.
She looked at her sister, whose eyes were no longer silver-blue. They were plain blue, without a touch of Magic in them at all.
Aluna started to cry softly. She hugged her twin, whispering, "I am sorry" in her ear.
It was too late. The magic and life had left from her eyes.
"Come now, girls. We have to go." Susan's quiet voice came from afar.
"Who are you?" Ariana asked her mother.
Susan shared a look with Aluna before replying. "I'm a counselor, ready to take you to the orphanage."
"You're pretty." Ariana said, grabbing Susan's outstretched hand.
Aluna sighed, following shortly behind them.
Ariana was asleep in moments. Aluna couldn't help staring at her.
"You used compulsion to lure her to sleep." Aluna stated as Susan drove. "I thought that was prohibited in Mystic Magic?"
"It was the only way to activate the Spell." Susan explained. "You will have to drink it as well, Aluna Star." She caught Aluna's eye in the rear-view mirror. "For Destiny."
Aluna frowned. "Destiny." She turned back to her twin for the rest of the ride.
She awoke slowly, rising to find herself in a mortal woman's arms. She was holding onto the mortal woman's hand, curious and clueless. There was another girl the same age, just as curious and clueless as her.
She looked to her hands, and to the other girls'. They were the same, identical. Who was she?
Before she could find or think of an answer, the woman with black hair and strange-colored eyes of a silvery-blue tugged her along, wishing her to follow. The other girl who looked like her stayed behind, sitting forlorn in the car.
"Come along, young one." The woman whispered. When they reached the door, she knelt to the girl's level and kissed each of her cheeks, hugging her. "Your name is now Ariana Moon. There is magic in your eyes and heart."
How could she hear her thoughts in her head? They were spoken like a spell, a certain magical essence about her words made the girl believe that was who she was. She didn't remember anything before the moment she grasped her hand. Who was she to argue? Obviously, she knew more of who she was than she did.
The building she took her to was an Orphanage.
"Come along, Ariana Moon." The raven-haired woman said softly. "This is for your own good."
Right away, Ariana could sense something wrong with this house. Pain, hurt, anger, despair, distress and fear were all her Empathic eyes and ears would feel. There were no feelings of love, hope, or home. No feelings of family, just hate.
She shook her little head, reddish-blond curls whipping in her face. Her head began to hurt with the emotions she was Feeling through the other kids.
"I do not want to go." Ariana told her softly, holding onto her comforting hand. In that woman's hand was warmth and love. In the building before them stood nothing but fear and anger. "It does not feel right."
"Shut your empathy off, child." The woman said softly. "You won't need it here."
Ariana didn't listen. She kept it open, for safety.
They came upon a door at the end of the hall. It was half-open, but she immediately felt horror as she walked ahead.
It was in that office Ariana met Mrs. Gertrude, the mistress to Shore Point Home for Children. She had a mean but patient glare in her eyes, and Ariana's Empathic sensors told her she was bad news. She didn't look a day older than forty, but Ariana knew she was older than that. Beside her was a tall, dark-haired man, her husband, Gerald Gertrude.
Ariana saw nothing but kindness toward her in his eyes. His intentions were sincere, but his wife's were not.
"Why do you bring her here, Mrs. Woods?" Mrs. Gertrude replied, staring at Ariana. "She's one of you, isn't she?"
She didn't listen to the conversation as she sat silently in a chair.
"In a way, yes. I have an explanation for you, Helen." Susan remarked. "You've met both my mother and aunt numerous times, correct?"
"What of it?"
"You know of a thing we call Destiny?"
Mrs. Gertrude sneered. "Of course. What's to be destined about her?"
Susan looked at Ariana, and then turned to stare at Mrs. Gertrude.
Ariana Moon will be Lord Guardian's successor one day. She is not from this Realm, but Gramere blooded her as an Ancient Mystic, so she carries our family magic as well. She will learn her magic on her own, so please be patient with her.
Mrs. Gertrude kept her stare on Ariana as she commanded. "Gerald, take her to the twins. They'll show her the ropes."
"Yes, dear." Mr. Gertrude said, moving to take her hand. After a moment, she took it, looking up at him. "Come on, I'll introduce you."
"Why am I here?" Ariana asked, curious.
"Mrs. Woods sent you here to live with us for a while." Mr. Gertrude remarked. "We're gonna have lots of fun."
Ariana believed him, smiling.
Aluna felt alone as she waited in the car. Just an hour ago, she did a terrible thing. Using a potion of her mother's, she took the memories from her own flesh and blood. Now she sat staring at the Shore Point Orphanage, tears in her tiny eyes. Already she felt a giant piece of her was missing. The Forgetfulness Spell worked that quickly, and Aluna Star Woods was sad to see her twin sister go.
They'd done everything together, learning their powers and teaching each other if one of their siblings weren't around. They were inseparable, but it had come time. Aluna knew it from the moment she woke up that morning with a terrifying premonition in her head. She knew she'd have to give up her other half in order for Destiny to kick in.
Aluna wiped the tears from her silver-blue eyes, catching her reflection in the mirror. She stared at her eyes and wished with all her might that she could change them. She didn't need any reminders of who she once was. With a blink, they changed colors. From silver-blue, the color that showed the Mystic Magic in her soul, they turned ocean-blue, the color of the California shoreline. When she opened them again, she saw her mother walking out of the building.
Without a word, Susan Woods sat behind the wheel and started the engine. Before putting the car in gear, she turned to her young daughter. Aluna saw the tears in her mother's eyes as Susan's hand caressed her cheek. She, too, was sad to see Ariana go. This set of twins may have been the Mystic's most powerful but the pain of losing one of them hurt.
Susan put the car in gear and drove away. Aluna was left staring at the building where she abandoned her twin sister.
Someday, Aluna thought to herself. We will be together again.
She closed her Empathy power to save herself from the amount of pain she felt deep within her.
Susan took Aluna to her Grandmother's house. Susan pulled up the narrow driveway that led to her mother's house. She looked to her young daughter when she asked the question.
"What are we doing here?"
"It's your turn, Aluna." Susan replied.
"My turn, Mother?"
"Your turn to be away from me."
"Why?"
"Needn't ask questions, darling one." Susan tried to hold in her tears. "Your grandmother Dixilynne, my mother, is going to take you for awhile."
"Why can I not stay with you?" Aluna asked sadly.
"I told you."
"Destiny, Mother?"
"Yes, darling. Destiny."
Susan pulled up the driveway and stopped the engine. "It's going to be hard honey, but we have to do it." She stared into her young daughter's eyes, which had turned a different color. "Why did you change your eyes?"
"No reminders."
Susan reached into her purse and pulled out the second vial of the Forgetfulness Spell. "Speaking of no reminders."
Aluna took it, thinking to cast the spell in her mind silently. Not even her mother knew she thought of such a powerful spell.
I know this will work.
Aluna uncorked it and looked at her mother's face, drinking it. To herself, she thought. I will retain my memories and magic. I will not forget what I have learned, nor will I sever the connection I have with my twin sister.
Susan made sure she drank it all before taking it from her hand.
"Follow me, Aluna Star." Susan supplied.
With that, they headed up to the house.
To Aluna, it was a creepy house. It looked like a castle from another land, deep, dark and mysterious. There were even bats in the bell tower, and the faint ring sounded in the air. Aluna was confused and scared. The gigantic bell wasn't even moving. She shivered, moving closer to her mother's pant leg.
"Okay, young one?" Susan asked. Aluna nodded her head, following her mother up the stairs.
Susan knocked on the door and waited.
"Come now, Aluna Star. It's not all that bad." Susan replied, trying to smile for her. She squeezed the girl's hand. "Everything will be as it should soon. Just watch."
When the door opened, Aluna saw the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen. She was tall, with long black hair, silver-blue eyes and sparkling smile. Only, when the woman saw who it was, her smile turned to a frown.
"Susan." The woman gestured for them to follow her inside.
"You know why I'm here, Mother."
"Aye."
From afar echoed a young girl's voice. "Who's there, Aunt Dixie?"
A little girl a little older than Aluna came from another room. She greeted her visitors.
"Hello Susie." The girl smiled. "What are you doing here?"
Susan smiled at her young cousin. "Nice to see you, too, Shannon."
"Don't dawdle. Come on in, you two." Dixilynne closed the door behind them. She gave Susan a look.
Is this the one? Dixilynne sent to Susan in her mind. It was called telepathy, and all four of them had it. Only, Shannon couldn't hear the conversation.
Susan nodded. This is Aluna Star, the younger one, just as Shannon was the younger of Aunt Sara's girls. Granpere doesn't want Shannon to know the truth.
I understand. Dixilynne supplied. "Tell me, whose child is this?"
"A friend of David's family." Susan said, making up a lie as she went along. "Her name is Aluna Star Sister."
Dixilynne gestured to Shannon, who was standing aside, watching the little red-blond haired girl watch her from behind her cousin's skirt.
"Shannon, why don't you take Aluna down to the building and show her around, okay?"
"Sure thing, Aunt Dixie." Eleven-year-old Shannon Ryan smiled at the little girl, holding out her hand. "Don't be afraid, Aluna. I won't bite you."
Aluna looked from her mother to her grandmother and finally to Shannon before smiling back and taking her hand.
III
Those were their stories. From Brakkon came Braken Hawk; from Draconis' duo-bratton came his story of how us Dranna children were blooded as Ancient Mystics; from our Mystic mother Susan "adopted" and "raised us", losing both Adarra and myself to what her own Gramere Enchantra deemed "Destiny." Even Adarra's own story as her five-year-old Aluna Star self when we were given the Mystic's Forgetfulness Spell potion. Back to my own side of the story; last I had remembered, I was two hundred plus years old. The Forgetfulness Spell potion was in effect when the next part of my tale begins.