The Little Chain: Chapter 1 The Far Away Kingdom Of San Francisco
Our story takes place in San Francisco, the year was 1865, and takes place in January. It was 10:00 am and it was cold, but sunny. The sounds of music, carnivals, and excitement can be heard for miles. There was a huge festival going on. The whole town was crowded with citizens from the rich and the poor, celebrating the prince's 15th birthday and his coming-of-age ceremony. The prince, however, was away from the party. He was at a cliff house that was perched on the very brink of the San Francisco bay, like a castle by the Rhine. He was a teen boy who was 5'3" tall with short blonde hair and emerald green eyes. He wore a white overcoat that had some green designs in some spots. Under the fancy coat he also wore a black waistcoat vest over a white dress shirt, and had a cravat tie that was sticking out. Lastly, he wore white breeches and black boots and white gloves. He was leaning against the railing while he watched the waves roll in, for miles along the beach. His thoughts were soon interrupted by someone calling out his name.
"Oz! What are you doing on this side of the party?!" The prince boy named Oz turned his head around and spotted his two friends standing at the doorway. One was slim, yet, a toned young male. He was 5'7" tall. He had beige-colored hair and blue eyes. He also has two black earrings (studs) in each ear. He wore a black frock coat that was buttoned up. Under the coat he wore a dark blue waistcoat vest over a white dress shirt and a blue ribbon tie, and he wore black dress pants. The other boy was shorter than him. He was only 5'4" tall, who had long dark shaggy messy hair that reached almost halfway down his back. He wore glasses that covered his pitch black eyes. He wore a black dress coat over a white shirt and pants, a black waistcoat vest and a purple bow tie. Both boys then walked up to him.
"Good evening Elliot and Leo." Oz said, with a smile. "What are you doing up here by yourself?" The one named Leo asked. It's not like the Vessalius household made this exciting party and you don't take part in it." Oz let out a quiet laugh.
"Sorry, guys." Oz replied back to them.
"You've been out here since this morning, what's the problem?" The other named Elliot asked.
''Oh, it's nothing personal. I guess I'm just more nervous than usual, so I just thought that the sounds of the ocean waves would help." He said, with a bright expression on his face.
"Well, you are going to be the next head of the Vessalius house, Oz; this is your coming of age and birthday after all." Leo said.
"That's just it! Why do I have to do it? It's such a pain." Oz said, with a sigh.
"Because it's the fate of a prince when he turns fifthteen, accept it." Elliot said coldly.
"Ah well, I guess that I'm glad that the festival brought everyone to this part of town. Seeing all of these new things for a whole day…It's a lot of fun!" Oz said, in a cheerful mood.
"Well, now that you seem to be in a better mood, come back and join the ceremony for Christ sakes. If you want the stupid ceremony to be over you should attend the ceremony first." Elliot said sarcastically, while walking away. Leo just rolled his eyes.
Oz, Elliot, and Leo were the tightest of friends. Oz was the leader of the group. He was the prince of the Vessalius family, one of the houses of nobility. Oz retained a bright, optimistic, mischievous, and energetic personality. When he was young, he worked hard to gain praise and recognition from his father. However, he had discovered that his father hated him to the point of not wanting to be his father. After experiencing this, Oz began to think that there is no guarantee when you are born into the world. He thought of himself as weak and, in order to protect himself, he should at least remain an obedient child and not let harm come his way. When his friends came into his life, their happiness, caring, and doing anything to protect each other, Oz finally overcomes the shadows of his past. Elliot was part of the Nightray family, which was, by far, a very different household. Leo, Elliot's servant, belonged to the Nigthtray family. Elliot is hotheaded, outspoken, and always forces his opinions on everybody else. When Elliot first met Oz, they both attended the same academy. They got into a fight over a character in a novel series called "The Holy Knight" where he spoils the ending for Oz. Elliot hated the Vessalius family, a belief that is his fathers'. However, after learning more of Oz and his past, he decides to judge everything with his own eyes. He now views things differently than before, and accepts Oz's friendship. And then there was Leo. Leo, at first, seems to have a rather calm demeanor. His friends have revealed that Leo can be violent and unsettled, but usually has good control of himself. Leo has great respect for Oz and Elliot.
"So guys? Did you see that cute girl wearing that blue flower dress?" Oz slyly asked.
"Psst, yeah, but she was such an airhead, talking to her was like talking to an eggplant!" Elliot cried. Elliot then had a thought.
"Speaking of girls, Oz why must you flirt with every lovely lady you see, even the ones slightly younger than you?" Elliot asked.
Oz tried to think of something. "Well, it's either because I just like to flirt or, I don't know, I'm trying to find the one and only girl for me." Oz said, looking down. Elliot and Leo looked at each other. Leo was the first to speak up.
"Oz, there are a lot of fine young lady's out there, and the dream girl you want will probably be here tonight." He said, trying to cheer him up.
"That's very supportive of you Leo, but…"
He was then interrupted by a female voice. "Good evening Oz-kun." Oz jumped a little when the girl before him came up to them unexpectedly. The boys recognized her, as she was one of their friends.
"Sharon-Chan, hi, you gave me quite a fright . "Oz said, while putting his hand behind his head. Sharon just giggled at his comment.
She was the lady of the Rainsworth household. She was 5'2" tall and had long light brown caramel colored hair that was tied loosely in a ponytail with a ribbon. She had pinkish-cranberry colored eyes. She wore a purple dress that had a flower design. Sharon was a calm, gentle, kind, and trustworthy girl. She smiles most of the time but she can be serious, especially in fights. She has both beauty and brains, however, it is noted that she can be very intimidating. She is very protective of her loved ones. She, and all her friends, respect each other.
"Sharon-Chan, I thought you weren't going to take part in the party. What made you change your mind?" Oz asked.
"Well, my mother was supposed to be here for the event. But unfortunately, three days ago, she started to feel ill. So in order to explain her absence, and send her congratulations, as her daughter, she sent me to come take her place." Sharon answered, almost sad.
"Is that so? I'm sorry about your mother's illness Sharon-chan." Oz said.
"It's quite alright; I mean it would be nice if I my mother could attend the party also." Sharon said, in a brighter mood.
"Heh, then let's kindly thank your mother for her thoughtfulness." Oz said, cheerfully. Everyone just giggled.
The conversation was then interrupted by the sound of rustling coming from behind a tree. Oz turned his attention to the tree before him and saw a person hiding behind it, trying to be unnoticed. Oz recognized the person.
"Echo-Chan?"
The mysterious girl named Echo was startled upon being noticed.
"Echo-Chan, is that you?!" Oz yelled excited.
"It's just Echo!" Echo yelled back.
"Ha!, we haven't seen each other since Christmas Eve! What happened that night? You disappeared the next day; I was a little worried." Oz said, while walking up to her.
"Echo just came to see what was going on at the festival. Echo should go back home now." Echo explained.
"Aw come on, join us!" Oz said, happily. Echo justed shrugged.
"C'mon, the more the merrier! Besides." Oz said, taking her by the hand.
"I insist you stay." Oz finished. Echo just gave up.
Echo was yet another friend of Oz, except that she was on her own. Heck, she didn't have a family at all. Echo is what you call a loner. It is really unknown what happened in her past, but Echo really doesn't care what happened to her, really. Echo was 5'3" tall and had white hair and pale silver eyes. Her hair is bob-cut with two inch-thick strips in the front that reach to her shoulders. Unlike other women wearing big long dresses, Echo wore a mid-thigh high length blue white dress with a blue vest over it. Dark blue buttons line the sides of the vest and she wears a navy blue short tie. She also wears thigh-length white boots that seem a bit more like socks, which are folded at the top. Echo's overall persona appears to be emotionless at times, like a puppet. However, Echo can have an individualistic personality; she just simply has difficulty expressing it. Oz treats Echo like any other girl he meets. She, however, does not like how Oz treats her like a girl. She even told him to call her just Echo and not Echo-Chan or anything else. She, however, respects Oz. Oz often calls to her to hang out with him and the others.
While Oz was walking her over to his friends, Echo was looking around, as if trying to find someone. She finally had the nerve to speak up
"Oz, where's that little one?" She asked.
"Who, Lily? Oh she's somewhere; I just don't know where she went off too. But I'm sure she'll come back." Oz answered.
The others noticed something behind Echo's back. "Echo, what's that behind your back?" Sharon asked. Echo then took the object off her back to show everyone. They then saw that it was a Talbot camera.
"Oh, it's a camera!" Oz said, with a bright expression.
"Echo was going to take pictures for her dairy." Echo explained.
Oz then had a thought. "Hey, I have an idea. Let's all take a group photo." Oz offered.
"Oh, Echo would rather not…"
"C'mon Echo-Chan, what's a dairy without having pictures of your friends in it?!" Oz said, smiling. Echo shrugged.
"I would love to be in a group picture." Sharon happily said.
"I guess a friendship photo wouldn't hurt." Elliot said. Echo sighed in defeat.
"Alright…" She muttered. The four of them walked towards the front of the meadow. Oz was in the middle, Elliot was on his left, Sharon was on his right, and Echo was sitting on the ground in front of him. Leo held up the camera.
"Ok, guys. 1…2…3!" The camera snapped the shot.
"Great job everyone." Oz said.
"I can't wait to see the photo when it has been developed." Sharon said.
"Over and done, now let's go back to the ceremony. Elliot said.
As the other's we're walking back to the party, Echo went up to Oz and tugged on his sleeve. "Oz, Echo has made her decision, and wants to join her friends for the whole day." Echo said.
"That's the sprit Echo-Chan!" Oz cried of excitement.
"It's just Echo!" She corrected him.
Echo then ran up to walk with the other's to head back to the festival. Oz was about to leave, when a breeze of wind came in and made him stop in his tracks. The others noticed Oz looking around
"Is there something wrong Oz-kun?" Sharon asked.
"Guy's? Do you hear…strange voices?" he asked. All four of them looked at each other and shook their heads.
"I don't hear anything Oz." Leo said.
"It must be coming from the party, it is crowded over there." Elliot said. Oz shook his head.
"I guess you're probably right…" he said. He joined the others and began to walk back.
What the teens did not know was that Oz was right. There were strange voices that probably can only be heard though the winds, but it was not coming from the festival. Heck, the voices weren't even coming from anywhere in this world! The strange ghostly voices were coming from a different world beyond this one…