A/N: I promised myself that I wasn't going to start any new projects until I was finished with Haunted. But I've hit a minor rut on Haunted, so I'm breaking my promise. Aren't I the worst?
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Sarah Kingston sat at her vanity, running a comb through her damp hair. It was nearly one in the morning, but she had been unable to sleep. She had hoped that a nice warm shower might make her tired, but she was still wide awake. Annoying, but understandable. It was only natural that her nerves would be so frazzled. After all, your daughter's sixteenth birthday was a big deal. And apparently, now days it required expensive, stressful parties for all of said daughter's friends and family. Her beautiful, sweet, ever so slightly spoiled daughter.
The night was deathly silent, not even a cricket chirped outside. It was a moonless night, the only light came from the street lamp on the corner. She loved the silence, it was rare for her to enjoy it. Teenagers talked to much, and twelve year old boys... well boys of any age were just too hyper and noisy.
A cool breeze blew through her open window, sending a chill down her damp body, only wrapped in a towel. She reached behind her, and pulled her fluffy white robe around herself. She tied the sash, and pulled it down in the back.
"Now, now Sarah. No need to get all gussied up for me," a cold, yet amused voice said from behind her. She looked up into the mirror, and saw standing on her balcony, the figure of her nightmares for the last twenty five years. His wild blond hair, and shimmering cape were blowing in the breeze. His handsome face, unchanged after all these years, broke into a chilling smile at her surprise.
She got to her feet, and turned to face him. Her hands clenched into fists. "You! What the hell are you doing here?"
"After all these years, this is how you greet an old friend? I'm hurt, Sarah. I'd have thought you'd have learned manners by now," he sneered, cocking his head to the side, regarding the woman before him.
"Why are you here?" she demanded, taking a fighting stance.
"I have come to offer my services to you, dear one."
"Services? What, do you have another crystal containing my 'dreams'? Keep it, I have everything I could ever want right here!"
He laughed, and stepped into her room. She held her ground, scowling at the intruder. "Still selfish as always. You think everything is about you. The offer I have concerns young Lauren."
"You stay the hell away from my daughter, you evil bastard!"
"Sarah, this matter is most serious. I've been keeping a close eye on you and your family, Sarah. And from what I've seen, Lauren is a... most gifted child."
"What are you going on about?" she snarled. He smiled patiently at her.
"Don't pretend that you haven't noticed, lovely. Your daughter exhibits a great deal of magical ability. Abilities that will only grow stronger, now that she's sixteen."
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Goblin King. There's nothing remotely magical about Lauren. Except her musical abilities. That's pretty magical, I have no idea where she got that from. But other than that, my daughter is completely normal."
"Don't deny it, Sarah. Her powers are great, but she needs to learn to control them. I can help her do that. I only want to help dear little Lauren."
"Lauren doesn't need any help from the likes of you," she said, crossing her arms stubbornly across her chest.
"Sarah, she needs my help. If she doesn't learn to control her powers, she could end up destroying everything in your world! Uncontrolled magic is very dangerous, Sarah. Please, let me help her!"
"Get out of my house, and stay away from my children! The last thing my children need in their lives is the likes of you," she hissed, pointing out the window. He sighed, and turned around.
"Your daughter is very beautiful Sarah. Where on earth did she get that lovely golden hair, and those enchanting blue eyes? Your husband had dark hair like yourself, and your son has your hair and eyes. Where did you get a blonde child? Scorned lover, perhaps?"
"I don't see what concern it is of yours. Now get out!" she screeched. He shrugged, transformed into his owl form, and flew out the window. Sarah sighed in relief, and shut her window. She was very shaken by all this. Why had he turned up now, after all these years?
He had spoken the truth. Her daughter did seem to cause some pretty strange things to happen. But that had to be coincidence. Or else he was causing it, trying to get back into her life again. He had admitted that he had been watching them.
She sat on her bed, and flipped off the bedroom light. The room was plunged into darkness, and she stretched out on her bed. She had to try to get some sleep. Maybe she would wake up in the morning, and find that this was all just a bad dream...
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A/N: This story is a new genre for me. I hope I can write a more lighthearted story.
For those of you following Haunted or Lurking in the Shadows, don't worry, I have every intention of continuing them as well. I can multi-task! Plus, Haunted is almost done anyway.
Review, please.
