Chapter 2: Crystal

I sat at the edge of my bed when a bright flash knocked me backwards. Emily had been up to it again. I sighed and clamored off the bed. What in Merlin's name would I do about my little sister? Around me my books about monsters and spell charms laid scattered on the floor and the once violet walls were now a charred black (even my favorite poster of Nicholas Flamel was burnt). Emily had completely done it now.

"EMILY!" I screamed.

Upon exiting my room I saw my little sister standing in the middle of the hallway wearing a burnt peacock feather shirt and skirt. Her dirty blond hair was messy and there was hardly a patch of skin that was not left unmarked from her new burns. Mother was going to kill her if I didn't.

"You little brat!" I snapped again.

Emily flinched back. "I'm sorry, Crystal."

"You ruined my room! Even my bed!"

Emily turned away and ran down the hallway. I wasn't about to let her get away with what she had done.

"Get back here!"

I chased her until we both ended up in the basement. Looking past Emily I saw two cute boys standing in front of us: one with blond hair and wearing shinny armor and the other one had brown hair and wore rags that made him look like a hobo. Both of the boys looked around the room with questioning stares. I took a step forward with brave courage.

"Who in the name of Merlin are you?"

The boy with blond hair responded saying, "I'm King Arthur Pendragon and this is my manservant, Merlin." His face was an ashen color and his blue eyes were glazed like he had been hit upside the head with some kind of blunt object.

Arthur Pendragon? Merlin? I thought. There was no way that they could exist. Yet, here they were, standing in front of my little sister, who was a huge Merlin fanatic, and me.

Emily took my pant leg and shook it. "It's him! It's really him!" she squealed.

"Prove you are who you are. Merlin. It states that you know magic in all of the legends, so I want you to explain how you came to know that Morgan le Fey was evil. That's the only way I'd except that Camelot actually existed."

I had to take a quick breath before pushing Emily behind me. I could see that Arthur looked pale and stared at Merlin in question. His blue eyes glowed dimly as he took a few steps away from Merlin while pulling out his sword.

"You know magic? You lied to me and my father for all these years?"

"Oh? I wasn't supposed to say that, was I?" I asked.

Merlin looked to Arthur with horror in his eyes. "Yes. I'm afraid I do know magic, but I only intended to protect Camelot and you. It's my mission."

I sighed. Knowing that what I had done was wrong, I took a step back. Emily poked her head from out from behind me.

"Is it really him?" she asked.

"I don't know." They both seemed to be arguing about magic. Was it forbidden in their time (if that time even existed in the first place). I took another step backwards and spoke in an ancient tongue. "Cyetal ethenwas."

My eyes glowed a beautiful gold and a magical barrier shot up in between the two boys and us.

"Explain who you really are now."

Merlin looked to me with his blue eyes. There was no way I was going to fall for him now even though he was cute for a young version of Merlin. I kept my balance and backed up a little. Emily stayed (thankfully) behind me. The dank mildew scent of the basement touched my nose and made me gag.

"Tell me now or you can rot in this basement until I get security."

Merlin raised his hands up in defense. "We are who we say we are. Who is Morgan le Fey? Is she someone close to Morgana?"

"Morgana?" I questioned. "No. Morgan le Fey is a witch who would stop at nothing to kill King Arthur and destroy Camelot. In many legends she was either his sister or something. No one really knows since they're just old wives tales. Camelot never existed. And you should know that."

Merlin stared at me. "It can't be. I have to protect Camelot."