"Mother," a girl whispered. She was sitting next to a bed in the hospital, her mother in it. The woman had black hair and small blue eys, that were once filled kindness and love, now with pain and sorrow.
"Oh Little One, I'm sorry. I can't go on," the woman whispered.
"No mother, you can't leave me! Please don't leave me! I don't want to be alone!" the girl said.
"I'm sorry, but I can't hang on much longer. I don't want to die ether, but she is calling me," the woman whispered.
"Who mother?"
"Renia is calling, Karisa, Renia," the woman answered.
"But isn't she...?"
"Yes. Now listen Karisa, there is not much time. There is something that you should know, before I die. Karisa, I am a witch."
"What?" Karisa stared at her mother.
"Yes, you see, I am from the Chika Clan, and queen of it. I left my clan to marry your father. We loved each other so much. He knew who I was, but he didn't care. He loved me so much. So now, you are the rightful queen of the Chika Clan."
"Mother, how is this possible?"
"It is too much to explain. Listen. When you return home, go to my room and look for a large, red leather book. It was a jaguar and serpent on the cover. Take it. It is now yours. It contains spells and enchanments for healing, protecting, and revivng. It also contains curses. Use it wisely and carefully." Kaisa looked into her mother's eyes and could see that she was not lying.
"Very well mother, I promise."
"And, you will also find an amulet. It is dark blue, edged with pure gold. The gem is a rare stone in our clan. It is called the Star of Aries. You see, a star from that constellation is in that stone. It will protect, but you must find all eleven of the stones. They are called the Zodiac stones. Who ever collects all elven stones, will be able to control every witch in this world. You must find them before the others do. promise me Karisa, please. Don't let them get the stones, other wise we will all be doomed. promise me."
"I promise, but who I'm keeping them from."
But her mother stared sadly at her daughter, tears brimming. "Good-bye ,my daughter, I will be with your father now. I love you." Karisa stared in horror.
"No Mother! Don't!" But then, Karisa stared. She suddenly saw abeautiful woman apear, with billowing black hair and emerald eyes. She had small lips and small face. She glided over to her mother.
" Thank you, Renia-yana, thank you," her mother whisper. The woman smiled and placed a hand over mother's heart. Karisa saw red light flow through her arms. She knew her mother was gone. Renia-yana looked at Karisa, smiled and vanished. Karisa stared at her mother's empty body, knowing she was truly gone. The heart monitar began to beep much slowly now. Tears streamed down Karisa' face. Suddenly, doctors rushed into the room. Karisa left the room. She didn't want to watch the doctor's futile efforts to save her mother. She slowly walked away.
When Karisa returned home, she walked around slowly. First, she went into her mother's anf father's room. She walked over to her mother's dresser and found hte book her mother was talking about. A large, green serpant was curling itself around a jaguar. The edge of the book was trimmed with gold and silver threads. She picked it up and sat on the bed. She unlocked the book with a small key and slowly opened it. A gust of wind came at her face when she opened it, her long black hair flew behind her. Her sapphirre eyes widened with surprise as she turned the page.
The Chika Clan has been around for over ten thousand years, even before man kind appeared. We have been healing and protecting our people and others for long time. We are not known to go to war, but to help prevent it. In order to do that, it is our job to protect the eleven Zodiac Stones. Each stone has power. The Star of Capricorn has the power of wisedom, the Star of Libra holds the power of knowledge, the Star of Leo holds the power of Strength, the Stone of Scorpio holds the power of the earth, the Star of Aries gives the gift of flight, the Star of Gemini holds the power of deception, the Stone of Virgo has the power of kindness and peace, the Star of Cancer has the power of pain and harm, the Star of Taurus has the power of navigation, the Star of Aquaries holds the gift of breathing underwater and the Star of Psices has the power of truth.The only way to find these stones is use the one in pssesion and use it as a compass. Or, by luck or fate.
Each of the stones are important in this world. Is these
stones fall into the wrong hands, then every witch in this world will be in his
or her power. With an army of witches, this world will come to an end. But, if
the stones fall into the right hands, then this world will continue to live in
peace and harmony. But, only the Queen of the Chika Clan can use theses stones.
To anyone else, they are just mear jewels. In order for evil to use these
jewels, they must enslave the Queen and put he runder their power. But, as long
as the Queen has her Loken with her, she will be safe from them.
It is our duty, as a member of the Chika Clan, is to
portect not only the Zodiac Stones, but our Queen aswell.
"Wow," Karisa whispered. She turned the page and found a note inside of it.
My loving daughter,
"But, what is my Loken?" Karisa asked. She read on.
Your Loken is a hawk. She is sitting outside ona branch on the oak tree right outside the window. Her name is Ruby, and will be with you wherever you go.
Karisa walked over to the window and lifted the shade. Sure enough, a small hawk was looking at her from a branch on the oak tree. She opened the window and the bird flew in. Karisa spotted a glove on her mother's dresser and pulled it on. Ruby landed on it.
"Your beautiful," Karisa said kindly, stroking Ruby's feathers. Ruby looked at Karisa and rubbed her head against her face. Karisa giggled at this. she brought Ruby over to where she was sitting and continued reading the letter.
Now, there is not much time left. You must pack only your most valuable possetions, some food and money and cloths, and items of your parents and leave this place. If I am correct,Maaya will send some of her warriors to search this place out for me and the Star. Now, find Midnight. She will be lounging on the couch in the living room. Only pack what you need. Now go my daughter. I will love you forever anf watch over you. Now, go!
"Alright then, we must leave then. Come on Ruby, lets go find Midnight," Karisa said. Karisa closed the book, with the note inside and went into the living room. There, she found a black cat, sleeping there. She looked up at Karisa and you could see a white star on her chest.
"Ah, Queen karisa, so you have the book of spells," Midnight purred. She eyed the bird.
"Don't even think about it. Ruby is my Loken," Karisa said.
"What made you think I wanted to eat that bird?"
"Nevermind. Could you please help me pack?" Midnight got up, stretched and followed Karisa to her room. There, she found her LL Bean backpack and began to pack. She packed another outfit, a sweatshirt and the book of spells. She spotted her stuffed tiger doll sitting on her dresser. She smiled and walked over to it. It had the faint sent of roses and lilys on it, her mother's scent. Then, she had an idea. She pulled out the Book of Spells and flipped through the pages. She came across what she wanted. She read the spell and the placed it down. She turned to the doll and said, " Memories, memories, soft and kind, keep the memory of mother in this doll, for all of time. Small, pink parks left her hands and landed on the doll. The doll glowed, and then returned to normal. She picked it up and sure enough, the scent was still there. She placed the doll and book back into her bag. Then, she also placed a few books inside. She oacked his Dark Materials Trilogy and a book of Edger Allen Poes' works. After a minute, she decided to pack her CD player and black case of CDs. She took one last long look of her room, and trhen left. She returned to her parent's room. She looked around and then went in. She walked over to a chest that was at the foot of the bed. She slowly opened it, and found it full of her father's personal possesions. She rummaged through clothing and nick-nacks for a few minutes. In the end, she kept her father's glasses and his pipe, that still had the sent of vanilla tobacco in it. Then, she repeated the speel she did on her doll onto the pipe. She smiled and placed the two possesions in the pocket second closest to the front.Then, something caught her eye. Something silver was flashing the sunlight in the runk. Karisa peered inside and pulled it out. Midnight and karisa gasped at it. It was a dagger, in a leather sheath. But what surprised the two was what was on the handle.
"That...that...that is the Star of Pisces!" Midnight whispered.
"My father owned one of the Zodiac Stones?!" Karisa said incrediously.
"It appears so! Better take it with you. That makes two stones," Midnight said. Karisa nodded and tied it to her waist. before they left the room, Karisa went into her mother's closet. She searched for something, and found it. She pulled out a black silk dress, trimmed with red. The sleeves went down just above the elbows, and the end was bell shaped, leaving a large gap between the arm and dress. The bottom fell just a one or two inches from the ground. And, she also pulled out a cloak. It was black, the hood edged with red thread. She gazed at both of them.
"Those are worn only by the Queen, Karisa. They now belong to you," Midnight said. Karisa stared for a few minutes, then squeezed the dress in her bag and took of her coat. When she placed the cloak on, warmth and softness washed over her. The cloak was warm and soft. She quickley packed her coat in the bag, just incase.
"Very well then. We must pack some rations and leave," Karisa said. Midnight nodded. After packing enough food to last a few days for the three Karisa put on her cloak, grabbed her stuff and left. Before though, she spotted something on a small table next to the door. She picked up a framed piture of her and her parents. Karisa smiled at it and felt a tear fall down her face. She took the picture out of its frame, folded it, and shoved it into her pocket. The three left. Karisa stood in front of the house, gazing at it. Ruby sat on her left shoulder, and Midnight made herself comfertable in the food bag.
"You had better not eat any of that, got it?" Karisa warned.
"Why would I do that?" Midnight asked, surprised. Karisa shook her.
"Good-bye little house," Karisa whispered. She plucked a lily from the garden in the front and placed it in her ahir. Then, she turned on her heel and wwalked away from her life.
