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Chapter Three: In which there is a huge plot twist...


I awoke early on my last morning at the Convent of Carronsburgh, for I wanted to say good-bye to my "special places." These included the places around the convent where I went with my group of friends. There were little spots here and there, but the main garden was where I most often went. I loved the many types of flowers, and I spent time saying "good-bye" to each and every one of them.

After finishing this, I did my duty, for Mother, of course, and bid farewell to all the sisters and to the Mother Abbess. When I was finally done, I completed the hardest part: saying "good-bye" to all my friends. I finally got this over with, though my emotions and heart screamed. I then gathered my suitcases and waited for Mother's carriage.

My eyes slowly skimmed the road, but I doubted that I would see anything soon. Mother had said that the coach would arrive at noon, and it was only eleven thirty. But, I wanted to get home as soon as I possibly could, so I waited there. I suddenly remembered that Mother had said she had sent a new servant to come get me, so I wouldn't recognize the driver or my greeter.

I heard a rumbling in the distance, and I immediately sat up and squinted to try to see the upcoming carriage. I soon saw a huge cloud of dust, and then a tiny black shape that was creating it.

As it turned into the gate of the convent, I stood, ready to load into it. It suddenly stopped at the gate. Then the driver, whom I didn't recognize, hopped down and beckoned for me to haul my luggage to the gate. I lugged it over to the carriage, then stepped in as gracefully as I could, Mother's bag at my side. I saw a figure in the corner as my eyes adjust to the dark interior of the carriage, and, having a strange, horrible feeling that something was wrong, open Mother's bag and whisper, "Inemsu ottweh ihmah." I then tucked the now-tiny book into a hidden pocket of my dress.

My eyes fully adjusted to the light by then, I smiled at the figure across from me. I noticed that she was veiled, and all her face, except her eyes, was completely hidden. I thought I saw a twinkle in her black eyes, but I was not sure.

I looked out the carriage window after feeling a turn I didn't remember. To my horror, I saw that I was heading the opposite direction from Mother's manor. I turned to the mysterious figure and threatened, "Whatever you are doing and wherever I am going, stop, and take me home! How dare you go against Mother's wishes when you only work for he-"

She stopped me, then said, "Child, it does not concern me what your 'Mother' wishes. No, I do not work for her. I'm taking you where you belong."

"So you're kidnapping me! Of all the wicked, evi-"

"Silence!" she thundered, and I felt as if her voice was pushing me against my seat. "I am not kidnapping you. Like I said, I am taking you back where you belong."

"I belong at home, with my mother," I threw at her, very frightened, yet trying every way I could to hide it.

"Exactly! I knew you'd get it! Yes, you belong at home, with your mother, which is exactly where I'm taking you."

"My home is the other direction! And Mother is there, too."

"Wrong again, love! Your home is where we're going, and your mother is right here with you."

"What? What do you mean?" I asked, now totally and completely baffled.

"What do I mean?" she said, in a whiny voice. "I mean what I say, child! Your mother is here, now, with you at this very instant in this very coach! Do you not understand?" she said so sternly I backed away, into my seat.

"That's impossible, there's no way you could be my mother," I said slowly, trying to work it all out in my head.

"Very possible, love, very possible. You were stolen from me instants after you were born, but now my baby has returned to me."

I stiffened, but allowed her to hug me. I was shocked with disbelief. I kept thinking, "How can this be? Mother never told me anything!" and so on. I looked up to see my mother, no, she could never be, taking off her veil. I gasped as I saw what it had hidden. I saw her greenish face, huge, warty nose, and gray-black, limp hair. I screamed and darkness closed in around me.