*Do you think that they'll really send me away?*
*Please Hal, why would they send away one of their own daughters?*
*Dean, you don't know my parents do you?*
*Guess you're right. Hey, I was thinking…*
*Oohh! Did that hurt?*
*Ha-Ha. No really, what if your parents are hiding something from you?*
*Ya think?*
*Jeez, I was just trying to be helpful, and there has to be a reason that you're not allowed to ask questions.*
*They hate me, what other reason do they need?*
*Whatever you say.*
*You know, I have to go. Think about it though. You live in the attic right? So what do people keep there? Old stuff. So if you dig around, you just might find something.*
Glancing around the multiple crates that lined the walls of the attic, Hallie began to search. The first crate held hundreds of old photos of the Letrits. Not surprisingly, Hallie was not in them. No, there was one at the bottom. It was a picture of Amy's second birthday. Amy was riding her new tricycle around the back yard, and Hallie was trying to avoid being hit. The next thirteen or fourteen crates were full of Amy's clothes, toys and books. Why Mr. And Mrs. Letrit couldn't bare to get rid of Amy's stuff while they didn't seem to have that problem with Hallie was a mystery to all. Hallie was on the verge of giving up and yelling at Dean for making her waste her time on this, when she saw a small box, that was half-hidden by the others. Inside were papers, and different forms. All of them, seemed to be about her.
An adoption form will go here.
Hallie gasped. This was it. This was the reason she was mistreated. She was the unwanted twin. For one reason or another, her "parents" only wanted to adopt Amy. However, the Arizona Adoption Law forbid the separation of twins. Hallie dug deeper into the box. A birth certificate, some registration papers, and even a few photos of Hallie as a toddler. Her past was just a few feet away all these years. Hallie wondered whether Amy knew about this. Not likely. Mr. and Mrs. Letrit wouldn't want to damage Immikin's fragile psyche.
Hallie was suddenly furious. It wasn't the fact that she was adopted, no, it was why did they would want Amy badly enough to unwillingly adopt a second, and then treat her like a servant. Fuming, she swept to the door, and threw it open. A mumbling was coming from Amy' room. Hallie saw absolutely nothing wrong with finding out what her dear sister was typing. After all, she did say most of the stuff she wrote aloud, so it was just a matter of stopping long enough to hear.
"…so...you're fourteen too?"
Hallie's interest increased; who would talk to her sister on instant messenger, giving her their age.
"…no…yeah…Phoenix…on S. Central…no way…as well…what about Jackson rd…too far…maybe...oh…Amy, Amy Letrit…"
"What do you mean you won't take her!"
Assuming that she was "her", Hallie abandoned her spying, and went back to the task at hand.
"No, there was too much damage done. In fact, I think it is appropriate for her to work it off by doing housework."
That voice definitely belonged to the neon woman-Jamie.
"Now see here, Jamie. All the papers are signed. Take her in as a servant for all I care, but you will take the girl."
As Hallie neared the lounge, the conversation turned into a yelling match.
"IT'S TOO LATE TO BACK OUT NOW. YOU WILL TAKE HER IN, AND YOU WILL DO IT TOMORROW!"
"I HAVE THREE PERFECT GIRLS TO THINK ABOUT. HALLIE WOULD BE A HORRIBLE PERSON TO HAVE AROUND WHILE THEY GROW UP."
"DON'T YOU THINK THAT WE KNOW THAT? WHAT ABOUT AMY?"
"SO PUT HER BACK IN!"
"Don't shout that." Mr. Letrit's voice was suddenly down to a whisper.
Hallie found that she was shaking. How could they?
Retreating into the shadows Hallie turned to her best friend.
*Dean, you are not going to believe this! I found adoption papers in a box by my bed. Amy and me…*
*Amy and I. *
*…were adopted. But they only wanted Amy, and took me because of the twin law.*
Hallie broke off, doing a horrible job at concealing a sob within a coughing fit.
*Hal…*
*No! Let me finish! They're arguing with Jamie right now. She was supposed to adopt me, but since Amy blamed me for the damage to the house, Jamie doesn't want me either.*
*So what are you gonna do?*
*Oh, I don't know.* Hallie was no longer making an attempt to conceal her grief.
*Well there's no point of crying over it. If you don't lie down, no one can walk on you.*
*Dean you're right. No point of staying here.*
*That's not what I meant, but running away is good too.*
* * *
Leaving the house unnoticed was all too simple. Hallie only took a few minuets to pack her clothes and a small box of things she couldn't leave behind in a small school bag. She put Optum in a large pocket of her sweatshirt, and was ready. Hallie thought that she could leave out the front door, and no one would notice, but it wasn't worth the risk. The back door let to the side of the house with no windows, and it was ridiculously easy to go from there. As soon as the door closed behind her, Hallie ran, not looking back or slowing down once. Putting eight blocks between herself and the house, the exhausted girl collapsed onto a heap by an old building. Night was falling around her. Half crawling, Hallie made her was to a clump of bushes, and then fell into an uneasy sleep.
* * *
Hallie awoke to a soft teal glow, that seemed to get brighter and brighter the more she tried to focus on the source. She sat up, and instantly lay back down, as there was an eight-inch someone standing on top of her. The creature resembled a human, though it was very difficult to say for sure. It had peach-colored skin; it's big, round eyes seemed to stand out from the rest of the world; a soft, sky blue robe billowed in the breeze, and a swirling mist seemed to encircle it, and it only.
"Hello!" Hallie was amazed, as she was not expecting it to talk. Surely this was just her imagination. The creature, however, did not appear to notice that no response was given to the greeting. "I'm Penny, Miss. Penny sent here by Professor Summise to deliver important message to Miss."
"What are you? Oh, sorry. I mean to say who is this Mr. Summise?"
"Professor Summise is the founder of the Midnight Order. Penny is so sorry Miss, I gots lost in my thoughts again. I is a Pixie."
"Pixie?"
"Yes Miss. Now, your letter."
The Mist vanished along with the glow, and The letter which previously resided in Hallie's pocket moved onto her lap.
To: Miss Hallie Letrit
A shadowy corner by the bushes.
Millerer Blvd
Phoenix, Arizona
Dear Miss Letrit,
I am please to inform you, that the time has come for you to take your place in the Star of Light. You are to meet Professors Reeono, Rachee, and Estav along with myself at the statue of Vaith Bellder on Main, promptly at two am.
Yours Sincerely,
Niveus Summise
Head of the Midnight Order
Hallie reread this letter three times. This couldn't be. There are no Pixies, there is no Midnight Order, and a party of four important-sounding adults will not await her. Vaith Bellder. Hallie knew that statue. She used to hide in the woman's huge purse when her sister decided in was time to terrorize her.
A quick glance at the illuminated clock tower told her that she had seventeen minutes to meet this Syreaz character. Even as she was running, Hallie knew that she was being dumb. There is no such thing as a Pixie! But a part of her wanted to believe that was wanted, needed somewhere. Maybe, maybe something couldn't be done without her. '…take your place…' Did her foster parents know about this? Was it that something like this could happen be the reason they did not want to adopt her? Questions racing through her mind, Hallie came to a halt at the foot of Vaith's statue.
The area was deserted. Hallie felt the happiness that was welling up inside her moments ago deflating rapidly. How could she have possible believed that this was real. There was a small pop, followed by a rather noisy crash. Making her way quickly around the statue, Hallie wondered aloud.
"Maybe this is real."
Realizing her mistake, she tried to hide in the shadows, but the damage was done.
"Did you hear that?"
"There, in the shadows."
"Are you an idiot? Don't just be walking up to it!"
"Please, it's probably just the girl."
"Who?" Hallie was sure that she had heard this voice before.
"Who's 'the girl'?"
"Never mind that now, hurry along." This voice belonged to a woman. It was brisk, and implied that anyone who dared to cross her did not live.
"Revelo meo." Yet another voice joined the others. Hallie could tell that whomever this voice belonged to was powerful. No doubt, the leader.
Deciding that it was as safe as it would get, Hallie inched closer, stopping once she could see the people. A woman and two men were standing around two boys, around her age, who she could not see. A few feet to the left stood a third man, who seemed to be overflowing with power. Hallie estimated him to be in his mid nineties, if not oven one hundred, but the way he acted would suggest that he was at the height of his strength. A wave of understanding seemed to hit her.
"Niveus Summise." Though her voice was barely a whisper, Hallie was sure that the man's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the statue, resting on her for a fraction of a second before turning back to his companions.
"Err, Niveus, nothing happened, sir."
"Are you quite sure, Marlin? Revelo etruvo."
Suddenly an amber glow surrounded Hallie. She heard gasps coming from the adult, but Summise seemed to know this all along. They all seemed to be looking a bit passed her, however. Hallie glanced up, and let out a small cry of amazement. Above her, floated creature forms of the four elements. Wind, water, fire, earth. Hallie felt herself rise to greet the elements.
Hallie let herself calm down, feeling her mind freed by the memorizing glow. Her breathing deepened and she let herself fall deep within her mind. Her thoughts slowed down, and perhaps even stopped, she wasn't sure. Hallie Letrit seemed to be a completely different person. Here, in this place, was peace. This was where she should have always been. She opened her eyes. The world seemed bright, sharper, than ever before. She could hear the breeze ruffling the trees and testing the cracks in the house walls. She could taste the pollution on the air, and also the many auras surrounding living beings around her.
As Hallie rose yet higher, the three professors were illuminated, and Hallie saw Dean's awed face through the ones of mystified adults. Instantly, she was thrown out of the calmness of her mind and back into reality. The sudden change from peace to alarm caused her to drop seven feet on the cement below. About a foot off the ground, she was caught by a strangely familiar gust of wind, which had succeeded in slowing her down enough for her to land on the ground without sustaining an injury. Considerably bewildered, Hallie stood up and shot a glare toward Summise. The man looked unsure of himself. Almost. No one could blame him.
There was a vast area surrounding Hallie, within a great dome of amber-colored waves of pure energy. Every so often, a crack would follow an extra strong burst of power. Hallie found herself slowly walking toward Dean, the energy dome disintegrating everything in its path. She felt a sudden surge of unknown anger venture through her. It was anger as she never experienced before. Not knowing what it was that got her this aggravated Hallie fought to regain control of her emotions. Slowly, almost unwillingly, the dome grew smaller, and the light faded, leaving them all in the semi-darkness of early morning.
All was quiet. Even the occasional howling of the wind had died down. Everyone stared openly at Hallie. The girl tried desperately to remember what it was that forced her state of calmness to abruptly end, leaving her furious.
"Dean…no…what is it?" Hallie's mumbling broke the silence, though barely audible.
"It was me…I-I couldn't…no…not it…"
But it was like trying to hold water in your hands. Hard as you try to keep it within, it slips away. Hallie looked around her, taking in every fearful face. As she neared Dean, the teenager did a double take.
There was another person, which, up until now, was continuously ignored by Hallie. He was fairly short, though still taller than Hallie and Dean; his hair was a soft golden-brown, and was long enough to be pulled into a ponytail, which he did. It was his eyes, however, that caught Hallie's attention. They were a plain amber color, as Hallie had seen numerous times before, but behind them was something else. It was as though Hallie looked into the eyes of hundreds of people instead of just one. The shadows of souls and auras gave his eyes both a ward, and a haunted look.
Syreaz, being the first to come out of the trance that was cast on all during Hallie's brilliant display of abilities, tried to restore order.
"Now that we are all here, lets talk about why you three" he waved in the direction of Hallie, Dean, and the strange boy "have been called here tonight."