A/N: Alas, yet another long awaited update!

::Chapter 19: Lucinda's Daughter::

"Mandy?" I creaked open the heavy wooden door that lead to the kitchen.

Mandy looked up from stirring something on the stove. "Yes, what is it, Sweets?" she greeted me with a hearty smile.

I haul over a wooden stool and seat myself beside her. "Umm . . ." I fidgeted with my hands. What was I delaying for?? Mandy should know. . . After all, she IS a fairy. "Before Mother. . . you know. . . she left me something. . ."

"Oh?" Mandy paused for a moment at the mention of Mother. Then she continued stirring. "What was it?"

"Well. . ." I searched for the words to explain it. "It's this book. . . but it's. . special. Mother said it was a fairy's--"

Mandy's chuckle cut me off. "I'm not surprised she kept that old thing safe all these years. That is just like her."

I peered at her. "You. . . know about it. . . ?"

Mandy chuckled again. "Of course, Sweets! I'm the one who gave it to her many, many years ago. She couldn't have been not much older than you."

For some reason I felt relieved. "I wanted to talk to you about that. . ."

"Yes?"

"Well, you see. . . today during lessons, Brayden and I were going over a few things on sirens. . ." a chill went up my spine. ". . .but the book we usually use didn't have any information on them, you see, so Brayden went out for a few moments and got his OWN book to use. . . and. . ."

"And. . .?"

"I-I'm pretty sure it was a fairy book too. . . I'm sure it wasn't mine, though. . . but it looked just like it. . ."

Mandy stopped stirring.

"Mandy? Is something wrong?"

"Did you just say Brayden had a fairy book?"

"Yes. . ."

Mandy shook her head. "Never mind, never mind. . ." She continued stirring.

"Wait. . ."

She stopped.

"What's that mean? Where did he get it?"

Mandy sighed and set the wooden spoon down on the counter. "I'm not sure. . . but, the thing is. . . those books are very rare."

My eyes widened. "You mean there are more of them?"

She drummed her fingers on the countertop. "Well, there ARE more in the world besides the one you're Mother gave you. . . ONE more, to be exact."

"What?? You mean, Brayden and I have the only two that exist?"

Mandy shrugged and tucked a wisp of gray hair behind her ear. "It looks that way. . . but the strange thing is. . ."

"Brayden's a fairy?!"

Mandy chuckled. "Well, not necessarily. That wasn't what I was going to say. What I find strange is that. . . to the best of my knowledge, the only other fairy book like your own belonged to Lucinda. . ."

"Lucinda? But I thought she gave up big magic!" I thought back upon the one time I had overheard Mandy and Lucinda arguing.

"What? How do you know that?"

I shook my head. "Never mind. . ."

"Well, alright. But anyway, Lucinda and I have had quite a few conversations lately, and as it turns out, she gave that book away to her daughter many, many years back. . ."

"Lucinda has a daughter?!"

Mandy nodded. "Oh. . . I need some explaining right now. If only Lucinda were here at this moment. . ."

I gasped. The air around us started to sparkle. The sparkles swirled around as if they were caught in a tornado, and then. . .

"You called, Mandy?" An elderly woman who appeared much older than Mandy appeared right out of thin air! Her beautiful long, silver hair trailed on the floor behind her. She appeared perfectly normal, with a simple patched, brown dress that kind of hung on her like it was a few sizes to big. But her appearance didn't fool me. I was pretty sure I knew who this lady was.

"Lucinda!" Mandy gasped. She clapped her hand over her mouth. A deep scowl immediately followed her surprised expression. "Lucinda!" she repeated, this time in a more angry tone. "What in Frell's name do you think you're doing here?!"

Lucinda chuckled softly, "Don't fret, Mandy, dear, we're alone in this room." Slowly her eyes traveled to mine. "Oh? Now if it isn't Princess Amena!" She swept into a graceful curtsey.

I smiled nervously, not knowing if I should curtsey back. I decided to do so.

"Now, dear, what did you call me for?"

Mandy explained to her what we had been talking about.

"Hmm. . ." she said. Her forehead was scrunched up in a way that made it look like she was deep in thought. "Yes, that's right, I gave it to my daughter many years ago. . . MANY years ago. . . long before the dear Queen Daria was born. Haven't seen her since then. It was for her wedding present, actually."

Daria was my grandmother.

"It's quite strange that that boy has one just like it. . . quite strange. . ."

"L-Lucinda," I spoke softly. She fixed her eyes on me. "Ma'am," I added, thinking it would be much more respectful.

Lucinda grinned softly. "Lucinda is just fine."

"Thank you," I nodded, "Lucinda. . . W-What is you're daughter's name?"

"Sebille. My only child."

My eyes widened. Mandy and I exchanged glances. "Lucinda, do you by any chance know a young man by the name of Brayden?"

She lifted a finger to her chin and glanced at the ceiling. "Brayden. . . hmmm. . . doesn't seem to ring a bell. . . but my memory has been pretty foggy lately. . ."

"Mandy," I tugged at the cook's arm. "Can you get someone to call for Brayden?

She nodded, and briefly stepped out of the kitchen. We waited silently for a few moments, jumbled thoughts racing through my head.

Within a few moments, the wooden door leading into the kitchen slowly creaked open. Brayden stepped inside.

"Princess, you wished to see m-" He stopped. All the color drained out of his face, as if he had just had the fright of his life.

I glanced at Lucinda. She looked the same.

After a few moments of silence he finally spoke up.

"L-Lucinda. . ." Brayden stammered softly. He bore a look of confusion. "It's been a while."

A/N: PLEASE REMEMBER TO REVIEW! Also, I would like to thank all of my reviewers. I love you all! You know who you are. =)