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Chapter 2 - The Locket
When Abby was of the age she began to question why her mother was dead, Mrs. Kennedy sat her down and told her the story of her birth. She explained how Abby had come to have the same name as the name on her mother's headstone. She explained how Mr. Kennedy gave Abby's middle name to her, in honor of his wife. Abby's last name, England, was due to the fact that this was the place where her mother was from.
Abby thought about this as she caressed the locket that hung on a chain around her neck. Releasing the clasp, she turned the locket over in her hand so she could fully view it.
The locket itself was very heavy and large. The silver, while appearing very delicate, actually was quite strong. The locket was oval in shape. On the front was etched a picture of a castle. There where mountains in the background. Around the base of the castle was a shoreline, as though it was nestled against a lake. Abby has many times thought that the lake appeared to flow against the shore, though she knew it couldn't really move. The back of the locket showed the picture of an owl. Each feather etched into the silver with pain staking detail. The wise eyes of the bird large and all knowing.
The inside of the locket was what Abby treasured most. Opening the locket, Abby stared at the woman she loved more then anything, though they had never met. Her mother was the most beautiful woman Abby had ever seen. The portrait was of a dark haired woman. The raven hair seemed to flow behind her, as if caught in a windy storm. In fact, the background of the portrait included trees with branches bent, and a bolt of lightening in the dark sky. The white skin of the daring woman glowed against the midnight depths behind her. Her deep brown eyes sparkled and her full red lips held a defiant smirk. Her whole expression was of mischief, as though daring the storm to harm her.
Next to the portrait, on the inside of the cover, there was an inscription.
My Dearest Abby
Your love will always give me the courage to fight any storm.
Love Always,
Albus
Abby had always wondered who Albus was. Was this the name of her father? Abby thought so, but then she would wonder. Why, if someone loved her mother so very much, why would they not have been with her when she was pregnant and in danger?
Abby sat silently in these thoughts for a few moments, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up she saw the tears shining in Mrs. Kennedy's eyes.
"You look so much like her," Mrs. Kennedy whispered, unable to speak clearly through the emotion in her voice. Shaking her head, she continued on, "We had better move on now. On to the school before it gets too hot outside."
The ladies moved back to the van and climbed inside. It was getting very hot out. The lived in a small community located in central Texas. May, being the beginning of summer, while not the hottest month of the year, ranged from the mid-nineties to triple digit temperatures.
Relaxing in the van, as the cool breeze of the air conditioner hit her skin, Abby thought of the reason for going to school that day. She had finally graduated! Most students graduated high school at age eighteen. Abby, being extremely gifted had managed to graduate a more then a full year early and with honors.
The school she attended offered classes in which you where allowed to work at your own pace. Abby had begun high school with students of her own age. Soon she had flown past them. After reaching the amount of credits she needed to graduate, Abby had continued to take more classes so that she could graduate with honors. Most of the classes where on a college based level. Abby had won an award for her grade in advanced chemistry. She loved mixing the elements into different combinations and hoped to have a career as a chemist.
Abby's school technically had another week before the term's end, but Abby was excused from attending. She was returning today in order to clean her locker, return her books and say goodbye to some of her favorite teachers. She and Mrs. Kennedy handled the task within a few hours and then started the journey home.
Abby noted that a strange vehicle was parked in the driveway of the home. Opening the front door, she made to go up the stairs to her room when Mr. Kennedy called her name, "Abby, may I see you in the office? There is someone here who needs to speak to you."
Walking into the office, Abby knew that whoever was behind that door would somehow change her destiny.