•Chapter One- A Discovery•
Tally Torsson watched her mother wash the dishes, the calming fragrance of the dishwashing soap soothing her troubled mind. Her friend Amber Silk had been starting to hear strange things. Or, rather, feel them. Her parents wouldn't explain what was going on. Tall had a feeling that her parents knew something.
Her father, Tancred Torsson, came through the doorway, whistling a merry tune. Tally stood up.
"Mom, Dad, I'm going to go to Amber's." She called. A strange expression crossed Emma Torsson's face.
"No, no, you can't go to the Silk's." She yelped, her voice high-pitched with anxiety.
"Why not?" Tally protested.
"Um, Amber has a high fever, we don't want you to catch an illness." Her mother said. her voice was strained, as if she were trying very hard to keep herself calm.
"Mom, I know Amber has been feeling peculiar, but she isn't ill." Tally said. She was starting to lose her temper.
A strong gust of wind toppled her mother into her father's arms. emma looked into Tancred's face, her eyes wide. Tally's father shook his head as if to say, "wasn't me".
They both turned to stare at Tally.
"What?" She asked, feeling odd.
"Tally." Tancred Torsson's face looked slightly green. "Did you do that?"
"Do what?" Tally snapped. Her parent's mysterious behavior was annoying her. Another burst of strong wind pushed over a plate and it shattered on the tiled floor.
Slowly, almost mechanically, Emma Torsson wrenched herself free from her husband's grip and retreated towards the broom closet for a dustpan.
Tally's father kept watching her.
"Tell me what's happening!" Tally yelled. A boom of thunder shook the house. Tally glanced out the window. The sky was clear.
She was infuriated.
"What's going on?" She growled, clenching her fists. Rain started to pour down on the house, pounding against the roof, drumming, drumming...
Tally's father made no move to close the open window, and the kitchen sink started to spill over. Another crack of thunder boomed, and lightning flashed in the sky.
Tally's mother reappeared, looking rather faint.
"Tancred?" Emma said, her voice rather quiet. Tally's father nodded.
"Tally?" Tancred Torsson turned to her daughter.
"Yes?" They were going to explain! She felt her anger fade. The rain slowed into a drizzle, then stopped, the strong winds disappeared, and the thunder quieted. Her parents were obviously relieved.
"We have something to tell you."