Chapter Eight: The Ice Caves
The children all stood silently in the line, shivering, not only from the raging winds of snow. The girl, her gold eyes determined, stood out from the other blank faces. The great man before them spoke in a deep voice.
"This is your transition," he bellowed. "In only a few week's time, you will reach the age of seven and follow your ancestors in the training they undertook of the sacred art of our people; this burden and responsibility, this blessing and curse. This is your transition from the child you were to the powerful man or woman you will become." The wind howled angrily.
"Through this storm there is a set of ice caves, and in it is a force called the Oracle. You must find the Oracle. If you are worthy, the Oracle will reveal itself to you and you will be able to learn the heritage of our people.
"But be warned: if you are not worthy- if you are weak of mind and power- the Oracle will not spare you. Leave now, if you wish to live, albeit live ordinary, worthless lives." The man spat into the snow.
He paused for a moment as three of the five children left, slowly disappearing into the swirling white. The girl remained in the line, defiant, beside a young, sandy haired boy who's eyes and nose were red. "You have chosen," the man declared. "Your destiny begins from here on. One of your family members will be waiting for you to return through the other side.
"Now, go, take care. Find the Oracle."
The boy standing beside her wouldn't meet her eyes. The girl turned her head and pressed on through the swirling white of freezing snow.
Very shortly, she found herself standing before a frozen lake. On the other side, she could see the entrance to the ice caves. The girl placed her foot tentatively onto the ice, but it held firm. She took a step forward.
The journey across the frozen lake seemed to take an eternity, but she made it safely to the opposite side. She found herself gazing upward at the great, cragged mouth of the ice caves. Inside was pure darkness. Ignoring her screaming instincts, the girl walked blindly into the cave.
A strange, chilling mist pressed to her skin, although she was wearing many layers of warm clothing. The chill seemed to seep inside her, instill her with fear- but at the same time, draw her closer. To what, she was not sure of.
Her feet seemed to know where they were going, for they maneuvered her around the large and dangerous icicles that were positioned all around the caves. The caves seemed to go on for miles and miles, and the girl began to feel scared. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to find here.
And then she arrived, and she knew this was her main destination. This chamber of the caves was different; for although the girl knew it was bathed in darkness, she also knew that there were dancing lights reflecting off the icy walls. Yet she could not see the darkness or the light.
A voice came seemingly out of nowhere, unnatural and unearthly, hissing loudly. "Kneel." She found herself kneeling on the ground.
"Heed my words, Great Child of the Moon: the darkness flies on brethren's wings, threatening to block out both of the earthly lights. Winter will rise eternally when the star has gone out upon the Choice. Never trust a gentle flame for it will swallow you alive, dear one, and beware of the power within. Accept the mighty gift which has chosen you from the beginning of time, to free the captives of their Fates. In time, the Great Five will once more rise to power at the terrible price of the Two.
"And remember this last thing: don't sleep, my child, for you are surrounded by enemies; and when you awake, it will be too late," the voice whispered. But against its words, the girl felt the lulling call of warmth and nothingness and closed her eyes.
She awoke shortly afterwards, the Oracle's words already fading from her mind. How much time had been lost, she wasn't sure, but she gathered herself together and made to leave the caves. The darkness did not seem as pressing as before, and she found that she was no longer afraid.
The girl exited in a sudden burst of white light from the drifting snow; the vivid colors, although they weren't many, burned her eyes, and she shielded them with her hand, looking for the family members that were to congratulate and escort her back home.
There were none.
The entire valley opposite the ice caves was empty. The only movement was the spiraling wind and the oncoming snow. No footprints even signified someone had been there at all. They hadn't waited for her.
She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and trudged up the hill to where the village and her family inhabited.
"Erin! Psst, Erin!" a low voice whispered urgently beside her, followed immediately by the sharp ring of the bell. She vaguely heard the scratching of chairs being moved and books being slammed back into bags. Erin picked her head up from her arms and opened her eyes. "What's going on?" she muttered.
Nick looked as though he was suppressing a laugh. "You fell asleep in History of Magic, that's what's going on." Erin's head perked up immediately, but Professor Binns was, as always, lost in a world of the past. She gathered her books and tossed them into her bag messily, swung it over her shoulder, and followed Nick out the door of the classroom.
It was only her first day of Hogwarts (not even a complete, full day) and already her homework pile had amounted to quite an impressive stock. Professor McGonagall had been, as she had first appeared to be, very strict, and on the first night had already given them an assignment to read the first two chapters of "A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration" and write quite a long summary about it; a practice of the Charms levitation incantation for kindly Professor Punsworth; an essay on the correct concoction for producing Hiccup-Cure potion for Professor Prince; and finally, round, pink faced Professor Longbottom had given them a paper on the correct way to tackle and handle a Beezwackle.
"Worst-class-ever," Albus groaned loudly from behind her. "And I thought it was bad enough that my potion exploded today in the dungeons. I think it was just nerves, though… my dad kept telling me how terrible he was at Potions at Hogwarts."
Erin saw Nick's eyes flicker at the word "dad".
Dad… dad… dad… dad…
A headless corpse was lying in its own blood. The girl backed away and tripped over an object on the floor. She screamed
It was a head. Her father's head.