Wednesday 31 December 2009, Dublin, Ireland
"I'd given up on the stage for good, that time Shiny Chariot had definitely died, and this time I didn't knowwhat else to do, but I always looked at my social networks, at my performance clothes, still quite reluctant,feeling that weight of what it is to be famous, always wanting to start going back to the stage, it always hitme, but I didn't want to go back, after seeing how the Shiny Chariot copy scandal turned out, in themeantime I stopped and went home, I even sold everything and made almost nothing, it was just a loss, Iwas indecisive and a new year was starting, I needed to think of something to do."
The year is already coming to an end, who would have thought that 2008, which was supposed to be a year of comebacks, would only turn out to be a year full of twists and turns and serve to confirm that I'm going to give up for good, I sit reflectively in the tree house, I see my girlfriend arriving with food, this cold New Year's Eve, I don't know what to do anymore, my life has exhausted all the options that I would have thought could help me.
"As I said, I've brought us something, you've been very quiet today, in fact, ever since we came home, I've seen you sadder" said my girlfriend.
"Yeah, I try to cheer myself up, but it's always very difficult to cheer yourself up when things are the way they are, I wish I could smile at least once" I say to her.
"Well love, we can try new things, go out more, play with the girls, think of new things for 2009, have you thought about joining Mrs Jordan in creating games? You can draw like nobody's business, you could help her a lot with that, or we could even work together on my history books" I never thought about that.
"The second option you mentioned may sound tempting" I say with my hand on my chin.
"Let's try it this way, I just need someone to listen to my crazy ideas, and even better, you're an excellent designer, have you thought about selling your art online too? We'll do a comeback where you can still make people smile, you don't necessarily have to go on stage" I'll listen to my girlfriend and maybe I'll consider this idea.
"Well, it's better than doing nothing and being a burden in this house" I say to my girlfriend, who looks at me worriedly.
"Don't say that about yourself Chariot, you'll never be a burden here, you're just the kind of person who always helps, love... You're not a burden, believe in yourself" said my girlfriend.
"I've also been thinking here and I'm going to try to train my body a bit during this time, just to get stronger, with my mum's help I want to get stronger and be able to defend this place, and I can be more useful later on" I say as I eat.
"You know you've got my full support, love" I smile.
We're eating, looking at the sky, the stars in the sky, I get really reflective about these things, it's good that I'm drawing, I think I'm going to try this new thing, it's been a while since I've dedicated myself to it, I hope I'm not rusty, but I can't adopt my own name, I have to think of a pseudonym for an artist.
I look at the constellations, I know what each one is like, I think I'll come up with something really starry, that'll be my artist name, I already know what my pseudonym will be on the internet, the constellation Ursa Major, it could be something like that, also a tribute to Arcas who is watching over Luna Nova now, missing me.
"It really has been a year full of things, hasn't it love, apart from your career we've experienced a lot of great things" I nod my head in agreement.
"I've been able to forget all about Croix, all the damage she did to me has almost healed, all I can think about is you, you're proving to be the best choice, the choice of the best girlfriend" I say smiling and then we kiss.
Even with the bad things that happened to my career, I'm not going to stop thinking that some moments in 2008 were bad, it was a good year if you think about it, it wasn't all bad, it was a good year, going through the trauma of the Croix really lowered my standards, apart from the fact that nobody died either and that was less worse, apart from graduating, I have to think more about good things and ignore the bad things.
[...]
It's time for the countdown, I stand next to my sisters, we watch Mum start to light the fireworks, and with that we see the rain of explosions and 2009 written in the sky, it seems that we are now starting a new year, I hope that things will really improve for this new year that we are going to start.
My mum even gave the bottle of champagne to my girlfriend, seeing Daniella pop it and make the cap fly off made me a little happy, it seems that we now have another member of this family, I hope that one day she will be the person who will bring me happiness and form a family. She went on to pour the champagne into everyone's glass, which we then toasted.
"Happy New Year!" Everyone talks and then we drink our own, our champagne is really good.
I keep looking at everyone, thinking about my ideas, I can still do a lot in 2009 with my girlfriend too, I think I'll start a career as a designer and I've just remembered something else, at the beginning of the year a trip to make a fertility stone can give us a reason to travel and inspire us to write something.
After drinking, we hug and everyone continues to watch the fireworks display, the sky filled with lights and explosions, the most beautiful thing, only it's not more beautiful than my wife's smile.
"Thank you, love, for this marvellous year you've given me" said my girlfriend as she kissed me.
We were very close, kissing, celebrating the New Year, I even heard some photos being taken, and then we were looking at each other, I started to cry, so did she, I was able to truly love... Loving again, it's a feeling that sometimes surpasses any suffering I've been going through, she's been my support for everything, I love you Daniella Parker, I hope that in 2009 we can experience many things together.
After kissing and looking at the sky, we went inside, as it was very cold out, and there I sat down on the sofa where Megan appeared with her camera in hand and showed us a photo of me kissing my girlfriend, it was beautiful.
"I had to take it off, you kissed when the fireworks appeared, it was so beautiful" said little Jordan.
"My love, we look beautiful in this photo, I could make a painting of it" said Daniella.
"And why don't we, you'll stay in our room" I said, smiling.
"I want credit for that, you see, I took it myself" said Meg and I stroked her head and then hugged her.
"You'll get your recognition, my little sister from another family, you don't have to be so stubborn" I say, hugging her and she smiles.
"Did you really call me sis? Do you really think I'm that close to you?" I nod.
"Let's do something else, 2009 has started, now I'm going into my second year at school and wow I can't wait to be 18 soon, but seriously now I know how insufferable I was when I was younger" You've only just found out Phoebe.
"You've only just found out, Morris" said Megan.
"Don't get bored girl, you'll soon have that annoying phase too" By the nine witches no one can be worse than you Phoebe, I was quite different at your age, I certainly had to mature earlier too.
"Whatever, let's play some more, or play with the girls, Hellene's got some cool nerfs" said Meg.
"It's a pity it won't work, I have to put the little ones to bed now, it's late at night Megan, but tomorrow you can come home and play with the girls, they need to rest, but you can stay up late" said my mum and I saw the two girls looking a little sulky.
What a cutie, they don't want to go to sleep, but they still go, then they stare at me, I think I'm going to have to go with them, from what Mum has signalled, I'll go to the bedroom and from there I'll go to the bedroom following the girls, they share the same room, so I'll go and get the pyjamas.
"I don't want to sleep now, I want to stay awake like a big person" said little Hellene.
"Tomorrow we're going to play a lot, Hellene, all day if you want" I say, smiling at my sister.
"I'm sleepy" said little Holly.
"Let's go to sleep, you two, you'll look pretty with your beauty sleep" said Mum.
"Tell the story Mummy" said little Hellene, and it looks like it's going to be longer than it sounds.
The youngest went to bed more easily, the eldest was told a story by her mum, I kept doing the same thing to little Holly and she was enchanted by the magical things I was showing her with my hands, creating a story inspired by the moments of Shiny Chariot, I want to be close to both girls, they're so cute, such sweet children, one day I want to be a mum and have children like them.
They quickly fall asleep, how cute, I can already see that Holly has fallen asleep, then the older one also fell asleep, while hugging a teddy, they have no idea how great they are, after that I leave the room with my mum, we close the door lightly and leave the lamp on so they don't get scared of the dark and we walk to the balcony, I think for a more private conversation.
"2009 has begun girl, have you thought about what to do this year?" I'm still looking, but I've got some good suggestions.
"I think I know a trip I can do with Daniella, I want to do the fertility stone, it could be a good time together" I say to my mum, who nods in agreement.
"Oh that's a very interesting idea, I can help them, I know where each of the relics they need is, they'll need the stone of love and they'll also need the sacred nectar of the McLarens, which I can provide being the leader of the family" said my mum and I'm already having a bit more of a chance.
"Thanks Mum, I also want to make another request, I want you to train me again, this time for real, I want to become a strong witch" I say confidently.
"I was thinking about it, I have a grander plan, it's just between you and me, so come with me to the bedroom" I nod.
I'm going to be trained, that's wonderful, that could help me a lot, I want to train and get very strong, there are really so many options for how I'm going to do better, if I'm a more skilful and stronger witch I might even be able to defeat Daryl in a confrontation, I know I can do that, good that I'll be able to show her that I'm not the usual poor thing anymore.
Mum goes into her room, then she wields a spell on the door, I haven't been here for a long time, it always brings back memories of all the portraits of mums and girls, the younger ones in Luna Nova too, I can't stop looking, until I see Mum snap her fingers for me to pay attention.
"This is important Chariot, I need you to tell me if you want to go on a mission like this, because given your physical shape and age you could be useful, apart from the fact that you're not cursed like I am" This then involves the Cavendish family mansion.
"Do you want me to pick up Diana and take her with me?" I ask my mum.
"No, that wouldn't be possible, it could be that Daryl is torturing the child, but that would mean that you would end up having to leave your life here in Dublin, leave Daniella, the girls, everything to protect Diana and become a fugitive, they would undoubtedly think that you had kidnapped Diana, so I don't think it's a good option, I know that Daryl won't be capable of worse atrocities than she's already done, but anyway, your mission involves preserving the Cavendish family, it's a long plan that I intend to make, it may take a few years, but it may work" Less bad, I don't want to abandon my girlfriend, as much as I love my little sister.
"And what's the plan, Mum?" I ask her.
"I know that you took part in a robbery with your aunt when you were a child, your skills with this are good, you have light hands and for this I am thinking of a grandiose plan, it will involve us taking the things from the Cavendish mansion, exchanging them for fakes, leaving everything here until we can recover everything again, I have a plan that will involve... Look girl, I'm going to have to be tough here, but it may sound awful, but we have to put the damn thing out" I'm in shock.
"Wait, wait, wait, not only are we going to rob the Cavendish mansion, but you want to kill Daryl?" I'm shocked.
"Honestly Chariot, do you want me to be honest with you? I don't think justice will do anything but put her away for a few years, and Daryl will live comfortably in jail, there are people we can't redeem and your aunt is one of them, she's killed a lot of people and caused a lot of misfortune, I want you to rob the Cavendish family by taking all their belongings and then storing them in the Du Nord residence, it's going to be a long mission, You'll go more than once and take the family's sacred items little by little, there's no problem with curses, because Bernadette has been wanting to do this since before she died, she gave me the magical
blessing to authorise anyone to take magical items there without being cursed, we'll have to do it, for the preservation of the Cavendish family" I'm still very shocked.
"But what about murdering Daryl? The stealing part I understand, I can do it calmly, after all it's all yours too mum" I say to her still in doubt.
"I'll leave the murdering until later, after I've stolen everything I'll take care of the last thing, you'll get Diana and the twins, you'll run away to Loperèc, with Daniella too, you'll leave the girls there and then I'll take care of the last thing, I'll get the whole site ready to carry out the mission so that Daryl can have his last moment, she'll be killed silently and we'll find a scapegoat for the plan to work, someone has offered to spend a few years trapped in the place" I'm shocked, how could they think of that.
"But wait, we can't kill someone, we're better than..." I see my mouth being covered by my mum's finger.
"Girl, this isn't a superhero film, or a cartoon or anime, we're not going to win this by the power of friendship, if Daryl stays alive, worse things could happen, just let me get things rolling, I know I'll be responsible for this, but I guarantee this thing could be better for all of us, let's focus on the main plan first" I'm scared, I want to steal things, but I don't know why I'm going to do it.
"Why? Why steal? Why kill?" I ask my mum.
"Our scapegoat is going to put an end to the Cavendish mansion once and for all, as Bernadette has always wanted to do, and we'll rebuild a new house. Meanwhile, you'll be harbouring the Cavendishes in France with Daniella. I just have to say that when the day comes, you'll follow the plan perfectly, because our scapegoat needs everything to be according to the script" I think I understand, that's why the things go away, because they're sacred.
"So I'll do my best to steal everything, but who is this patsy?" I ask my mum.
"I can't reveal it for now, but it's someone who's willing for things to turn out like this, I know it can be a crazy plan, I just ask that you agree with my idea, you don't necessarily have to go along with it if you don't want to" I'm deep in thought.
I felt now like I did last year when Woodward told me something about an inevitable tragedy that was going to happen and how I should have chosen to leave Croix alone instead of going along with it, instead I didn't listen and I ended up wanting to play the hero, I know Mum doesn't want to do anything bad, I know she means well, even if she can't when you kill someone, but Daryl has already hurt so many people's lives... Maybe it's the best choice to make after all, if it's not me, she might choose someone else, like Daniella or something, and I don't know if there's anyone who could be as trustworthy as me... Reluctantly I huff, but I see Mum's hand still outstretched and I decide to shake it.
"This may be morally wrong to do, but I know it could be for the greater good" I say to my mum.
"Of course, I know you won't regret my plan, I'm sorry I got you involved with this girl, but you're the person I can trust the most, I don't want the girls to live in an abusive way, nor Diana, when I'm cured of the curse and Diana too you'll see that things can get better" She hugs me and I'm shocked by it all, well I've made my decision.
Then we use magic to remove the muffled sound, I know that Mum has a much more complex plan that can work, I trust her, I know that the best will do everything to make it work, then I go downstairs and I see my girlfriend playing with Phoebe and Megan, they're having such a good time, to think that these could be the last moments of us enjoying life here at the McLaren house.
[...]
"The scapegoat would be Croix, I never revealed this to you and you also kind of ran away before all this, butshe talked to me a few days before the new year and we formulated this plan, she was already studyingabout something, in the end that girl really wanted to redeem herself for everything she ended up doing andcausing you Chariot, she offered to be imprisoned at that time if it would make her redeem herself for hercrimes of magic"
"Shocked to hear that they would murder my aunt, I saved her life when I tried to be the leader of the familyand now things seem to be going well, she's acting as if nothing has happened, I'm shocked to know howshe has so much dirt on her and has gone unpunished, even more so how they considered killing her"
"You can't be nice all the time Diana, we've been too nice and it's only ruined us, she's had a free hand to dothe evil things she's done, I still don't believe in her redemption you told me, I think things are just cooking upfor a bigger disaster, but anyway let's go back I interrupted Chariot for that."
"In the end my suspicion about Croix being the scapegoat was true, who knew how much she loved me ifshe thought that doing something like this would make her redeem herself, but anyway, let's go backbecause you can already imagine how these things might have led to my disappearance."
Friday 2 January 2009, Dublin, Ireland
I'm really thinking about the recent plans, it's changed my mind a lot, now I don't really think about the situation of being an internet designer, there's this other thing that could really change everything, the bigger plan, and training has been really heavy, mum made sure I wore clothes that affect my mobility and drain my body as well as making me heavy, I didn't imagine it would be so heavy just to move around, I'm tired and it's good that today's training is over.
"This is the first day Chariot, we're making progress, I told you it wouldn't be easy" said my mum.
"I realise" I say, taking off some of my clothes, but still feeling heavy with others underneath.
"You're going to have to get used to these garments 24/7, until you get much better at controlling magic, we have to perfect you" said my mum and I signalled with my thumb.
"Is this going to be all the time without a break?" I ask her.
"Yes, even when you go out to get the things from the fertility stone, you'll be completely like this, now keep practising a lot, for today is the first day, tomorrow we'll have more, now rest girl" said my mum who went on to give me a potion.
As soon as I took it I felt my body renewed and some muscle pain, but nothing that I wasn't used to, I know that I can go further, well all this to be able to steal some things, I know that it will also be the strength that I will need to beat Daryl in a fight, in case she lays a finger on Diana I'm ready, everything for some people's lives to change, I know that I can bring a smile to the face of Diana and the twins.
When I get back into the house, I go to the bathroom and take a shower, seeing my girlfriend still sleeping like a little angel in bed, the water on my body renewing me, I even feel a little lightness in my body as I bathe, which lasts until I get out of the shower and put it back on, feeling all the heaviness again.
I see Daniella rubbing her eyes and waking up, so I sit up in bed, already dressed, and give my darling a few kisses on the cheek and one more on the lips
"Good morning, my love" I say affectionately to her.
"Good morning Chariot, you've really come on strong in this training session it seems" She has no idea how much effort I'm putting in.
"Ah, it's only the first day, there's no change yet, love, let's have breakfast together, I'm starving" I say, smiling at Daniella, who nods in agreement.
She got out of bed, went to the bathroom looking beautiful and then got dressed, looking at me with a smile on her face. We left the room together and went to the kitchen, sitting there I could see that Hellene was also with us, yesterday the girls went home, Phoebe took the plane to Edinburgh with Aunt Rose, Megan is at home next door, she'll come round soon.
"Good morning, little sister!" Said the smiling Hellene.
"Good morning Hellene" I say to my little sister.
"Today we're going to play a lot" she said excitedly, and I nodded in agreement.
"It's going to be a lot of fun, we're going to play until your lessons start again on Monday" I say, laughing, and she shrugs.
"I don't want to go to school, I still want to play with my little sister" she said with her arms crossed.
"By the way, love, I had a great idea for a book in my dream, I've been thinking about writing a story like this, it's about putting fairy tales together, kind of making these fairy tales fight in a post-apocalyptic world, then
the group is made up of girls and they're very attached to colours, like red, white, black and yellow, it was just an idea I've been thinking about, I can even tell you what the characters are like and how my idea came about in my head, I don't know how clear it will be" Said my girlfriend and I just kept scratching my chin.
"That sounds really interesting, tell me more Daniella" I say to my girlfriend.
"They hunt evil creatures that come from negative energy, I'm just making it up now because my dream was very short about it, then they study at a school similar to Luna Nova only instead of teaching them to be witches they teach them to be hunters, then there's a different way of magic, as if they could use elements with stones that look like crystals, also use their own individual magic" I've seen something like this in a manga that Croix likes.
"This is almost like the Stands in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, where each person has their own and sometimes it reflects on the user, I've read some extracts from the manga and Croix was quite fond of this, but anyway, it sounds like a promising idea" I say to her.
"Nah, not so much, just a lot of travelling, but I'll leave it in my ideas book for one more thing, then you can draw me some ideas of what I have to see if it's fresh in my head" I nod my head in agreement.
"Of course, love, anything to make you happy with your ideas, we'll work very well together" I say smiling.
"Have you thought about what you're going to call yourself on the internet when you're a designer? Have you got yourself a tablet, that might be the step you need to take" I haven't thought about it yet, but I might later.
I continue to eat, watching my girlfriend start to jot down ideas for very interesting plots in her notebook, she's really full of ideas, I'm wondering what books she must have, I'm also going to draw some to put into practice, she's the biggest reader of Night Fall and in this book alone there must be a lot of interesting things. I finish eating and take a look at the notebook, look what an interesting idea, a drawing where a girl stops in a bizarre world of magic and learns glyphs, where she has adventures with a crazy old woman, that's just the kind of thing I'd like to see.
"So, love, can you draw some of these ideas for me?" I nod my head in agreement.
I'm stretching my fingers and then I'm going to see the first of them, this one of the little brown girl with short hair who ends up in the bizarre world of witchcraft, Daniella was creative in saying that there are a lot of bizarre things, which I've already put into practice, she also has a rival who has greenish hair, elf ears and green hair with brown roots, this is going to be more or less like this, I'm going to play with the lines and put everything together, I think in my style things look a bit different than a cartoon, but you get the idea.
"Like this" I say as I show it to my girlfriend.
"Wow, that's what it's like, even the house with the door that has an owl on it, I loved it, you even gave me hope to think about a plot of that, but wow, Chariot you draw so fast and so well, I just saw you doodling and this came out" Well it's customary now.
"I kind of do this normally, this is just a sketch, if I was going to do a proper job it would take longer" I say scratching the back of my head.
"Little sister, let's play, let's play" said little Hellene and I nodded in agreement.
"It's OK, I'll play with you Hellene, then I'll come back and draw more with you Daniella, I'll tire this child out first" I say smiling and waving to my girlfriend.
"I'll go along, the good thing is that I'll think of new ideas" said my girlfriend.
I follow my little sister who takes me outside where it's a bit cold, but then she goes into the tree house and from there she takes some crayons and starts giving me sheets of paper to draw on, how cute, I see her drawing, she's making dinosaurs, I'm taking the opportunity to try to make one too, only in a cuter way, I think I'm going to make Joshe from Super Ronaldo World, she'll like the way I draw.
I show my drawing to my little sister and she's very surprised, she loves it and starts picking up sheets of paper to copy it while I look at my girlfriend who's playing along drawing things on the paper and she's making a dinosaur in her own style that looks funny, Hellene on the other hand is getting quite good at copying, she's not exactly the same, but you can see the evolution.
"Well let's move on to 2009, this year that still has things to happen, my life is really being a box of surprises,Diana never expected me to experience so many things like this, but Chariot Du Nord wasn't just a stageentertainer, there was a person behind it and a person full of secrets and a life that has had manycontroversies that still don't end here, they're just starting to become more and more apparent, since nowI've agreed to a plan where the ultimate goal was to kidnap you and murder your aunt, who would havethought that it could have worked, but soon you'll find out that it didn't work."
"My life living with you would be totally different, maybe even better, I remember it was in 2009 when Istarted to get back into magic and it gave me more hope, I was starting to recover the loss and all the study Ihad put in helped me a lot, making me quite advanced when I released spells, since the more complex onesstarted to come out, with you things would be different and even better I think, maybe my cousins wouldn'tbe as bad as they were with me, your presence could help things."
Happy new year, lesbian witches...