Hey you guys so this is a story I've had in mind for awhile. I plan to write it in a novel telling way. I published this story under my AO3 account just so readers are aware that this is my original writing. I appreciate any feedback, hope you guys enjoy it!
Chapter 1
Valentina woke up to the sound of her alarm in a semi-empty cold room. She wrapped her wool shawl around herself, not yet used to the cold that crept in her room. She peered from her curtain to her dismay at the sign of frost that had begun to stick to her window. She closed her eyes and pictured herself back home, where it was always warm and sunny, a place that never succumbed to frost; where she could smell the ocean salt everytime she opened her bedroom window to the sound of swaying palm trees and the chirping birds welcoming the morning rays. It was paradise. Now she had to get used to these chilly days filled with somber. She didn't know how long she would be here for. Her uncle told her it could be a few months, maybe a year or two, when she was made aware she voiced her displeasure. Politely stating her place was here, with her people in Alvarado where she in the future would lead. She couldn't help them if she was away in a different country, her people came first. Her uncle shook his head disapprovingly, stating that her heart was in the right place, but times were changing. He made it known that she needed to gain experience from the outside world, both politically and economically, so she would know how to keep the best interest of her people in mind.
Alvarado was a small town off the coast of Mexico, her family had been governing the town for many years stretching back to the Franco-Mexican Wars. The town was lively and prosperous, but like the rest of the country it had been hit by the fluctuation of the economy, although it wasn't severely affected as other places had been. Her uncle who was governor was maintaining things afloat, as he was trying to set up businesses to give those that came to work from other towns a job temporarily because it kept desperate people at bay from committing crimes for money. She didn't want her uncle to keep her away, she wanted to stay and learn first-hand everything that was happening. He reassured her with kind eyes that the time she spent away would happen in a flash, and that she was still young and had time to learn about affairs that would benefit their town, things he didn't get to learn. She had said good-bye to her uncle, to her home, to the beautiful sight and sound of the ocean to come here. She had left with a single suitcase, and was living with her cook Alberto, her doncella Nana, and her godmother who had agreed to come and live with her. They had all lived with her previously and Nana said it wouldn't be any different, they were family. She felt loved by them, and was happy that they were coming to live with her in this new place her uncle had arranged.
Valentina heard a knock at her door. It was Nana who had come to wake her up.
"Gracious child you're up already! I thought I would have to bring a bucket of water to wake you."
Valentina laughed, Nana was like a mother to her. She was a much older woman, in her late seventies who had children and grandchildren of her own. Nana had always told her how she had prayed for another child, and that the Moon had blessed her with one. Valentina had always been close to Nana since birth. Nana never let her forget that when she was born, her newborn self wouldn't allow them to part for even a second, she wouldn't stop crying until she had sucked her dry of her milk. And every time she put her to bed she had to sing to her or else no one in the house would get a wink of sleep. Valentina walked up to her and gave her a big hug. She was much taller than Nana who had started to shrink from old age.
"It's so cold here, it makes it hard to sleep," Valentina confessed. "I miss the sun, and there's so many street lights at night that you can't even see the stars at night."
"Well this is the city. I never really liked it, there's nothing like waking up to the oceanside. Your uncle is just going crazy in the head thinking that living here would be better. I told him to go see a doctor for the stress, but that man refuses to listen," Nana said as a matter of fact, clapping her hands in a frenzy to emphasize her statement. "He's such a stubborn man!"
Valentina let out a fit of laughter, Nana always said what came to her mind. Her words would flow more freely as age accompanied her.
"Now that's what I want to see." Nana said tenderly, placing her warm frail hands on her cheeks. "Your smile is like a thousand radiant suns. Don't let this place dampen your soul my dear. Always keep a smile, even when the going gets tough."
Valentina smiled, "you're right. I'm here to learn and make uncle proud."
"Trust me, he's proud enough. He likes you more than those spoiled kids of his. I always knew his woman was too lenient on them."
She had to look down to avoid laughing again, Nana's facial expressions were priceless. Nana told her to get ready, that Alberto was making a delicious breakfast to get her ready for school. Again stating that her uncle was going mad for signing her up to attend night school.
Valentina hopped in the hot shower to warm her chilling bones, as she let the water take away her worries at starting at a new school. She wrapped her body in a fluffy yellow towel, and walked back into her room to find out that Nana had laid out her school uniform on her bed. It consisted of a dark skirt, a simple white shirt paired with a blazer and a red ribbon that was supposed to be tied around her neck. She quickly put on her uniform, not wanting to feel the cold air engulf her body, she slid on her knee length socks and squeezed her feet into a pair of black wedged shoes that gave her a little height. She sat at her vanity where she painfully tied her long wavy dark hair into a tight bun, Nana always wanted her looking presentable to school, she would chastise her if she left a single strand out. She put in her solid gold hoop earrings, which gave her a sleek model look. She slipped on her gold bracelets and rings. The ring on her middle finger was a present from her godmother who had told her it would protect her from evil spirits. It had a beautiful green beryl stone in the middle, which her godmother said reminded her of her eyes.
Valentina picked up her tweezers and plucked a strand of hair that she noticed on the arch of her brow. She had thick eyebrows and incredibly long lashes that enhanced her seagreen eyes. Her godmother said that her eyes could bewitch a man if she wanted to, and she giggled internally as Nana always rushed to cover her ears exclaiming how her godmother was deep into her brujeria antics. Which wasn't far from the truth. Her godmother was known as the town witch who people respected. If a child was sick, they would bring the child in to see her godmother. She would make them an antidote in the kitchen out of medicinal herbs to cure the child's spell. Every townsperson that her godmother treated had left with a cure for their cough, their hangover, even a case for the chickenpox. Valentina saw her godmother more as a doctor than a bruja, but when she started to read people's hands or cards it was shocking at how accurately she predicted every detail; no doctor, or priest could do that. Valentina gave herself one last look and got up to take her shawl, as the blazer did nothing to bare her from the cold. She headed to the kitchen as she smelled the sweet aroma of huevo con chorizo. She greeted everyone with a kiss on the cheek, and sat at the table where her godmother had placed a cup of tea in front of her.
Valentina raised an eyebrow knowing of her godmother's fortune telling ritual. As she heard her say that one's future can change at any turn which could have even the slightest impact. Valentina picked up the tea that smelled of canela y laurel, and noticed the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup. When she was young, she learned to not drink the tea leaves after they had gotten stuck in her throat leaving her in a coughing fit. She held the cup with both hands and was about to take a sip, when Nana had put her hand up to her mouth blocking the cup.
"Now, now we don't need any of that. We don't need you worrying before your first day of classes, now do we."
Valentina was about to say that it was alright she didn't mind, but her godmother had quickly voiced her annoyance at the interference.
"Nana, remove your hand. I have to see what the stars have aligned for her."
"I'm sure nothing, but joy!" Nana quickly took the cup from her hands, much to the outcry of her godmother.
"You're messing with the concoction!"
"She'll be fine once she prays to La Virgín. Either way it's simple tea really, destiny should be left to God."
Her godmother's gold bracelets jingled as she rubbed her temples before she let her temper flare. Valentina stared quietly as she witnessed the two older women bickering at each other. It was petty fighting really, she knew they cared for each other, both just having a different way of thinking and expressing what they thought was best for her. The warmth of the kitchen, the smell of the food, and the bickering of her two mothers brought a smile to her face as Alberto served her and everyone their breakfast. It felt like she was home. She got up to serve everyone a cup of coffee, and she went over to her godmother and gave her a quick wink to indicate that she would take her tea before she left. Bringing a small smile to her godmother's face, ending the over the top feud.
All four were eating their breakfast, and Alberto told her he would accompany her to school and be there to pick her up. She thanked him, he really was like a loving father always making sure she was taken care of. He was old and around the same age as Nana and her godmother. His slick back hair showed strands of gray and aged-lines appeared on the corner of his eyes. He told her that while she would be at school, he was going to start painting the inside of their small apartment. Everyone agreed when they arrived that the walls were a boring white. She asked him if he could paint her small room a light orange like her old room and he smiled saying he would. Nana told her that a few boxes would come in containing their stuff, so she was going to decorate the house like the one back home. Valentina happily cheered, hoping to get some items from her old room to spruce up her new one.
Once she finished eating, she placed her tableware in the dishwater, complementing Alberto's delicious dishes. He told her to hurry up and finish getting her things ready so he could take her to school. Valentina quickly went to her room to brush her teeth, and pack an extra toothbrush in her bookbag. She always had to brush her teeth after eating, it became a habit of hers. With her toothbrush in her mouth she quickly gathered her things. She washed her mouth and grabbed a tube of strawberry lipgloss and applied it to her lips. She quietly walked to her godmother's room, which she shared with Nana. The room smelled of incense and her godmother motioned her to come in. A cup was placed to the side and Valentina sat down already knowing what to do. She moved the cup to the center of the mantel and grabbed the steaming ceramic tea kettle carefully pouring the freshly brewed tea. A few leaves floated on the surface which she knew meant imminent visitors. That was nothing new considering she just moved and was going to meet new people regardless. She smiled at her godmother showing her, this could possibly mean she would meet and make friends. It didn't always have to be a negative omen.
A teaspoon was placed near her, but she ignored it, she thought the tea looked mixed enough. She picked up her cup and drank the tea slowly, leaving a small amount of liquid at the bottom of the cup. While listening to her godmother's verbal instructions, she closed her eyes and with her left hand swirled the tea leaves around three times in a clockwise direction allowing the tea to swirl around the whole cup. She flipped the cup upside down and left the liquid to drain under the saucer. As they waited for the tea to drain, Valentina pulled her compact mirror to see if she had any tea leaves in her teeth and was happy to see a pair of pearly whites; without a single stray leaf in them.
Her godmother had lifted the empty cup from the saucer, and to Valentina's disappointment heard Nana calling her from downstairs; she quickly jumped from her seat secretly wanting to hear her awaiting future, but that would have to wait. Kissing her godmother on the cheek she rushed down the stairs to say a quick prayer to La Virgín whose statue was placed on a small wooden table. She hugged a photo of her birth mother and placed it back on the altar. Nana exclaimed that she was going to be late as she handed her lunch, kissing the child who had walked out the door with Alberto. Valentina couldn't believe she was going to school at night, not used to seeing the dark streets of the city.
Nana had walked inside her bedroom after bidding them farewell and gasped, turning on the light to find La Bruja sitting at the small table with a cup tightly gripped in her hands. Her knuckles white as they trembled.
"Woman, you scared me! I almost saw my husband, may he rest in peace," she said, holding a hand to her chest. "Now I told you not to read that child's fortune so early on, let her settle first." Nana stopped in her tracks noticing the quiet atmosphere of La Bruja, "what's wrong? What did you see?"
La Bruja's lips pursed her lips together not wanting to think, or say anything of the wretched image that burned in her mind. Nana quickly took the cup as she looked inside. She groaned in pain holding her stomach as she saw a dark black cross in the middle and long tea stalks placed carefully around the cross. This was no coincidence, La Bruja took the cup away from her afraid that she would break it and unleash the bad energy. Nana held back tears, shaking "what is this! This looks as if she'll get tortured. I'll have to pray to the saints, and La Virgín to protect her." Nana had sat down across from La Bruja, and she put her hands to her face trying to muffle out a cry. "We have to do something! That poor child, she shouldn't have come here." She took La Bruja's hand in hers. "How do we avoid misfortune from falling?"
"You didn't interpret the entire thing." La Bruja said, staring at the cup intently trying to piece every detail, hoping that the message was different then from their initial thoughts.
"Then what is the message? There's a cross in that damned cup, and tea stalks in there! What else did my old eyes miss," she replied sarcastically.
It was true that there were six long tea stalks, surrounding the dark cross with each stalk representing a man, but there had been a single small tea stalk that didn't surround it. It was placed closely under the handle of the cup indicating the present. The small stalk represented a woman, and at first she thought it was her goddaughter, but at a closer inspection she noticed the slight smudged image of a hare underneath the short stalk. The hare that symbolized a friend of her goddaughter's. Could she be the one who brought this misfortune on her?
La Bruja couldn't tell, but an image of a small crown shaped by the wet leaves was positioned at the same height as that of the short stalk, and it was placed at the far right side of the handle which indicated the child's future. Her goddaughter's future held honor and success, a crown indicated a legacy, but when she looked at the dark, strong untouched image of the cross at the center of the cup. La Bruja wondered at what price she would have to sacrifice to attain such success. There were many drops of tea that remained in the cup despite the swirling and emptying of the leftover residue in the saucer, with each drop representing tears.
The Witch's heart broke. How much would her child cry to obtain such a legacy that was deeply entwined with her destiny? She knew that when the child had been born she was favored among the stars, and her will to live was strong after she had been given a chance to live after her mother had not made the journey back to the living; the woman had held her child for the first and last time in her dying arms, but not before making the witch promise her that she would take care of the child as her own. La Bruja remembered wanting nothing to do with the newborn, as she had lived a life of solitude interacting with only those who needed her assistance, but eventually she had agreed in order to ease the woman's suffering. Not wanting a vengeful ghost to haunt her; spirits that stayed and roamed the Earth were not to be taken lightly. Those who stayed usually had unfinished business, and La Bruja didn't want any unwanted spirits hanging onto her. The child's mother was beautiful, and before Death could embrace her, she had handed her the baby girl and told her that the child's name was Valentina; whom the Moon had bestowed the name to. Before the Witch could ask of the father, the lovely woman had transcended into the otherworld smiling as her soul left her body.
La Bruja didn't know that she had been treating the daughter of the mayor; she always suspected something foul had taken place for the beautiful lady to have given birth in such conditions. The mayor had money to take his daughter to a luxurious hospital, but they had dumped her at the Witch's old shack where she had given birth on the kitchen table. La Bruja had met Nana for the first time, who was the only one that accompanied the suffering young mother. Her dress was heavily stained of blood, the father of the child nowhere to be, and both had delivered the baby. One of the mayor's officials had come to relocate La Bruja and Nana to live with the infant in a comfortable spacious home away from the rest of the family; where the only relatives that visited were the girl's uncle, and his obnoxious spoiled children. The Witch had kept her promise and with Nana and Alberto they had raised Valentina as their own. She couldn't deny the attachment she had to the girl. She raised her as blood and kin would. The fate that was in store for her goddaughter, one that she didn't have a chance to foretold was cruel. La Bruja looked at Nana and told her to phone the girl's uncle.
"Don't go into details, that man never believed in fate even if the cards reading his future were placed in front of him," La Bruja never could understand him, maybe he was still hurt by his sister's passing after all these years. But with time she began to grow wary of him, after she had caught him staring at her goddaughter with a look that should only be reserved for lovers. He would at times, accidently call his niece by his deceased sister's name. La Bruja always made sure that either she or Nana was present when he would visit her.
Nana did a sign of the cross, silently praying. "I'll tell him that Valentina is gravely homesick. I'll try to convince him to let her study at the capital instead."
La Bruja agreed, telling Nana that she would be busy making a charm for their daughter. Hoping that it would be strong enough to deter Valentina's misfortune and suffering from happening until they could leave. Nana left for the living room, and La Bruja served herself a cup of tea and lit a cigarette as she stared out the frosted tinted windows. Destiny or not she wouldn't let her goddaughter suffer, not while she was alive and breathing.
Unknowingly while her mothers' were worrying deeply about her, Valentina was laughing at Alberto's funny impersonations. He could sound like any cartoon she told him to do. The ride had felt really short, and she was taken aback by how large and grand the building looked. It looked like a castle straight from the medieval ages.
"Are we at the right place?" Valentina questioned, not believing that this was where she would attend her private school.
"This is the place," Alberto said, mimicking Speedy Gonzalez, causing her to laugh. As she stopped she stared at the school, telling herself internally that she could do this. She hugged Alberto and stepped out of the car as he reminded her he would pick her up after classes were over. She smiled and nodded her head, watching as Alberto's old car left her line of sight. She walked towards the school, her shawl tightly wrapped around her not knowing if it was from the cold or her jitters. She walked inside the building missing completely the limo that had pulled up to the parking lot. She walked towards the sign that read the main office, and was greeted by a young secretary who didn't look up when she asked for her name. Valentina brushed off the rude introduction and sat at the chair that the secretary pointed to, telling her the counselor would see her in a bit. Ten minutes had passed by and the first period bell had rang.
Valentina played with the rings on her fingers, until she heard a friendly greeting from her councilor. The counselor escorted her inside her office and they sat down to discuss her schedule. The counselor had been happy to announce to her that she would be taking higher level courses considering her marks were very high at her previous school. Valentina nodded at the schedule which the counselor handed to her pointing to the calculus class and the microeconomics and macroeconomics they were able to squeeze her in. Valentina smiled and gave the councilor her thanks. They both got up and the councilor escorted her to her first period which was her designated homeroom and served as her English class. The counselor knocked on the door and told her teacher that this was the new student.
Valentina walked to the front of the classroom head held high, as she heard a wolf whistle, much to the annoyance of the teacher who told a guy named Ayato to keep his mouth shut. Valentina ignored it, and smiled as she introduced herself. Her teacher told her to sit next to the sole empty seat in the back of the classroom next to a boy named Kanato who had a plush bear perched on his desk. She walked to the back of the class as her gold bracelets jingled as she pulled her seat to sit down.
"Hello Kanato," Valentina politely said, hoping that she would get to befriend her homeroom partner. Kanato had ignored her welcome and she heard a snicker coming from the redhead that sat to her far left. She ignored him and wondered if she hadn't spoken loud enough, but decided to turn back to the English lecture. When the bell rang signaling class was over, she asked Kanato if she could help him find her science class, she lifted the sheet of paper to show him the room number. Valentina felt uncomfortable at the annoyed stares the cute boy gave her, almost making her feel like a nuisance, but the look in his eyes stopped and he looked really close at the sheet. It almost looked as if Kanato were sniffing her hand, but she didn't say anything until he looked at her with a smile that made her skin prick.
"Actually I do," Kanato said, hugging his bear in his arms. "I could take you there myself."
