C H A P T E R S I X

Patricia

Escaping from forests to forests, fighting Krulisa’s beast buddies, watching Reno’s heart still lingering for Catty, arriving at a mortal institute and finally seeing Catty create a giant cave like shield across the institutes, every peculiar things happened today right before my eyes.

No matter how lucky we were to be alive after all the fights, it still haunts me that this is not the end; we will still have to fight more of these creatures until Krulisa is defeated. I wish dad was here. I have tons of questions I am curious to ask. There are a lot that they forgot to tell us. I, neither did any of ask about how all this ends.

How long should we continue? Now that I think about it maybe Ethel should have come along with us. Though we are strong with our powers, it’s more likely that we need sword skills. No worries for catty. She is indeed the goddess of spells as well as sword. I learnt sword fighting from mom. It was harder than I thought, but still I managed to store the skills of swinging the sword from left to right to every position in my head.

Continuing from previous chapter.

When Catty is done with the shield spell, Ethel and the rest of us bid our last goodbye to Erica and Catty at the door steps of Heatherhalls Institute. For the first time I got to see Ethel and Reno in tears (another peculiar thing).

‘’The forest, let us all gather here every night. I didn’t shield the forest, so in case any mortals accidently walk inside it-‘’

‘’We will meet here. Don’t worry.’’ Melly says before Catty can even complete her sentence. We all agree with Catty and decide to meet in the forest every night when the mortals are asleep.

Once Catty and Erica are done we move on to The Journey Institute and bid our last farewell to Melly (who barely even cries.) ‘’We will see each other soon.’’ Is all she says. And at last I and Alicia both place a gentle kiss on Ethel’s soft cheeks (now wet with tears) and head to The Prestige Institute leaving Melissa, Ethel and Reno.

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I would be lying if I said that The Prestige Institute looks nothing like the Vampire Academy. The moment both I and Alicia get inside, our mouths hung open as we gape at the entrance which is exactly a twin of our academy.

‘’This is insane! I mean, how is this possible?’’ I keep staring at every corners.

‘’I know right.’’ Alicia was drooling in surprise. ’’I mean maybe our ancestors made the same building on and on, like on and on and maybe someday both mom and dad would end up making another duplicate in future--’’

‘’Alicia…’’

‘’Yea?’’

‘’Do shut up! You’re making no sense right now just like this whole thing isn’t!’’

‘’Sure. But is this another thing both mom and dad forgot to mention to us?’’

‘’I have no idea. I wish I could meet Melly and the rest of them right now. They will be literally shocked. Right?’’ I turn around and she is gone.’’

‘’ Alicia? Alicia?’’

‘’Over here!’’ She says. I walk further and find her standing in the passage facing a giant frame almost the same height as her.

‘’Patty look at this! Doesn’t she look familiar to you too?’’

I look closely at the picture and when I see the person Alicia was talking about, I give a quick glance at Alicia and then back at the picture. Of course she looks familiar.

‘’NOOO WAYYY! Mom? They have a picture of mom in the institute?’’

‘’I can’t believe it either!’’ the painter must have been a really talented one. She looks exactly the same! But look at the date, it says in the year of 1410.’’

‘’It’s a really old picture.’’ It indeed is. The edges are almost crumpled out and the picture has already started to lose its colour. I wish I could take it with me and show it to Melly and the rest of them. We both keep staring at the picture and then suddenly my eyes fall at the girl standing beside her. They were both holding hands and smiling.

‘’Who is this lady she is holding?’’ I ask. ‘’They look really happy. And By the way, what are mortals doing with her picture?’’

‘’Exactly. Oh, there’s something written here about them. Hold on.’’ Alicia starts reading the long description moving her index finger from left to right whispering. And I, I stand there staring at mom’s picture. Smiling. I glance back at Alicia, and the smile in her face is gone. She slowly drops her finger and gulps in terror.

‘’Patty, re…read this.’’ She stutters. And I do as she says.

As I begin to read my heart starts to race as if I have seen a ghost. How is this even possible? I whisper and then look at Alicia who stands still in her position with the same expression as me.

‘’Is this another thing they forgot to tell us?’’ She says and looks at me.

‘’I have no idea what’s going on’’ I reply. Both of us turn back at the picture. I still can’t believe this is possible. How can this happen? The words float in my head. Did father know about this? We were just starting our mission, but what is this now? The picture can’t be lying! That’s mom, and nothing in this world can say me it isn’t! She looks exactly the same. I look ones again at the description. It’s hard to erase the words from my head.

‘’Beloved daughters of the Cross family. Victoria Verginia Cross and Krulisa Verginia Cross.’’

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Jonathan

I wanted to ask dad to beg Principal Weathers to extend our next vacation at least for two months. It hurts me to bid goodbye every single time to both mom and dad after spending only two weeks with them. I wish I could stay home a little longer, have moms hand cooked food for the rest of my life. Even the smell of schools makes me want to walk out let alone staying in the dorms!

‘’Don’t you guys miss home already? I feel to turn back!’’ I say, as we slow down our horses.

‘’Me too!’’ Mark sighs.

‘’Count me in too!’’ Steven joins. ‘’Let’s turn back, shall we?’’

‘’Guys, get to your senses already!’’ Henry cuts in. he was always bossy! ‘’we are almost here. Can’t you guys see the institutes are already right in front of us.’’

‘’He’s right!’’ Morgan joins Henry. ‘’And besides we can all get together in the forest at night like we always do!’’

It’s sort of embarrassing that my younger brothers took school more seriously than I did. Though Henry is the youngest among us all, he was the most skilled one in both sword and archery. And speak about Morgan, he was just like Henry. Only that he lacked a few skills in archery and he was not as smart as Henry. Morgan is the second oldest, Mark is the third and Steven is fourth. Whereas I, Jonathan Hudson am the eldest among we Hudson brothers.

‘’Of course, Morgan’s right! We are almost here and it would sound silly to both mom and dad if we went back home! Haha…. And besides I was just kidding with you guys! Haha..’’ I tried to sound like a caring older brother but for all I know, I was making a fool of myself in front of them!

‘’Yea yea, sure you were!’’ Mark says, rolling his eyes. I feel to run away with embarrassment.

‘’Here we are!’’ Henry cuts in again, but this time for good. Nice distraction. I whisper. We stop our horses and look at the three institutes that stand before us.

‘’So this is where we say goodbye?’’ I ask.

‘’It is! See you soon brother.’’ Morgan punches with his fist on my shoulder.

‘’See you soon!’’ Mark joins Morgan. ‘’You take care of yourselves. All of you. Let’s go Morgan!’’

‘’Lets goooo!’’ They both disappear with their horses in the thick fog as they head to The Prestige Institute.

‘’He didn’t even look at me when he said ‘Goodbye’!’’ Henry says with a deep sigh. ‘’Anyways we need to go too Steve!’’

‘’Yea, you’re right!’’ Steven says. ‘’See you soon Johnny! Take care.’’

‘’I will! You take care of yourself too and Henry. Bye.’’ I say. Both Henry and Steven smile at me one last time before they gallop away towards The Heatherhalls Institutes.

I am all that’s left! I say to myself. Let’s go dear Blanket! I pat my Blanket’s black forehead as he ‘Hee Haws’ and sprints towards The Journey Institute.

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