Part 2
The frosty air coming from the window woke me up. I slowly opened my eyes and wait for them to adjust from the sudden darkness. The world where I belonged for a moment was the world where the darkest gods live. I adjusted and make myself to adapt since the world now was slightly lighter than the previous world. I can hear at least one mouth whispering, and the other was the continuous flow of water. I can hear that the water touches the ground and each of the falling droplets seemed to be tears coming from a crying child. It is raining. Or at least, it rained and now the droplets that I can hear came from the water left in the roof.
“Lynette, can you hear me?”, Ceira’s voice asked. Though she’s intending it to be a whisper, I heard it as a normal voice.
I tried to nod. And I am successful.
“Thank God!”, she yelled, or at least she said calmly.
“Want to sit.”, I murmured.
“Sure.”, she said. She stood up from her seat and help me to sit.
“What happened?”, I asked.
“I don’t know the whole thing. All I know was that the moon hid when you fainted. Jon also told us that it started raining really hard when you are suffocating.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Can’t you remember anything?”
“A bit. I saw Bernice on our room and I heard the word purify.”
“Yeah. She purified you.”
“What does that mean?”
“She made you unconscious. It’s like she refreshed your powers, and you fell asleep for three hours.”
“How did she do that?”
“Oh. The lesson. That was the first lesson.”
“NO. The first was aura reading.”
“You didn’t make it to that point. You collapsed, remember?”
“Oh. Okay. Tell me, then.”
“Salamanders can purify. Like refresh, or removed any unnecessary impurities on your body. Gnomes, like us, can heal physical wounds. Undine can feel or sometimes control emotions. Sylph has the unusual senses.”, she explained.
That’s why I felt everyone’s nervousness when I was suffocating. But, what’s the connection between the disappearance of the moon and me?
“Lynette?”
“Yes?”
“Do you, love. I am sorry if I am asking this. I don’t mean to meddle, but, do you like Nathaniel Ashford?”
“Love, yes .But like, never.”
“What do you exactly mean?”, she asked, confused.
I was about to answer when I remembered Nathaniel forbidding me not to tell anyone that I am his cousin.
“I love him ‘cause he’s going to be the next Luna. I don’t like him like the way Bernice did.”, I said quickly.
“Speaking of Bernice.”
“That bitch.”
“She told everyone that you fainted because you were mesmerized by Nathaniel’s gorgeousness. It’s not true, is it?”
“No. Of course not!”, I yelled. Terrible idea.
“She told that when you are being carried here by him.”
“He carried me?”
“Aha.”
“Damn.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Is it already dinner?”
“Yes. About ten minutes ago.”
“Come on!”
“I don’t think you should.”
“Why?”
“You want to be the center of attention?”
“Oh. No, of course.”
“Good.”
“Mind getting me some food?”
“Of course not. You want me to bring my food here too?”
“NO. Please enjoy eating quietly.”
“I’ll eat as fast as I can.”
“No, please. No. Please enjoy your meal. Don’t worry about me, I am not that hungry.”, I lied, though I can already feel my worms fighting inside my tummy.
“Okay. I will go down now so I can bring your dinner earlier. See you in a minute!”, she said and she disappeared as she ran pass on the door.
I’m alone. I wonder what I can do while waiting.
I walked to the bathroom to check my reflection. At least, I still have my hair and my arms. I am still lucky. I noticed that the window was opened, so I closed it.
“Thou hate the wintry air from the everlastingly wind, milady?”, a soft voice asked on the other window, the one near on my bed. I went out of the bathroom and ran back to our beds.
“Who are you?”
“Call me Silverleaf, and I’ll call you mine.”
“Excuse me?”, I asked.
“Are you, Ceiron?”, I added.
“I don’t know the name, Senorita. But I do know a thing.”, he answered. He stood up and walked to me.
“What?”, I asked as he gets closer.
“Your face is a diamond that shines with other gems.”
“…”
“Your voice is a curse, for those deaf that can’t hear it.”
“Wait-”
“And the way your body moves, it is as graceful as a flower dancing under the sunshine in the meadow. You are refined, definitely more striking than any other ballerina on the big stage.”
I am amazed by his words. I just don’t know if he was telling the truth. I can’t see his eyes, he’s wearing a shiny silver mask.
“Silverleaf? Your mother named you Silverleaf? That must be hard for you when you’re child.”
He gave a playful laugh. Adorable man.
“Milady?”
“Do call me Lynette.”
“Lynette. Do you know that it means beautiful?”, he informed. His gaze met mine, and for the first time, I saw his silver eyes.
“Silver eyes.”, I whispered.
“That’s where my name came from.”
“And the leaf?”
“The leaf is the most unnoticeable part of a plant, just like me.”
“But I noticed you.”
“’Cause you’re different, darling. You’re a true-blue genius.”
“Shut up.”
“I am not kidding. Let us sit, if you don’t mind.”, he said frankly. I offered him a chair from my table. I sat on Ceira’s chair.
“Who are you?”
“I told my name once.”
“I mean. Introduce, further.”
“As you can see,”, he said, standing so I can have a clearer view of his god-like body. “I am just a wanderer, who discovered a beauty hidden on your perfect emerald eyes.”
“Hidden. Does that mean that I am ugly on the first sight.”
“Have you heard that from my mouth?”
I didn’t respond. I looked on his body. I can see his abs, firm and perfectly shaped though it was covered by a shirt. He doesn’t have a cape, like most of the phantoms have. He is tall, much taller that me. His hair was dull black, and mixed with brown. Just imagine Nathaniel’s hair, make it a little darker, for the moon was nowhere. He’s wearing an old black, all black, except from the silver mask that shines when the light from the lamp strikes.
And his voice was damn angelic. It was like a lullaby. Talk more, I am sure I’ll be asleep in any minute.
“Lady?”
“Lynette is my name.”
“You prefer that?”
“I love that.”
“Then I’ll love what you adore.”
“Thank you.”
“Why are you alone? No. Why aren’t you eating?”
“It’s because”
“Because?”
“You knew Bernice?”
“The red-haired girl?”
“Exactly. She told everyone that I like Nathaniel.”
He blinked hard. “Who’s Nathaniel?”
“Can you keep a secret?”
“Of course.”
“He’s my second cousin.”
“Oh. You do like him?”
“As a cousin. Only that.”
He frowned.
“Why are you telling me that?”
“I don’t know. I am just comfortable with you.”
“I see. I must go now.”
“Wait!”
“Lynette!”, Ceira yelled as she walked to our room.
“Wait!”, I looked back on Silverleaf, but he was already gone. But he left something, a blue rose.
“Lyn-”
I looked at her. Her golden eyes were widely open, as if she saw a ghost.
“Bring that down!”, she cried. She ran and grabbed the flower from my hand and threw it in the window.
“Ceira! What the hell are you doing?”
“Don’t you know it? It is the sign of Silverleaf!”
“You. You, you knew him?”
“All of us did! Did you know that he wrote Bernice’s name on the door with a blood? And he warned her not to hypocrite! You know him?”
“I just spoke to him. Right here, before you came.”
“Damn. He did something wrong?”
“No. No. We talked. Just it. Nothing more. He didn’t harm me, I swear.”, I said, raising my hands.
“Good. I’ll kill him if he touched you. Eat.”
“Thanks.”
I ate for five minutes. I placed the tray on the door since I knew that Lucia would be happy to get it.
“He’s kind to me.”, I said.
“He was?”
“He is.”, I corrected.
“I don’t think so. He scared us, just earlier!”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I do. Of course. Lynette, saints above!”
“Then trust me, he won’t harm me.”
“Okay. Please, take a nap now. Miss Aylett told me to tell you that you need to rest, especially now that the moon was hidden-”
Ceira stopped and she was staring with widely eyes on the sky.
“Bloody hell.”, she whispered.
I look at what she was gazing at. Holy Molly. . .
“The moon’s back.”, we both whispered.
The moon was back. I don’t know what’s happening. But based from what Ceira told me earlier, the moon disappeared when I fainted, and now, the moon has appeared, when I was okay.
“I don’t want to neither say nor think about this. I don’t want you to be in danger. But I think, you are.”
“I am?”
“The next LUNA. You are the next luna, Lynette.”
Tuesday 21 April 2009
Monday 20 April 2009
The Last Luna: Chapter Eight -Part One
SilverLeaf
I want to summon Luna, though I already knew I couldn’t. I want her to see her next heir flirting with this no-one woman.
“I’m sorry I am late!”, a man shouted. He was older than us. He’s wearing a black trouser and a yellow shirt. He was running all the way to Miss Aylett. He has a blonde hair, violet eyes and husky voice. He was surely taller than Miss Aylett.
“Nay, Travis. Introducing part.”
“Ooops. I’m sorry then.”
“Girls, this is Travis Crimson, the principal of St. Nicholas Academy.”
“Hi Mr. Travis.”, we greeted.
“And, let’s proceed to the introduction. Maybe it’ll be a lot better if the introduction will be from club to club!”
“You’re right, Lady Elmira.”
“Can we start on the Flaming Salamander Club? Anyone?”
“I’ll do the first.”, a man said. He has an over proud voice. His hair was long and lashed on his back by a rubber. He is as tall as Mr. Crimson, and his body was slim, though there are some muscles that are visible.
“Go. The stage is yours.”, Mister, or should I say Sir Travis waved his hand to the porch of the building.
“Lovely ladies, I am Kevin Methven, 17 year-old from Australia. I am very happy to see all of you. If you need someone on your side, I am very happy to usher you.”, he introduced.
“And! I am still single and available.”, he added.
“Yuck. He thinks he’s cute. He looks like a rat!”, Ceira whispered.
“Very interesting introduction, Mr. Methven. Please go to my left side, and kindly hold this cloth.”, Miss Aylett said, handing Kevin a red cloth.
“Next!”
“Me!”
“I am the one and only daughter of the famous musician, Brian Middleton. I am Lady Bernice Margaret Middleton. 16, single, but only available for someone named Nathaniel.”, she said as she winked at Nathaniel. The other students reacted disappointedly. Nathaniel beamed at me. Scoundrel.
“Nice, Lady Bernice. Please join Kevin.”, Sir Travis said. “Next, please.”
“Me! I am Rachel McAdams, 16 and is staying at Room 1.”, she said. Let me introduce this rascal, she is this girl of your dream, unless she faces you and show her teeth and eyebrows. You’ll only love her curly pink hair. That’s all. She joined her master-in-disguise, Bernice with Kevin on Miss Aylett’s left.
“I am Cecilia Bramantya, 17 and an Indoesian native. Nice to meet you!”, she said. Actually, this black-haired lady is the only one with heart (aside from Alexa) and has a chance to be normal and not wicked from the Iniquitous Ladies of Lay Eve Academy. Sounds lovely, right? Ceira already made the name for them.
“I am Amanda Wilson, 16.”, said Amanda. Amanda is an American nerd. Her hair is always in pigtails, and I caught Bernice yesterday bullying her at lunch.
“Hi. I am Lucinda James, 16 and I am the daughter of Poland’s ambassador.”, a fine girl said. She had this small voice and she’s walking slowly, like she’s walking in aisle. I believe that she and Amanda are best friends, which is great.
“Ok. And now it’s the Rocking Gnome Club’s part! Please proceed to Miss Aylett’s right after your introduction. And now, who’s the first?”
“Me!”,Ceiron shouted as he ran towards the porch.
“Hi every one, especially to the young ladies. I am Ceiron Ishikawa, your man in health and in sickness.”, he said as he threw some red roses. I wonder where it came from?
“Hi. I am Ian Fisher, a child of Switzerland. I love reading, especially about Science or about Mathematics. I am 17 years old. Nice to meet you!”, he said. Ian was a small man, or a small nerd. Behind his thick-framed eyeglasses are his shining eyes.
“Hi. I am Ceira Ishikawa.”
“Sis, don’t reveal the age!”, Ceiron whispered.
“Shut up!”, she whispered back.
“I am 16 year-old. Doozo yoroshiko onegai shimasu!”, she said cheerfully.
“Aishteru!” I heard Kevin yelled. Ceira smiled politely. Unlucky Gnomes, they have a member who has a loud voice, and one with a louder.
“I told you not to reveal our age!”, Ceiron said when Ceira was completely on his side.
“They don’t seem to notice that we’re twins, Nii-sama.”
“Hi. I am Mathilda Stevens, 18 and from Ireland.”, said Mathilda, one of the wicked members of the Iniquitous Ladies of Lady Eve Academy.
“Hello. I am Michelle Matthew, 17 and I am from England.”, said by the last member of the second club.
“I thought Gnomes are common to males?”, Sir Travis asked.
“That’s what the legend says.”
“Okay. So, there are six members of the Flaming Salamander Club, and five affiliates of the Rocking Gnome Club. Let’s now proceed to the Soothing Undine Club. Anyone who wants to start?”
“You go, Alexa.”, Bernice command echoes in the whole forest.
Alexa stepped in front and nervously faced us. I gave her an encouraging smile. She smiled back.
“He-, Hi. I am Alexa Francesca Mere, and I am 17 years old. Thank you!”, she said and she disappeared from the porch before our hands meet.
“It’s your turn now.”, she mouthed. I nodded.
I walked to the porch as slow but also as fast as I can. “Hi. I am Lynette Marie van Dross. I am 15 and from Oxford, England. Nice to meet you!”, I said and I moved to Sir Travis’ right, like Alexa.
“Melodic voice.”, she whispered.
“Same to you.”, I found myself saying, though I am looking at Nathaniel, who was busy looking somewhere in the woods. Of course, he doesn’t need to listen to my intro since I am his cousin and he already know enough about me. Yeah, that’s right. Only reason, Lynette. And now calm, down. Please, please. Lower that bloody heart rate, and breathe slowly, please. Listen. Please!
“Hello. I am Jon Rossdale, 15 and from Old London City. It was my pleasure to meet you!”, a shy boy with blonde hair and light green eyes said. He was so shy that’s why he did not reached 5 seconds in introducing himself.
“Hi.”, I greeted when he moved to our side.
“Oh. Hello, Lady Lynette.”, he said softly, but he was a bit smiling.
“And the last but not the least.”, Miss Aylett said.
“The cutest!”, Cecilia said.
“No. He’s the best!”, Mathilda said.
“Stupid girls.”, Bernice whispered, and for the first time, I agreed with her. She’s right. Those girls are stupid for thinking that Nathaniel was cute and best and smart and handsome. He’s cruel and vulgar.
“Hi. Nathaniel Ashford, 17.”, he said coldly. But still, the other girls screamed as if they are the only ones that Nathaniel was introducing for.
“Scoundrel.”, I heard myself saying when he was on Sir Travis’ left.
“Brat.”, he mouthed, though he was not looking at me directly. I’ll ask him a question later.
“Okay. So Nathaniel is the only member of the Azure Sylph Club. And I will now assign the rooms. The room with the color red, will obviously for the Salamanders, the yellow for the Gnomes, and they are both on the first floor. The Undines will have the room with green door and for Nathaniel, are you okay with being the only Sylph on the blue one?”, asked Miss Aylett.
“Of course.”, he said.
“So, you’re room would be on the second floor. Mr. Crimson, please accompany them.”
“Aye, aye, captain!”, Mr. Crimson replied and saluted.
“Oh no. Nathaniel!”, cried one girl.
“He’s alone! I must be with him!”, another one yelled.
“Girls, manners and etiquette please.”, Miss Aylett reminded.
“Curse that Alexa and Lynette, they’re close to my Nathaniel.”, Rachel said.
“And who the hell said that Nathaniel was yours?”, Bernice asked.
Alexa’s face became sour. “Don’t mind them.”, I said.
She looked at me. I smiled. And then her face became her regular face again. I actually don’t mind. Or I really don’t care if they told me about being close to Nathaniel. For their information, I will be with Nathaniel for as long as I want in the vacation. He’s my cousin, and in fact, he already slept on our house. I wonder every one’s reaction when I told them about that….
“Lynette? Are you okay?”, Alexa asked. Both Sir Travis and Jon looked at me and asked the same. Nathaniel looked at me, and I saw a bit of worry on his sapphire eyes.
“Yes, yes. Of course. I’m just imagining about what we are doing this night.”, I said. I gazed at Nathaniel again, but he was already going on his room.
The Soothing Undine Club’s room was great! The color was green, and amazingly, there is a fountain on the corner of the room! And it was a real fountain! Jon stood beside it, and he’s just taller by an inch!
“Wow.”, I said.
“Yeah, another wow.”, Alexa agreed. She’s really different from Bernice and her company.
“Is it okay with you if Nathaniel would be here to join us in our first lesson?”, Sir Travis asked.
We nodded.
“Uhm, Lynette, can you fetch him on his room?”
“Me?”
“You.”
“Sure. Hang on.” I’ll drag him here.
I went out of the room and walked to Nathaniel’s room. It has a blue door. I hesitated to knock at first. I listened and tried to search for any sounds. But there was nothing. I knocked three times.
“Who’s there?”, his cold voice asked.
“Lynette.”, I answered, keeping my voice low. I don’t want the girls on the first floor to hear me knocking and entering Nathaniel’s room.
“Go in.”, he said.
I opened the door. The room was clean, there was really nothing inside except the desk with three to four books and on the window was Nathaniel. The cold wind coming from outside made me shiver.
“Sir Travis speculated if you want to join us for the first lesson.”, I informed him. I put my hands on the pocket of my cardigan to ease the cold.
“Only him?”
“Us. We also agreed, for your information.”
“I wonder if you can stay a little more in here.”
“With you?”
“With me.”
“And why?”
“I’m a cousin. I just wanted to ask you about how did you find your new academy and friends.”
“It’s okay, but not as great as home. You knew that we’ll meet someday, right?”
“Sort of.”
“SO that’s why you’re farewell message-”
“That’s not a farewell message, brat.”
“Oh. I am sorry. But you didn’t tell them that we’re cousins.”, I complained.
“For what reason?”
“I don’t know. Maybe, for them not to think anything when we’re talking or something.”
“And why would we talk?”
“What?” My mouth suddenly opened. Curse him.
“Come on. It’s kinda cold in here. I can feel the Goosebumps on your neck, brat.”
I was really hurt by what he said earlier. “Shut up.”
He offered his arms.
“I can go by myself.”
“Whoa. Suddenly cold, huh?”
I looked at him and I was really opening my eyes widely so that no tear can run. Then I looked away when I saw Miss Aylette walking.
“Any problem, children?”
“No, ma’am. We’re actually going to our room.”, I replied.
“How generous of you, dear.”
“Thanks.”, I managed to murmured under my breath.
We entered the room. Sir Travis smiled, and so Jon and Alexa. I went to the corner of the room to wipe my tears when Jon patted my shoulder.
“Crying?”, he asked.
“No. I’m just-. There’s just a dirt on my eye. I am fine now.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“Everyone, please be here.”, Miss Aylett said.
“The first thing that I want to teach you is about aura reading.”
“Aura reading?”, Jon repeated.
“Yes. Aside from the color of the eyes, you can actually tell whether a person is just an ordinary human or a human mage by reading his or her aura. Look at Nathaniel, examined him.”
Shit. We don’t need to. I did not look at him, though the others did.
“What did you see, Lynette?”, Miss Aylett asked. Crap, what shall I answer?
“I saw a vulgar pig.”, I thought of saying.
I looked at him, eye-to-eye. Suddenly, I saw a blue spirit on his back.
“Sylph!”, I gasped.
“Sylph?”, Sir Travis asked.
“Of course, dear. He’s Sylph.”, Miss Aylett said.
I focused my eyes intently on him. Apart from the blue spirit, I can also see a bright, dirty white reflection. No, it was his shadow!
“Not black.”, I whispered.
“Lynette?”
“His shadow!”, I pointed. I looked again, but his shadow was already black.
“Lynette? Lynette!”, Miss Aylett was shaking me.
“What did you see? Tell us, please!”, Sir Travis asked.
“His blue aura, and a dirty white reflection. Right there!”, I answered, pointing his reflection. Nathaniel frowned.
“Your sweating really hard, and fast.”, Jon said.
Nathaniel closed the window. Alexa made a face.
“Nathaniel, open it! She needs air!”
“But the air was too cold for her! She might get cold or flu!”, he shouted back.
“I’m okay! Really!”, I said, breaking the noise.
“No. Your sweating and oh. Your forehead.”, Miss Aylett covered her mouth.
I placed my hand on my forehead. Damn, it was hot!
“It’s bloody red!”, Sir Travis yelled.
“Jon!”, Miss Aylett cried and I saw Jon concentrating on the corner of the room.
“She’s numb!”, he cried back.
What the heck was happening? I can feel a sudden decrease on my temperature.
“Damn cold!”, I cried. And I was really crying. Alexa wiped my tears and hold me in place.
“Nathaniel, can you do something?”, Miss Aylett asked.
“I’ll try.”, Nathaniel closed his eyes and a warm air begin to condense out of my body.
“Not that, please!”, I begged.
“What’s happening?”, Sir Travis asked.
“Cold, cold.”, I repeated the words under my breath.
“Cold. And now she’s suffocating.”, Alexa concluded.
Suffocating, but I can feel nothing bad or wrong!
“Any nurse?”
“I am. But on her case I don’t know what’s the reason, and I can’t heal her too! Jon?”, Miss Aylett sniveled.
“Sure”
“Her body was in danger, but her mind was fine. When I tried to connect myself to her, her barrier lunged me out.”, Jon said.
“Lynette, can you hear me?”, Nathaniel asked.
“Yes.”, I clearly said. Base on my voice on my head.
“I think she said yes.”, Nathaniel said.
“Let your barrier down!”, Sir Travis commanded.
What’s the bloody barrier? I didn’t know that I have a built-in barrier.
“No. Don’t!”, Nathaniel opposed.
“Why?”, Alexa asked.
“The thing might enter her and kill her!”
“What?”
“The force. Or something that cause her that suffocation!”, Nathaniel exclaimed.
“What shall we do?”, Jon asked.
“Call someone from the Salamanders. Call the best!”, Miss Aylett said to Jon.
Jon came back after three seconds, dragging Bernice. Oh no.
“What’s the matter? What happened?”, she asked, looking at Nathaniel.
“I’ll tell you later. Purify her. Now!”, Miss Aylett commanded.
“How?”
“Oh. Close your eyes, think hard, never mind the noise, and think that you are sanitizing yourself. Fast!”
Bernice did what Miss Aylett told her. Suddenly, after a minute or two, I felt my back to ease up from crouching and my breath to become normal. I was about to say thanks, but see no one. The only thing that I saw was the darkest place I’ve ever been into.
I want to summon Luna, though I already knew I couldn’t. I want her to see her next heir flirting with this no-one woman.
“I’m sorry I am late!”, a man shouted. He was older than us. He’s wearing a black trouser and a yellow shirt. He was running all the way to Miss Aylett. He has a blonde hair, violet eyes and husky voice. He was surely taller than Miss Aylett.
“Nay, Travis. Introducing part.”
“Ooops. I’m sorry then.”
“Girls, this is Travis Crimson, the principal of St. Nicholas Academy.”
“Hi Mr. Travis.”, we greeted.
“And, let’s proceed to the introduction. Maybe it’ll be a lot better if the introduction will be from club to club!”
“You’re right, Lady Elmira.”
“Can we start on the Flaming Salamander Club? Anyone?”
“I’ll do the first.”, a man said. He has an over proud voice. His hair was long and lashed on his back by a rubber. He is as tall as Mr. Crimson, and his body was slim, though there are some muscles that are visible.
“Go. The stage is yours.”, Mister, or should I say Sir Travis waved his hand to the porch of the building.
“Lovely ladies, I am Kevin Methven, 17 year-old from Australia. I am very happy to see all of you. If you need someone on your side, I am very happy to usher you.”, he introduced.
“And! I am still single and available.”, he added.
“Yuck. He thinks he’s cute. He looks like a rat!”, Ceira whispered.
“Very interesting introduction, Mr. Methven. Please go to my left side, and kindly hold this cloth.”, Miss Aylett said, handing Kevin a red cloth.
“Next!”
“Me!”
“I am the one and only daughter of the famous musician, Brian Middleton. I am Lady Bernice Margaret Middleton. 16, single, but only available for someone named Nathaniel.”, she said as she winked at Nathaniel. The other students reacted disappointedly. Nathaniel beamed at me. Scoundrel.
“Nice, Lady Bernice. Please join Kevin.”, Sir Travis said. “Next, please.”
“Me! I am Rachel McAdams, 16 and is staying at Room 1.”, she said. Let me introduce this rascal, she is this girl of your dream, unless she faces you and show her teeth and eyebrows. You’ll only love her curly pink hair. That’s all. She joined her master-in-disguise, Bernice with Kevin on Miss Aylett’s left.
“I am Cecilia Bramantya, 17 and an Indoesian native. Nice to meet you!”, she said. Actually, this black-haired lady is the only one with heart (aside from Alexa) and has a chance to be normal and not wicked from the Iniquitous Ladies of Lay Eve Academy. Sounds lovely, right? Ceira already made the name for them.
“I am Amanda Wilson, 16.”, said Amanda. Amanda is an American nerd. Her hair is always in pigtails, and I caught Bernice yesterday bullying her at lunch.
“Hi. I am Lucinda James, 16 and I am the daughter of Poland’s ambassador.”, a fine girl said. She had this small voice and she’s walking slowly, like she’s walking in aisle. I believe that she and Amanda are best friends, which is great.
“Ok. And now it’s the Rocking Gnome Club’s part! Please proceed to Miss Aylett’s right after your introduction. And now, who’s the first?”
“Me!”,Ceiron shouted as he ran towards the porch.
“Hi every one, especially to the young ladies. I am Ceiron Ishikawa, your man in health and in sickness.”, he said as he threw some red roses. I wonder where it came from?
“Hi. I am Ian Fisher, a child of Switzerland. I love reading, especially about Science or about Mathematics. I am 17 years old. Nice to meet you!”, he said. Ian was a small man, or a small nerd. Behind his thick-framed eyeglasses are his shining eyes.
“Hi. I am Ceira Ishikawa.”
“Sis, don’t reveal the age!”, Ceiron whispered.
“Shut up!”, she whispered back.
“I am 16 year-old. Doozo yoroshiko onegai shimasu!”, she said cheerfully.
“Aishteru!” I heard Kevin yelled. Ceira smiled politely. Unlucky Gnomes, they have a member who has a loud voice, and one with a louder.
“I told you not to reveal our age!”, Ceiron said when Ceira was completely on his side.
“They don’t seem to notice that we’re twins, Nii-sama.”
“Hi. I am Mathilda Stevens, 18 and from Ireland.”, said Mathilda, one of the wicked members of the Iniquitous Ladies of Lady Eve Academy.
“Hello. I am Michelle Matthew, 17 and I am from England.”, said by the last member of the second club.
“I thought Gnomes are common to males?”, Sir Travis asked.
“That’s what the legend says.”
“Okay. So, there are six members of the Flaming Salamander Club, and five affiliates of the Rocking Gnome Club. Let’s now proceed to the Soothing Undine Club. Anyone who wants to start?”
“You go, Alexa.”, Bernice command echoes in the whole forest.
Alexa stepped in front and nervously faced us. I gave her an encouraging smile. She smiled back.
“He-, Hi. I am Alexa Francesca Mere, and I am 17 years old. Thank you!”, she said and she disappeared from the porch before our hands meet.
“It’s your turn now.”, she mouthed. I nodded.
I walked to the porch as slow but also as fast as I can. “Hi. I am Lynette Marie van Dross. I am 15 and from Oxford, England. Nice to meet you!”, I said and I moved to Sir Travis’ right, like Alexa.
“Melodic voice.”, she whispered.
“Same to you.”, I found myself saying, though I am looking at Nathaniel, who was busy looking somewhere in the woods. Of course, he doesn’t need to listen to my intro since I am his cousin and he already know enough about me. Yeah, that’s right. Only reason, Lynette. And now calm, down. Please, please. Lower that bloody heart rate, and breathe slowly, please. Listen. Please!
“Hello. I am Jon Rossdale, 15 and from Old London City. It was my pleasure to meet you!”, a shy boy with blonde hair and light green eyes said. He was so shy that’s why he did not reached 5 seconds in introducing himself.
“Hi.”, I greeted when he moved to our side.
“Oh. Hello, Lady Lynette.”, he said softly, but he was a bit smiling.
“And the last but not the least.”, Miss Aylett said.
“The cutest!”, Cecilia said.
“No. He’s the best!”, Mathilda said.
“Stupid girls.”, Bernice whispered, and for the first time, I agreed with her. She’s right. Those girls are stupid for thinking that Nathaniel was cute and best and smart and handsome. He’s cruel and vulgar.
“Hi. Nathaniel Ashford, 17.”, he said coldly. But still, the other girls screamed as if they are the only ones that Nathaniel was introducing for.
“Scoundrel.”, I heard myself saying when he was on Sir Travis’ left.
“Brat.”, he mouthed, though he was not looking at me directly. I’ll ask him a question later.
“Okay. So Nathaniel is the only member of the Azure Sylph Club. And I will now assign the rooms. The room with the color red, will obviously for the Salamanders, the yellow for the Gnomes, and they are both on the first floor. The Undines will have the room with green door and for Nathaniel, are you okay with being the only Sylph on the blue one?”, asked Miss Aylett.
“Of course.”, he said.
“So, you’re room would be on the second floor. Mr. Crimson, please accompany them.”
“Aye, aye, captain!”, Mr. Crimson replied and saluted.
“Oh no. Nathaniel!”, cried one girl.
“He’s alone! I must be with him!”, another one yelled.
“Girls, manners and etiquette please.”, Miss Aylett reminded.
“Curse that Alexa and Lynette, they’re close to my Nathaniel.”, Rachel said.
“And who the hell said that Nathaniel was yours?”, Bernice asked.
Alexa’s face became sour. “Don’t mind them.”, I said.
She looked at me. I smiled. And then her face became her regular face again. I actually don’t mind. Or I really don’t care if they told me about being close to Nathaniel. For their information, I will be with Nathaniel for as long as I want in the vacation. He’s my cousin, and in fact, he already slept on our house. I wonder every one’s reaction when I told them about that….
“Lynette? Are you okay?”, Alexa asked. Both Sir Travis and Jon looked at me and asked the same. Nathaniel looked at me, and I saw a bit of worry on his sapphire eyes.
“Yes, yes. Of course. I’m just imagining about what we are doing this night.”, I said. I gazed at Nathaniel again, but he was already going on his room.
The Soothing Undine Club’s room was great! The color was green, and amazingly, there is a fountain on the corner of the room! And it was a real fountain! Jon stood beside it, and he’s just taller by an inch!
“Wow.”, I said.
“Yeah, another wow.”, Alexa agreed. She’s really different from Bernice and her company.
“Is it okay with you if Nathaniel would be here to join us in our first lesson?”, Sir Travis asked.
We nodded.
“Uhm, Lynette, can you fetch him on his room?”
“Me?”
“You.”
“Sure. Hang on.” I’ll drag him here.
I went out of the room and walked to Nathaniel’s room. It has a blue door. I hesitated to knock at first. I listened and tried to search for any sounds. But there was nothing. I knocked three times.
“Who’s there?”, his cold voice asked.
“Lynette.”, I answered, keeping my voice low. I don’t want the girls on the first floor to hear me knocking and entering Nathaniel’s room.
“Go in.”, he said.
I opened the door. The room was clean, there was really nothing inside except the desk with three to four books and on the window was Nathaniel. The cold wind coming from outside made me shiver.
“Sir Travis speculated if you want to join us for the first lesson.”, I informed him. I put my hands on the pocket of my cardigan to ease the cold.
“Only him?”
“Us. We also agreed, for your information.”
“I wonder if you can stay a little more in here.”
“With you?”
“With me.”
“And why?”
“I’m a cousin. I just wanted to ask you about how did you find your new academy and friends.”
“It’s okay, but not as great as home. You knew that we’ll meet someday, right?”
“Sort of.”
“SO that’s why you’re farewell message-”
“That’s not a farewell message, brat.”
“Oh. I am sorry. But you didn’t tell them that we’re cousins.”, I complained.
“For what reason?”
“I don’t know. Maybe, for them not to think anything when we’re talking or something.”
“And why would we talk?”
“What?” My mouth suddenly opened. Curse him.
“Come on. It’s kinda cold in here. I can feel the Goosebumps on your neck, brat.”
I was really hurt by what he said earlier. “Shut up.”
He offered his arms.
“I can go by myself.”
“Whoa. Suddenly cold, huh?”
I looked at him and I was really opening my eyes widely so that no tear can run. Then I looked away when I saw Miss Aylette walking.
“Any problem, children?”
“No, ma’am. We’re actually going to our room.”, I replied.
“How generous of you, dear.”
“Thanks.”, I managed to murmured under my breath.
We entered the room. Sir Travis smiled, and so Jon and Alexa. I went to the corner of the room to wipe my tears when Jon patted my shoulder.
“Crying?”, he asked.
“No. I’m just-. There’s just a dirt on my eye. I am fine now.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“Everyone, please be here.”, Miss Aylett said.
“The first thing that I want to teach you is about aura reading.”
“Aura reading?”, Jon repeated.
“Yes. Aside from the color of the eyes, you can actually tell whether a person is just an ordinary human or a human mage by reading his or her aura. Look at Nathaniel, examined him.”
Shit. We don’t need to. I did not look at him, though the others did.
“What did you see, Lynette?”, Miss Aylett asked. Crap, what shall I answer?
“I saw a vulgar pig.”, I thought of saying.
I looked at him, eye-to-eye. Suddenly, I saw a blue spirit on his back.
“Sylph!”, I gasped.
“Sylph?”, Sir Travis asked.
“Of course, dear. He’s Sylph.”, Miss Aylett said.
I focused my eyes intently on him. Apart from the blue spirit, I can also see a bright, dirty white reflection. No, it was his shadow!
“Not black.”, I whispered.
“Lynette?”
“His shadow!”, I pointed. I looked again, but his shadow was already black.
“Lynette? Lynette!”, Miss Aylett was shaking me.
“What did you see? Tell us, please!”, Sir Travis asked.
“His blue aura, and a dirty white reflection. Right there!”, I answered, pointing his reflection. Nathaniel frowned.
“Your sweating really hard, and fast.”, Jon said.
Nathaniel closed the window. Alexa made a face.
“Nathaniel, open it! She needs air!”
“But the air was too cold for her! She might get cold or flu!”, he shouted back.
“I’m okay! Really!”, I said, breaking the noise.
“No. Your sweating and oh. Your forehead.”, Miss Aylett covered her mouth.
I placed my hand on my forehead. Damn, it was hot!
“It’s bloody red!”, Sir Travis yelled.
“Jon!”, Miss Aylett cried and I saw Jon concentrating on the corner of the room.
“She’s numb!”, he cried back.
What the heck was happening? I can feel a sudden decrease on my temperature.
“Damn cold!”, I cried. And I was really crying. Alexa wiped my tears and hold me in place.
“Nathaniel, can you do something?”, Miss Aylett asked.
“I’ll try.”, Nathaniel closed his eyes and a warm air begin to condense out of my body.
“Not that, please!”, I begged.
“What’s happening?”, Sir Travis asked.
“Cold, cold.”, I repeated the words under my breath.
“Cold. And now she’s suffocating.”, Alexa concluded.
Suffocating, but I can feel nothing bad or wrong!
“Any nurse?”
“I am. But on her case I don’t know what’s the reason, and I can’t heal her too! Jon?”, Miss Aylett sniveled.
“Sure”
“Her body was in danger, but her mind was fine. When I tried to connect myself to her, her barrier lunged me out.”, Jon said.
“Lynette, can you hear me?”, Nathaniel asked.
“Yes.”, I clearly said. Base on my voice on my head.
“I think she said yes.”, Nathaniel said.
“Let your barrier down!”, Sir Travis commanded.
What’s the bloody barrier? I didn’t know that I have a built-in barrier.
“No. Don’t!”, Nathaniel opposed.
“Why?”, Alexa asked.
“The thing might enter her and kill her!”
“What?”
“The force. Or something that cause her that suffocation!”, Nathaniel exclaimed.
“What shall we do?”, Jon asked.
“Call someone from the Salamanders. Call the best!”, Miss Aylett said to Jon.
Jon came back after three seconds, dragging Bernice. Oh no.
“What’s the matter? What happened?”, she asked, looking at Nathaniel.
“I’ll tell you later. Purify her. Now!”, Miss Aylett commanded.
“How?”
“Oh. Close your eyes, think hard, never mind the noise, and think that you are sanitizing yourself. Fast!”
Bernice did what Miss Aylett told her. Suddenly, after a minute or two, I felt my back to ease up from crouching and my breath to become normal. I was about to say thanks, but see no one. The only thing that I saw was the darkest place I’ve ever been into.
Sunday 19 April 2009
The Last Luna: Chapter Seven
FIRST….
I woke up at exactly five o’clock. It was way too early for the subject, but I want to make a letter since I slept early last night. I opened my desk and searched for a nice parchment paper and a sign pen. Ceira was still sleeping under her pillows, so I tried to lessen the unnecessary movements on my table. I opened the lamp on my left side and started to think on what to write.
Hi Grandpa. I wrote. How are you? Please say Amelia that the breakfast here sucks. Tell Mike that they make us walk in the woods. Physically and mentally, I am not fine here. Socially, I think I made a small circle of good friends. I already miss you. Please tell Aunt Nathalie that I love her and every night, I prayed for Nathaniel to be normal. And Grandpa how was the wine? I love you all. Send my regards to everyone. P.S. Do you know Brian Middleton? Love, -Lynette.
I read the letter again. It lacks emotion. I folded the paper and threw it on the trash can.
To my dearest grandfather,
How are you? I am not doing well here in Lady Eve Academy. I hate the food. The breakfast was not nutritious and there is no lunch. There is lunch, but just bread! Horrible. The dinner was quite good, except that the dessert is not sweet. It’s not ordinary, like you said. But I think I’ll be in great danger if you still insist for me to stay here. But if that’s what you want, I’ll obey it. I love you Grandpa. Please tell Amelia that I missed my old blanket. Do tell Mike that the teachers, especially Lucia Poll make us walk every day in the woods. And please Grandpa, tell Aunt Nathalie that I already made friends, and I am on Room 5 with Ceira Ishikawa. She was a Japanese, but she’s a good English speaker. She’s kind and beautiful, but sometimes she is noisy. But that’s okay, she’s funny and freak, I think. Notify Nathaniel that I always pray for him to be normal. I miss you all, grandfather. Send my regards to every one.
P.S. Do you recognize Brian Middleton? I hate his daughter. We’re not friends.
Love,
Lynette Marie van Dross
I read it again. It’s good. I’ll think grandfather will be surprise, especially with what I wrote about the food. I think he’s gonna pull me out of here. Great job, Lynette.
“Problems, Lynette?”, Ceira asked. I think I woke her up.
“No. I am sorry. I think I woke you up.”, I said.
“No, no. It’s okay. I can go back to sleep.”
“Oh. Okay.”, I said, then I thrust the paper back to the desk, turned my lamp off and went back to my bed.
I looked at the sky. It was still dark, and the moon was still visible. I wonder if I can use my power. I went to the bathroom and opened sink. I looked at the flowing water and concentrated.
One.
Two.
Three.
I closed my eyes and place my breathing with the flow of water. Falls. I started to think about falls. I saw one when I was a child. I imagine the water from the falls to be carried by a force upward. Up, up, up and away.
Shit.
I felt a cold fluid on my face. Water. From the sink. Damn.
I immediately closed the sink. Then I went on the corner to ask myself. “I did make it, right?”
Since I am already wet, I opened the sink in the tub and watched the water again. I tried to imagine the water from a hot spring in Japan. Warm, warm, and warm. I placed my hands on the tub.
“Ouch!”, I cried. The water is freaking hot! Boiling, I think.
“What’s the matter?”, Ceira jumped out of her bed as she asked me. Panicking, she kicked the door and went straight to me.
“What the hell happened on your hands?”, she added.
“Nothing. I’m okay.”
She stared at the boiling water on the tub.
“You, made this?”, she questioned. She was not looking at me, she’s still staring at the boiling water.
“Yeah. I only tried my power. But believe me, I wanted it to be just warm, just like your hot springs in Japan.”
“Some of the natural springs, yes.”, she said.
“Really?”
“Of course. But how did you do it?”
“I imagined something. Like a falls and the hot spring.”
“No. Not that. I mean, how come? It is already morning.”
“But there’s still the moon.”
“No. No.”
“Of course. I already peeked to the window and saw the moon. I promised!”
She stood up and went to the window.
“Strange.”, she whispered.
“Why?”
“London shouldn’t see moon at this time. The land, especially here in Hidden London was inclined on a degree wherein the moon was only visible during seven in the night to three in the morning.”
“Do you think we should report it?”, I asked.
“No. No. I think Miss Aylett already knew it.”
“Why?”
“She’s the Luna.”, she said.
“She is?”, I asked..
‘I thought I already told you that, Lynette.”
“Really? Perhaps, I did just forget about it. Gomenasai.”, I said.
“Apology accepted. Come on. Let’s have a breakfast.”
It was early, since Lucia hasn’t still ringing her bell. But I followed Ceira. The hall was still empty, but we tried to sit on the front seats on the middle table. It was still dark, but thanks to the candles that lighten the vestibule.
After an hour of waiting, the other students were already seated on their seats. The maids, ten in all, entered while carrying a tray and they placed it on our fronts respectively. I just noticed that there are no teachers joining the breakfast with us, unlike what they did last night. Lucia was busy inspecting our room, surveying of there are any superfluous mess left on the area. Meanwhile, every student had already said their prayers and was busy eyeing the breakfast. Mashed potatoes, broiled fish, banana, oolong tea, and a white bread. How nutritious.
“I hate the foods.”, Ceira murmured.
“I agree.”, I said.
“Why don’t they serve sushi, or tempura, or miso soup? I am craving for it.”
“Miso is really healthy. If you have enough guts, please tell Lucia about that.”
“Sure.”, she replied. And we don’t talk for 10 minutes solid.
After the not-that-nice-again-breakfast, Ceira and I went back to our room to get ready for our class. Surprisingly, there are clothes on our beds! Saints, so this is what Lucia did when we are taking our breakfast!
“Blazer! Great! It was really cold, and we need this! Great job, oldie.”, Ceira said. She is holding a black blazer; fully lined Polyester Blazer comes with gold buttons and patch pockets. We have two blazers each.
“Sweaters?”, I asked. There are blazers, so we don’t exactly need sweaters. Weird.
“It’s cute! Look. I got a yellow one, like my color!”. Ceira disagreed as she picks up the bloody sweater on her bed. I examined mine. A cardigan- A Girls V-neck Cardigan Sweater, Long Sleeve, No Pockets, and, it’s green. Lucia gave us two.
“An Oxford Blouse?”, I asked when I picked up a white, Long Sleeve, Button Down Collar blouse. There are five in all.
“Jumper?”, I asked.
“I thought we are to wear skirts.”
“But it’s also a skirt.”
“I love skirt.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. But I only wear them occasionally since I am obliged to wear kimono.”
“Oh. But this is good”, I said while holding the black jumper. I cleared my throat.
“What are you doing?”
“Listen and learn.”, I said.
“V-Neck Pleated Jumper . The v-neck jumper has all the requirements needed for school; a traditional look, permanent pleats and a hidden side zipper with button closure.”
“What the hell was that? You copied Lucia’s bloody voice! Creepy!”, Ceira said and we both burst with giggles.
“Three jumpers. Not bad.”
“Yeah.”
“Move on to the next!”
“Socks!”. Ceira yelled.
“Black. Holy, and the shoe! Look!”, I said, pulling a box of shoes under our bed. Nice, Lucia.
“What’s that?”, Ceira asked.
“What?”
“Those. The box on our tables! Let’s see!”
“Sure.”
We opened the pink box on our tables. The box was cute, but the things inside were better! It was an accessory box, with a hunter adjustable crisscross tie with pearl snap, a hair tie, a headband and a dark hair scrunchie.
“Lucia has a taste.”, Ceira said.
“Yeah. I think I already like her. I’ll go for a bath.”
“Sure.”
I grabbed my towel and went straight to the bathroom. Once again, I opened the valve and touched the water. Cold. It was freaking cold. I wonder if I can control the water’s temperature.
Of course you can’t. There’s no moon in the morning. Hell.
I did not soak myself on the tub. Instead, I found a small towel on the cabinet of the bathroom and used it as a sponge for my body. After cleaning, I reached for my school uniforms. I wore the Oxford Blouse first, and it fitted me perfectly. I wore the jumper second, and the length was right on my knee. The tie was just to wear, and it is adjustable. The pair of black socks was also comfortable, and so the shoes are. I only spent five minutes in the bathroom, plus an extra five minutes after drying and doing my hair. I put a cute ribbon on the right side of my hair.
“Too young.”, I heard myself saying.
I removed the ribbon and went with the scrunchie.
“Too old.”, I told myself again.
I brushed my hair again, and I placed the green headband on my head.
“Perfect.”, I whispered.
I went out of the bathroom and look at Ceira, waiting for her judgement.
“Perfect for a fist day, girl!”, she said happily.
“You can do the same, minna-san!”, I said back.
“Yeah. So, you’ll wait for me or-”
“I’ll wait for you.” Actually, there is still 45 minutes before the first subject. While Ceira was taking a bath, I opened my cabinet and searched for a school bag. When I already found one, I placed the books (delivered with the uniforms), two pens, a pencil and a notebook inside it.
“I’m over.”, Ceira said.
“You’re fast.”
“I’m a bit excited. I can’t wait to see oldie stretching her legs so up high.”
We both collapsed in laughing. I handed her all her stuffs and she placed it on her shoulder bag. After five more minutes of praying, we went straight down to the school building.
We weren’t the fist one. Alexa Mere, Bernice Middleton, Rachel McAdams, Cecilia Bramantya (an Indonesian) and Mathilda Stevens were already sitting on the floor of the ballet studio. We sit far from them, though I wish I can drag Alexa here on our place. It’s obvious that Bernice is bullying her. That ambitious girl. That witch! Villain!
“Where are the others?”, a scary voice asked on our back.
“Uhm. They are. . . . on the way.”, I answered carefully.
“Good.”, she said. She wasn’t wearing any ballerina suit, instead she wore her long petticoat skirt and her blouse, with her gray hair tied on her back.
“She really looks like an oldie.”, Ceira whispered.
“Yeah.”, I replied.
The class started when the other three students came. They sat on our front. As of what I’ve expected, Miss Lucia just gave us some notes about ballet – the history, the famous ballerinas, the clothes needed and of course, the advantages of knowing how to raise your leg or twist yourself to make a lovely swan. The time was running very slowly, Ceira thought, so instead of listening, she sewed her socks and embroidered a pig. I don’t know if she’s telling the truth, but she said that she loves pig, because they bring good fortune.
Lucia doesn’t seem no notice silly Ceira. She’s just talking about how ballet change one’s life and how ballet can help young ladies like us to pick a very nice gentleman or just a good house.
After 45 minutes firm, we all proceed to Room A, where Lady Historia was waiting, and she’s holding a globe.
“Good morning, every one.”, she greeted without any expression. Miss Historia was surely a geek, based from her eyeglasses and her pimples, and her bad posture and her snuggled teeth! But I think, she was great, because she made Bernice stand in front of the whole class and recite all the countries in Asia! Bernice’s face was so red, because she doesn’t know the answer to the teacher’s question. After the class, she told us that she just really hate Asia and she doesn’t care about the bloody countries that belong on the continent. Ceira called her dumb and stupid cow and they were to begin a fight when Miss Modelst came, the Geography teacher.
She is quite fat, her hair was blonde and her cheeks are like pillows. She’s wearing an extra large school dress. She has a husky voice and a jolly personality. She did not discuss on the first day; instead, she just made us introduced ourselves. I told them that I lived with my grandfather when I was ten and under the guidance of Amelia Seal. I did not tell them about my deceased parents and my newly known family.
The next subject was a curse. Miss Shakesmeare, our Mathematics teacher, made us write the complete multiplication table from 1 to 100 in the whole 45 minutes class. Fortunately, all of us finished the work and none of us cleaned the entire room.
The lunchtime was good. The cafeteria was just on the first floor of the school building. If you can still remember, there is a long table that made the floor to look like a lobby. The goods and the breads were on the table, and a tall girl was distributing us whatever we wanted.
After an hour, the next class started. It was Foreign Languages. The teacher, Miss Yan was very kind and she just examined us, especially Ceira and Cecilia if we already knew how to speak English. We passed and she gave us some sweet, fortune cookies.
Another forty-five minutes passed, and we went to Room C, the art room. Miss Thomas was sitting on her chair on her table was the face paints. She told us to form a partner and each partner to get a tray of paint and design something on each partner’s face. Ceira was my partner. She drew calligraphy of my name on my face with a background of mountain and heaven. Meanwhile, I painted the rose garden of my grandmother. Miss Thomas praised our works and we went back to Room A.
Miss Powell was already circling the room and placing some papers on each desk when we arrived. It was a poem made by Robert Frost. She told us to memorize it because tomorrow, she will pick some lucky three students that will recite the poem in front.
Music, the next subject was fun. Miss del Mercado made a dramatic entrance. She was carrying a guitar and she was singing “Aloha, my dear ones!”, and something like “Can I be a friend?”, or somewhat. She was funny and energetic. And I think, of all the teachers, she has the second prettiest face, because Miss Aylett got the first.
The whole day was a mixture of fun and excitement and terror. When Ceira and I came back to our room, I buried myself on my bed and take a short nap. When I woke up, Ceira was dancing a Japanese dance, with her parasol on right hand.
“Yo!”, she said.
“What’s this?”, I asked when I saw another black box on my feet.
“That’s what we’ll wear later.”
“Later?”
“You forgot? We still have a class with Miss Aylett this night.”
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry.”
“That’s ok. Open yours! I am excited!”
“Have not you opened yours!”
“I have. But sometimes, the box contains different things inside it! Open, open, open it Lynette!”
“Sure, sure. Hang on!”, I said. I removed the ribbon that contained my name and opened the box.
“Trousers?”, I asked.
“Yeah. I also have one. Same black.”
“And a note?”
“Read it, read it!”
“Lynette. Good day! I hope your classes were good. Enclosed with this letter were your trousers that you will use for your evening classes with me, of course. Please partnered it with any of your comfortable tops and pinnacled it with the cardigan that Lucia gave you. I am expecting to see you, together with your friends on the building in the middle of the woodland. Love, Elmira Aylett.”
“Wow! The first one was just different from me!”
“Course it’s your name, Ceira!”
“Aha!”
“What time is it?”
“It’s already six, dinner time.”
“Did Lucia-”
Lucia’s bell interrupted my quote. We hurried to the hall. Miss Aylett was not there. Nine of the students still wear their uniforms, and Bernice was an exception. She was wearing a not-so-conservative dress.
“What’s with the clothes?”, Rachel asked.
“Shut up. I need to be beautiful, because the students of St. Nicholas Academy will be here later on our evening class!”, she said, enjoying the spotlight.
“St. Nicholas?”, every one, including me, murmured.
“How did you know?”, Cecilia asked on her Indonesian accent.
“Pretty knew everything.”, Bernice replied. She’s projecting.
We didn’t respond after she said that. We ate our food silently, though some of the students were still murmuring and whispering about the star students of that all boys’ academy. The dinner was over and it was now the time for us to change and proceed to the woods. The hunter cardigan of mine was really comfortable, and it suited me the best.
The way to the woods was not as dark as the sky. The moon was clearly visible, so Bernice and her other club members used their powers to put a flame on the torch on the trees. When we pulled in the building, Miss Aylett was already on the door and other five students were on her back. Males, I think.
“Oh my god, they’re here.” I heard a girl said on her small voice.
“Welcome, girls.”, Miss Elmira greeted us. We smiled back.
“My Heavenly Maiden!”, a familiar voice shouted from Miss Aylett’s back. He had a black hair and pair of golden eyes, and he’s really memorable. I wonder who he is.
“Heavenly Maiden!”, he shouted again. He was running towards me. He hugged me with his full force.
“Nii-sama!”, Ceira shouted. Nii-sama?
“Ceiron?”, I asked.
“Oh. You forgot about me, heavenly maiden! I’m hurt!”,he said, still not letting me go. I had a chance to see Bernice’s face when I moved my face away from him. Bernice’s mouth twitched. Haha. I already grabbed your spotlight. All the people were looking at us now.
“Nii-sama, let go of my angel! Don’t you lay your hands on her! Let her go! You’re killing her!”, Ceira complain as she disconnected his brother’s body from my body.
“Ceira-kun!”, he said.
“Kun? Is it best to address your younger sister with kun! I hate you, oniisan!”, Ceira said.
“Stop it!”, Bernice shouted. She regained her spotlight. She’s wearing her red cardigan, but she did not use the buttons to close it. Instead, she tied a belt on her waist, to emphasize her curves.
“Children.”, Miss Aylett said sweetly. We looked to her. An admirable man was on her back. He has a bronze hair and he is tall.
Shit.
Nathaniel?
“Oh. Hi.”, Bernice said, stepping on her front. She raised her hand.
Nathaniel kissed her hand!
I want to rip her head off!
“You’re as lovely as the evening, Lady.”, he said. Bernice hide her face with her fan. Where the hell did her fan came from, by the way?
But Nathaniel wasn’t looking at her. His azure pair of eyes was looking on a girl with brown, wavy hair, with a pair of emerald eyes, with hunter green cardigan and is between Ceira and Ceiron.
He’s looking at his long lost cousin.
This day was tremendous. First day of school, first day of evening class, and first day of this feeling: I really want to rip Bernice’s head off! This day is the first, first time of this feeling!
It’s like someone was telling me to move and kill Nate. I don’t know. It’s either jealousy, or the fact that I knew that Nathaniel owned the most powerful color of eye: the blue pair. He’s the only Sylph. And he can be the next Luna.
I woke up at exactly five o’clock. It was way too early for the subject, but I want to make a letter since I slept early last night. I opened my desk and searched for a nice parchment paper and a sign pen. Ceira was still sleeping under her pillows, so I tried to lessen the unnecessary movements on my table. I opened the lamp on my left side and started to think on what to write.
Hi Grandpa. I wrote. How are you? Please say Amelia that the breakfast here sucks. Tell Mike that they make us walk in the woods. Physically and mentally, I am not fine here. Socially, I think I made a small circle of good friends. I already miss you. Please tell Aunt Nathalie that I love her and every night, I prayed for Nathaniel to be normal. And Grandpa how was the wine? I love you all. Send my regards to everyone. P.S. Do you know Brian Middleton? Love, -Lynette.
I read the letter again. It lacks emotion. I folded the paper and threw it on the trash can.
To my dearest grandfather,
How are you? I am not doing well here in Lady Eve Academy. I hate the food. The breakfast was not nutritious and there is no lunch. There is lunch, but just bread! Horrible. The dinner was quite good, except that the dessert is not sweet. It’s not ordinary, like you said. But I think I’ll be in great danger if you still insist for me to stay here. But if that’s what you want, I’ll obey it. I love you Grandpa. Please tell Amelia that I missed my old blanket. Do tell Mike that the teachers, especially Lucia Poll make us walk every day in the woods. And please Grandpa, tell Aunt Nathalie that I already made friends, and I am on Room 5 with Ceira Ishikawa. She was a Japanese, but she’s a good English speaker. She’s kind and beautiful, but sometimes she is noisy. But that’s okay, she’s funny and freak, I think. Notify Nathaniel that I always pray for him to be normal. I miss you all, grandfather. Send my regards to every one.
P.S. Do you recognize Brian Middleton? I hate his daughter. We’re not friends.
Love,
Lynette Marie van Dross
I read it again. It’s good. I’ll think grandfather will be surprise, especially with what I wrote about the food. I think he’s gonna pull me out of here. Great job, Lynette.
“Problems, Lynette?”, Ceira asked. I think I woke her up.
“No. I am sorry. I think I woke you up.”, I said.
“No, no. It’s okay. I can go back to sleep.”
“Oh. Okay.”, I said, then I thrust the paper back to the desk, turned my lamp off and went back to my bed.
I looked at the sky. It was still dark, and the moon was still visible. I wonder if I can use my power. I went to the bathroom and opened sink. I looked at the flowing water and concentrated.
One.
Two.
Three.
I closed my eyes and place my breathing with the flow of water. Falls. I started to think about falls. I saw one when I was a child. I imagine the water from the falls to be carried by a force upward. Up, up, up and away.
Shit.
I felt a cold fluid on my face. Water. From the sink. Damn.
I immediately closed the sink. Then I went on the corner to ask myself. “I did make it, right?”
Since I am already wet, I opened the sink in the tub and watched the water again. I tried to imagine the water from a hot spring in Japan. Warm, warm, and warm. I placed my hands on the tub.
“Ouch!”, I cried. The water is freaking hot! Boiling, I think.
“What’s the matter?”, Ceira jumped out of her bed as she asked me. Panicking, she kicked the door and went straight to me.
“What the hell happened on your hands?”, she added.
“Nothing. I’m okay.”
She stared at the boiling water on the tub.
“You, made this?”, she questioned. She was not looking at me, she’s still staring at the boiling water.
“Yeah. I only tried my power. But believe me, I wanted it to be just warm, just like your hot springs in Japan.”
“Some of the natural springs, yes.”, she said.
“Really?”
“Of course. But how did you do it?”
“I imagined something. Like a falls and the hot spring.”
“No. Not that. I mean, how come? It is already morning.”
“But there’s still the moon.”
“No. No.”
“Of course. I already peeked to the window and saw the moon. I promised!”
She stood up and went to the window.
“Strange.”, she whispered.
“Why?”
“London shouldn’t see moon at this time. The land, especially here in Hidden London was inclined on a degree wherein the moon was only visible during seven in the night to three in the morning.”
“Do you think we should report it?”, I asked.
“No. No. I think Miss Aylett already knew it.”
“Why?”
“She’s the Luna.”, she said.
“She is?”, I asked..
‘I thought I already told you that, Lynette.”
“Really? Perhaps, I did just forget about it. Gomenasai.”, I said.
“Apology accepted. Come on. Let’s have a breakfast.”
It was early, since Lucia hasn’t still ringing her bell. But I followed Ceira. The hall was still empty, but we tried to sit on the front seats on the middle table. It was still dark, but thanks to the candles that lighten the vestibule.
After an hour of waiting, the other students were already seated on their seats. The maids, ten in all, entered while carrying a tray and they placed it on our fronts respectively. I just noticed that there are no teachers joining the breakfast with us, unlike what they did last night. Lucia was busy inspecting our room, surveying of there are any superfluous mess left on the area. Meanwhile, every student had already said their prayers and was busy eyeing the breakfast. Mashed potatoes, broiled fish, banana, oolong tea, and a white bread. How nutritious.
“I hate the foods.”, Ceira murmured.
“I agree.”, I said.
“Why don’t they serve sushi, or tempura, or miso soup? I am craving for it.”
“Miso is really healthy. If you have enough guts, please tell Lucia about that.”
“Sure.”, she replied. And we don’t talk for 10 minutes solid.
After the not-that-nice-again-breakfast, Ceira and I went back to our room to get ready for our class. Surprisingly, there are clothes on our beds! Saints, so this is what Lucia did when we are taking our breakfast!
“Blazer! Great! It was really cold, and we need this! Great job, oldie.”, Ceira said. She is holding a black blazer; fully lined Polyester Blazer comes with gold buttons and patch pockets. We have two blazers each.
“Sweaters?”, I asked. There are blazers, so we don’t exactly need sweaters. Weird.
“It’s cute! Look. I got a yellow one, like my color!”. Ceira disagreed as she picks up the bloody sweater on her bed. I examined mine. A cardigan- A Girls V-neck Cardigan Sweater, Long Sleeve, No Pockets, and, it’s green. Lucia gave us two.
“An Oxford Blouse?”, I asked when I picked up a white, Long Sleeve, Button Down Collar blouse. There are five in all.
“Jumper?”, I asked.
“I thought we are to wear skirts.”
“But it’s also a skirt.”
“I love skirt.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. But I only wear them occasionally since I am obliged to wear kimono.”
“Oh. But this is good”, I said while holding the black jumper. I cleared my throat.
“What are you doing?”
“Listen and learn.”, I said.
“V-Neck Pleated Jumper . The v-neck jumper has all the requirements needed for school; a traditional look, permanent pleats and a hidden side zipper with button closure.”
“What the hell was that? You copied Lucia’s bloody voice! Creepy!”, Ceira said and we both burst with giggles.
“Three jumpers. Not bad.”
“Yeah.”
“Move on to the next!”
“Socks!”. Ceira yelled.
“Black. Holy, and the shoe! Look!”, I said, pulling a box of shoes under our bed. Nice, Lucia.
“What’s that?”, Ceira asked.
“What?”
“Those. The box on our tables! Let’s see!”
“Sure.”
We opened the pink box on our tables. The box was cute, but the things inside were better! It was an accessory box, with a hunter adjustable crisscross tie with pearl snap, a hair tie, a headband and a dark hair scrunchie.
“Lucia has a taste.”, Ceira said.
“Yeah. I think I already like her. I’ll go for a bath.”
“Sure.”
I grabbed my towel and went straight to the bathroom. Once again, I opened the valve and touched the water. Cold. It was freaking cold. I wonder if I can control the water’s temperature.
Of course you can’t. There’s no moon in the morning. Hell.
I did not soak myself on the tub. Instead, I found a small towel on the cabinet of the bathroom and used it as a sponge for my body. After cleaning, I reached for my school uniforms. I wore the Oxford Blouse first, and it fitted me perfectly. I wore the jumper second, and the length was right on my knee. The tie was just to wear, and it is adjustable. The pair of black socks was also comfortable, and so the shoes are. I only spent five minutes in the bathroom, plus an extra five minutes after drying and doing my hair. I put a cute ribbon on the right side of my hair.
“Too young.”, I heard myself saying.
I removed the ribbon and went with the scrunchie.
“Too old.”, I told myself again.
I brushed my hair again, and I placed the green headband on my head.
“Perfect.”, I whispered.
I went out of the bathroom and look at Ceira, waiting for her judgement.
“Perfect for a fist day, girl!”, she said happily.
“You can do the same, minna-san!”, I said back.
“Yeah. So, you’ll wait for me or-”
“I’ll wait for you.” Actually, there is still 45 minutes before the first subject. While Ceira was taking a bath, I opened my cabinet and searched for a school bag. When I already found one, I placed the books (delivered with the uniforms), two pens, a pencil and a notebook inside it.
“I’m over.”, Ceira said.
“You’re fast.”
“I’m a bit excited. I can’t wait to see oldie stretching her legs so up high.”
We both collapsed in laughing. I handed her all her stuffs and she placed it on her shoulder bag. After five more minutes of praying, we went straight down to the school building.
We weren’t the fist one. Alexa Mere, Bernice Middleton, Rachel McAdams, Cecilia Bramantya (an Indonesian) and Mathilda Stevens were already sitting on the floor of the ballet studio. We sit far from them, though I wish I can drag Alexa here on our place. It’s obvious that Bernice is bullying her. That ambitious girl. That witch! Villain!
“Where are the others?”, a scary voice asked on our back.
“Uhm. They are. . . . on the way.”, I answered carefully.
“Good.”, she said. She wasn’t wearing any ballerina suit, instead she wore her long petticoat skirt and her blouse, with her gray hair tied on her back.
“She really looks like an oldie.”, Ceira whispered.
“Yeah.”, I replied.
The class started when the other three students came. They sat on our front. As of what I’ve expected, Miss Lucia just gave us some notes about ballet – the history, the famous ballerinas, the clothes needed and of course, the advantages of knowing how to raise your leg or twist yourself to make a lovely swan. The time was running very slowly, Ceira thought, so instead of listening, she sewed her socks and embroidered a pig. I don’t know if she’s telling the truth, but she said that she loves pig, because they bring good fortune.
Lucia doesn’t seem no notice silly Ceira. She’s just talking about how ballet change one’s life and how ballet can help young ladies like us to pick a very nice gentleman or just a good house.
After 45 minutes firm, we all proceed to Room A, where Lady Historia was waiting, and she’s holding a globe.
“Good morning, every one.”, she greeted without any expression. Miss Historia was surely a geek, based from her eyeglasses and her pimples, and her bad posture and her snuggled teeth! But I think, she was great, because she made Bernice stand in front of the whole class and recite all the countries in Asia! Bernice’s face was so red, because she doesn’t know the answer to the teacher’s question. After the class, she told us that she just really hate Asia and she doesn’t care about the bloody countries that belong on the continent. Ceira called her dumb and stupid cow and they were to begin a fight when Miss Modelst came, the Geography teacher.
She is quite fat, her hair was blonde and her cheeks are like pillows. She’s wearing an extra large school dress. She has a husky voice and a jolly personality. She did not discuss on the first day; instead, she just made us introduced ourselves. I told them that I lived with my grandfather when I was ten and under the guidance of Amelia Seal. I did not tell them about my deceased parents and my newly known family.
The next subject was a curse. Miss Shakesmeare, our Mathematics teacher, made us write the complete multiplication table from 1 to 100 in the whole 45 minutes class. Fortunately, all of us finished the work and none of us cleaned the entire room.
The lunchtime was good. The cafeteria was just on the first floor of the school building. If you can still remember, there is a long table that made the floor to look like a lobby. The goods and the breads were on the table, and a tall girl was distributing us whatever we wanted.
After an hour, the next class started. It was Foreign Languages. The teacher, Miss Yan was very kind and she just examined us, especially Ceira and Cecilia if we already knew how to speak English. We passed and she gave us some sweet, fortune cookies.
Another forty-five minutes passed, and we went to Room C, the art room. Miss Thomas was sitting on her chair on her table was the face paints. She told us to form a partner and each partner to get a tray of paint and design something on each partner’s face. Ceira was my partner. She drew calligraphy of my name on my face with a background of mountain and heaven. Meanwhile, I painted the rose garden of my grandmother. Miss Thomas praised our works and we went back to Room A.
Miss Powell was already circling the room and placing some papers on each desk when we arrived. It was a poem made by Robert Frost. She told us to memorize it because tomorrow, she will pick some lucky three students that will recite the poem in front.
Music, the next subject was fun. Miss del Mercado made a dramatic entrance. She was carrying a guitar and she was singing “Aloha, my dear ones!”, and something like “Can I be a friend?”, or somewhat. She was funny and energetic. And I think, of all the teachers, she has the second prettiest face, because Miss Aylett got the first.
The whole day was a mixture of fun and excitement and terror. When Ceira and I came back to our room, I buried myself on my bed and take a short nap. When I woke up, Ceira was dancing a Japanese dance, with her parasol on right hand.
“Yo!”, she said.
“What’s this?”, I asked when I saw another black box on my feet.
“That’s what we’ll wear later.”
“Later?”
“You forgot? We still have a class with Miss Aylett this night.”
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry.”
“That’s ok. Open yours! I am excited!”
“Have not you opened yours!”
“I have. But sometimes, the box contains different things inside it! Open, open, open it Lynette!”
“Sure, sure. Hang on!”, I said. I removed the ribbon that contained my name and opened the box.
“Trousers?”, I asked.
“Yeah. I also have one. Same black.”
“And a note?”
“Read it, read it!”
“Lynette. Good day! I hope your classes were good. Enclosed with this letter were your trousers that you will use for your evening classes with me, of course. Please partnered it with any of your comfortable tops and pinnacled it with the cardigan that Lucia gave you. I am expecting to see you, together with your friends on the building in the middle of the woodland. Love, Elmira Aylett.”
“Wow! The first one was just different from me!”
“Course it’s your name, Ceira!”
“Aha!”
“What time is it?”
“It’s already six, dinner time.”
“Did Lucia-”
Lucia’s bell interrupted my quote. We hurried to the hall. Miss Aylett was not there. Nine of the students still wear their uniforms, and Bernice was an exception. She was wearing a not-so-conservative dress.
“What’s with the clothes?”, Rachel asked.
“Shut up. I need to be beautiful, because the students of St. Nicholas Academy will be here later on our evening class!”, she said, enjoying the spotlight.
“St. Nicholas?”, every one, including me, murmured.
“How did you know?”, Cecilia asked on her Indonesian accent.
“Pretty knew everything.”, Bernice replied. She’s projecting.
We didn’t respond after she said that. We ate our food silently, though some of the students were still murmuring and whispering about the star students of that all boys’ academy. The dinner was over and it was now the time for us to change and proceed to the woods. The hunter cardigan of mine was really comfortable, and it suited me the best.
The way to the woods was not as dark as the sky. The moon was clearly visible, so Bernice and her other club members used their powers to put a flame on the torch on the trees. When we pulled in the building, Miss Aylett was already on the door and other five students were on her back. Males, I think.
“Oh my god, they’re here.” I heard a girl said on her small voice.
“Welcome, girls.”, Miss Elmira greeted us. We smiled back.
“My Heavenly Maiden!”, a familiar voice shouted from Miss Aylett’s back. He had a black hair and pair of golden eyes, and he’s really memorable. I wonder who he is.
“Heavenly Maiden!”, he shouted again. He was running towards me. He hugged me with his full force.
“Nii-sama!”, Ceira shouted. Nii-sama?
“Ceiron?”, I asked.
“Oh. You forgot about me, heavenly maiden! I’m hurt!”,he said, still not letting me go. I had a chance to see Bernice’s face when I moved my face away from him. Bernice’s mouth twitched. Haha. I already grabbed your spotlight. All the people were looking at us now.
“Nii-sama, let go of my angel! Don’t you lay your hands on her! Let her go! You’re killing her!”, Ceira complain as she disconnected his brother’s body from my body.
“Ceira-kun!”, he said.
“Kun? Is it best to address your younger sister with kun! I hate you, oniisan!”, Ceira said.
“Stop it!”, Bernice shouted. She regained her spotlight. She’s wearing her red cardigan, but she did not use the buttons to close it. Instead, she tied a belt on her waist, to emphasize her curves.
“Children.”, Miss Aylett said sweetly. We looked to her. An admirable man was on her back. He has a bronze hair and he is tall.
Shit.
Nathaniel?
“Oh. Hi.”, Bernice said, stepping on her front. She raised her hand.
Nathaniel kissed her hand!
I want to rip her head off!
“You’re as lovely as the evening, Lady.”, he said. Bernice hide her face with her fan. Where the hell did her fan came from, by the way?
But Nathaniel wasn’t looking at her. His azure pair of eyes was looking on a girl with brown, wavy hair, with a pair of emerald eyes, with hunter green cardigan and is between Ceira and Ceiron.
He’s looking at his long lost cousin.
This day was tremendous. First day of school, first day of evening class, and first day of this feeling: I really want to rip Bernice’s head off! This day is the first, first time of this feeling!
It’s like someone was telling me to move and kill Nate. I don’t know. It’s either jealousy, or the fact that I knew that Nathaniel owned the most powerful color of eye: the blue pair. He’s the only Sylph. And he can be the next Luna.
Thursday 16 April 2009
The Last Luna: Chapter Six
The Eccentric Clubs
A loud clatter woke us up.
“I thought there is no school today. Why are they waking us up? Wazawaza.”, Ceira complained under her comforter.
“Mattaku desu ne.”, I agreed with her. Well, she’s completely right.
“Oh. Ohayoo gozaimasu, Lynette-sama.”, she greeted happily.
“Same to you, Ceira-kun.”, I greeted back.
“GIRLS! Wake up now! Breakfast is ready!”, the unlovely voice of Lucia screamed. She’s always shouting.
“Breakfast? Good! I didn’t take a dinner last night!”, Ceira said, jumping out of her bed. She clutched her towel from the closet and went to the bathroom without any other noise aside from her whistle.
“Breakfast. I wonder if Grandpa had already eaten his breakfast. I think I need to write them some letters.”, I said to myself.
Ceira took just a quarter of an hour to clean herself. She wore a peach dress, and she’s pulling a shawl on the bottom of her cupboard. She wrapped it around herself and she turn around and around and around until she fell on her bed.
“Won’t you change your clothes?”, she asked me.
“Later. For me, breakfast is good while wearing your nightclothes.”, I said.
We went out of our room together with the others. They are also wearing their nightclothes, and honestly, Ceira was the only one who changed her clothes. Well, I can’t blame her. She didn’t even change the clothes that she wore while we are on the airport yesterday.
We found a good spot on the same hall where we are yesterday. It was near the door. Actually, it was on the last of the middle table. On my back was the red-haired girl.
“It’s hot! Move aside, Alexa!”, she commanded. The girl with the name Alexa moved far from her.
“Good, Alexa.”, she praised.
I think she noticed us looking on her. She also looked at us. Well, on me.
“Problem?”, she asked like a wicked queen.
“Should there be?”, I asked back. She looked pissed. Great.
She took a gulp of the water before she answered me, “I can’t see why not. Girls like you are nothing when compared to me.”
“And who the heck are you?”, Ceira asked.
“I am the one and only daughter of the famous musician, Brian Middleton. I am Lady Bernice Margaret Middleton.”, she introduced herself as she tried to sing.
“I never heard of him.”, Ceira said.
“Of course you don’t. My father doesn’t like Asia. You’re a Japanese with no knowledge about the West Pleasures, like my father.”, she teased, but Ceira was instead enjoying this game.
“Oh. Really? Let’s see. Lynette, have you hear of Brian Middletoe?”, Ceira asked. I don’t know if she was just kidding about the surname or she really forgot it.
“Darn you, girl! It’s Middleton.”, Bernice complained.
“I said Middleton, Venice.”, Ceira said.
“And my name is Bernice! Call me Lady Bernice!”, Bernice shouted.
“Shut up. Answer us, dear.”, she said.
“I honestly, never heard about your father, Bernice. Or read about him, either.”, I said. Hey, I am telling the truth.
“Dumb girls.”, she said. Then she turned back to her table. Her face was completely pinkish red, and hands were firmed on her lap.
Ceira was about to talk about Bernice again when the food came. Around twenty maids, on a one-to-one ratio with us, the students, served a tray filled with foods. The tray was consisted of the following meals – hot chocolate, French toast, jam and butter, and strangely, an apple. The food was nothing compared to my breakfast in Oxford. I’ll write a letter about this later.
After the breakfast, we all went back to our rooms. Ceira talked and told me their life in Japan while I took a bath on the tub. The water was a bit cold, but I’m still fine with it. After soaking myself on the tub, I dried myself and chose to wear the blue-laced blouse and the skirt that I brought. It was comfortable, especially that I am wearing my soft shoes. I combed my wavy hair and tied it on my back, using my red ribbon.
Unluckily, the tour was supposed to be a group tour with Lucia. Amazingly, the airport was gone and the place where we stayed was really a big mansion.
“This is the Kent Mansion. This is where you will sleep or stay while you are studying on Lady Eve Academy.”, Lucia explained. For the first time, she doesn’t shout.
We walked passed the bricked road with a sight of the sea on the left and the wood on the right. I think, the whole academy was placed on the top of a highland near the sea. We reached the school’s main building in just 5 minutes. The building was smaller compared from our dormitory, but the walls are more magnificent. It was made of bricks, like the dormitory, but it was more colorful and the scenery was better. When we reached the top (second-floor) using a stair, Lucia introduced us to the classrooms that we are to stay. Apparently, all of us, twenty in all, will stay on the Room A for the Social Studies, Geography, Literature, Mathematics, and Foreign Languages. Room B was different; it was a music room, where we are conducting our Music Lessons. Room C was like an art gallery, and I guess that it is for Art Lessons. And my guess was right. Room D surprised me the best. It was actually a Ballet Studio.
“And this is where we will polish your attitude and manners! Ballet! Ballet! This will be your passion for the rest of your life!”, she said. We’re sure that she’ll be our Ballet teacher. Hell, it sucks. I can’t imagine this old woman to raise his legs and put her hands on the top on made circles. Gross. Disgusting.
I noticed a fifth room on the end of the house. I took courage to asked Lucia.
“It was Miss Elmira’s room. That will serve as the Principal’s Office.”, she said.
We went back to the ground floor. From the stairs, the floor was like a big lobby. A long desk on the corner, plants and paintings on the wall, and two rooms parallel with each other. The first one, which I believe was the kitchen room, was absolutely large. It has lots of equipment and you can see the woods on the window on its right. The other room was the staff room, which was the place for our teachers. It’s locked.
I was actually planning on how to spent the rest of my day when Lucia cut off my thoughts.
“Another thing. Go behind me.”, she said. We followed.
She walked to the woods. Actually, the woods have already its path so we are not afraid of having any scratches from the thorns of the plants. We were surprised to see an ancient-designed building in the middle of the forest. It has a two floors, and we discovered that the building was equally divided into four rooms with different colors of doors. Bernice was about to ask about the rooms when Lucia said that we have to go back to our dormitory. Disappointed, we followed her.
When we are back in Room 5, I suddenly asked Ceira about the powers.
“She didn’t tell us anything, huh?”
“Yeah. Perhaps, she’ll do that later. Have you felt the earthquake?”, she asked.
“When?”
“Last night.”
“Yes. But I didn’t tell anything about that, because it seemed that I was the only one who felt it.”, I answered.
“Yeah. You are right. I made that. I am Gnome, remember? I can manipulate the Earth on my will, and I just pointed the force on you.”, she said.
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“I wonder what’s my power.”, I asked to myself.
“Perhaps you’re water.”, she said calmly.
“What made you say that?”, I asked. Water.
“Eyes. Your eyes are emerald green. The color of an Undine.”, she said.
“Sure?”
“No.”, she admitted. “I never knew how, but I guess so. Say, what is the color of the moon when you’re born?”
“I don’t know.”, I said.
“Then, maybe you can ask your parents. Go write a letter to them!”, she said.
“I wanted to, but I think heaven doesn’t have that post office that we have here.”,I said.
“Heaven? Oh my, gomenasai, minna-san! I never thought that your parents were, dead. Gomene!”, she said back, bowing her head back and forth.
“It’s okay! Actually, they died five years ago and I already moved on. I accept the faith that they had, though sometimes I am alone that they’re not on my side.”, I said back, smiling.
“Oh. But, I am still sorry.”, she said.
We spent our day telling about each other. I told her everything about me. How I lived with my grandfather, the buttermilk bread that Amelia made for me, how Mike drives, Georgia’s gown, Aunt Nathalie, Omar, and my narcissist cousin, Nathaniel.
She told me about their life in Japan, too. The kimonos that she wear, the parasol dance, the tea ceremony, the Buddhism, and the climate and language as well. She spent most of her time giggling about my expressions. She’s enjoying every part of our discussion. And so am I.
We also learned that there is no lunch in this place. Fortunately, Ceira brought some bread from Japan. Of all, I like the Melon bread. It was crunchy on the outside but chewy ad soft inside. It was good. And she also made a green tea for me.
I asked about Ceiron, whom I saw yesterday. Ceiron is studying on St. Nicholas Academy, an All Boys’ Dormitory School. It was just near our place, perhaps just below of the land.
We went downstairs when we heard the bell rang. The dinner is ready, we thought. And it was.
The hall was still the same. Actually, the first floor of the dormitory was a hall. The perfect place for breakfast, dinner, ad conference and seminar. Miss Aylett was there when we arrived.
“Good evening.”, she greeted.
“Same here.”, I whispered, though I knew that she can’t hear me.
“I am very happy that your tour and day here in Lady Eve Academy was good and filled with excitement. I am very happy that you liked the buildings and stuffs that we prepared for ladies like you. I knew that you don’t have a lunch, so I won’t talk anymore. You can eat your dinner. Enjoy.”, she said. She and the other Lucia sat on the fourth table on the front together with other seven girls. The dinner for tonight : steak, mashed potato, toasted bread, watermelon shake, and for dessert: gelato.
Other girls stood up when they are finished eating, but Miss Aylett stopped them by ringing her bell. Thanks to you ladies, I won’t finish eating mine.
“Ladies. Please take your seat first. To the others, I am sorry but you need to pause your dinner. For the teachers, please continue your dinner on the staff room. I wanted to talk to them alone.”, she said. The other teachers were surprised, but at least they obeyed her.
“I know that all of you knew about the secret of the school. This school isn’t ordinary. Others thought that Lady Eve Academy is just a five star rated school, but it is also a school that no one expects. I am sure that you knew the words, Salamander, Gnome, Undine, and Sylph.”
“One of the ways of distinguishing your power is your eye color. Bernice Middleton can manipulate the fire, am I right?”, she asked that red-haired girl.
Bernice smiled and blew the candle on her front. She placed her finger on the tip of the candle and the flame appeared. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Her eyes are flaming crimson, as you can see. Fire-users, or better known as Salamanders, are common. I think five out of this class are Salamanders. Salamanders are most common to female. And they belong to the Flaming Salamander Club.”
“Ceira Ishikawa, please stand up.”, she ordered.
“Please do a trick.”, she said. Ceira did. An earthquake with intensity two occurred. She did it with just a wave of her hand.
“Good. That was the power of a Gnome, an earth-dweller. A gift of the yellow moon. There are three Gnomes here, because they are common to males. They belonged to the Rocking Gnome Club.”, she said.
“And the last but not the least, the only two members of the Soothing Undine Club. Lady Alexa Mere and Lady Lynette Marie van Dross, the owners of the rare green eyes. You two are undine, the water controllers. Perhaps, Alexa can show us a good example.”
Alexa nervously nodded. And then she slowly inhaled and the water on her glass rose, going to another glass on the other table. Our table. And it is not going to a glass, it is going to….. Oh. Bernice’s hair!
“Hey!”, Bernice shouted.
“It seems like you can control that bullshit power. Let me help you!”, she added. She threw a fireball to Alexa. But Ceira was faster, she threw mud on Bernice’s face. She screamed like a slaughtered pig. We all laugh, including Miss Aylett.
“Stop it!”, Bernice cried.
“Please, ladies. Stop.”, Miss Aylett shouted. But her shout was so soft; it was like she was singing. We stopped.
“What about the sylph?”, I suddenly asked.
“Unluckily, we haven’t found one. Blue-eyed Sylphs are the ones who are mostly unheard of. I only knew a few, but they are already dead. But there is one on St. Nicholas Academy, though I don’t know the name. He is the only member of the Azure Sylph Club.”, she answered.
“Tomorrow night, we are all to start our first lesson. Can you still remember the building on the center of the woods? Come there at exactly seven in the night. And, don’t mention it to your other teachers. You cannot use your power in the morning since there is no moon – the source of your power. Good night ladies, and you can continue your meals. Thank you.”, she said as she took steps to the door,
“Your schedule is written on the board.”, she added, pointing the board on our back.
They finished their meals. But I don’t I am still thinking about the only Sylph. The most powerful one. I wonder who he is. St. Nicholas Academy.
The schedule of our school was okay. Here is the list:
8:00 – 8:45 Ballet Lucia Poll
8:46 – 9:30 Social Studies Cassandra Historia
9:31 – 10:15 Geography Myra Modelst
10:16 – 11:00 Mathematics Agatha Shakesmeare
11:00 – 12:00 LUNCH BREAK CAFETERIA
12:01 – 12:45 Foreign Languages Lin Chi Yan
12:46 – 1:30 Art Lessons Courtney Thomas
1:31 – 2:15 Literature Cornelia Powell
2:16 – 3:00 Music Lessons Sophie del Mercado
P.S. Do not put this on your notebook:
7:00 – 8:00 pm Elemental Guidance Elmira Aylett
Signed by:
Elmira Aylett
Head Mistress , Lady Eve Academy
“Lunch break at cafeteria.”, Ceira said.
“Where’s the cafeteria?”,I asked.
“I don’t know either. Old Lucia didn’t tell us.”, she said.
“You know what, Old Lucia sounds good.”, I said.
We went back to our room. I cleaned myself first, then I stared at my reflection. I actually focused on my eyes. Green. Like an emerald. There are only two of us in here. Alexa and me. Undine.
The nigh was too short for us. We are all excited about our last subject, the Elemental Guidance. Ceira was too happy that there is a lunch break. But we don’t know where the cafeteria was.
I can’t sleep. And it was because of three things. First, I missed Oxford. I missed my grandfather so much. Second, I am an Undine, a water dweller. My eyes are green and I am rare. Third, the only Sylph left in the world. I don’t know why, but there is a part of me that was so disappointed of having someone who was stronger than me. The thing inside me tells me to know him, to defeat him and to kill him.
A loud clatter woke us up.
“I thought there is no school today. Why are they waking us up? Wazawaza.”, Ceira complained under her comforter.
“Mattaku desu ne.”, I agreed with her. Well, she’s completely right.
“Oh. Ohayoo gozaimasu, Lynette-sama.”, she greeted happily.
“Same to you, Ceira-kun.”, I greeted back.
“GIRLS! Wake up now! Breakfast is ready!”, the unlovely voice of Lucia screamed. She’s always shouting.
“Breakfast? Good! I didn’t take a dinner last night!”, Ceira said, jumping out of her bed. She clutched her towel from the closet and went to the bathroom without any other noise aside from her whistle.
“Breakfast. I wonder if Grandpa had already eaten his breakfast. I think I need to write them some letters.”, I said to myself.
Ceira took just a quarter of an hour to clean herself. She wore a peach dress, and she’s pulling a shawl on the bottom of her cupboard. She wrapped it around herself and she turn around and around and around until she fell on her bed.
“Won’t you change your clothes?”, she asked me.
“Later. For me, breakfast is good while wearing your nightclothes.”, I said.
We went out of our room together with the others. They are also wearing their nightclothes, and honestly, Ceira was the only one who changed her clothes. Well, I can’t blame her. She didn’t even change the clothes that she wore while we are on the airport yesterday.
We found a good spot on the same hall where we are yesterday. It was near the door. Actually, it was on the last of the middle table. On my back was the red-haired girl.
“It’s hot! Move aside, Alexa!”, she commanded. The girl with the name Alexa moved far from her.
“Good, Alexa.”, she praised.
I think she noticed us looking on her. She also looked at us. Well, on me.
“Problem?”, she asked like a wicked queen.
“Should there be?”, I asked back. She looked pissed. Great.
She took a gulp of the water before she answered me, “I can’t see why not. Girls like you are nothing when compared to me.”
“And who the heck are you?”, Ceira asked.
“I am the one and only daughter of the famous musician, Brian Middleton. I am Lady Bernice Margaret Middleton.”, she introduced herself as she tried to sing.
“I never heard of him.”, Ceira said.
“Of course you don’t. My father doesn’t like Asia. You’re a Japanese with no knowledge about the West Pleasures, like my father.”, she teased, but Ceira was instead enjoying this game.
“Oh. Really? Let’s see. Lynette, have you hear of Brian Middletoe?”, Ceira asked. I don’t know if she was just kidding about the surname or she really forgot it.
“Darn you, girl! It’s Middleton.”, Bernice complained.
“I said Middleton, Venice.”, Ceira said.
“And my name is Bernice! Call me Lady Bernice!”, Bernice shouted.
“Shut up. Answer us, dear.”, she said.
“I honestly, never heard about your father, Bernice. Or read about him, either.”, I said. Hey, I am telling the truth.
“Dumb girls.”, she said. Then she turned back to her table. Her face was completely pinkish red, and hands were firmed on her lap.
Ceira was about to talk about Bernice again when the food came. Around twenty maids, on a one-to-one ratio with us, the students, served a tray filled with foods. The tray was consisted of the following meals – hot chocolate, French toast, jam and butter, and strangely, an apple. The food was nothing compared to my breakfast in Oxford. I’ll write a letter about this later.
After the breakfast, we all went back to our rooms. Ceira talked and told me their life in Japan while I took a bath on the tub. The water was a bit cold, but I’m still fine with it. After soaking myself on the tub, I dried myself and chose to wear the blue-laced blouse and the skirt that I brought. It was comfortable, especially that I am wearing my soft shoes. I combed my wavy hair and tied it on my back, using my red ribbon.
Unluckily, the tour was supposed to be a group tour with Lucia. Amazingly, the airport was gone and the place where we stayed was really a big mansion.
“This is the Kent Mansion. This is where you will sleep or stay while you are studying on Lady Eve Academy.”, Lucia explained. For the first time, she doesn’t shout.
We walked passed the bricked road with a sight of the sea on the left and the wood on the right. I think, the whole academy was placed on the top of a highland near the sea. We reached the school’s main building in just 5 minutes. The building was smaller compared from our dormitory, but the walls are more magnificent. It was made of bricks, like the dormitory, but it was more colorful and the scenery was better. When we reached the top (second-floor) using a stair, Lucia introduced us to the classrooms that we are to stay. Apparently, all of us, twenty in all, will stay on the Room A for the Social Studies, Geography, Literature, Mathematics, and Foreign Languages. Room B was different; it was a music room, where we are conducting our Music Lessons. Room C was like an art gallery, and I guess that it is for Art Lessons. And my guess was right. Room D surprised me the best. It was actually a Ballet Studio.
“And this is where we will polish your attitude and manners! Ballet! Ballet! This will be your passion for the rest of your life!”, she said. We’re sure that she’ll be our Ballet teacher. Hell, it sucks. I can’t imagine this old woman to raise his legs and put her hands on the top on made circles. Gross. Disgusting.
I noticed a fifth room on the end of the house. I took courage to asked Lucia.
“It was Miss Elmira’s room. That will serve as the Principal’s Office.”, she said.
We went back to the ground floor. From the stairs, the floor was like a big lobby. A long desk on the corner, plants and paintings on the wall, and two rooms parallel with each other. The first one, which I believe was the kitchen room, was absolutely large. It has lots of equipment and you can see the woods on the window on its right. The other room was the staff room, which was the place for our teachers. It’s locked.
I was actually planning on how to spent the rest of my day when Lucia cut off my thoughts.
“Another thing. Go behind me.”, she said. We followed.
She walked to the woods. Actually, the woods have already its path so we are not afraid of having any scratches from the thorns of the plants. We were surprised to see an ancient-designed building in the middle of the forest. It has a two floors, and we discovered that the building was equally divided into four rooms with different colors of doors. Bernice was about to ask about the rooms when Lucia said that we have to go back to our dormitory. Disappointed, we followed her.
When we are back in Room 5, I suddenly asked Ceira about the powers.
“She didn’t tell us anything, huh?”
“Yeah. Perhaps, she’ll do that later. Have you felt the earthquake?”, she asked.
“When?”
“Last night.”
“Yes. But I didn’t tell anything about that, because it seemed that I was the only one who felt it.”, I answered.
“Yeah. You are right. I made that. I am Gnome, remember? I can manipulate the Earth on my will, and I just pointed the force on you.”, she said.
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“I wonder what’s my power.”, I asked to myself.
“Perhaps you’re water.”, she said calmly.
“What made you say that?”, I asked. Water.
“Eyes. Your eyes are emerald green. The color of an Undine.”, she said.
“Sure?”
“No.”, she admitted. “I never knew how, but I guess so. Say, what is the color of the moon when you’re born?”
“I don’t know.”, I said.
“Then, maybe you can ask your parents. Go write a letter to them!”, she said.
“I wanted to, but I think heaven doesn’t have that post office that we have here.”,I said.
“Heaven? Oh my, gomenasai, minna-san! I never thought that your parents were, dead. Gomene!”, she said back, bowing her head back and forth.
“It’s okay! Actually, they died five years ago and I already moved on. I accept the faith that they had, though sometimes I am alone that they’re not on my side.”, I said back, smiling.
“Oh. But, I am still sorry.”, she said.
We spent our day telling about each other. I told her everything about me. How I lived with my grandfather, the buttermilk bread that Amelia made for me, how Mike drives, Georgia’s gown, Aunt Nathalie, Omar, and my narcissist cousin, Nathaniel.
She told me about their life in Japan, too. The kimonos that she wear, the parasol dance, the tea ceremony, the Buddhism, and the climate and language as well. She spent most of her time giggling about my expressions. She’s enjoying every part of our discussion. And so am I.
We also learned that there is no lunch in this place. Fortunately, Ceira brought some bread from Japan. Of all, I like the Melon bread. It was crunchy on the outside but chewy ad soft inside. It was good. And she also made a green tea for me.
I asked about Ceiron, whom I saw yesterday. Ceiron is studying on St. Nicholas Academy, an All Boys’ Dormitory School. It was just near our place, perhaps just below of the land.
We went downstairs when we heard the bell rang. The dinner is ready, we thought. And it was.
The hall was still the same. Actually, the first floor of the dormitory was a hall. The perfect place for breakfast, dinner, ad conference and seminar. Miss Aylett was there when we arrived.
“Good evening.”, she greeted.
“Same here.”, I whispered, though I knew that she can’t hear me.
“I am very happy that your tour and day here in Lady Eve Academy was good and filled with excitement. I am very happy that you liked the buildings and stuffs that we prepared for ladies like you. I knew that you don’t have a lunch, so I won’t talk anymore. You can eat your dinner. Enjoy.”, she said. She and the other Lucia sat on the fourth table on the front together with other seven girls. The dinner for tonight : steak, mashed potato, toasted bread, watermelon shake, and for dessert: gelato.
Other girls stood up when they are finished eating, but Miss Aylett stopped them by ringing her bell. Thanks to you ladies, I won’t finish eating mine.
“Ladies. Please take your seat first. To the others, I am sorry but you need to pause your dinner. For the teachers, please continue your dinner on the staff room. I wanted to talk to them alone.”, she said. The other teachers were surprised, but at least they obeyed her.
“I know that all of you knew about the secret of the school. This school isn’t ordinary. Others thought that Lady Eve Academy is just a five star rated school, but it is also a school that no one expects. I am sure that you knew the words, Salamander, Gnome, Undine, and Sylph.”
“One of the ways of distinguishing your power is your eye color. Bernice Middleton can manipulate the fire, am I right?”, she asked that red-haired girl.
Bernice smiled and blew the candle on her front. She placed her finger on the tip of the candle and the flame appeared. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Her eyes are flaming crimson, as you can see. Fire-users, or better known as Salamanders, are common. I think five out of this class are Salamanders. Salamanders are most common to female. And they belong to the Flaming Salamander Club.”
“Ceira Ishikawa, please stand up.”, she ordered.
“Please do a trick.”, she said. Ceira did. An earthquake with intensity two occurred. She did it with just a wave of her hand.
“Good. That was the power of a Gnome, an earth-dweller. A gift of the yellow moon. There are three Gnomes here, because they are common to males. They belonged to the Rocking Gnome Club.”, she said.
“And the last but not the least, the only two members of the Soothing Undine Club. Lady Alexa Mere and Lady Lynette Marie van Dross, the owners of the rare green eyes. You two are undine, the water controllers. Perhaps, Alexa can show us a good example.”
Alexa nervously nodded. And then she slowly inhaled and the water on her glass rose, going to another glass on the other table. Our table. And it is not going to a glass, it is going to….. Oh. Bernice’s hair!
“Hey!”, Bernice shouted.
“It seems like you can control that bullshit power. Let me help you!”, she added. She threw a fireball to Alexa. But Ceira was faster, she threw mud on Bernice’s face. She screamed like a slaughtered pig. We all laugh, including Miss Aylett.
“Stop it!”, Bernice cried.
“Please, ladies. Stop.”, Miss Aylett shouted. But her shout was so soft; it was like she was singing. We stopped.
“What about the sylph?”, I suddenly asked.
“Unluckily, we haven’t found one. Blue-eyed Sylphs are the ones who are mostly unheard of. I only knew a few, but they are already dead. But there is one on St. Nicholas Academy, though I don’t know the name. He is the only member of the Azure Sylph Club.”, she answered.
“Tomorrow night, we are all to start our first lesson. Can you still remember the building on the center of the woods? Come there at exactly seven in the night. And, don’t mention it to your other teachers. You cannot use your power in the morning since there is no moon – the source of your power. Good night ladies, and you can continue your meals. Thank you.”, she said as she took steps to the door,
“Your schedule is written on the board.”, she added, pointing the board on our back.
They finished their meals. But I don’t I am still thinking about the only Sylph. The most powerful one. I wonder who he is. St. Nicholas Academy.
The schedule of our school was okay. Here is the list:
8:00 – 8:45 Ballet Lucia Poll
8:46 – 9:30 Social Studies Cassandra Historia
9:31 – 10:15 Geography Myra Modelst
10:16 – 11:00 Mathematics Agatha Shakesmeare
11:00 – 12:00 LUNCH BREAK CAFETERIA
12:01 – 12:45 Foreign Languages Lin Chi Yan
12:46 – 1:30 Art Lessons Courtney Thomas
1:31 – 2:15 Literature Cornelia Powell
2:16 – 3:00 Music Lessons Sophie del Mercado
P.S. Do not put this on your notebook:
7:00 – 8:00 pm Elemental Guidance Elmira Aylett
Signed by:
Elmira Aylett
Head Mistress , Lady Eve Academy
“Lunch break at cafeteria.”, Ceira said.
“Where’s the cafeteria?”,I asked.
“I don’t know either. Old Lucia didn’t tell us.”, she said.
“You know what, Old Lucia sounds good.”, I said.
We went back to our room. I cleaned myself first, then I stared at my reflection. I actually focused on my eyes. Green. Like an emerald. There are only two of us in here. Alexa and me. Undine.
The nigh was too short for us. We are all excited about our last subject, the Elemental Guidance. Ceira was too happy that there is a lunch break. But we don’t know where the cafeteria was.
I can’t sleep. And it was because of three things. First, I missed Oxford. I missed my grandfather so much. Second, I am an Undine, a water dweller. My eyes are green and I am rare. Third, the only Sylph left in the world. I don’t know why, but there is a part of me that was so disappointed of having someone who was stronger than me. The thing inside me tells me to know him, to defeat him and to kill him.
The Last Luna : Chapter Five
Luna Mystery
A harmonious sound of a colossal horn welcomed us. It was an ivory-skinned horn, with crystals and pearls on its mouth. An average-sized woman was standing on its side, ignoring the loud blare that the horn can make. She’s wearing an Anne Boleyn Gown, I guess, and she folded her fan and placed it on a small desk on her back. She was extraordinarily charming. Her milieu, seen from where she was standing, was like filled with numerous and colorful flowers, that attracts us, the bees.
Ceira and I sat the middle of a nice, stilted chair and a massive table that holds colorful bags and a white envelope on each top. I neither touch nor open the package on my front. It was then when I remembered about something.
“Hey, Ceira, tell me. Are you a student of Lady Eve Academy?”, I suddenly asked. I let her to drag me in this place without knowing her completely, or at least just knowing if she was a co-student.
“Of course. Every girl who rode on that plane was. Don’t you know it?”, said Ceira.
“Obviously no. I can’t get it. The airport was also the school?”, I asked again.
“No. Can you remember the gas?”
“Yes.”
“It was a strategy, or more like a protection. Others knew Lady Eve Academy as a school for geniuses and of course, graceful girls. Say, how did you enroll here?”, she asked.
“Oh. I don’t know. It was my grandfather who told me that I am going to study here. And then, my aunt informed me that she already enrolled me.”, I said, confused.
“Really? That’s odd. Have you never been here?”
“No. NEVER BEEN HERE.”, I emphasized.
“Wow. How can I explain this? Have you heard of the word Gnome?”, she asked.
“Yes. Gnome is a mythical creature. Earth-dwellers?”
“Yes, it is. I’m an example.”, she said.
“No you’re not.”, I said, not trusting her.
“I’ll show you, at night.”, she said.
Funny girl. Psycho. “Sure.”
“I am not kidding.”, she said, seriously.
“I actually don’t mind if you are, Ceira. Just tell me whatever you knew about this school.”, I pleaded.
She was about to begin when the woman on the front said “Hi.”. It was then when I noticed that the hall was half-filled with girls on my age.
“Good evening to all of you. Welcome to Lady Eve Academy.”, she started. It was like she was telling a story to kids.
“I am Elmira Aylett, the Head-Mistress of Lady Eve Academy. First of all, I would like to praise you for facing such a challenge. As what I saw just this evening, I can feel that you are very comfortable with each other, which is a good thing, of course.”
I looked at the red-haired girl. Her friends don’t look like comfortable.
“Second, all the books and the rules and regulations of the school was on the table.”, she said as she pointed on every table. All in all, she pointed three.
“Please read them before taking a sleep. Good news, there is no school tomorrow. Feel free to visit each of the school’s room and facilities. I want each one of you to be aware of our lovely Alma Matter. That’s all for today, you can proceed to your rooms.”, she said. She has a lovely voice and a deep-dimple on her left cheek. She was incredibly pretty, I swear.
Room? Where the hell is it?
“Ladies!”, an old woman shouted. She got her attention, bravo.
“I am Lucia Poll. I’ll show you the way to your bedrooms. Please form a pair. Now!”
Scary, I thought. Ceira hold my hand. I hold her back.
We went out of the hall. Lucia opened a door and we entered it. It was dark at first, but as we passed by, the torched seem to have a flame. Amazing!
“Here. First pair! Write the name on the paper and get the keys on me! Faster! We all want to sleep early!”, she yelled. God. She’s scaring us.
We all followed her. Ceira and I got the room 5, out seven. We are going to enter when Lucia yelled again.
“Your stuffs are on the end of the corridor!”
Oh my. We all went and raced to the end of the said corridor. I easily searched out my bags, since Amelia tied the lavender ribbon of Georgia on them. Excellent.
Room 05 was on the left side or the corridor, if you’re from the stairs. The corridor was creepy, since Lucia’s odor was left, but the other side of our door was great. There are two single beds; each has a pale blue pair of bed sheet and comforter. The beds are parallel with each other. Between the two beds are two study tables, and two lamps. Opposite the beds are two closets. Keys were hanging on the lock.
“Can I have the one nearer to the window?”, I asked Ceira.
“Of course.”, she said cheerfully.
I took a step on the burnished floor. I made no sound. It was good. I suddenly noticed that there was a door beside Ceira’s closet. She opened it, curious too.
“A bathroom.”, she said.
“Pink-painted walls with flowers as design. The tub was big! And oh, there was also a window. Lynette, run to the window near your bed! Please!”
I obeyed. I ran to the window and looked on my left. Ceira was waving on a smaller window.
“There was a window in here! HAHA.”, she said happily.
“That’s good. Ventilation, I think. Can you describe more?”, I asked.
:Of course. There’s one towel hanger, a lavatory, as I said earlier a large tub, a body-sized mirror, a basket for clothes, bowl, and to my disappointment, a cabinet of first-aid kit.”, she said. And then I saw here on the door, dancing.
“You hate blood?”, I asked.
“Yes. A lot.”, she admitted.
I looked at the sky. It was already filled with lots of stars.
“Know what? Odin made stars and the sky and the moon and the sun.”, I said.
“Who’s Odin?”, she asked.
“A Norse God.”, I answered.
“Oh. Hey, you love studying?”
“Yes. That’s all I can do inside the house.”, I said.
“Aw. I don’t like it. Boring.”, she said. I smiled.
“I must unpacked my things now. You too, Ceira.”, I said.
She nodded, then we start doing our things. I placed all of my clothes and accessories on my closet and the books on my table. I took a cold shower and wore a chemise.
“You won’t take a shower?”, I asked Ceira as soon as I finished.
“Later. You’re asking something earlier.”, she said.
“Oh yeah, I am. About this school-thing.”, I said.
“Have a seat, it’ll belong. Ready?”, she warned.
“For anything. Go, Ceira.”, I gave her a Go Sign.
“On ancient times, people, especially the Greeks believed on the power brought by the Four Classic Elements – air, water, earth and fire. But as time passed by, this belief faded, but not on the sacred place of Stonehenge in England. During the times, a King named Hansel sacrificed the life of his precious wife just to summon the spirit of the moon.”
“The moon?”, I asked. Why not the sun?
“The sun was the symbol used by their enemies. So King Hansel believed that the moon can defeat the sun. So, he summoned the moon, which was named Luna. Luna agreed to help King Hansel by giving the night-counterparts of the four classic elemental powers, but in one condition. Luna needed a body that time, but she needed a clean and a virgin, dead body. King Hansel informed Luna that his wife, which was actually his mistress, was still a virgin and unharmed or untouched. Luna agreed to merge with the king’s wife. As promised, Luna gave King Hansel’s four children, two boys and two girls the power that can defeat the Sun Army. The youngest, named Salamander had the power of the fire, the youngest girl named Gnome got the stronger power of Earth, the eldest lady named Undine controlled the water, stronger that Salamander’s and Gnomes’, and Sylph, the oldest of all the siblings manipulated the wind. They successfully defeated the Sun Army on just 29 nights, since they attacked when the sun has set. Then, King Hansel and his kingdom received the peace that they wished.”
“What happened to Luna? Did she die?”
“No, though they believe that she was reincarnated. Since the king’s wife was just ordinary, Luna’s body started to age. So what she did was she transferred her soul to a teen. It happened on a new moon.”
“There’s no moon.”, I murmured.
“Yes. She did it on a new moon on a purpose. For the times that she spent as the king’s mistress, she learned to love the children that possessed her powers. Since there’s no moon, the children became weak, which threatened the whole kingdom. She did the ritual on a new moon so that the new Luna, who was a lot stronger made by her young body and less experience in making sin, can supply the energy needed by the children. Since then the rituals of being a luna was made on a new moon.”, she explained dramatically. Her hands and her body swayed, as if she was telling a story on a theater.
“What about the salamander and company?”, I asked.
“Those who are born on a Full Moon possessed a power depending on what the color of the moon was when they’re born. Ceiron and I were born with a yellow full moon. And we are Gnomes. WE possessed the power of the Earth.”, she elucidated.
“Why? I mean, we can not just study.”, I said.
“The prophecy about the rise of the Sun Army is near. Just a year, I think. They are just getting ready for anything that may happen. They’re training us.”, she said.
“What if they attacked in the morning?”, I asked again.
“That’s what Miss Aylett is for. She’s our source of energy.”
“Or I think not”, she added.
“And why?”
“I think her health was imperfect for holding such a strong power. She had an asthma. She needs to pass her power, before the lunar eclipse comes.”
“Lunar eclipse?”, I asked.
“Yes. Another time when there’s no moon. There’s no source. She needs a stronger new Luna.”
“What are the signs of being the next luna?”, I asked.
“I don’t know. I think that’s a confidential one.”, answered Ceira.
“Oh. I still don’t know what my power is. What if I don’t have such power?”, I asked.
“Of course not. If you’re an ordinary woman, you’re surely a corpse now. Ordinary person can’t live when he or she already inhaled that gas. It’s a poison for them.”, she said.
"Are you going to read the rules and regulations?', she added.
"Maybe tomorrow. It wasn't that important for me.", i answered.
"I'll copy you, Lynette-sama.", she said.
“You’re a Japanese?”
“Yes.”
“You are a good English speaker. Thanks for everything, Ceira. I really appreciated it.”, I said sincerely.
“Thank you. It’s my pleasure. And oh, I am enjoying speaking your language.”, she said then she smiled. She was cute, especially when she was giggling. Ishikawa. I’ll remember that name forever.
“Arigatou.”, I said. She looked surprised.
“O yasuminasai, Ceira-kun.”, I added.
“You knew how to-! Oh. Doo itashimashiite, Lynette-sama. O yasuminasai!”, she said back, doing the Japanese bow. I clapped my hands once and bent over.
I trapped myself with the warm comforter and let my thoughts about going home to vanish and disappear. I already missed my Grandpa and Amelia and Mike and Aunt, but not Nathaniel. Never.
I found myself sleeping with the soothing sound of the air that was freely entering on the window. Though I am asleep, I can hear Ceira’s squeak while sleeping. And oh, I heard a strange sound. It was like a flute, and it’s appeasing the part of me that wanted to go back home in Oxford. I still don’t know lots of things about this academy. But since Ceira told me that story, I can’t stop my nerves from shaking, or jumping. I don’t know why, but I can feel something inside me that was so happy whenever it heard the word “Luna”.
“Luna.”, a sweet-voiced whispered on my ear. I knew it.
A harmonious sound of a colossal horn welcomed us. It was an ivory-skinned horn, with crystals and pearls on its mouth. An average-sized woman was standing on its side, ignoring the loud blare that the horn can make. She’s wearing an Anne Boleyn Gown, I guess, and she folded her fan and placed it on a small desk on her back. She was extraordinarily charming. Her milieu, seen from where she was standing, was like filled with numerous and colorful flowers, that attracts us, the bees.
Ceira and I sat the middle of a nice, stilted chair and a massive table that holds colorful bags and a white envelope on each top. I neither touch nor open the package on my front. It was then when I remembered about something.
“Hey, Ceira, tell me. Are you a student of Lady Eve Academy?”, I suddenly asked. I let her to drag me in this place without knowing her completely, or at least just knowing if she was a co-student.
“Of course. Every girl who rode on that plane was. Don’t you know it?”, said Ceira.
“Obviously no. I can’t get it. The airport was also the school?”, I asked again.
“No. Can you remember the gas?”
“Yes.”
“It was a strategy, or more like a protection. Others knew Lady Eve Academy as a school for geniuses and of course, graceful girls. Say, how did you enroll here?”, she asked.
“Oh. I don’t know. It was my grandfather who told me that I am going to study here. And then, my aunt informed me that she already enrolled me.”, I said, confused.
“Really? That’s odd. Have you never been here?”
“No. NEVER BEEN HERE.”, I emphasized.
“Wow. How can I explain this? Have you heard of the word Gnome?”, she asked.
“Yes. Gnome is a mythical creature. Earth-dwellers?”
“Yes, it is. I’m an example.”, she said.
“No you’re not.”, I said, not trusting her.
“I’ll show you, at night.”, she said.
Funny girl. Psycho. “Sure.”
“I am not kidding.”, she said, seriously.
“I actually don’t mind if you are, Ceira. Just tell me whatever you knew about this school.”, I pleaded.
She was about to begin when the woman on the front said “Hi.”. It was then when I noticed that the hall was half-filled with girls on my age.
“Good evening to all of you. Welcome to Lady Eve Academy.”, she started. It was like she was telling a story to kids.
“I am Elmira Aylett, the Head-Mistress of Lady Eve Academy. First of all, I would like to praise you for facing such a challenge. As what I saw just this evening, I can feel that you are very comfortable with each other, which is a good thing, of course.”
I looked at the red-haired girl. Her friends don’t look like comfortable.
“Second, all the books and the rules and regulations of the school was on the table.”, she said as she pointed on every table. All in all, she pointed three.
“Please read them before taking a sleep. Good news, there is no school tomorrow. Feel free to visit each of the school’s room and facilities. I want each one of you to be aware of our lovely Alma Matter. That’s all for today, you can proceed to your rooms.”, she said. She has a lovely voice and a deep-dimple on her left cheek. She was incredibly pretty, I swear.
Room? Where the hell is it?
“Ladies!”, an old woman shouted. She got her attention, bravo.
“I am Lucia Poll. I’ll show you the way to your bedrooms. Please form a pair. Now!”
Scary, I thought. Ceira hold my hand. I hold her back.
We went out of the hall. Lucia opened a door and we entered it. It was dark at first, but as we passed by, the torched seem to have a flame. Amazing!
“Here. First pair! Write the name on the paper and get the keys on me! Faster! We all want to sleep early!”, she yelled. God. She’s scaring us.
We all followed her. Ceira and I got the room 5, out seven. We are going to enter when Lucia yelled again.
“Your stuffs are on the end of the corridor!”
Oh my. We all went and raced to the end of the said corridor. I easily searched out my bags, since Amelia tied the lavender ribbon of Georgia on them. Excellent.
Room 05 was on the left side or the corridor, if you’re from the stairs. The corridor was creepy, since Lucia’s odor was left, but the other side of our door was great. There are two single beds; each has a pale blue pair of bed sheet and comforter. The beds are parallel with each other. Between the two beds are two study tables, and two lamps. Opposite the beds are two closets. Keys were hanging on the lock.
“Can I have the one nearer to the window?”, I asked Ceira.
“Of course.”, she said cheerfully.
I took a step on the burnished floor. I made no sound. It was good. I suddenly noticed that there was a door beside Ceira’s closet. She opened it, curious too.
“A bathroom.”, she said.
“Pink-painted walls with flowers as design. The tub was big! And oh, there was also a window. Lynette, run to the window near your bed! Please!”
I obeyed. I ran to the window and looked on my left. Ceira was waving on a smaller window.
“There was a window in here! HAHA.”, she said happily.
“That’s good. Ventilation, I think. Can you describe more?”, I asked.
:Of course. There’s one towel hanger, a lavatory, as I said earlier a large tub, a body-sized mirror, a basket for clothes, bowl, and to my disappointment, a cabinet of first-aid kit.”, she said. And then I saw here on the door, dancing.
“You hate blood?”, I asked.
“Yes. A lot.”, she admitted.
I looked at the sky. It was already filled with lots of stars.
“Know what? Odin made stars and the sky and the moon and the sun.”, I said.
“Who’s Odin?”, she asked.
“A Norse God.”, I answered.
“Oh. Hey, you love studying?”
“Yes. That’s all I can do inside the house.”, I said.
“Aw. I don’t like it. Boring.”, she said. I smiled.
“I must unpacked my things now. You too, Ceira.”, I said.
She nodded, then we start doing our things. I placed all of my clothes and accessories on my closet and the books on my table. I took a cold shower and wore a chemise.
“You won’t take a shower?”, I asked Ceira as soon as I finished.
“Later. You’re asking something earlier.”, she said.
“Oh yeah, I am. About this school-thing.”, I said.
“Have a seat, it’ll belong. Ready?”, she warned.
“For anything. Go, Ceira.”, I gave her a Go Sign.
“On ancient times, people, especially the Greeks believed on the power brought by the Four Classic Elements – air, water, earth and fire. But as time passed by, this belief faded, but not on the sacred place of Stonehenge in England. During the times, a King named Hansel sacrificed the life of his precious wife just to summon the spirit of the moon.”
“The moon?”, I asked. Why not the sun?
“The sun was the symbol used by their enemies. So King Hansel believed that the moon can defeat the sun. So, he summoned the moon, which was named Luna. Luna agreed to help King Hansel by giving the night-counterparts of the four classic elemental powers, but in one condition. Luna needed a body that time, but she needed a clean and a virgin, dead body. King Hansel informed Luna that his wife, which was actually his mistress, was still a virgin and unharmed or untouched. Luna agreed to merge with the king’s wife. As promised, Luna gave King Hansel’s four children, two boys and two girls the power that can defeat the Sun Army. The youngest, named Salamander had the power of the fire, the youngest girl named Gnome got the stronger power of Earth, the eldest lady named Undine controlled the water, stronger that Salamander’s and Gnomes’, and Sylph, the oldest of all the siblings manipulated the wind. They successfully defeated the Sun Army on just 29 nights, since they attacked when the sun has set. Then, King Hansel and his kingdom received the peace that they wished.”
“What happened to Luna? Did she die?”
“No, though they believe that she was reincarnated. Since the king’s wife was just ordinary, Luna’s body started to age. So what she did was she transferred her soul to a teen. It happened on a new moon.”
“There’s no moon.”, I murmured.
“Yes. She did it on a new moon on a purpose. For the times that she spent as the king’s mistress, she learned to love the children that possessed her powers. Since there’s no moon, the children became weak, which threatened the whole kingdom. She did the ritual on a new moon so that the new Luna, who was a lot stronger made by her young body and less experience in making sin, can supply the energy needed by the children. Since then the rituals of being a luna was made on a new moon.”, she explained dramatically. Her hands and her body swayed, as if she was telling a story on a theater.
“What about the salamander and company?”, I asked.
“Those who are born on a Full Moon possessed a power depending on what the color of the moon was when they’re born. Ceiron and I were born with a yellow full moon. And we are Gnomes. WE possessed the power of the Earth.”, she elucidated.
“Why? I mean, we can not just study.”, I said.
“The prophecy about the rise of the Sun Army is near. Just a year, I think. They are just getting ready for anything that may happen. They’re training us.”, she said.
“What if they attacked in the morning?”, I asked again.
“That’s what Miss Aylett is for. She’s our source of energy.”
“Or I think not”, she added.
“And why?”
“I think her health was imperfect for holding such a strong power. She had an asthma. She needs to pass her power, before the lunar eclipse comes.”
“Lunar eclipse?”, I asked.
“Yes. Another time when there’s no moon. There’s no source. She needs a stronger new Luna.”
“What are the signs of being the next luna?”, I asked.
“I don’t know. I think that’s a confidential one.”, answered Ceira.
“Oh. I still don’t know what my power is. What if I don’t have such power?”, I asked.
“Of course not. If you’re an ordinary woman, you’re surely a corpse now. Ordinary person can’t live when he or she already inhaled that gas. It’s a poison for them.”, she said.
"Are you going to read the rules and regulations?', she added.
"Maybe tomorrow. It wasn't that important for me.", i answered.
"I'll copy you, Lynette-sama.", she said.
“You’re a Japanese?”
“Yes.”
“You are a good English speaker. Thanks for everything, Ceira. I really appreciated it.”, I said sincerely.
“Thank you. It’s my pleasure. And oh, I am enjoying speaking your language.”, she said then she smiled. She was cute, especially when she was giggling. Ishikawa. I’ll remember that name forever.
“Arigatou.”, I said. She looked surprised.
“O yasuminasai, Ceira-kun.”, I added.
“You knew how to-! Oh. Doo itashimashiite, Lynette-sama. O yasuminasai!”, she said back, doing the Japanese bow. I clapped my hands once and bent over.
I trapped myself with the warm comforter and let my thoughts about going home to vanish and disappear. I already missed my Grandpa and Amelia and Mike and Aunt, but not Nathaniel. Never.
I found myself sleeping with the soothing sound of the air that was freely entering on the window. Though I am asleep, I can hear Ceira’s squeak while sleeping. And oh, I heard a strange sound. It was like a flute, and it’s appeasing the part of me that wanted to go back home in Oxford. I still don’t know lots of things about this academy. But since Ceira told me that story, I can’t stop my nerves from shaking, or jumping. I don’t know why, but I can feel something inside me that was so happy whenever it heard the word “Luna”.
“Luna.”, a sweet-voiced whispered on my ear. I knew it.
Tuesday 14 April 2009
The Last Luna: Chapter Four
Farewell Old Oxford, Greetings Hidden London
Grandfather welcomed us when we reached the door. He’s wearing the silver jacket that my mother, Emily Rossdale-Ashford gave him. He told us that he hated it; since the color was so shiny that he looked like a wrapper for wedding gifts. We’re surprised to see him wearing it like his old jacket.
“How’s the town?”, he asked. I kissed him on his cheeks first.
“Terrible.”, I answered.
“Terrible? I thought you’re going to like it.”, he said in dismay.
“That’s it, Grandpa. I like the city so badly that I don’t want to comeback here.”
He didn’t answer. I can see a glimpse of pain on his face. I hurt him. Bad Lynette.
“But of course I came back for you Grandpa. I can’t compare the city with your love and care.”, I said back, hoping that it can soothe or heal the twinge I cause Grandpa.
“Thank you.”, he said. The change on his expression was visible.
“Mike, bring the things on her room. Amelia, guide Mike. Lynette, let’s eat. Your aunt and Nate are waiting for you.”, he added.
What’s Nate doing here? Oh, I forgot. They slept here.
I told him about the town while walking to the dining room. He laughed when I told him about how flirt that George was. Meanwhile, I saw Nathalie and her son fixing the plates and the foods.
“Welcome home, darling.”, Nathalie greeted like a professional mother. I like her more than yesterday. I smiled at her, and then sat on my regular chair.
The lunch was short, but strident. The food was great, since Nathalie was the one who made it. She’s good in making mashed potatoes. Grandpa reminded me to go upstairs as soon as I finish eating.
“Grandpa.”, I called.
“Yes?”, he answered.
“Nothing.”, I said as I stood up from my seat and ran to my room. Amelia was waiting for me. She was seating on my bed, her arms folded on her lap and her face turned with sadness. She immediately smiled when she saw me, so I ignored the gloominess.
We start packing our things. Amelia showed me three different bags, a medium-sized luggage bag, a big backpack and a full-size hand carry bag. Since I don’t know how to fold the clothes, I just picked the garments that I’ll bring and Amelia will fold it. Here are some of the clothes:
Luggage Bag
Golden Brocade Gown
Ebony Sweater (knitted)
Two pair of jeans
Green Dress
Yellow Skirt
Blue blouse
Three Chemises
Undergarments
Buckle Lace Shoe (Black)
Lacy Tie-Up Ankle Boots
Red European Cape
Soft Slipper
Backpack
Scarf (red, and white)
Black Gloves (Lace and Satin Elbow-Length) , White Gloves (Thicker)
Belt
Small Handbag
Velvet Vest
Red Ribbon
Pink Blouse
Handkerchiefs
Tulle
Handbag
Hair Brush
Cameo Brooch
Cashmere Shawls
High tortoise shell comb
Jewelry Box (with a necklace, earrings and a charm bracelet)
Choker
Glass Monocle with chain
After we’d finished packing my things, Grandfather, Amelia and Mike, together with Nathalie and Nathaniel accompanied me to the new airport. My flight will leave a exactly 4 pm. It was already 3:00 pm. One hour to go.
When we reached the airport, we directly look for the Station 5. I noticed that only few people were staying on the station’s lobby. Nathaniel worked with my passport and ticket, so he needed to leave us on the lobby.
“Don’t do anything bad, Miss Lynette. Study well. Be nice, Miss Lynette. I’m gonna miss you.”, Amelia started. She cried, Mike wiped her tears.
“Lynette, please. Write us some letters. Enjoy your high school life. Don’t force yourself. Take care always. I’ll let you bring my love and prayers, dear.”, Aunt Nathalie seconded. She hugged me and I hugged her back.
“Grow up, brat.”, I heard Nathaniel when he came back, holding my documents on his left hand. Left-handed crude boy.
“Thanks for the useful farewell.”, I said. How rude of him. I thought he’s nice. Rubbish.
“Lynette. Take care of yourself. Listen to your mentors. Befriend everyone. Be a nice, little lady. Eat on time. Sleep when you’re drowsy. Do write us if you’re not busy. Love you, dear.”, Grandpa said. He’s crying.
“Don’t worry too much about me. Can take care of myself. Thanks Amelia, Mike. It was so nice to meet you, Aunt Nathalie I love you too. And oh my ever-nice second cousin, I won’t forget your stupid farewell-”
“Oh please. That’s not a farewell message.”, he interfered.
“And why not?”, I asked.
“We’ll see each other again. That’s for sure.”, said Nathaniel, and then he gave me a wink. Cute, but more of yuck.
“To all the passengers of JK-312, please proceed to the-”
“Lynette! Hurry!”, Mike shouted. I jumped in surprise.
All of the gang went with me as I entered a door with lots of guards. They carried my bags, except my hand carry bag and checked my body.
“Bye.”, I heard myself saying to them.
“Good luck.”, they said back.
But before we leave each other, I remembered the wine on my pocket.
“Hey Grandpa!”, I yelled. He looked at me.
“Here. Catch!”, I said as I throw the box. To my relief, he caught it with his two hands.
“That’s from Omar. He sent his love.”, I said as I found them disappearing on my eyes. A stewardess assisted me to the plane. My seat was near the window, but I can’t open it. Good. A girl with black hair and golden eyes sat on my right, and on her right was a boy with the same color of hair and eyes. I don’t know if the plane was moving, all I know was that I hate this. I hate all of this. I don’t want to stay away from my grandfather. And now that I knew that I have an aunt and a cousin, I’m afraid I can just stay a day on that academy.
I wrapped myself with my jacket. It was cold, and my tears strengthen it. A pink-haired stewardess went closer to us, offering a weird-looking spray. Eventually, she sprayed it on the three of us. Reflex, I didn’t inhaled or breathe. I saw the pink gas she sprayed. That made the other passengers to pass out and they went out of their consciousness. They’re dead. No, I think they’re just sleeping. Is this a terrorist plane?
My thoughts are running and circling my head. I can’t think of other reasons on why would they do this, except for kidnapping or snatching something from us, of course. A fat lady noticed me, with my eyes still open. She went closer and pulled the spray bottle on her pocket and sprayed it right into my eyes. It doesn’t hurt me, but I can feel my eyes closing. It’s like someone was pulling them downwards. I tried to open it, but I can’t. I don’t know how to open my eyes again. I feel numb. All I can see was a black scene. Are we on the black hole? No. Impossible. Then, where am I? And why on the world did this happen? Mother, help me. Please.
* * * * * * * * * * *
My head was spinning when I woke up. All the passengers were awake. I was the last one to wake up, I guess. As I look into their faces, I can’t see a glimpse of worry or terror or something. They’re the same. Smiling, crying, laughing, kissing, anything, but not with doubt. Strange. The two brunettes on my side were already fixing and cleaning their faces from the stain of the pink gas.
“Hi. Oh.”, the girl said to me. She wiped the pink blot on my forehead.
“Thanks.”, I managed to say.
“I am Ceira Ishikawa.”, she said.
“Lynette Marie van Dross.”, I said.
“A beautiful name for a stunning lady. Let me introduce myself. I am Ceiron Ishikawa, a gentleman in shining suit.”, the man said. He bent down and gestured to kiss me when Ceira pulled him and knocked him on the face. Amazing.
“Stop it, man! You pervert! Trying to harm such an angel!”, she said, shielding me from Ceiron.
“Excuse me? Who are you two?”, I asked.
“Oh. Gomenasai! He’s my twin. Please forgive me. I’ll tell you later. But now, we have to get our things and get out of this pink-gassed place!”, she said as she pulled her trunk. I copied her, then copied Ceiron who was now walking to the door.
The airdrome was stranger. It was well lighted, but something is really eccentric. There are only a few numbers of people. There are no guards, but there are muscled men who were carrying the luggage of each passenger. I moved to the side and pulled my bags. A bald man went to me and said, “Let me carry those.”
I don’t know what to say. I just walked after him, facsimileing the others.
“Madam?”, he asked when we reached another strange area. It was filled with lots and lots of elevators. I don’t know if I should pay him or not.
“Do I need to?”, I asked, pulling my purse on my pocket.
“No, no, dear. We’re already paid. I am glad I had served you, young lady. Enjoy studying.”, he said. Then he joined the others and they all ebbed after entering a huge door.
I looked at the elevator on my back. It was Ceiron! Right! Ceiron was standing inside the elevator. I was about to join him when a hand pulled me away.
“Lynette!”, a high voice of a female called. Ceira, of course.
“Oh, hello.”, I whispered. It was then when I noticed that all the people who rode the elevator with Ceiron were all boys. Above the elevator comes a sign of a warrior with a crown on his left hand, and a sword on the other hand.
“Come on. We want to have a good seat.”, Ceira said and pulled me to the opposite elevator that has a sign of a ballet dancer with a tiara on her head. Cute.
Five more girls went with us. I noticed the girl with red hair and red-eyes was treated well by the other four girls. I ignored her. Her back was ugly, and I am sure her face was, too.
I don’t know what strangeness comes when the door of the elevator open. But as long as it is not home, I am sure it’s tedious and worthless.
Grandfather welcomed us when we reached the door. He’s wearing the silver jacket that my mother, Emily Rossdale-Ashford gave him. He told us that he hated it; since the color was so shiny that he looked like a wrapper for wedding gifts. We’re surprised to see him wearing it like his old jacket.
“How’s the town?”, he asked. I kissed him on his cheeks first.
“Terrible.”, I answered.
“Terrible? I thought you’re going to like it.”, he said in dismay.
“That’s it, Grandpa. I like the city so badly that I don’t want to comeback here.”
He didn’t answer. I can see a glimpse of pain on his face. I hurt him. Bad Lynette.
“But of course I came back for you Grandpa. I can’t compare the city with your love and care.”, I said back, hoping that it can soothe or heal the twinge I cause Grandpa.
“Thank you.”, he said. The change on his expression was visible.
“Mike, bring the things on her room. Amelia, guide Mike. Lynette, let’s eat. Your aunt and Nate are waiting for you.”, he added.
What’s Nate doing here? Oh, I forgot. They slept here.
I told him about the town while walking to the dining room. He laughed when I told him about how flirt that George was. Meanwhile, I saw Nathalie and her son fixing the plates and the foods.
“Welcome home, darling.”, Nathalie greeted like a professional mother. I like her more than yesterday. I smiled at her, and then sat on my regular chair.
The lunch was short, but strident. The food was great, since Nathalie was the one who made it. She’s good in making mashed potatoes. Grandpa reminded me to go upstairs as soon as I finish eating.
“Grandpa.”, I called.
“Yes?”, he answered.
“Nothing.”, I said as I stood up from my seat and ran to my room. Amelia was waiting for me. She was seating on my bed, her arms folded on her lap and her face turned with sadness. She immediately smiled when she saw me, so I ignored the gloominess.
We start packing our things. Amelia showed me three different bags, a medium-sized luggage bag, a big backpack and a full-size hand carry bag. Since I don’t know how to fold the clothes, I just picked the garments that I’ll bring and Amelia will fold it. Here are some of the clothes:
Luggage Bag
Golden Brocade Gown
Ebony Sweater (knitted)
Two pair of jeans
Green Dress
Yellow Skirt
Blue blouse
Three Chemises
Undergarments
Buckle Lace Shoe (Black)
Lacy Tie-Up Ankle Boots
Red European Cape
Soft Slipper
Backpack
Scarf (red, and white)
Black Gloves (Lace and Satin Elbow-Length) , White Gloves (Thicker)
Belt
Small Handbag
Velvet Vest
Red Ribbon
Pink Blouse
Handkerchiefs
Tulle
Handbag
Hair Brush
Cameo Brooch
Cashmere Shawls
High tortoise shell comb
Jewelry Box (with a necklace, earrings and a charm bracelet)
Choker
Glass Monocle with chain
After we’d finished packing my things, Grandfather, Amelia and Mike, together with Nathalie and Nathaniel accompanied me to the new airport. My flight will leave a exactly 4 pm. It was already 3:00 pm. One hour to go.
When we reached the airport, we directly look for the Station 5. I noticed that only few people were staying on the station’s lobby. Nathaniel worked with my passport and ticket, so he needed to leave us on the lobby.
“Don’t do anything bad, Miss Lynette. Study well. Be nice, Miss Lynette. I’m gonna miss you.”, Amelia started. She cried, Mike wiped her tears.
“Lynette, please. Write us some letters. Enjoy your high school life. Don’t force yourself. Take care always. I’ll let you bring my love and prayers, dear.”, Aunt Nathalie seconded. She hugged me and I hugged her back.
“Grow up, brat.”, I heard Nathaniel when he came back, holding my documents on his left hand. Left-handed crude boy.
“Thanks for the useful farewell.”, I said. How rude of him. I thought he’s nice. Rubbish.
“Lynette. Take care of yourself. Listen to your mentors. Befriend everyone. Be a nice, little lady. Eat on time. Sleep when you’re drowsy. Do write us if you’re not busy. Love you, dear.”, Grandpa said. He’s crying.
“Don’t worry too much about me. Can take care of myself. Thanks Amelia, Mike. It was so nice to meet you, Aunt Nathalie I love you too. And oh my ever-nice second cousin, I won’t forget your stupid farewell-”
“Oh please. That’s not a farewell message.”, he interfered.
“And why not?”, I asked.
“We’ll see each other again. That’s for sure.”, said Nathaniel, and then he gave me a wink. Cute, but more of yuck.
“To all the passengers of JK-312, please proceed to the-”
“Lynette! Hurry!”, Mike shouted. I jumped in surprise.
All of the gang went with me as I entered a door with lots of guards. They carried my bags, except my hand carry bag and checked my body.
“Bye.”, I heard myself saying to them.
“Good luck.”, they said back.
But before we leave each other, I remembered the wine on my pocket.
“Hey Grandpa!”, I yelled. He looked at me.
“Here. Catch!”, I said as I throw the box. To my relief, he caught it with his two hands.
“That’s from Omar. He sent his love.”, I said as I found them disappearing on my eyes. A stewardess assisted me to the plane. My seat was near the window, but I can’t open it. Good. A girl with black hair and golden eyes sat on my right, and on her right was a boy with the same color of hair and eyes. I don’t know if the plane was moving, all I know was that I hate this. I hate all of this. I don’t want to stay away from my grandfather. And now that I knew that I have an aunt and a cousin, I’m afraid I can just stay a day on that academy.
I wrapped myself with my jacket. It was cold, and my tears strengthen it. A pink-haired stewardess went closer to us, offering a weird-looking spray. Eventually, she sprayed it on the three of us. Reflex, I didn’t inhaled or breathe. I saw the pink gas she sprayed. That made the other passengers to pass out and they went out of their consciousness. They’re dead. No, I think they’re just sleeping. Is this a terrorist plane?
My thoughts are running and circling my head. I can’t think of other reasons on why would they do this, except for kidnapping or snatching something from us, of course. A fat lady noticed me, with my eyes still open. She went closer and pulled the spray bottle on her pocket and sprayed it right into my eyes. It doesn’t hurt me, but I can feel my eyes closing. It’s like someone was pulling them downwards. I tried to open it, but I can’t. I don’t know how to open my eyes again. I feel numb. All I can see was a black scene. Are we on the black hole? No. Impossible. Then, where am I? And why on the world did this happen? Mother, help me. Please.
* * * * * * * * * * *
My head was spinning when I woke up. All the passengers were awake. I was the last one to wake up, I guess. As I look into their faces, I can’t see a glimpse of worry or terror or something. They’re the same. Smiling, crying, laughing, kissing, anything, but not with doubt. Strange. The two brunettes on my side were already fixing and cleaning their faces from the stain of the pink gas.
“Hi. Oh.”, the girl said to me. She wiped the pink blot on my forehead.
“Thanks.”, I managed to say.
“I am Ceira Ishikawa.”, she said.
“Lynette Marie van Dross.”, I said.
“A beautiful name for a stunning lady. Let me introduce myself. I am Ceiron Ishikawa, a gentleman in shining suit.”, the man said. He bent down and gestured to kiss me when Ceira pulled him and knocked him on the face. Amazing.
“Stop it, man! You pervert! Trying to harm such an angel!”, she said, shielding me from Ceiron.
“Excuse me? Who are you two?”, I asked.
“Oh. Gomenasai! He’s my twin. Please forgive me. I’ll tell you later. But now, we have to get our things and get out of this pink-gassed place!”, she said as she pulled her trunk. I copied her, then copied Ceiron who was now walking to the door.
The airdrome was stranger. It was well lighted, but something is really eccentric. There are only a few numbers of people. There are no guards, but there are muscled men who were carrying the luggage of each passenger. I moved to the side and pulled my bags. A bald man went to me and said, “Let me carry those.”
I don’t know what to say. I just walked after him, facsimileing the others.
“Madam?”, he asked when we reached another strange area. It was filled with lots and lots of elevators. I don’t know if I should pay him or not.
“Do I need to?”, I asked, pulling my purse on my pocket.
“No, no, dear. We’re already paid. I am glad I had served you, young lady. Enjoy studying.”, he said. Then he joined the others and they all ebbed after entering a huge door.
I looked at the elevator on my back. It was Ceiron! Right! Ceiron was standing inside the elevator. I was about to join him when a hand pulled me away.
“Lynette!”, a high voice of a female called. Ceira, of course.
“Oh, hello.”, I whispered. It was then when I noticed that all the people who rode the elevator with Ceiron were all boys. Above the elevator comes a sign of a warrior with a crown on his left hand, and a sword on the other hand.
“Come on. We want to have a good seat.”, Ceira said and pulled me to the opposite elevator that has a sign of a ballet dancer with a tiara on her head. Cute.
Five more girls went with us. I noticed the girl with red hair and red-eyes was treated well by the other four girls. I ignored her. Her back was ugly, and I am sure her face was, too.
I don’t know what strangeness comes when the door of the elevator open. But as long as it is not home, I am sure it’s tedious and worthless.
The Last Luna: Chapter Three
The Puppeteers’ Tavern
It was nearly seven in the morning when I woke up. I instantly asked Grandpa about my clothes. And as expected, my grandfather gave a permission to go out of his mansion and buy my stuffs on the city, with Amelia and Mike of course. I immediately ran to my room and took a cold shower and hauled Amelia to the garage where Mike was busy wiping the car.
“Let’s go, Mike.”, I commanded and he opened the back door for me. I entered flawlessly, regardless of the few times of riding a car. Amelia seated beside Mike on the front seat.
As he drove out of the mansion, I felt a sudden increase on my heartbeat. Surely I was nervous. It was first time (out of five years) to get out of the van Dross’ house.
“Excited on your school’s stuffs?”, Mike asked.
“Yes.”, I lied. I wasn’t excited on school or clothes since I already have them. I am really excited about seeing the city, the shops, the stores, and the people on my age, the beggars and the buildings.
I moved closer to the window. Mike opened it for me. I smiled at him. Sure thing, the air I inhaled was not as fresh as the air on the garden, but my body was so happy that it couldn’t feel any difference. Some things had change, like the model of the cars, the altitude of the buildings, the name of some shops and bars, and one thing, I hate the way the girl with red hair pulled her dog with the chain. Poor dog.
“Why?”, I asked Mike when he parked the car on a free lot.
“Lady, we’re to take a walk. I thought you’ll love it.”, Amelia said.
“Excellent! What are we waiting for?”, I said impatiently. I opened the door and went out of the car. I took a deep breath before following Amelia and Mike who just entered a boutique.
“Good morning. What can we do for you?”, a woman who looked like a man asked.
“Lady van Dross needs some clothes.”, Amelia said formally.
“Lady van Dross, of course. Please follow me.”, he or she said as he led us to another room.
“Actually, I already have some clothes for you, Miss van Dross.”, he or she said.
“You do?”, I asked, wondering where he got my sizes.
“The man with you, I believe the one named Mike went here last month. He brought a fashionable dress of yours, lady. I copied the size and make more dresses for you, madam.”, he or she said again on a flirty, but proud tone. He revealed a rack of clothes when he pulled the curtain.
“Can Lady Lynette see it?”, Amelia asked.
“Of course.”, he or she answered.
I can’t believe this. So, Grandpa really planned this. He even made a tailored dress for me!
I pulled the first one that I saw. I smiled with Amelia.
“That is my Golden Brocade, Three-piece ensemble. Included is a beautiful Satin Chemise, a Bodice made from black velvet and fully lined. The Skirt is made from the same black velvet and brocade damask fabric.”, he said as he pulled the gown on my hand. “Mind to wear it so we can see if it fits you?”, he asked.
“I trust you,.”, I said. I don’t know his name, so I added, “Miss?”,
“Oh you’re so clever to call me Miss! I am George Smartens, but you can call me Georgia. I’ll love that.”, she said. A gay.
“Thank you, for making this gown. But I think I can just use it when there’s a party on my school. I really appreciate it, George. I mean, Madam Georgia.”, I smiled.
He smiled back and discussed shorter dresses. Actually, he can prance it and just give me the clothes. The town was so big, and my time left was just limited, and I don’t want to dissipate it on just listening to him or her.
When Amelia noticed how bored I was, she cuts off George and grabbed the clothes. I followed her, surprised by her impolite actions.
Next stop, the Winter Shop with a drawing of a smiling snowflake on the wooden flap.
“Who are they?”, a lady asked. I’m sure she’s a girl. Trust me.
“van Dross.”, Amelia said.
She smiled. I don’t know that our kin has a large influence on Oxford.
“Here.”, she said as she handed Amelia a crimson box with lavender band.
“Thank you.”, I said before stepping out of the not-so-visited store.
“Hungry?”, Mike asked.
“No.”, I answered.
“Then what do you want to do?”, he asked again.
“There is this place that I really wanted to go to since I was a kid.”, I said.
“Sure. Where is it?”
“I can’t remember the way, but I do know the place.”, I said.
“What is it, then?”, Amelia asked curiously.
“The Puppeteers’ Tavern.”, I answered.
“A pub?”, Mike asked.
“Yes.”
“Why do you know such place?”, Amelia asked.
“Stop asking, Amelia. Just bring Lady Lynette to the place.”, Mike interrupted. Thank God!
The walked to the tavern was just short. At least, Mike had an idea on where to find the city’s most famous bars. The Puppeteers’ Tavern was no like the other bars. It was a quiet place and no smoking is allowed, a saloon where smokers are not accepted.
The door of the pub was made of wood, burnish to perfection. It was raucous on the place where we were standing, thanks to the horses and engines that pass by on this pub. On the other side of the buffed door comes a dimmed place. There are chairs properly arranged, circling each table with a couple of wine glass. The old man, whom I believe to owned the name of Omar Diplexer. He was a witty man, and he is on his late 50’s or something. When I was young, I can still remember myself, following my father when he and my mother were arguing about the rose garden of Grandma. So, I followed father when he entered a tavern (a spy!). Luckily, he didn’t notice me, or no one noticed me. I hided on the darkest corner of the area and watched my father as he cried in front of Mr. Diplexer. I can’t understand what he was talking about that time, since he was drunk. But I really felt that he and my mother had a hard fight about that patch. I wanted to help him that time, since I cannot just stand and observe my dear father crying and sobbing helplessly. But I can’t aid him around; I am with Grandpa’s side. I want to have a garden that can help us to cherish Grandma. I cried silently while standing, and no one seemed to notice me. But I stopped crying when I heard the pub owner talked to my father like he was his brother. He told father that he was wrong. He told father that he was selfish on the fact that he has an allergy to rose that’s why he’s not on favor of creating an ample rose garden. I wanted to punch him, but I can’t. First, he was so huge. He was muscular. And second, he was the only one who made my father to stop crying. Instead, I hugged my father on the back and asked him on what he was drinking. He was shocked at first, with his ten-year-old daughter hanging on a bar. But of course, with my charm, he permitted me to stay with him and told me lots of stories about the tavern and Mr. Diplexer. He said that Omar was his colleague and one of his closest friends in college. He told many stories that I could hardly remember them. On our way home, Omar threw a bottle of wine to my father. It was later revealed that Omar Diplexer was Grandpa’s godson. He was my grandfather’s best friend’s son that owned a developing wine business on the southern tip of Ireland.
He looked deep on my eyes, and he putted the rug on his back pocket.
“Long time no see, Sir Omar.”, I greeted, using the name that I heard my father called him before.
“van Dross’ daughter?”, he asked, studying every viewpoint of my appearance.
“Lynette. The one who cried softly on that side”, I answered, pointing the corner where I stood and watched my father.
“Sure you are. You got your mother’s hair and your father’s eyes. Perfect combination. Have a seat. I believe you’re still underage. Juice? Coffee? Tea?”, he offered.
“No, no. Thank you by the way. I just need the same wine you gave my father when I was ten. Cholas’ Pleasure 1799, if I’m correct.”, I said.
“Cholas’ Pleasure. I think you’re the only guest that can remember the name. It was old, but delicate. Can you linger for a minute?”, he asked.
“Positive.”, I answered.
He asked for a minute, but he gave me the wine on just eight blinks of my eye. He handed me a wooden box with a number-lock. I stared at him.
“Need for a code?”, he asked.
“No. I knew it, I supposed”, I said. And then I rolled the numbers until I arrived at a pretty combination.
60506
The box opened. Haha! I knew it! I opened the container and ogled at the old urn of wine, labeled with Cholas’ Pleasure 1799. It was green bottle with a cork stopper and it was, a star for eyes. It’s astonishing.
“Thank you. Is it gratis?”, I asked.
“It was the last one, why not?”, he asked back. I giggled.
“Thank you.”, I said. I was planning to stay a little longer when Amelia reminded me of the time.
“I think you need to go home, brat.”, Omar said. He reminded me of that crude Nathaniel, who forced me to call him Nate since we’re relatives.
“Brat’s not a nice word, Omar. Thank you again for the wine, and for the seat. Hope to see you again in good vigor and as a well-mannered chap.”, I said.
“Thanks for the insult. Say my love to your Grandpa.”, he said as I went into the car.
He waved when the car started to move. I rolled down the window and wave back with him. He’s one of the persons that I’ll miss when I am on that twaddle school.
“Lunch time. I hoped Lolita cooked.”, Amelia prayed.
“Trust, Amelia. Relax.”, Mike said, and then he chuckled. Amelia’s forehead formed a crease.
I rested myself on the car. I was hungry, but the moments with Omar made my heart and mind full. I’’ tell you this, when I was 10, I developed a delightful crush on Omar but of course, I quickly realize that he’s too old for me. And, he has his partner. But they don’t have a child. I doubt why.
“Lynette?”, Amelia called.
“Hmm?”, I looked at her.
“You’re gripping on the box tightly. It can harm your hands. Loosen it a bit, dear.”, she said.
“Oh, thank you Amelia.” I was carried away with my thoughts. I placed the box on the biggest pocket of my jacket.
“We’re here, ladies.”, Mike called.
I am excited to see Grandpa’s reaction when I gave his personal brand of heroine.
It was nearly seven in the morning when I woke up. I instantly asked Grandpa about my clothes. And as expected, my grandfather gave a permission to go out of his mansion and buy my stuffs on the city, with Amelia and Mike of course. I immediately ran to my room and took a cold shower and hauled Amelia to the garage where Mike was busy wiping the car.
“Let’s go, Mike.”, I commanded and he opened the back door for me. I entered flawlessly, regardless of the few times of riding a car. Amelia seated beside Mike on the front seat.
As he drove out of the mansion, I felt a sudden increase on my heartbeat. Surely I was nervous. It was first time (out of five years) to get out of the van Dross’ house.
“Excited on your school’s stuffs?”, Mike asked.
“Yes.”, I lied. I wasn’t excited on school or clothes since I already have them. I am really excited about seeing the city, the shops, the stores, and the people on my age, the beggars and the buildings.
I moved closer to the window. Mike opened it for me. I smiled at him. Sure thing, the air I inhaled was not as fresh as the air on the garden, but my body was so happy that it couldn’t feel any difference. Some things had change, like the model of the cars, the altitude of the buildings, the name of some shops and bars, and one thing, I hate the way the girl with red hair pulled her dog with the chain. Poor dog.
“Why?”, I asked Mike when he parked the car on a free lot.
“Lady, we’re to take a walk. I thought you’ll love it.”, Amelia said.
“Excellent! What are we waiting for?”, I said impatiently. I opened the door and went out of the car. I took a deep breath before following Amelia and Mike who just entered a boutique.
“Good morning. What can we do for you?”, a woman who looked like a man asked.
“Lady van Dross needs some clothes.”, Amelia said formally.
“Lady van Dross, of course. Please follow me.”, he or she said as he led us to another room.
“Actually, I already have some clothes for you, Miss van Dross.”, he or she said.
“You do?”, I asked, wondering where he got my sizes.
“The man with you, I believe the one named Mike went here last month. He brought a fashionable dress of yours, lady. I copied the size and make more dresses for you, madam.”, he or she said again on a flirty, but proud tone. He revealed a rack of clothes when he pulled the curtain.
“Can Lady Lynette see it?”, Amelia asked.
“Of course.”, he or she answered.
I can’t believe this. So, Grandpa really planned this. He even made a tailored dress for me!
I pulled the first one that I saw. I smiled with Amelia.
“That is my Golden Brocade, Three-piece ensemble. Included is a beautiful Satin Chemise, a Bodice made from black velvet and fully lined. The Skirt is made from the same black velvet and brocade damask fabric.”, he said as he pulled the gown on my hand. “Mind to wear it so we can see if it fits you?”, he asked.
“I trust you,.”, I said. I don’t know his name, so I added, “Miss?”,
“Oh you’re so clever to call me Miss! I am George Smartens, but you can call me Georgia. I’ll love that.”, she said. A gay.
“Thank you, for making this gown. But I think I can just use it when there’s a party on my school. I really appreciate it, George. I mean, Madam Georgia.”, I smiled.
He smiled back and discussed shorter dresses. Actually, he can prance it and just give me the clothes. The town was so big, and my time left was just limited, and I don’t want to dissipate it on just listening to him or her.
When Amelia noticed how bored I was, she cuts off George and grabbed the clothes. I followed her, surprised by her impolite actions.
Next stop, the Winter Shop with a drawing of a smiling snowflake on the wooden flap.
“Who are they?”, a lady asked. I’m sure she’s a girl. Trust me.
“van Dross.”, Amelia said.
She smiled. I don’t know that our kin has a large influence on Oxford.
“Here.”, she said as she handed Amelia a crimson box with lavender band.
“Thank you.”, I said before stepping out of the not-so-visited store.
“Hungry?”, Mike asked.
“No.”, I answered.
“Then what do you want to do?”, he asked again.
“There is this place that I really wanted to go to since I was a kid.”, I said.
“Sure. Where is it?”
“I can’t remember the way, but I do know the place.”, I said.
“What is it, then?”, Amelia asked curiously.
“The Puppeteers’ Tavern.”, I answered.
“A pub?”, Mike asked.
“Yes.”
“Why do you know such place?”, Amelia asked.
“Stop asking, Amelia. Just bring Lady Lynette to the place.”, Mike interrupted. Thank God!
The walked to the tavern was just short. At least, Mike had an idea on where to find the city’s most famous bars. The Puppeteers’ Tavern was no like the other bars. It was a quiet place and no smoking is allowed, a saloon where smokers are not accepted.
The door of the pub was made of wood, burnish to perfection. It was raucous on the place where we were standing, thanks to the horses and engines that pass by on this pub. On the other side of the buffed door comes a dimmed place. There are chairs properly arranged, circling each table with a couple of wine glass. The old man, whom I believe to owned the name of Omar Diplexer. He was a witty man, and he is on his late 50’s or something. When I was young, I can still remember myself, following my father when he and my mother were arguing about the rose garden of Grandma. So, I followed father when he entered a tavern (a spy!). Luckily, he didn’t notice me, or no one noticed me. I hided on the darkest corner of the area and watched my father as he cried in front of Mr. Diplexer. I can’t understand what he was talking about that time, since he was drunk. But I really felt that he and my mother had a hard fight about that patch. I wanted to help him that time, since I cannot just stand and observe my dear father crying and sobbing helplessly. But I can’t aid him around; I am with Grandpa’s side. I want to have a garden that can help us to cherish Grandma. I cried silently while standing, and no one seemed to notice me. But I stopped crying when I heard the pub owner talked to my father like he was his brother. He told father that he was wrong. He told father that he was selfish on the fact that he has an allergy to rose that’s why he’s not on favor of creating an ample rose garden. I wanted to punch him, but I can’t. First, he was so huge. He was muscular. And second, he was the only one who made my father to stop crying. Instead, I hugged my father on the back and asked him on what he was drinking. He was shocked at first, with his ten-year-old daughter hanging on a bar. But of course, with my charm, he permitted me to stay with him and told me lots of stories about the tavern and Mr. Diplexer. He said that Omar was his colleague and one of his closest friends in college. He told many stories that I could hardly remember them. On our way home, Omar threw a bottle of wine to my father. It was later revealed that Omar Diplexer was Grandpa’s godson. He was my grandfather’s best friend’s son that owned a developing wine business on the southern tip of Ireland.
He looked deep on my eyes, and he putted the rug on his back pocket.
“Long time no see, Sir Omar.”, I greeted, using the name that I heard my father called him before.
“van Dross’ daughter?”, he asked, studying every viewpoint of my appearance.
“Lynette. The one who cried softly on that side”, I answered, pointing the corner where I stood and watched my father.
“Sure you are. You got your mother’s hair and your father’s eyes. Perfect combination. Have a seat. I believe you’re still underage. Juice? Coffee? Tea?”, he offered.
“No, no. Thank you by the way. I just need the same wine you gave my father when I was ten. Cholas’ Pleasure 1799, if I’m correct.”, I said.
“Cholas’ Pleasure. I think you’re the only guest that can remember the name. It was old, but delicate. Can you linger for a minute?”, he asked.
“Positive.”, I answered.
He asked for a minute, but he gave me the wine on just eight blinks of my eye. He handed me a wooden box with a number-lock. I stared at him.
“Need for a code?”, he asked.
“No. I knew it, I supposed”, I said. And then I rolled the numbers until I arrived at a pretty combination.
60506
The box opened. Haha! I knew it! I opened the container and ogled at the old urn of wine, labeled with Cholas’ Pleasure 1799. It was green bottle with a cork stopper and it was, a star for eyes. It’s astonishing.
“Thank you. Is it gratis?”, I asked.
“It was the last one, why not?”, he asked back. I giggled.
“Thank you.”, I said. I was planning to stay a little longer when Amelia reminded me of the time.
“I think you need to go home, brat.”, Omar said. He reminded me of that crude Nathaniel, who forced me to call him Nate since we’re relatives.
“Brat’s not a nice word, Omar. Thank you again for the wine, and for the seat. Hope to see you again in good vigor and as a well-mannered chap.”, I said.
“Thanks for the insult. Say my love to your Grandpa.”, he said as I went into the car.
He waved when the car started to move. I rolled down the window and wave back with him. He’s one of the persons that I’ll miss when I am on that twaddle school.
“Lunch time. I hoped Lolita cooked.”, Amelia prayed.
“Trust, Amelia. Relax.”, Mike said, and then he chuckled. Amelia’s forehead formed a crease.
I rested myself on the car. I was hungry, but the moments with Omar made my heart and mind full. I’’ tell you this, when I was 10, I developed a delightful crush on Omar but of course, I quickly realize that he’s too old for me. And, he has his partner. But they don’t have a child. I doubt why.
“Lynette?”, Amelia called.
“Hmm?”, I looked at her.
“You’re gripping on the box tightly. It can harm your hands. Loosen it a bit, dear.”, she said.
“Oh, thank you Amelia.” I was carried away with my thoughts. I placed the box on the biggest pocket of my jacket.
“We’re here, ladies.”, Mike called.
I am excited to see Grandpa’s reaction when I gave his personal brand of heroine.
Saturday 11 April 2009
The Last Luna : Chapter 2
Part 2
I woke up. The sky has turned from sky blue to rich blue-violet. And oh, there’s my star! I did stretching, and then hunger stroked me again. God only knows how ravenous I am. I reached for my black slippers, flattened my light-yellow dress, fixed my wavy, dark-brown hair and walked to the main door. Amelia was waiting for me. Unfortunately, she was not alone. Nathaniel Ashford was also standing, waiting for me, I guess.
“Good eve.”, I greeted.
“Same to you.”, Amelia greeted back. Nathaniel gave me a nice nod and a little smirk.
“Hungry?”, he suddenly asked over.
I blushed. And then I nodded. We all headed to the dining area. I can smell all the reeks of the foods Amelia and the company prepared.
Nathalie was the first to approach me. She hugged me before I sat down. And then Grandpa squeezed my hand. I replied him by giving a smile. Grandpa led the prayer. Unluckily, the prayer was quite long. Afterwards, Amelia entered with a half-dozen of maids on her back, carrying such delicious foods and again, Amelia, the head chef introduced the foods.
“This is Fresh Gardenia Salad. Made of fresh lettuce, red cabbage, fresh basil…..”
Everything is fresh. That’s it. Move to next!
“And this is the Family’s Roasted Chicken seasoned with salt and pepper, both fresh and dried parsley . . .”, she said while one of the maids served a nose-smiling Roasted Chicken on the center of the table.
“We also have our Fish Sauce Sautee Beans, Chicken Curry, Grilled Lamb chops..”, she added.
“What’s for desert?”, I impatiently asked.
“Sweet-toothed brat.” I heard Nathaniel whispered to himself. I stared at him for a few seconds. He looked back and raised his eyebrows. I snob at him, and then I looked back to the mouth-watering deserts.
“Cheesecake, Berry Craze, and of course, Gelato.”, she finished her discussion with opening the wine.
“I’ll pass, I am still underage.”, I said.
Amelia already knew it. So he offered Nathaniel instead.
“I’ll pass with the alcohol. I’ll go for the water.”, he said.
“Oh my! I thought men are men when they are good drinkers.”, I teased.
Nathaniel looked at me with surprised look. “I knew that. I wanted to, but I can’t. I am still underage. I’m just 17.”
“What? Of course you’re not.”, I said. Both Nathaniel and Grandpa looked at me startlingly.
“Are you kidding? Of course I am.”
I can’t answer him. Oh my dog, does he mean that he’s 17? Oh dear.
“Hey, don’t tell me you’re baffled?”, he suddenly questioned.
“Baffled? Of what?”, I asked back.
“Because you, you like me and you are now with your second thought, ‘cause I’m a lot older than you. I never thought that you’ll think that I am just on your age!”, he answered, acting like he was the most lovable person in the whole world.
I let my jaw dropped. Thick-faced gaudy! Me? Like him? No way and definitely no thank you! I need to think of something to stop it.
“Mr. Ashford, I think you got me wrong. I am already 15 for your information. And actually, I thought you are Aunt Nathalie’s husband!”
Blood rushed out of his admirable face. “Excuse me?”, he asked. That’s the only word that came out of his mouth.
Nathalie chuckled before she commented, “He’s my son.”
“See mother? This hairstyle of Papa sucks.”, Nathaniel said as he muddled his right-sided hair.
He looked like a god. Let me describe him. He has a dark-bronze hair, darker than Nathalie’s chestnut, a sapphire pair of expressionless eyes, very seductive (oooopss!) lips, perfect nose, and he stood 5’11. And I am just 5’3? How unfair!!
Nathalie and I were busy giggling while Nathaniel continued on fixing or messing his hair, when Grandpa rang his antique bell.
“To my dear niece, Nathalie Ashford, to my ever reliable grandson, Nathaniel Ashford, and of course, to my only light, and the best granddaughter ever, Lynette Marie van Dross. Toss and cheers!”
“Cheers!”, we agreed. Grandpa’s words touched my heart, and a pain of guilt clouted me. I did not trust him. I don’t deserve him.
The whole night ended with so many tears from laughter and knowledge from stories of each. So, this is how a dinner of family works. I hope tomorrow would be a good day, since Nathalie told me that she already enrolled me, and the opening of the school year would be on Monday.
It was Saturday, how I hoped my last day here in Oxford would be memorable and fun.
I woke up. The sky has turned from sky blue to rich blue-violet. And oh, there’s my star! I did stretching, and then hunger stroked me again. God only knows how ravenous I am. I reached for my black slippers, flattened my light-yellow dress, fixed my wavy, dark-brown hair and walked to the main door. Amelia was waiting for me. Unfortunately, she was not alone. Nathaniel Ashford was also standing, waiting for me, I guess.
“Good eve.”, I greeted.
“Same to you.”, Amelia greeted back. Nathaniel gave me a nice nod and a little smirk.
“Hungry?”, he suddenly asked over.
I blushed. And then I nodded. We all headed to the dining area. I can smell all the reeks of the foods Amelia and the company prepared.
Nathalie was the first to approach me. She hugged me before I sat down. And then Grandpa squeezed my hand. I replied him by giving a smile. Grandpa led the prayer. Unluckily, the prayer was quite long. Afterwards, Amelia entered with a half-dozen of maids on her back, carrying such delicious foods and again, Amelia, the head chef introduced the foods.
“This is Fresh Gardenia Salad. Made of fresh lettuce, red cabbage, fresh basil…..”
Everything is fresh. That’s it. Move to next!
“And this is the Family’s Roasted Chicken seasoned with salt and pepper, both fresh and dried parsley . . .”, she said while one of the maids served a nose-smiling Roasted Chicken on the center of the table.
“We also have our Fish Sauce Sautee Beans, Chicken Curry, Grilled Lamb chops..”, she added.
“What’s for desert?”, I impatiently asked.
“Sweet-toothed brat.” I heard Nathaniel whispered to himself. I stared at him for a few seconds. He looked back and raised his eyebrows. I snob at him, and then I looked back to the mouth-watering deserts.
“Cheesecake, Berry Craze, and of course, Gelato.”, she finished her discussion with opening the wine.
“I’ll pass, I am still underage.”, I said.
Amelia already knew it. So he offered Nathaniel instead.
“I’ll pass with the alcohol. I’ll go for the water.”, he said.
“Oh my! I thought men are men when they are good drinkers.”, I teased.
Nathaniel looked at me with surprised look. “I knew that. I wanted to, but I can’t. I am still underage. I’m just 17.”
“What? Of course you’re not.”, I said. Both Nathaniel and Grandpa looked at me startlingly.
“Are you kidding? Of course I am.”
I can’t answer him. Oh my dog, does he mean that he’s 17? Oh dear.
“Hey, don’t tell me you’re baffled?”, he suddenly questioned.
“Baffled? Of what?”, I asked back.
“Because you, you like me and you are now with your second thought, ‘cause I’m a lot older than you. I never thought that you’ll think that I am just on your age!”, he answered, acting like he was the most lovable person in the whole world.
I let my jaw dropped. Thick-faced gaudy! Me? Like him? No way and definitely no thank you! I need to think of something to stop it.
“Mr. Ashford, I think you got me wrong. I am already 15 for your information. And actually, I thought you are Aunt Nathalie’s husband!”
Blood rushed out of his admirable face. “Excuse me?”, he asked. That’s the only word that came out of his mouth.
Nathalie chuckled before she commented, “He’s my son.”
“See mother? This hairstyle of Papa sucks.”, Nathaniel said as he muddled his right-sided hair.
He looked like a god. Let me describe him. He has a dark-bronze hair, darker than Nathalie’s chestnut, a sapphire pair of expressionless eyes, very seductive (oooopss!) lips, perfect nose, and he stood 5’11. And I am just 5’3? How unfair!!
Nathalie and I were busy giggling while Nathaniel continued on fixing or messing his hair, when Grandpa rang his antique bell.
“To my dear niece, Nathalie Ashford, to my ever reliable grandson, Nathaniel Ashford, and of course, to my only light, and the best granddaughter ever, Lynette Marie van Dross. Toss and cheers!”
“Cheers!”, we agreed. Grandpa’s words touched my heart, and a pain of guilt clouted me. I did not trust him. I don’t deserve him.
The whole night ended with so many tears from laughter and knowledge from stories of each. So, this is how a dinner of family works. I hope tomorrow would be a good day, since Nathalie told me that she already enrolled me, and the opening of the school year would be on Monday.
It was Saturday, how I hoped my last day here in Oxford would be memorable and fun.
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