The Quest for Aphecelle
Chapter 1
1 year later
Time is cruel, she thought to herself. After her father’s death, Catherine’s mother had packed the family up and left for the United States, her home country. Catherine had been less than happy, but being under eighteen had no choice. It was Friday, early in the morning a week after her eighteenth birthday just before school, she sat in her room brushing her long hair, she knew her father’s promise wouldn’t come true if she didn’t go back to Brazil, and she laughed aloud at the prospect of living the rest of her life in a stone house in the stone country of America. “How they can stand it I don’t know Timothy.” A tall young man walked in the room.
“You always know, I still don’t understand, before your birthday it was only sometimes. Now it’s all the time.” Towering above her was Catherine’s dark eyed brother Timothy and he spoke of Catherine’s uncanny ability to know who was near her.
“Before it was only when someone had extreme feelings about something, now it’s just a persons basic life force. Are you going back with me, I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“I’m not sure if mom will allow it. She needs one of us, I don’t think she’d make it without. Maybe I should stay another year.”
“That would make it right, next year you’ll come to all of your holdings and be able to return with, or without her, because you have to do something with them.
Later when she went out to her car, she found a slashed tire glaring up at her. "Damn kids" She was refering to people her age that acted like 13 year old vigilantes. When she went back in to the house to ask Timothy for a ride she ran into her mom's boyfriend.
“What’s a matter princess?” She gave her him a frigid look, he returned it with malice. He was a foot shorter that she was and delighted in calling her pet names because he knew it bothered her.
“At least you don’t fight in front of mom,” Her brother whispered so that no one else heard. A devilish grin crossed her face and she laughed, not a tiny giggle but a full loud laugh that pronounced her love for life.
“Could you perhaps, dear jester, drive me to school?” His dark eyebrows raised in question. Lowering her voice she said, “Tire was slashed again.” His faced darkened and he nodded.
“What are you two conniving about now? You should be at school!” Catherine turned and held up the soiled shirt.
“I also forgot to fill up my car, I was asking Timothy for a ride.” Why does she need to be pacified I hated lying, Dad would have never minded something if I told the truth. She ran after Timothy, her thinking delayed
Stuffing the rest of a muffin in his mouth Timothy mumbled, “Let’s go.” Both proceeded down the wide hallway to the door and headed toward his low-rider truck. “So who is against you this morning? Or should I say last night?” He looked at her questioningly.
“I’m not sure this time. At least you and mom can sell it now, I won’t need it after tomorrow.” She paused as she got in the truck. “That’s the thing though, whoever did this found a way to stand two blocks away, or even scarier, someone can come close and hide themselves from me.” She looked at his face in scrutiny.
“You said that the janitor can communicate with you, maybe he’s more advanced than you first thought.” They were traveling down the highway now.
“No, he can’t really talk with me, just forward images of things that he’s seen or that he makes up in his mind. No, I can’t think of anyone who can do such a thing.” He shrugged as they pulled into the school parking lot.
“Maybe you should ask him, maybe he knows more like himself, or someone like you.” He looked at her meaningfully, shrugged and turned off the engine. “Do you want a ride home?”
A slight smile crossed her face and she replied, “If I’m still here at lunch, yes. If I’m not, Pat and I skipped the last two hours.”
“Hoping like everything that the principal doesn’t catch you and call mom,” he paused and smiled. “Again.” With that he swung himself out of the car, grabbed his bag and pushed the lock button before Catherine could get out.
Very funny, she mouthed at him.
“Patricia! Hey, over here!” Catherine yelled over the heads of the rest of the students in the crowded hallway; being 6’ 4” it wasn’t hard. Suddenly a chill ran up her spine, she turned slowly, behind her was a man in all black, his countenance foggy.
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