She smiled into her own reflection. Today was going to be wonderful, she decided.

It wasn’t on a whim, as some might assume. She just knew that a sunny day like this mixed with fun plans could never end bad.

She yawned again. Okay, so not THAT wonderful. But really, who could blame her for being tired?

She was meeting her best friend Candice and a few other girls at the mall. True, she didn’t have money, but who knows? Her mom might even be in a generous mood today.

“Renda!” she heard the stressed tone from down stairs.

Inwardly she groaned. Then again, maybe not.

She heard a sharp BANG.

What was that?

“Renda!”

She creaked the door open, barely wide enough to hear the hissing on the stove top. She sniffed the air which had the crisp scent of bacon.

Momentarily set at ease, she curiously descended the stairs.

She turned the corner to see her mother’s hair all affray from the tight ponytail she tied it into and an apron held firmly around her waist. “Get the phone!” she huffed.

Renda saw a platter of egg spread across the floor as she passed.

She was slightly confused, but did as she was told. Her mom usually wasn’t that disgruntled, or klutzy.

She heard the buzzing of a television in the receiver and a familiar voice…

“Candice!”

“Hey girlfriend.”

“What’s going on? I thought you weren’t going to call for a while?” Her voice anxious.

“Oh, no real reason. Just bored. By the way… is something wrong? I thought I heard a crash?” Candice was like that. Always curious, always anxious for intrigue. She was always the girl who tried to come up with adventures, and Renda the one who avoided them at all costs.

Renda shrugged, “oh nothing, just mom being a klutz. I think.”

“Oh,” she almost sounded disappointed, “is she okay?”

Renda laughed internally, “Yeah, she’s fine.”

Her stomach growled, and then she recalled the bacon. “Hey mom…”

She froze. Something didn’t feel right.

“Candice, I’ll be right back.”

No respose. “Okay?’

Nothing. Not even a tone.

“Candice!”

Shocked, she put the phone down and walked slowly into the kitchen.

Were the batteries just dead? Candice was going to freak, and of course, come up with some outlandish story.

It was empty… barren was more the word for it.

“Mom!”

She wasn’t there, kidding, she didn’t even smell the food cooking. In fact, she didn’t smell anything. As though there was nothing there.

Walking over to stove, she saw the pan with sausage in it. But… what was it… something was…

Renda gasped.

The oil wasn’t frying, the heat wasn’t hot. There was flame, but no heat. “What the…”

She looked frantically around her. She was confused; she was scared. What was this?

“Mom? Where are you?” she almost screamed.

Suddenly, Renda felt something behind her. It was like… a tidal wave of energy, maybe? Really, she had no idea. She never had this sensation occur before. She really had nothing she could compare it to. All she knew was that it didn’t feel good.

“Darshina!” a woman’s voice said in awe behind her.

Renda turned sharply with a small yelp, “What the…?”

The woman was barely 5’ tall, but she quickly bent down in front of her. “My Darshina! Oh, magnificent Darshina! I have found you at last.”

Ripping away from the woman’s grip, Renda quickly ran from the less than intimidating woman. “Who the hell are you?” Panic streaked her face.

“Me? My Darshina! Please, don’t you recognize your people? The people of Haligraz? Please, say it’s not so! You have forgotten us!” the woman cried.

Shaking her head, Renda just couldn’t freak with this mild woman near her. She was almost comical. Her garb was… asian? Almost. She was draped in a gawky red silk cloak that was too vibrant to be taken seriously.

Renda bent her eyebrows together. “What did you do to this place? What’s going on?”

“Me?” the woman gasped, “Oh no, not I! I don’t hold this kind of strength. Only the Ogeraskto and the assassin can.”

Renda, who was beginning to this this was an amusing joke, suddenly froze again. What was going on? Everything was still lifeless around her, and this woman almost worshipped her! She was almost put at ease, but… an assassin. God, this was too good to be true! There mustn’t be…

Shaking her head, she drolly replied, “So I have an assassin now, too.”

The woman nodded frantically.

“And who, by chance are you?” Renda inwardly laughed.

The woman gasped, “You do not recognize me, either, my Darshina? But, I am your servant. The one who can cross over to save you! Please Darshina! You must come with me! You must!”

She was about to ask about the ‘Darshina’ thing when she saw and heard the despair her voice.

Unbeknownst to her, she was actually beginning to believe her. “Why?”

The woman looked up curiously, “Idaia the Betrayer, my Darshina, she is coming to kill you.”

The ‘Darshina’ shook her head. This couldn’t really be true, could it? But… there was something about it… it was almost too unbelievable, really. So much so that…

“When should we leave?” she heard herself say.

The woman was visibly relieved. Actually, she bent down to kiss her feet.

Renda almost, but not quite, laughed.

The woman grabbed hold of her hand, with many apologies, and started to chant. The vision around her began to sway. Literally, sway! The room became a brilliant white, and she felt light headed.

She thought there was a murmuring beside her, but she couldn’t exactly tell for certain. Everything was so incoherent. And yet… she had this weird sensation. Everything was becoming surreal again.

There was a sudden feeling, as though she was being tugged along… a buoy on a string. She tried to tug back… no luck. She started to struggle, but she only felt as though walls were caving in on her. She felt claustrophobic, yet nothing was holding her down.

Tugging even more frantically, she felt an odd warmth radiate in her. What was happening to her? It made no sense! Where was that woman who… no! She couldn’t be! Was she trying to force her to come along? What about all of that ‘Darshina’ nonsense?

Renda felt that warmth inside her body grow until it was all consuming. It took control of her rage, her fear, feeding them into a nothingness, literally a void in her mind. Inside this void, she felt calm. Nothing could harm her. But as that woman tried to tug her along, Renda’s void lashed out. A force of fiery energy released from her body and pushed the ‘hand’ away from her.

Whatever bond that woman held over her, Renda broke free. Yet, as she did so, she had the distinct feeling of falling.

She blacked out.

~~~~~

Renda groaned and pressed her hand against the ground in hopes to pry herself up. There was soft dirt and leaves beneath her.

“What the… ?” she scampered up.

Looking frantically around herself, Renda saw a lake of trees . It was… It was… a forest?

No! It couldn’t be! She didn’t even recognize the landscape, and … what were these trees? She shook her head clear. Was she even in America anymore? Kidding, was she even in her world?

She had the sneaking suspicion that she wouldn’t be familiar with anything else either. She almost laughed. Even the air smelled different!

This was all way too confusing.

She thought back trying to grasp what had happened to her. This morning she was contemplating an enjoyable outing to the mall; her biggest problem was not knowing whether she could coax her mother into giving her money. Yet, now, she was lost in a mysterious forest, afraid that the wrong turn might leave her dead. God, none of this made any sense!

And, yet, here she was. Who was that unknown female who whisked her away from her home? What was that sense of being trapped? Who was this assassin person… Idaia? What had she even done to get an assassin!? This was all so… ludicrous!

An amused chuckled sounded behind her.

With a sharp jump, she jerked around.

Before her stood the most oppressive woman she had ever seen! She was obviously strong, with her muscular build, and with those chiseled cheek bones, there was no question why she held a regal air around her. On top of that, she was easily 6’3”! Why, she was a giant!

As Renda’s eyes traveled up and up, the woman’s stony blue eyes contemplated her solemnly. “So this is their Darshina,” she said, shocking Renda out of her daze.

“Who… who are you?” she asked carefully. Renda had the distinct feel this was not a woman to mess with.

The woman’s amusement was apparent in her eyes, although, the rest of her face was a statue. “I am the one whom they call sinister. The one who has apparently intimidated many with not so much more than a look,” her eyes grew dark blue, “I am Idaia Defelu.”

“But, but…” Renda’s mouth gaped. She suddenly bolt. No, she thought, this can’t be the woman who wants to kill me!

But nothing told her feet, as they kept running aimlessly through the forest. She weaved through the forest, scared to death of looking back. She forced herself to swallow the bile rising in her throat. No, I must have escaped.

But just as she got up the strength to turn around, a flicker in front of her told her to keep her eyes front. Gasping for air, she tried to squint her eyes in order to comprehend the flicker. Two more and, “Hello, again.” Idaia calmly stated, “Now how about we…”

Just as Idaia began to talk, Renda tried to bolt again.

“Now now, this is just fruitless.” Invisible walls closed in around Renda. She physically could not move. Let me out! she inwardly screamed. But she couldn’t manage it.

Idaia regarded her with amusement. “Do you really think I want to kill you?”

How could she know? Renda wondered, I never said…

“If I did, you would no longer be alive.”

Renda gulped, but she nodded. “Who are you?”

Idaia shrugged and the barrier was released. “First I must correct your assumptions of me. Who do you believe I am?”

Renda was taken aback. “I.. don’t know really. I thought you wanted to kill me, but…”

With that, Idaia laughed heartily. “So, having doubts are you? Were you not just sure I was an assassin hell-bent on your destruction?”

Renda blushed. “Yes, but…”

Idaia nodded. “The woman who had met with you before is the second hand of the Ogeraskto…”

“You mean the one who called me ‘Darshina?’”

Idaia’s eyebrows shot together, “Did she now?” She began to mutter to herself. “Mistresses, I should have seen this.”

“What?” Renda asked leaving Idaia confused for a moment.

“Renda, you must be careful.”

“Why?”

“The Darshina is a title given to the Mistress of Darkness.”

Renda was about to ask about that too, but Idaia stopped her, “Be patient, all will be described.”

“The Mistresses of Magic train younger generations who possess to ability to summon the element in their field. For instance, the Mistress of Darkness is trains those in the dark arts where as the Mistress of Water does so in water. The Mistresses of Magic live in the city of Calar which they have turned into their school, in a sense.

“The Mistress of Darkness does not belong to this city. Many centuries ago, a prospering city known as Ogeras existed. However, corruption within the royal family led to it’s demise. The leader of Ogeras, known as the Ogeraskto, survived and fled to Calar. Of course, Calar opened it’s arms to the Ogeraskto and allowed her to…”

Renda interrupted, “So the Ogeraskto is a…”

“Yes, the title always is carried by a female. Legend says it is because their men fell to unfortunate accidents. So in order to prosper, they made sure that only females would rule.

“Anyways, the Ogeraskto’s corruption held no bounds. Many of the Daughters of Magic…”

“And these Daughters are…?”

“The Daughters are those being taught by the Mistresses.”

Renda was puzzled, “But what about males?”

“Males have found to lack the ability. They most likely had it once, but lost it since then.

“Back to the point,” Idaia gave a sharp look, “The Daughters of Magic came to their Mistresses, yet many of them turned to deaf ears. The Ogeraskto had become the Mistress of Darkness at this time, and, thus, held a more esteemed rank than the Daughters. One Mistress, however, believed them. She began to try and convince them, but she was newly raised to the level of Mistress. Many of the veterans did not believe her.

“As time past, the Mistress swayed their opinions little, and many of them had, in fact, started to distrust her. She eventually fled to Haligraz, but the Ogeraskto followed her. She claimed that Ogeras would one day live again, and that their famous ruler ‘Darshina’ would one day rise again.

“A war soon escalated, and the Mistress of Darkness began to call herself Darshina believing that she was the reincarnation of the famous Ogeraskto. But when she lost the war, she fled to Haligraz. To this day her disciples swear the Darshina will bring them back into prosperity.”

Renda nodded, “But… what has this to do with me?”

“I… I do not know.” Idaia shrugged, “But that is no matter. We must keep you out of the Ogeraskto’s grasp.”

Renda agreed quickly. “But how do I do that? I can’t go back home. Kidding, I don’t know where to go! I don’t know who I can talk to. I don’t even know what this Ogeraskto person looks like!”

“Calm down, child,” Renda fumed, child indeed! “The answer is simple. There is only one place where you are most assuredly safe. That is in Calar.”

“But she is a Mistress there!”

“No, no longer. The war took place almost 40 years ago. She has since been denied the title.”

Renda heard the truth in that. “I’m no ‘Daughter’ though.”

Idaia laughed, “You aren’t, are you? What about the way you escaped the Ogeraskto’s pet? That was most assuredly magic, child.”

“I am no child!” Renda burst.

“Come, let us move towards Calar.”

Renda did not stop fuming the entire way.

~~~~~

Idaia watched Renda carefully. She was a child, definitely. However, Idaia felt familiar ties to this child as she did long ago, but this time who refused to fail. She would correct her mistakes.

They had walked in almost silence the entire journey. Not that Idaia assumed it would be any differently. It was quite refreshing, though, to be alongside someone again.

Renda was still upset. Child! Ha! Renda thought to herself. But along with her fury, Renda was worried underneath it all. What was going to happen to her? She was going to a virtual magic school, and she was also scared that she might become the next queen of evil!

“We’ve arrived.” Idaia looked back at Renda again, she was shaking horridly. Poor child. “The ritual is simple, there’s no need to worry.”

“Wha… What ritual!? You didn’t mention that!”

“You did not believe they would just accept you on merit alone, did you? They must become aware that you have true talent.”

“Oh.”

Idaia chuckled.

Renda was certainly not amused. How was this going to work? She had no magic! She’d be thrown out the door then what? Truth be told, she did want to go. Not just to save her life, but to have her own adventure. The kind that Candice would jump for.

Candice. Renda felt a wave of guilt. She hadn’t even thought of anyone else since she got here. She was suppose to meet her today, but what about her mother? She must be worried sick about her.

She suddenly felt ill. Maybe she could get a message sent out to them… she could ask Idaia.

“Idaia, I…” Idaia turned to her.

“Yes?”

“Can I get a hold of my mom? She must be worried. I hope she’s okay. That lady made her disappear.”

Idaia’s eyes softened. “Well, talk about it later. I may be able to help you.”

Renda nodded. Turning her head, Renda finally noticed their surroundings. Before her, there was a giant stone obelisk “What is this place?”

“This is one of the last few transporter stones. During the Giant War, these stones were used to transport infantry. Many of those who detested the disadvantage that these stones caused, led a movement to destroy them.”

“Disadvantage?”

“Yes, a certain type of magic is needed to use these stones.”

With that, Idaia turned to the stones even though Renda was still filled with questions. But instead she just sighed and watched Idaia work.

Idaia placed her hand on the stone and began to mutter something Renda could not understand. She heard pieces of her incantation, but Renda couldn’t understand any of it. Was it a different language?

Renda shook her head. But for a moment, the obelisk started to glow with a golden radiance. Renda stared at it longer trying to comprehend it. It was like she was watching some fantasy movie, but she knew she wasn’t. It all seemed so… surreal.

The light began to grow and grow, until it consumed the obelisk and the ground surrounding. Renda was amazed. It was beautiful, magnificent, and it shocked her.

Rays shot out of the obelisk in every direction, and burst into a thousand pieces. And in the center of it all, the obelisk was no longer there. She saw the image of what she guessed was Calar in a swirling mist.

“What hap… ?”

“It is done, all we need is to walk through the portal. But I must tell you something,” Renda looked at Idaia with curiosity, “Even though Calar in it’s essence is same, there may be a chance that the Ogeraskto has servants that work there. For that purpose, it may be best if you do not mention Earth or go by your given name.”

Renda looked shocked, “Change my name? But, I can‘t. I won‘t.”

“Then you shall be found and taken to Haligraz.” Idaia’s eyes were cool and collected.

Renda bent down her head. Idaia was right, she thought, but… that’s me! A sudden thought crossed her mind. Are you a name? Or are you more than that? A name is only an identification, a code if you will. You however, are so much more than that.

Renda was stunned. What was that? Was that Idaia? No… impossible!

Renda nodded her head, “I’ll do it, but I don’t know about the culture here. I don’t even know what name to choose.”

Idaia pressed her lips together. “There is one that comes to mind. Scarlet.”

“But isn’t that an earth name?” Renda was confused.

“Certainly, but it is also a popular name for children on magic descent in this world.”

“Oh.” still a bit worried, she said, “Won’t I stand out anyways. I don’t exactly talk like them, or look like them.”

Idaia stared at her. Did the girl really have no idea of the truth yet? “You hold the look of someone from the old city of Ogeras. That will suffice,” Renda made a face at that name, “You will be given robes to identify yourself one of them, and speech is overlooked in a place where many languages have been melded. The fact that they can’t place you’re accent won’t make any difference.”

“Okay, and I will have you there.” Renda nodded.

“No, I cannot.” Idaia shook her head slightly.

“But then, how am I suppose to do this?”

“I have something to give you,” Idaia drew her hands into her pocket, “This belongs to you. I was once you’re mother’s and has since been in my care.”

“But she doesn’t know you.”

Idaia locked her eyes with Renda’s, “You had another. You’re birth mother.”

Renda gasped, “But she abandoned me!”

“No she did not. She was killed many years ago, but she wanted me to give you this.” Idaia handed her a small locket. “With this you can communicate with me.”

“How does it work?”

“Place it around her neck, and just think an idea towards me.”

“Oh.” Trying to place it all together, Renda was just more confused. Her mother, her real mother. No, her real mother was on earth scared stiff about her. But she had known for many years that she was adopted. So this is where she belonged? Impossible, yet…

“Idaia?”

Idaia did not respond, “Come let us move on.”

They both walked into the glowing portal.

Renda was overwhelmed immediately. Calar was unlike anything she’d ever seen. The houses weren’t ‘buildings’ per say, they were trees! No, they were buildings, actually, but they were made inside the trees.

“Long ago, Calar was called the hidden city.” Idaia told her, “People from the corrupt city of Ogeras were trying to hunt down one of their own, who had claimed sanctuary in Calar. They hold true to that tradition, by building their homes through the sacred wood. Only now, anyone can see the city where as, long ago, only a select few knew which trees where lived in.”

“Why are you telling me all of this?”

“Because, child, this is information well known here. And to fit in with them, you must know it yourself.”

Walking down the beaten path, Renda was stunned at everything around her. It was so amazing. A sacred tree? People actually live in trees?

"This is huge! How will I find the school?" she asked Idaia, who was studying the gray sky.

The sky was covered by, what looked close to maple trees. She almost looked worried, then placed on a stiff face.

"This entire city is the school. Come, you will learn soon enough."

Idaia lead and Renda followed. The streets looked barly like that. They were just dirt paths wide enough for cars, maybe five at one time. Yet, they were filled with something else, people.

The streets were filled with women dressed in silks. Each with certain colors and a bracelet to match the dress color, or was it the other way around? Renda barely got a glance from any of these women; even though all of them were well above 6". Even now and again Renda saw someone her height, but they were all children!

Suddenly, Idaia led her into one of the ‘houses.’

It was amazing. It looked like a portrait of some meadow come alive! A waterfall came swooping down beside the doorway. Lightning came from moving stars, or were they fairies? She was too unsure of things now a days.

She suddenly wished to be back home. This was enough adventure for her. Why, she didn’t understand any of this.

“We’re almost through, Scarlet.” Idaia’s voice calmed, was actually refreshing.

Idaia pulled ahead of her slightly. She walked over to a woman drapped in complete black. “This is her Shazinko.”

“Are you positive, Keno? Any mistake and..”

“Who should know the blood better than me?” Idaia replied dryly.

With a sigh, she responded, “I suppose so.”

The woman Shazinko walked towards Renda. “So you wish to join the ranks of the Daughters?”

The woman waited for Renda to respond. “Yes,” she whispered.

With a nod, she woman turned and said, “Follow me.”

~~~~~

Renda followed, but she was uneasy. Idaia was in front of her talking to that black dressed woman. Although, Renda seriously wanted Idaia to even look her way. So much as that would half calmed her.

They open a locked room and headed inside.

“This is the room of Acceptance. To be in this room, is to show a thirst for growth,” Shazinko spoke.

Renda looked at Idaia, Silence, this is the only way.

“So this is the future-daughter.” It was a statement from a woman sitting in the center of the room.

Idaia nodded gracefully, “Yes Daughter-Mistress.”

“Does she know of Daughter-Laws.”

“No more than any once-child, if not less.”

“Has the Future-Daughter showed any signs of Future-Daughters?”

“None.” The Mistress of Daughters' face remaind placid.

“What knowledge tells this is a Future-Daughter?”

“The knowledge of a Daughter-Seer and Future-Daughter-Guardian.”

“A Daughter-Seer? Yes, but a Future-Daughter-Guardian? Has she no Once-Mother?”

“The one whom is her true Once-Mother has past away.”

"Then you shall take place of her Future-Once-Mother." she turned to Renda, “Who is this Future-Daughter whom believes she has a right? What is your name.”

Seeing Idaia nod, she said, “Scarlet.”

“Then Scarlet, walk before me and prove thyself worthy of such a title,” Renda walked towards her, “Shazinko, bring to me the ritual dagger.”

“Yes Mistress.” she curtsied and left.

She turned back to Renda, “Now, prove thyself, create inside yourself a void, and feed all of yourself into this creation.”

Renda did as she was told, and the fireplace burst in a frenzy. Then, as quickly as it began, the fireplace calmed. Renda knees buckled.

With curious eyes, Renda looked at Idaia. “You just proved yourself,” Idaia whispered.

Renda was still confused, but she didn’t say a thing.

Shazinko returned with a small dagger in hand.

“Scarlet,” The Mistress said, “Every daughter is allowed only one item from their Once-Life. What do you wish to keep.”

She thought of everything she had on her. The choice was simple, “My locket.”

“Very good. Now the three drops.” Holding out her hand, Shazinko handed the silver handled blade to the Mistress.

“What drops?” Worry filled her.

“Three drops of your blood to seal the birth of Scarlet. Now give me your hand, Scarlet, and the locket.” After she did so the Mistress told her to strip her clothing. Renda nodded and did so reluctantly.

Taking Renda's hand the woman said, “Place your hand over the fire, Future-Daughter.” Renda complied as the knife poked her on three fingers.

“Turn your hand over.” The first drop fell....

“One drop for present to become Once-Present.”

Her mind started to flood with memories of her family and friends. It seemed as though the images were from months, maybe even years ago.

Candice, her mom.. Why was she even here? They needed her.

A dream, she told herself, this is just a dream. I am called Renda, not Scarlet!

The second drop fell, and the fire crackled.

“Another for Once-Present to become past.”

Dream, dream, just a dream. I'm not Scarlet. I'm Ren...

Her memories collided among themselves. As though Candice was long since gone to her, or so it seemed.

A third drop cackled the fire.

“The final for past to die.”

Candice will be, she paused, Who's Candice?

Her mind seemed... blank!

The mistress held up Scarlet's locket saying, “Past may be dead, but one necklace is kept for remembrance of past. To keep from being forgotten, but not to bring forth a past, which is dead.” she handed the locket back to Scarlet, “You have come a child, but go a babe among babies. Go now, pure of all taint and evil, a newborn.”

Shazinko handed Scarlet a deep read cloak to cover herself with, then left the room.

Idaia came over to her, “I will remain with you always.” Then she left.

Idaia, I remember Idaia. But, why?

She pondered that, and looked at the locket. Idaia had… saved her? From what?

Scarlet was getting a horrible headache.

The mistress then said, “Scarlet, you will be staying a Jesunko tower. Remember, you are a baby among us, and a novice in your classes. Each tower holds different strengths and weaknesses. Jesunko in known for both mental and physical strength and courage. You will be held highly in your classes, and expected to be great. Any novice of greater age than you must be honored and served." Scarlet nodded, “You can tell their age by a marker of the left side of their robe, of if they wear a dress. Now go, Shazinko will lead you to your room.”

“Yes, mistress.” she attempted to curtsy, and did a fairly decent job of it.

“You may go.” and Scarlet left. When she got past the door Shazinko said, “Fire Daughter Scarlet, you will come with me now.”

Following Shazinko into the street, Scarlet felt none of that fear from before. It seemed to have melted away like sugar in water.

Shazinko lead her through the street patterns and trees. The streets closed in and became more stiff, as the crowd of people thinned out.

The gray sky seemed to disappear more and more, until the sun shined in the crisp air.

Glancing up ahead, Scarlet saw a river with a small wooden bridge.

“Come Fire Daughter, let us go.” Shazinko crossed the bridge leaving Scarlet to follow.

After Scarlet crossed over the wooden bridge she could hardly believe her eyes.

The buildings were not longer trees and the paths no longer dirt. Instead they took on a renaissance style. The paved concrete road looked well worn from the horses she saw passing in front of her.

“This is the quadrent of Calar called Jesunko, Fire Daughter Scarlet. You will take house at the tower. That is the building over there.” she motioned to a black marble tower that looked the size of five of the central builings in Calar toped on top of each other!

“You are now out of my hands, Fire Daughter Scarlet.”

Touching her locket gently Scarlet said, “Farewell Shazinko, farewell.” getting down in a curtsy.

“Goodbye, Fire Daughter Scarlet, may the Mistresses of Life shine upon you.” she matched her curtsy with more grace, then turned and walked away.

~~~~~

Do not worry, child. she heard.

“Who said that?”

It is Idaia. Remember the locket’s power.

“How do I talk to you?”

Think what you want to send to me, and then ‘hand’ it to me.

Like this?

Yes.

What is this place?

The towers of Calar are known as the center structures of the school.

Renda looked up, but felt more awkward.

When she reached the tower itself, two guards stood at the entrance.

“Speak the phrase, Daughter.”

“I'm...I'm new here…”

“Speak your name, Daughter.”

“Scar.... Scarlet... Fire Daughter.”

“Yes,” the guard said, “Michial, show her to the Mistress of Daughters.”

A young man appeared from the side of the building. “Yes sir.”

The boy looked very handsome, with his blonde hair, yet his near black eyes seemed blank of all emotion. He wasn't much taller that her. Maybe three inches, reaching 5"9'. His face held onto strength, wisdom, and insecurity tightly.

“Come with me.” he said with a commanding voice, so Scarlet followed.

“Misstress Altana.” Michial said, “Fire Daughter Scarlet has arrived.” After they arrived in the formal, what looked like a, throne room.

“Very good, son, call Daughter Eve in.”

“Yes Mistress.” and left.

“So you are Scarlet.” she said after Michial closed the door. “You will be staying here with Daughter Eve. She has been here a month so is still a novice, but will be able to help you. These are a few thing that will help you…” as she rattled on the rules.

“Lastly, never practice fire without someone nearby to help.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

Michial poked his head into the door, “Pardon Mistress, but Daughter Eve has arrived.”

“Very good, son, call her in and stay here.”

“Yes Mistress.” he did just that.

When everyone was assembled in the room, Mistress Altana said, “Daughter Eve, you will be Room-Sister to Daughter Scarlet, and you Son Michial, will be watcher of Daughter Eve and Daughter Scarlet. This is a reward to what you were.”

“Yes Mistress.” they muttered in sync.

“You may all go.” All three of them left the room.

“Oh, ger...ATE!... Now I have to share a room!” The girl's dark brown eyes glared hatred as she tossed her thick ebony mane over her shoulder.

“Don't worry I'll stay out of your way.” Scarlet tried to ease her temperament.

“You better! I have no time for you.” Her sweet face turned to snobbish.

“Scarlet, Eve, by the Mistresses, be quiet! We're stuck with each other, and better get use to it.” his nose wrinkled momentarily in disgust.

Eve didn't try to hide a grunt.

“I agree, this responsibility stinks!” Michial said.

“What's so wrong about hanging around me?” Eve said sweetly, “It's better than being a stone faced, stink in the mud, puppet!”

“Guards are not puppets!” he almost growled!

Her face contorted in ridicule. “Yeah,” she scoffed, “sure, yes Mistress, no Mistress, as you wish Mistress. You never even told her you didn’t want to take this job.” She began to whine, “And why do we need a guard? Mistresses!”

Scarlet watched her, amused. But then her chest started to close in.

Michial started to growl, “Just shut up, you, you, you Daughter of Darkness!”

“Stop it! Please.” Scarlet whispered humbly, sinking down along the wall.

“Scarlet!” Michial ran over to her, “What's wrong?”

“I'll tell you what's wrong, Ms. Perfect's unstable, she can't stand any of us!”

“Be quiet Eve! Can't you tell she needs help?”

“I... can... t, hhau,huu,hhau,huu, hhau, huu... brea...th!” Scarlet clutched her heart, trying to ease the pain. “Help me get her up, Eve. She needs our help!” Michial almost pleaded.

Eve nodded, staring wide eyes at Scarlet.

Lifting Scarlet up into Michial's arms, Eve couldn't say a word.

“Where's the Daughter of Light located?”

“This way.” Eve turned walking quickly down the hallway.

“Stop!” the faint command came from Scarlet.

“What?” Eve and Michial almost said simultaneously.

“PL... ase.” They nodded and stopped.

Scarlet's breathing grew worse and worse until... her breathing leveled out as though nothing happened.

“Let me down please.” she said calmly recovering herself.

Michial and Eve looked at Scarlet with wide eyes.

“What?”

“Let's head for the Mistress. She should be able to help us out.” Eve nodded at Michial's comment.

“What's going on?”

Michial turned to her, “Some of the Daughters report the same problem, but before they reach the Mistress of Light, they are found dead.”

“Am I the only one who has…” she pointed to herself in disbelieve.

“As far as I know, yes.”

All the color drained from Scarlet's face, “but I feel just fine.” The color slowly returned.

“Yeah, but the Mistress will like to take a look at you.” Scarlet nodded once in agreement.

“Shall we go?” Eve barely whispered.

“Yeah, lead the way.”

They walked down the hall in almost complete silence.

“This way will bring us to...wait a sec.” she ran to an intersecting hallway, “I can hear something.”

“But, but that's the forbidden hallway!” Scarlet looked from Eve to Michial, then back to Eve.

“All the more reason to check it out!”

Michial shook his head slowly in dismissal.

“Oh, come on!”

“NO!”

“Pleez?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because, we need to get Scarlet to see the Mistress of Light.”

Eve turned to her blankly as though just noticing she was there, “She's fine! A few minutes won't hurt.”

“No.”

“Oh, come on!” she looked slyly for a moment, “It will shut me up!” she said tauntingly.

“It will, won't it?” he looked at Scarlet.

She shrugged.

“Will we?” it came from Eve.

“Oh, alright.”

“Yay!” she jumped up and down, clapping her hands.

“But not for long.”

“Wouldn't dream of it.” she composed herself quickly.

They walked down the forbidden hall.

~~~~~