Tested

Lori found herself in a dimly lit room with shadows on the walls, terrible and menacing. They jeered at her and made rude gestures. She couldn't see her family; they must be up ahead of me. She remembered a flashback of her mom finding her in the oddest places when she was little. She held on to that memory. Her mother knew this was important to fight the Shadow, and she did too. She was close to her mom, and somehow knew her mom was guiding her through the Darkness. Lori trudged threw a swamp it seemed, out side the room. She thought of her brothers and sisters; wondering where they were or if they were stuck to. She had to find them. That was the mission, she felt for the moment. She stumbled on something she couldn't see; confused of what was under her feet. It seemed to be a knife. She took it. Her parents never killed, but if it came to it, she would for the rest of her family. Then again she felt it would be wrong, and who's weapon was this?! It might be hexed or charmed to distract her. She let it go, finally. It fell with a sharp, "clank"! Metal was under this sludge?! she dared not reach in to feel it. She knew she was being tested, so she kept walking. Soon she saw a shape in the Darkness, "Katrina," she whispered. I sensed you weren't with us, so I went to find you. She grabbed Katrina's hand. Katrina led her to Alec, Miles, Dimitri, Ella, and Charlie. They were glad to see her; satisfied. Ella had the book in her arms, and was not letting go of it. Katrina stood there with her eyes closed, then blurted out, " I had a vision". Since a child Katrina would wake up from nightmares that were actually these "visions". Sometimes she daydreamed in school about things that would come true in a matter of minutes. "I saw Momma and Daddy, guys! They're trapped in here...We should find them!" Everyone looked at her. Miles spoke, "the enemy is probably feeding false images; remember where we are!" "But....Miles..." she replied, and then thought better not to argue; not in this place. Ella held onto the book tightly. It seemed like they were supposed to "do" something. Why else would they be here, she thought. She opened the book which seemed to glow bright in the Darkness. Everyone was astounded. The page was a map! Alec beamed, "Genius, Ella!" Charlie focused on where they were, then said, "We're are close!" They walked down what was a stairway into a cave. Odd painting were decorated on the walls; violent and creepy. Miles touched the images, and retracted his hand quick. Something bit him! He examined his finger, but couldn't see anything like blood after a cut. Dimitri put an ointment on it anyways. "Mom always kept it in her dresser. I found it when we were at the house," he spoke. Miles thought, maybe Mom put it there for a reason. She always did things like that.

After a long time in the cave, they came to a flat area with a throne, except no one occupied it. Weird! Miles then saw something materialize. "See that!" He pointed.  It took a while but then every one murmured the same thing. It was a distorted figure of a man. What?! "Who are you?" Miles shouted. Ella saw his name pop up in the book, as the man began to talk. "Shadow," she reasoned. Everyone looked at her. The Shadow sat grinning up at them. "You've come to serve me, WONDERFUL!" He boomed. "You wish," Miles uttered. He just grinned, "You will!" Miles said, "Then your crazy! why would we do that?" The Shadow said, " Not them, YOU!" pointing to Miles. Miles was compelled by a crazy feeling of anger; stepping forward without heed. As soon as he took that step, he changed form. There was a dog where Miles stood. It barked madly at the Shadow. Ella starting chanting a spell that came to her. It was so strange to hear it on her tongue. She focused on changing Miles back. But nothing happened! The dog  turned and tried to grab the book with his teeth. She held on though, and forgetting it was Miles, kicked it in the jaw. Then remembering, said, "Sorry, Miles!" The dog stepped toward the throne. Miles, NO!" Alec shouted. He licked the Shadow's hand, and in turn the Shadow, said, " That was mean what she did to you, don't worry I won't hurt you!" Alec shouted, "LIAR! Give us our brother!" The dog looked confused at his call. The dog almost walked back, but the Shadow seized him as a collar materialized around his neck. Miles, in his dog mind, found his thoughts clouded. Ella chanted again getting everyone to hold hands, "We are strongest together!" She said. Holding hands they crossed over and Alec put his hand on Mile's scruff, as they dragged him back. Miles whined! But the Shadow couldn't touch them now. All together, Ella kept on chanting. Then Miles turned back into his real form. They all chanted! The Shadow startled to sizzle in his throne. Then a puff of smoke, and he was ash; nothing more. They kept chanting, fearlessly, as they made another portal. Without breaking hands, they crossed together, light bouncing of of them. The Darkness let up a little until with it closed with a "pop!" The portal was closed. On the other side, they were back at the house. Ella struggled to get the collar of of Miles, even Alec, but it was stuck. They needed to get it off. The collar starting closing in on Miles flesh. He fell and wriggled on the ground; choking. Miles said, " Don't feel guilty, Ella, I know it was a mistake. I was tricked by the Shadow." Ella whimpered watching her brother struggle. She frantically paged to the book until it stopped. The page she looked at read: REMOVING BINDINGS. She grabbed ever one's hand, including Miles, and chanted once more. Slowly the collar loosened around Mile's neck; disappearing. When it was gone, he rubbed his neck where it had materialized. There was a scar all across his neck. Ella tearfully hugged her brother! He hugged her in back, as well. "I thought I was a goner", Miles said. Ella said, "That would never happen, Miles. We wouldn't let that happen, with every once of magic we possess." Miles replied, " Mom was right about being tested." He spat on the ground, and Shadow came out of his mouth. There, it sizzled in the light; slowly disappearing too. They knew the Shadow would plague them again but not when. Alec helped Miles up, with Dimitri. Slowly they raised him and put him on the couch to rest. They all needed strength for what would happen next. They knew that was only a form of the Shadow. He had many guises, even in their world. They wouldn't let it take over though. Ella closed the book, and carried it back to the attic, casting a shield of protection around it. She looked back and it lay across her mother's old desk. They wouldn't let the Darkness succeed.

                                                              TO BE CONTINUED

The Portal

Alec moved quick with a knife, but this stranger dodged him making the knife sink into the moist ground.
The stranger rolled over and grabbed Lori's ankle. She screamed instantly! Katrina struck him with a fallen branch knowing where he'd show up. It slowed him down, enough for Miles to get a choke-hold on him. He knocked his head into Miles, almost allowing Miles to drop him, but not quite. Miles grabs him by his tunic. "Your not going to hurt anyone!" A deep chuckle comes from within the man with no name. Miles slams the the enemy into a tree. The birds make quite a noise as the tree falls over with a crack. Lori, raises her voice, "Everyone, we can't keep doing this cat and mouse game. We're better than that; than him, at least!" Her siblings stop and consider her words. Miles say, " I give you a running start of 30 minutes, then your gonna wish you never messed with my sister". Katrina watches him stumble into a run. A grin upon her face, saying, "Looks like he knows the message, alright, but, Miles, he's tricky. He's working for the Shadow." Lori, replies in shock, "so he ISN'T the Shadow! How do we end this nightmare? I wish mamma and daddy were here, still!" Lori hugged herself as if she were shivering. All her siblings came up around her, hugging her with tears in their eyes for their parents.

They stayed there for a while when they had to move on. They went back to their summer home where they had shared so much happiness; a family again. Lori was happy to be around those she loved. When they had departed from their parents it seemed wrong, but they did it to make a name for themselves, greedily. They didn't want that anymore. Somehow it felt like a spell that they had left this wonderful place full of love. They wouldn't do so again. They sad around a round table, speaking on how to get to the Shadow, or how to know who it was. They agreed they needed to find the guy without a name first. That was the only thing they knew. Until Ella brought out a very old book from the attic she's ransacked. They looked it over. It had their family seal on it. Katrina saw in her vision her father presenting it to her mother the day they married one another. Ella opened it to a page that had a photo of all of them smiling. She pointed to a tree going back to their ancestors. "Why didn't they tell us?" Alec asked. Katrina told him it wasn't meant for them to find yet. It was meant for them to find when they were together facing a great darkness. Miles had a problem with anger, but contained it for now. They flipped through the pages. Ella shouted, " It's full of spells! I can read them!" She flipped to a blank page, filling up with writing. A letter from their parents addressed to all of them. What was queer was it was date for today; weird, though what wasn't weird about their family!? She read the letter:

Dear Ella, Katrina, Lori, Alec, Dimitri, Miles, and Charlie, 

We miss you all very much, though we couldn't let you see this until it was "appropriate". Times have changed since we were young. A Darkness called the Shadow wants to collect the worlds magic, harvest it, and rule every nation on the planet. I saw bits and pieces when each of you were born, and know I've seen it all. As you know, their are spies working for the Darkness. One whom doesn't have a name will test each of you; try to bring you over. You must restrain. Never leave each other! My time here is waning...soon it'll be up to you. I'm speaking to you by the book. Your father and I love you dearly. Are hope is in you. You can do it. Don't forget to love, and above all don't hate us for what we kept. You were under protection, and also to live a normal life til your grew up. Now is  the time to strike the Darkness. Your powers are more heightened, now. I must leave...Don't forget whats in your heart, all of you. It will be crucial to defeating the Shadow. He lives on the Other side, the Dark. If you go there through the portal on the next page, be careful! 
Love Always, 
The Good Witch

.....The letters on the page faded, until it was blank again. All were silent. Ella turned to the portal on the next page. It burned her fingers but she still held on. The heading was in all capitals: PORTAL TO THE DARKNESS. Everyone gasped at the brightly colored flames that were alive but didn't consume the book; growing larger until it was a door.  Miles looked around, and was the first to step in. The rest gasped, then followed their brother.

                                                                 TO BE CONTINUED!

The Joining of the Seven

Ella searched for the tree that was her sister, Lori. She knew someone was following her. She turned naturally, "Hello Katrina!" The face in the shadow stepped out. Katrina was Ella's sister; one of the seven children of The Good Witch and Wizard. Katrina said gloomily, "Someone is tracking us, I don't see a name on him." She could see true names on people, but not on Mr. Nameless. There was a great mystery about him. She came to acompany her sister. She was also a fortune teller as well. "Something will happen soon that will shape history," She didn't say if this was good or evil. She was a mystery even to Ella. Ella was good at enchantments and charms. She carried a flute with with Lori's energy in it. It was to track her. They wandered secretly until they found Alec kneeling by the tree Lori now had taken the shape of. That was her, alright! Ella teared up," We need to get the rest of our brothers and sisters to help her. We're stronger together!" Alec looked up,"No they'll draw attention, remember Atlantis?!" Ella was quiet and felt the tree with her eyes closed. "She says the stranger is watching, and we must move. He's very powerful. Look for the Shaman," Ella summed up. It took three days to find the Shaman. There weren't many these days, but this had been there for each birth of the seven. He was a friend of Lori's family. They knocked on a broken down door, and Alec walked right in even when Ella hissed. She thought her brother was being rude to step across the threshold of a person's sanctuary without invitation. Katrina was alert when a hand grabbed her shoulder. She whipped around fast and almost punched the intruder, only to see it was a commoner. "He's gone! The shadow took him. Leave now or your in great danger." Katrina spoke, " What is it you know about this shadow?" He looked at her with unease, "It is the great evil, a dark fae from the Realm. There's a prophecy...." Alec ran to the man, he spoke fearfully, "seven of an ancient family has the power to destroy it, but we don't belive in such a folklore, atleast not the lot in the village. They would show themselves if they were so powerful, and mighty, though maybe they don't know of this evil yet. I am a believer that an uprising will come, though. We need salvation badly."

After a couple of drinks with this man, he nodded off in a nearby tavern; the Dragon's Eye. Katrina spoke, " The prophecy is real, I know it. I think it's our family. We should contact the others." Alec had the power of telepathy. He closed his eyes, "They're coming!" He opened his eyes, sea-green, and rubbed his temples. As they waited, they leanred on some gossip of the village folk. Katrina pretending to read a book. She already knew it's contents, having finished when she touched the cover. They came soon.  Dimitri, Miles, and Charlie entered the dim lighting of the tavern. Dimitri glanced at the fireplace and fire erupted, warming them all. Miles read the minds of his siblings, even though they hated it. Charlie moved a enormous object with her mind, a wine glass.

As all of them talked, they decided to help Lori first. They needed all of them for thier magic to work. As they all put thier hand on the bark, thier was a loud popping noise, and Lori was back to her original form. "Thanks, ya'll!" Lori said gratefully. Thier was much hugging, except Katrina, who saw something that disturbed her vision. "He's here!" Lori knew whom she mean't. They didn't need to turn to hear the icy voice, "Gotcha!"

First of the Seven

In the time when The Good Witch and Wizard passed to the other world, their children were prodigies. Their were seven of them, and they were very competitive to make a name for themselves. The first of the seven to make a name for herself was Lori. She spent her childhood in the mysterious woods surrounding her family's summer house. She wandered with her harp, playing music to the animals, and plants. The woods seemed to thrive during these summers in ways that could not be explained. As she grew into a young woman, she got along well with her siblings, always trying to solve disputes. Her music soothed them into resolving numerous debates. She realized this gift could help the world.

She set out on a path one day in the woods and backpacked her way all throughout Europe, until she came to Italy. She loved this location best! She was visited by her sister, Ella, and her brother, Alec, often. They stayed a while and listened to her many ambitions. Soon they moved back to their summer home, and Lori missed them. As she was draining her glass, sitting on the Spanish Steps in Rome, eating a pastry, she took out her harp and started playing. She played a favorite of hers, Amazing Grace. Her mother sung it to her in the cradle, and she always remembered it, especially after her mom passed. She missed her mother a lot! As she played on, someone threw her some change on the steps she sat on. Then another and another. She looked up when she sensed a young man staring at her. She stared back at him with the same gaze he gave her. Then she turned her head ignoring him. He was cute! She twirled a strand of her blonde highlights. Soon she received a tap and she turned around. He was smiling at her, replying, "I love the tune you were playing, let me hear it again." She did as he told, and he gave her a round of applause. "Where did  you learn to play?" He asked. "Natural ability," Lori replied. He was stunned at her answer, and grinned; laughing. "I'm not lying," she said raising her voice. "I know", he replied. She started spending more time with this stranger. She felt drawn to him. He never stated his name when she asked a dozen times. Lori didn't give hers either; something her father taught her.

As she spent more time with Mr. Nameless, she lacked  time to play the harp.She knew this wasn't good to stop playing. On one of their dates, she saw a gleam in his eyes that wasn't there before. He was talking about running away together, but something didn't fit too well with that statement."I decline!" she said, boldly. He looked hurt, but she explained her music was important to her, as well as her family. No elaborations on their history, of coarse! She walked away happy that night and played her harp all night long. She was free to pursue her ambitions! Soon, though, she realized the feeling of being followed,so she went underground. She died her blonde hair, a deep red, and turned her brown eyes into screaming purple, with some ancient magic. Things were quiet for a while as she performed for a promising band in Tuscany. She loved it, her music helped them become BIG in the music industry.

So as she strolled the rolling hills after a practice session one day, she was grabbed from behind, and kidnapped. She knew his touch so well! She concentrated on a distant location in her mind, and vanished, quickly. Mr. Nameless, held tight, and went along with her for the ride. She knocked him off but it wasn't that simple. So when she ended up in Japan, she kicked him rudely, and transported herself back to Tuscany. She struggled to catch her breath. He'd always hunt her! She needed to do something, and NOW! She concentrated again, changing her shape until what was in her place was a tree. she realized she was stuck, and realized the mistake. She had wanted to wipe her trace so bad. He wouldn't find her now, with her towering branches, and her delicious apples hanging from her boughs. She sent a image to Ella and Alec telling them where she was. Hopefully they could reverse what she'd done to herself, and warn the rest of their sibling about Mr. Nameless.

                                                           To Be Continued!

The Good Witch Finds Love

One of the thing the Good Witch hated most was her immortality. Isabella passed sooner than she thought. She was overbearingly sad to hear this. She'd helped the girl once break a curse.  It cursed her instead. Maybe this was her fate or wasn't, but she wanted to die with the rest of her kin. She visited the grave many times. She walked the woods alone. She was reading Good Witch Digest one day and came across an article, "How to break immortality", which the flipped to on page 12. This interested her. She was to dip a stake in holy water, and plunge it in her heart. She doubted this solution, but she had to see Isabella somehow! She assumed it would work. She went in search of a wizard, since only a wizard could do it. She searched far, until she found her Wizard. She begged him, "Do it quick!" But he was reluctant so she stomped off. 

The Wizard loved her very much when she came to her. He couldn't kill her. He regretted her leaving him. So he followed her. She didn't know this, though.  She found another Wizard, his evil brother, and right when she was going to die he shielded her. She screamed, "That was my death!" He looked at her, "Don't die!" It was then that she realized what he felt for her. She didn't recognize it before. She was so fixed on breaking her immortality. Killing herself would hurt him, even though she barely knew his name. "Stefan..." he uttered, "and might I say you have many more charges to help before the true death that we all face; people like us; immortal ones." She realized this and cried as the stake stuck above his heart. "I didn't mean this to happen to you!" she yelled. Everything was so unfair, she thought. She removed the stake and kissed him on the lips once. Her body trembled inside with fear. She was tired so she lay with him in the grass, briefly, listening to his heart. 

Stefan knew he would die. But as he waiting, his heart still beat loud and clear. What?! He remembered a wise man once told him that "true love saves people even from death". He didn't believe it then, but what if this woman was his missing puzzle piece?! He thought, and opened his eyes. He was alive. The Good Witch was astonished. He winked at her, and brushed her hair behind her ear. Her pale face was confused. He told her what this wise man told him, and it made sense to him. She said she loved him, and he confirmed his love as well. They married in a meadow that they found together when walking one evening. They were bound to each other. When the Good Witch died, she passed  away with her Wizard as well. This was a long time from when they promised themselves. They had 7 kids when they passed. Their kids went on to do great things to help the community they lived in. Emily and Stefan, Witch and Wizard,were remembered well. Isabella hugged Emily and Stefan when they met on the rainbow bridge. They couldn't be happier knowing they had lived life well. Isabella thanked Stefan for helping Emily to live without her. He smiled, and kissed Isabella on the cheek, then Emily on the lips. They were still bound. 

Isabella

Once Upon a Time, Isabella was a beautiful princess in a far away land, both magical and lovely. I stumbled across her as I walked to the market. She smiled at me, stuck out her pink tongue, and ran off. I looked behind where she's ran off, and saw paw prints left in the dust. She had flowing white hair and brown eyes that could captivate you in an instant. I touched the paw print. Yep, It was real, alright! I knew she was worth finding. I wanted to talk to her because I was a scientist. I traveled far over the worlds looking for supernatural creatures. It fascinated me. Isabella had a secret. she was part-dog. She changed into full dog at the every  full moon.

Isabella was in her room. She remembered the girl that stared after her in the market place with the matching brown eyes. Did she know her secret? She suspected it. Her father couldn't found out what she was. Then she would be locked up and wouldn't find her prince. She retraced her step earlier but the girl was gone. A witch had done this to her along time ago. That night she sat by the window and howled. Other howls followed. She understood them. They were people inside. But they had transitioned into full-dog, and couldn't change back. This witch cursed many that crossed her path. Her name was Angela. Angela turned people into dogs, or in her case half-dog currently when they threatened to expose her. Isabella wished she never threatened the witch. She just thought it was wrong; all those souls being trapped. It made the witch stronger; the more she changed. The full-dogs were under her control, and obeyed orders. They were going to help bring the fall of men. Isabella thought of it as a curse, and one she must break soon. But how?

The next morning she woke up and hugged her father. She had to kiss him carefully, or he'd see her teeth. He hunted with the Royal Court on Wednesdays, as it was today in fact. The full moon was getting closer as she feared. She spotted that girl at the market, and charged her up against a shed. "Who are you? Do you work for her?" "Her, who?" the girl replied, " My name is Emily, I'm an observer, I don't work for anyone. I suspect your secret, but I wouldn't tell a soul. I've seen other creatures like you." She let her grip on Emily loosen. "You must help me break it then", she said with a growl, " I can't be this. I'm not serving the witch."

Emily agreed to help Isabella, but she didn't know what she was getting fully into. She told Isabella about the ones that were hunted by the Royal Court. They turned human again as they died. There was much talk about it in the kingdom. Emily didn't want Isabella to come to this fate. They didn't know but, the witch Isabella told Emily about was following them. Emily pulled a sword out of her bag, "Something I picked up on my travels." Isabella studied the ruins carefully. "I can read it!" she said surprisingly.  She studied it, and gasped, this is the ones they make up North. The Elder Swords." Emily cocked her head, wonderingly. "Could it kill the witch?" Emily responded. But Isabella shook her head bemused. She was hoping it very well could. Emily also pulled out potions she'd made in her lab, but told Isabella not to touch it. She wasn't done with them. Isabella sent Emily home that night when it got late.

As Emily was walking home to her shed, she saw someone blocking her path. This woman cackled and tossed her red hair so Emily saw the scar on her face. "Give me the sword or die!" Emily trembled, Why do you care? " The witch said in a quiet voice the owner gave me this, she pointed at the scar. Suddenly, Emily remembered an old legend that someone told her in a pub. "Your Ursula, the one men fear to mention...But luckily, I'm no man!" Ursula smiled ruefully, "I see you rather fight me, and die. Don't you want to help your friend?" Emily knew who she meant. " I'll give it to you, if you cure her." The witch scowled at Emily. then she admitted, "OK, I'll do it," in her most sincere voice. But Emily knew this was a trap waiting to happen since Ursula couldn't be trusted. She went over to the witch and as she released hold, she planned clumsiness, dropping the sword on Ursula's foot. She screamed in pain and wretched her claws at Emily. But Emily ducked to late. She bore the same scar on her face. Emily screamed.

 Out of no where, Isabella showed up; concerned. The witch looked at her. As she was about to run, dagger in hand,  Emily grasped the sword and pierced the witch's heart. What happened after was like an explosion of light. Emily opened her eyes when it stopped. The mark on her by the witch, healed. But Isabella wasn't there. In her place was a white wolf. Emily scrabbled to Isabella but the dog took a step back. She looked at the destroyed witch. She felt a flow of power in her finger tips. The witch must have transferred her power to Emily. Emily decided then and there, she'd use the power to help the "lost ones", as she later called them. She put her hands on Isabella and her friend was human once more. "You have to save them, the others", Isabella whispered. Then she ran off, but when she married and had kids, she told them stories of the one who killed Ursula and became the Good Witch. She told them the lives the Good Witch restored by the touch of her hands. She also told them that wolves were more than animals, since she was one for a short time. They were capable of love and compassion. The Royal Court didn't hunt them anymore. When Isabella was Queen, she banned it. People forgot fear of things unknown and lived in peace. Emily known as the Good Witch eventually cured the lost ones.