Chapter 28 — Calder

I’m outside on the patio. It’s late. Everyone is asleep, but my mind keeps going. I can’t help but worry when the Enchantress will strike again. She murdered Carter’s friends and Emmy’s fake family. I know Emmy wasn’t really close to her fake family, but they were still a big part of her life. I know it stung her heart that they met a dark end, but she is keeping a strong front for Carter. I can see the revenge in his eyes. We are all gunning to get revenge on the Enchantress.

Someone walks out to the patio. It’s Lynden, Ivy’s little sister. Lynden has long dark blonde hair, green eyes, and pale ivory skin tone. She is the opposite of her sister. Ivy is tall and lean with lighter blonde hair. Lynden is shorter than her sister and she has a cute pear shape. She’s actually really pretty. She walks up to me and hands me a cup of tea. I take it and thank her. We move to sit on the cast iron patio set.

“You’re Calder, right?” Lynden asks.

“Yes. Lynden, right?”

“Yeah.”

“What are you doing up?” I ask, taking a sip of the tea she brought me.

“I can’t sleep. I’m in a different time zone. My boarding school is out west so I’m three hours behind you guys.”

I nod my head. I know that Lynden is only sixteen and I’m going to be nineteen next month. I have to keep myself in check even if I find her attractive.

“Did you get settled in okay?” I ask.

“Yeah. I’m glad to be away from my boarding school. The human world is kind of boring once you know that the magic world exists. My family has been in the Warriors since they started the organization. Plus, I like being near Ivy. It gets lonely being out there by myself with no family. Our parents died when I was young, so it’s always just been Ivy and me. From what I understand you just got reunited with your family.”

“Yes. I know all about loneliness. I’m sorry you have to be here under such shitty circumstances.”

Lyden shrugs her shoulders. “Yeah, but I can’t lie and say that I’m not happy to be with my sister. I mean I know the Enchantress is a serious threat but because of her I get to be with my sister.”

I laughed. “You get to be with your sister because of the Enchantress and I was taken away from mine because of her. Strange how she can reunite one family while tearing another apart.”

“But you’re with your family now.” Lynden states.

I can tell she is trying to be positive.

“You’re right I am but honestly I’m just holding on right now.”

It feels odd to hear my confession out loud. I’m just holding on to myself at the moment. I feel lost within myself. I’m surrounded by my family and friends, but I feel alone. I think I feel alone because I am not used to being surrounded by people who love and care for me. I’m also worried about mom even though she is getting better. I know she is still torn up about things that she did while being possessed. Then there is Emmy who is trying to hold it together for Carter and herself. It seems we are all just trying to hold on.

I have to hold on though. I won’t give up. I will not let the Enchantress win. She has taken so much from me and my family. I won’t rest till I know she is dead. I don’t care if it is the only thing I did with my life. I am strong. I’ve been through hell and back again. I will not let my thoughts control me. I will hold onto everything I have because I know what it is like to not have it. I will be strong for my family and friends, but mostly I will be strong for myself.

Lynden and I talk for a while till she finally starts to yawn. Lynden may only be sixteen, but she is really smart and grown up for her age. I think she had to grow up quickly because her parents died when she was young. I know what it is like to have a minimal childhood and grow up way too fast.

Lynden goes to bed, and I decide to do the same. I need rest and I feel better after talking with Lynden. I don't know why, but I feel drawn to her. I ignore it and focus on the mission, which is to take out the Enchantress. Once this hell is over with, I want to explore the human and magic worlds. I want to experience all the things I hear my friends and family talk about. I want to be normal, but I have to wonder if normal really exists, or is it just an illusion we create, so that we can ignore the truth about the world and ourselves?