Valencia Academy- Book One

Prologue

Misty quickly and silently slipped into the darkened study, closing the door behind herself.

"What time is it?" The blonde-haired woman whispered as she veered right, aiming for the bay windows. She closed the beige blinds and drew the dark curtains closed, getting her answer from a clock on the wall, "Quarter to one."

She walked quickly to the opposite side of the room where a small hutch stood with a portrait of her family hanging on the wall beside it. She stared at the portrait before her, her eyes roaming over the details, reliving the memories from that day.

It was a few years old, featuring herself against a gorgeous backdrop. A field of small blue flowers, Bluebells, that rolled on as far as the eye could see. She was nestled under a huge oak tree with her arms wrapped around a small girl, who looked to be about nine, with curly red hair and eyes as blue as the oceans. They were smiling, so happy; it was a beautiful portrait of a beautiful family.

She reached up and removed the portrait from the wall, leaning it against the desk to her left. At her right, next to the hutch, she murmured quietly as she passed her hand over the empty space between the wall and the back of the hutch, revealing a beautiful, antique, oval mirror. The mirror then slid out, all on its own, and into her waiting hands. Misty lifted the mirror and placed it on the hook where their family portrait once hung.

She stepped back, clasping her hands together to strengthen her resolve. She faced the mirror and sang softly, "Link us with those who wish to hear, no matter how far or near."

She closed her eyes tightly as the mirror glowed a bright white for a moment then darkened, revealing an absolutely stunning couple standing in the mirror.

"Misty! It's good to see you!" The tall, handsome man with dark brown hair, pale skin, and beautiful deep blue eyes greeted her warmly. The dark-haired man's deep blue eyes turned a shade darker as he added, "Though I do wish it was under better circumstances."

Next to the man in the mirror, holding on to his arm, was a beautiful petite woman with long, curly red hair, the same pale coloring as her partner, and eyes the color of emeralds. She smiled as she nodded in agreement and her eyes sparkled like the gemstones they resembled.

"It's good to see you too," Misty replied, as she squeezed her hands tighter below the sightline of the mirror.

"The time has come," The dark-haired man said, bringing Misty's focus front and center. She fidgeted with the end of her pale blue paisley tunic-styled shirt.

"Are you sure now is the right time?" Misty ventured to question the dark-haired man's statement. The dark-haired man and the lovely woman by his side briefly exchanged a glance before he returned his intense stare to Misty through the mirror.

"We're sure. I know we had hoped it would be longer and she would be older, but things are progressing more rapidly than we anticipated. She must start her training; start her journey towards the truth, " the dark-haired man said with certainty.

"What about you?" questioned Misty, looking back and forth between the couple. "Shall I tell her about you?"

"No," replied the red-haired woman, shaking her head sadly as she tightened her grip on the dark-haired man's arm. "No, not yet. She need only to focus on training, and the first part of the truth, that will be more than enough to start."

"It's safer this way too, for now," added the dark-haired man, squeezing the petite hand of the woman next to him in agreement. Misty nodded in understanding.

"I will set things in motion then," said Misty determinedly, nodding in agreement.

"Thank you," the small red-haired woman said with feeling, her eyes searching Misty's hazelnut eyes, trying to convey the depths of her emotions.

"We will be in touch," said the dark-haired man, with a curt nod. As she nodded again, the mirror made a hissing noise, then the picture of the couple in front of her faded from view, leaving only the darkened study behind her.

Misty turned; her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"It will be okay, Mist," she soothed herself. She turned back to take the mirror off the wall. She placed it behind the hutch and waved her hand over it, replacing the illusion spell. It appeared, again, as if nothing was behind the hutch at all. Then she placed their family portrait back on the wall pausing to look at the little red-haired, blue-eyed girl in the portrait once more.

"She will forgive me, and she will still love me, she must," Misty said to herself, though if she was honest, she wasn't sure at all.