Eye of The Wyvern

II

3 more days until Karissa's 18th birthday

"Karissa!!" Amanda shook her friend aggressively. Karissa blinked hard, opening her eyes to look around, "Huh?" she bemused. "You're doing that thing again, K." Karissa sighed, "Really?" Amanda nodded. "Are you okay? You did it a lot yesterday too." She rubbed her temples, closing her eyes. "Well?" Amanda pushed for answers. "I just," Karissa sighed, "I've been having flashbacks again. You know, of that day."

Amanda sighed, she placed a hand on Karissa's shoulder, "Wanna talk about it?" Karissa nodded slowly. "Well," Amanda closed the gap between them, one arm around her friend's shoulders, "what part? The fire, or finding her?" "Both.." Karissa replied, looking down at her pale feet, the small burn scar still visible on her ankle, "I keep seeing flash images of the fire, and then when they pulled her out of the house." She shook it off, "Anyway," she continued, "let's just forget about it for now." Amanda's brows furrowed, "alright, KK.."

* * *

Peter and Karissa each held a bucket as they made their way down to the well. As they walked, Karissa glanced over at the houses they passed by, but as she glanced at one, a silhouette with a white eye and a red eye peaked around at her, the colors gleaming at her. She dropped the bucket with a gasp, stunned by what she saw. Peter noticed, "What happened?" He picked up her bucket and looked where she did. "I saw something dad," She shivered, "it stared at me with two eye colors!"

People started glaring, so Peter took her back to their house. As soon as he shut the door, he sat her down and gripped her shoulders. "Karissa," he started, "there is no such thing-" She cut him off, "I know what I saw! It was a black figure with two different colored eyes!" Peter sighed, "What color were the eyes, hun?"

"The right one was white," she looked at her hands, then back up at her father, "and the left one was red. Just like blood and fire. Like mom's." Peter let go of her shoulders. He looked down at his feet, "You," he took her hands, eyes now meeting her's, "you can never, ever tell anyone what you saw, Karissa. Not even Amanda. Do you understand, KK?" Karissa nodded, swallowing the dryness in her throat.

"You know the severity of mentioning magic around these people," he continued, "please, Karissa, never speak of this to anyone other than me. This conversation does not leave this house or our minds." She nodded again. "Was it mom?" Peter sighed and shook his head. "Your mother would never appear as such," his face softened, "please never tell anyone of this."

"I won't.." Karissa looked down at her hands again. He lifted her chin, "Your mother loved you," he smiled, "I know you miss her, KK, but we must carry on, and keep her in our hearts." She smirked, "You're right, dad."

Peter got her to stay in while he went for the water at the well, and since he was out Karissa decided to resume studies. Her favorite was always history, because it gave pieces of her parents' pasts, and the stories of how Khianne came to be. Karissa studied for a while, losing track of time and not even realizing Peter had been home for forever.

He entered her room, "Hey," she turned to face him, startled, "Your laundry is drying. Don't worry about it till tomorrow, okay?" She smiled with gratitude. "Thank you, dad," she said, "What time is it? Is it already past dusk?" He nodded, "You've been in here a long while. What's got you hooked to your studying today?"

Karissa laughed, "I can think clearly for once, and decided to use that to my advantage.." He smiled, "I'm glad you can focus. It's good for you to have knowledge." He sat down on her bed. "There's something you need to know," He sounded stern yet his face was still soft, "and you will be told that something, and maybe more, when you turn 18. I just want to prepare you, because it is about your mother."

Karissa furrowed her brow, fastidious, "What is it about?" He pointed at her, "Your mother. And yourself." She was now more confused but infatuated with what it could possibly be. "You will find out some things on your birthday, okay, Karissa?" He smiled at her. "Okay, dad." She rose from her seat as he stood, and she hugged him. "Get some rest." He whispered. She nodded and waved as he left the room.

She lay wide awake, wondering what her father would tell her that seemed so secret. The history of Khianne popped into her mind. Could it have something to do with the Magicks who vanished long ago? She wasn't sure, but what she was sure of, was that she was going to tell Amanda what she saw, and no one would stop her from telling her best friend.