Love Hate, Hate Love

1.

{Author's Note: This, indeed, is a short chapter. Bear with me, darlings, I assure you that in later chapters they will at least be 1,000 words long. Before you start reading I'd like to say that most characters in this story are owned by a good friend of mine. They are often used in role-play and most of the stories events are developed with those different role-plays in mind. The main character, Linterna, is owned by me as well as her family and other side characters in the story. Needless to say, enjoy the new story and thank you for taking time to read my note.

- SilverFlarePlays <3 }

"Hate. They say to never let it consume your being. It clings to your soul like sticky, black tar; it burns through your skins straight to the bone. It's a disgusting emotion that infects the mind and body alike. It can morph you into an empty husk of the person you once were. Push people to do things that under all reasonable circumstances would never happen. Do you understand this, Elizabeth?"

The six year old Elizabeth L. Garcia looked up at her father's stern face. She nodded slowly, not truly understanding the meaning behind his warning words. Her brain was already occupied on different matters, like how everyday Mother seemed to grow more pale and weak. Her father seemed satisfied with her little nod. He looked down at his daughter, his expression softening the tiniest bit, barely noticeable to someone who isn't used to analyzing the smallest details. He flipped a small golden coin. Heads. 

"Very well, Elizabeth, you are dismissed to return to your studies," her father shooed her away from his office in the center of his large private library.

She turned on her heel and walked out the set of heavy wooden doors, leaving her father alone with the maze of towering bookshelves. She leaned on the door to fully close it and pulled out a small notebook she always carried around. Elizabeth had practiced writing since she was the age of four. It quickly became a favorite pastime for the young girl. She scribbled down what her father had told her before she could forget. Anything Father said had to be taken seriously even if she had no idea what he meant.

The young girl's memory has never been the greatest. In fact, she has difficulties remembering her actual name. Only her father ever called her Elizabeth as he was the one who named her. Her mother on the other hand calls her 'Linterna' which, in her native tongue, is lantern. Linterna is the name she knows by heart.

She closed her little notebook and placed it back in its place in her left dress pocket. She scurried back to her home where her mother was waiting with her tutor to continue her lessons. She didn't like her lessons on proper etiquette or posture very much but she found them bearable. Linterna much preferred her lessons in other subjects, however. She mustn't take too long getting back. She quickened her steps, her shoes making a faint clack against the brick path.

"Linterna, welcome back. Did your father finish his talk with you already? Let us continue where we left off, sweetheart," a soft calming voice hummed as her mother's hand gently grabbed her own.

Her mother led her through the home to where Linterna studied. Her mother hummed a lovely melody that she always did when she came back to her studies. Her mother was always so cheerful. Linterna cherished the small moments with her mother. Smiling up at her mother's face Linterna squeezed her mother's hand tight.