A Shadow in the Deep

The Magic of Crystal Heart: Powers
A Shadow in the Deep

Written by Christina Smith

For Kadence Summers, who always has believed
in magic and let her inner light shine through - C. S.

For Dorothy Smith, my wonderful mother who believed in my abilities and made me magic - C. S.

Table Of Contents:
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifthteen
Chapter Sixteen 148

Prologue
I sighed and looked out the dusty window. My Mami says it is better than nothing, but this place needs a lick of white paint! The walls were old, and rotting and made of dead timber, flecks of wood peeling off it and sawdust everywhere.
The bright side of the rotten place is that out of the massive windows, I can see the golden sunset each night. I also know that some Argentinians would kill to have some shelter even here for just one night.
I clambered up my decayed bed frame onto the windowsill that lined the cloudy glass letting light sweep my bedroom. I held up my glowing candle and peered out of the window into the country land beyond.
I gazed around the countryside of the Valdes Peninsula, North-East Argentina. Sparse plants were buried in the hot sand. Water pools were dotted here and there, to supply the also limited amount of animals. My favourite desert animals are the Guanacos, the Magellanic Tuco Tuco and the Kodkod cat, of which I had a pet until she became too old and died.
The heavy afternoon sun was sinking away. I could feel the golden glow of warmth slowly shattering with coldness over the mountains as small hares scampered above the dunes from their burrows to search for tufts of grass. Shadows of Huemul deer galloped to the mountains and bent down to nibble on the grass with drops of fresh rain.
"Syl!" Mami called from the kitchen. "Lights out!"
"Yes, Mami!" I called back.
"Do you need a snack before bed or your medication?" Mami fretted, sliding into the room.
"No, Mami," I laughed.
"Well, Syl, if you need anything, remember to tell me," Mami said, concerned. "We're all we have left now. Each other."
"What about Papa's family, aren't they still alive?" I queried, raising my eyebrows at Mami.
"Well, sort of," Mami's brow furrowed, as though she was trying to remember where or who her relatives-in-law were. Grandma occasionally popped in, to see how we were doing, and her husband's nephew checked in sometimes, but Mami was sort of right. Our relatives had nothing to do with us.
"Or the La-Zina's?" I persisted, sliding down the windowframe and down to her height. I was tall, that I nearly overlapped her!
"I haven't heard from them since I had you," Mami sighed, shaking her head. "They never exactly approved of my marriage."
"Still—" I tried, but Mami tapped me on the head, silencing me.
"Good night, Syl," Mami said sternly, heading back out the door.
Well, that conversation was over. "Good night, Mami."
My full name is Sylvia-Ann Maiya Lorez. My mum's name is Clarissa Marie-Mirande La-Zina, but her last name changed to Lorez when she married my Papa. My Papa, Solitairo Bailey Lorez died a mysterious death when I was two years old. Even when I try my hardest I can't remember any memories of him, nor are there any photos of him in the house.
I blew the strawberry-scented candle out and hopped back onto the windowsill. I opened the window, and let the cool evening breeze engulf my room. I swung my leg in the gale, letting it wash my face with its cool zephyr. 
I turned back to the window and squinted in the darkness. Was that Degu's shadow growing? I hopped down from the windowsill and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a human shadow dart past the house. I spun around, hissing, and then I spotted some red glitter on my pillow.
What the? How did that get there? Everyone in my familia knows that I am allergic to powders.
I tried brushing it off with no luck. I decided to ignore it and hope for the best. I plonked my head on the feather-down pillow. The powder lifted up enchantingly, dancing around the air until it whirled up my nostrils.
The corners of my eyes started to droop, the corners of my vision blurring and darkening. Everything felt wobbly, and my body felt like a dead weight. My eyes just closed as I succumbed to the darkness and let it take me.
"Sylvia; Sylvia!"
I gasped for air and sneezed. The red dust had faded on my pillow to pink. The sound of that voice was familiar, but I couldn't place how.
Did I look up to see a rose-pink unicorn? I couldn't believe my eyes; I just couldn't. I squeezed my eyes very tightly shut and opened them again.
To my relief, when I reopened my eyes, I only saw my Abuela. She had pale hazel skin with kind eyes and very curly grey hair that used to be golden.
She was wearing a pink knee-height dress with pretty purple flowers and draped a periwinkle shawl on her shoulders.
"How are you, Nieta?" My Abuela asked as she carefully draped my indigo shawl on my shoulders from my slanting chest of drawers, the only other piece of furniture in my room.
Just then I noticed something new about my grandmother. On her neck was a golden shawl-shaped necklace pendant with a ruby, a pearl, a crystal, a moonstone, an aquamarine and an emerald.
"What is that?" I asked. Leonora (my Abuela's name in Spanish) clutched her necklace and turned around. She walked over to a self-portrait of my father. She took it down from the wall and clutched it close to her heart.
"Maybe she is ready... I wish you were here to tell me what to do, Solitairo," I heard her muttering in the corner. I recoiled, it had been years since I'd heard anyone address my father by his Spanish name. Then she suddenly started shouting.
"Claro! She's up!"
"Yes, Abuela!" Mami almost immediately slid into the room, smiling at me. "Nice to see you up, Sleepy-Head!"
"I'm not a sleepy-hea-" I cut off as I peered out my window to see the sun dipping downward towards the West.
"What!" I yelped, scrambling out of bed. "How could I have slept for an entire day!"
Mami and Abeula exchanged a look.
"Syl..." Mami said gently. "You haven't been asleep for one day.
"You've been asleep for three years."