The Mysterious Tale of Wisteria Griffin

Prologue

Wisteria Griffin rode noiselessly across the streets of Ixtalia. The still winter morning air was crisp and cool as her bicycle silently thunked across the numerous potholes and bumps. The newspapers in her knapsack fluttered slightly in the wind she created while cycling. As she rode down Ixtalia Lane it began to snow, creating what grown-ups called a 'flurry'. Wisteria called it baby snow.

When delivering the papers she would come up to the house, ring the doorbell, and hand them a paper without a word and they would flip her some money, and never more than five dollars. Those were the kind hearted ones. Who actually cared. But there was one man. Everyone simply called him the Wizard, because he was amazing with cooking and healing. But he was kind to Wisteria, and so she called him by his rightful name. Once she had stopped at his house, she got out two papers - he always wanted two - rang the doorbell, which wasn't like any of the other doorbells on Ixtalia Lane, it was a little bell hanging by the door with a little string that you would swing back and forth. In fact, his entire house wasn't like any of the others. He had a twisty wrought-iron gate that squeaked rather pleasantly, and ivy and wisteria growing up the brick walls. And the windows! They were very pretty, most of them were colorful stained glass, just random colored panes, all in geometric shapes with black iron settings. Just then the door was opened by a little girl around her age, perhaps five or six. She had messy, curlicue black hair and most of it was in her eyes, which were startling gray, like a storm. She had black pants on and a bright blue cable knit sweater.

"Who are you?" she asked

"I'm Wisteria. I deliver the paper. Is Mr. Azrael home?" she said barely above a whisper.

"He is, but he told me to get the paper. He's busy.Well come in, It's cold and snowy! And my name is Haven" she said as if it were obvious.

Wisteria nodded and left her bike outside and gingerly stepped into the entry room of the house that she loved the outside of so well. When you stepped into the kitchen there were lots of dried and fresh herbs hanging from the ceiling, crystals strewn all over the place, and jars of things soaking, or pickling on the windowsills. The house was not at all tidy, it was a bit chaotic, with books and notes and swirly symbols all over the place. Really, all over the place, on books, carved into cutting boards, written on notebooks, you name it. There was even one on the back of Haven's neck. The couch in the living space was a forest-y green, and the floorboards were a hodgepodge of mahogany, cedar, and oak.

Wisteria looked out the doors to the balcony from the living room and saw the most beautiful view. There was what seemed to be a forest outside, filled mostly with pine trees, the combination of the sunrise through the snowy clouds, and the contrast of the white and green was dazzling.

"Azrael told me to give this to you." she said, handing her a cup of warm horchata sprinkled with cinnamon on the top, starling Wisteria out of her stupor. How did Mr. Azrael know that was her favorite winter drink?

"Thank you." said Wisteria, again very quietly.

"Why are you so quiet? You have a pretty voice." Haven inquired.

"I try not to draw attention to me." she said but a bit louder this time, and slightly defensively

"Oh. Why?" she asked again. Wisteria's mental defenses were going up, so she said the same thing that her mother always said when people asked why her child had caramel skin with white splotches all over it.

"Reasons." she told her fiercely, looking her in the eyes for the first time. She saw she had beautiful green eyes that seemed to pierce her soul.

She did the last thing that Wisteria expected. She gave her a hug.

"I'm sorry." She said,

Wisteria simply stared at her in confusion. No one but her Mami and Papi had ever apologized for hurting her feelings before. Shee had taken her completely by surprise.