Elizabeth Gunther And The Mountain Of The Lost Souls

Out of School

Sun shining in through the window in her room. The first day of summer break; normally she would be at a sleep-away camp for summer or and her friend's house, but her dad thought she was old enough to stay home this summer. Her father works odd hours and during the summer he's never home. She stirred as the sun shined on her face, inevitably waking her up. With a big yawn and stretch she opens her eyes rubbing the sleep out of them.

"Elizabeth!" Her father Mr. Gunther said from across the house.
"Yes, Father?!" She questioned voice still groggy. Footsteps approached her door, the door opened slowly.
"Breakfast is ready my dear. We're having pancakes, you're favorite." Mr. Gunther said with a sweet voice. She smiled happily and hopped out of bed.
"I'll be down to eat when I'm ready. Thank you for making pancakes Dad!" She said as she hugged her father.
"Alright, sweetheart." Mr. Gunther said just before kissing her head. He left closing the door Elizabeth turned to her wardrobe questioning what to wear today.

She looked around her room, green vines growing everywhere flowers speckled around the room. She looked through her wardrobe settling on a yellow tool dress with shorts under it and a fake corset top, the dress had frilly sleeves and brown and light pink flowers with dark yellow middles all over it. She quickly put the dress on and brushed out her long blonde hair, putting her hair into a big fish braid and putting her favorite flowers in it.

Finally ready she rushed down the stairs and practically ran to the kitchen. Arriving at the kitchen she's met with the smell of fresh pancakes and the sight of her father reading a newspaper and eating pancakes.

Sitting down to eat her pancakes she practically inhaled them. When she had a few bites left her father cleared his voice preparing to speak. She looked up at him meeting his eyes.

"Elizabeth darling I'm going to be away the entire summer. I trust that you can take care of yourself and the house Lilah can come over and you can go to her house as long as she comes to get you." He spoke as he got up picked up a strange bouquet and placed it into a vase in front of Elizabeth. Taking her last bite of pancake looking at the flowers. "Ok, that's fine Dad; where did these flowers come from? I've never seen them before." She said confused looking at her dad and then the flowers.
"Oh, yes they came from the market sweetheart." He stated nervously obviously lying. Putting on his brown coat.

"Really? I didn't see them with the groceries when you came home last night." Saying as she recalled last night.

"They were there you probably just didn't notice being excited about the break darling." He said gleaming. Kissing Elizabeth on her forehead before getting his hat and his briefcase.

"Welp, I best be off sweetheart. I love you I'll be back just before school starts on August 8th." He said lovingly. Elizabeth walked up to him giving him a big hug just before saying "I love you poppa, be safe I'll see you when you get home." Sad to see him leave but happy because she wanted to find out more about the flowers. Mr. Gunther waved goodbye, and Elizabeth waved back.

Elizabeth turned around and sped upstairs to her desk and her owl. She gets out paper, an envelope, black ink, and her favorite feather pen it's brown-tipped and the rest is black with white spots. She starts writing "Lilah get over here as fast as you can! Don't bother responding. There is a bouquet with flowers I've never seen and I need help!" She lets it dry and folds it to put in the envelope, then seals it with a wax stamp for no other reason than because she wanted to. Getting out her owl Grimoire she says "Grimoire I want you to fly this letter to Lilah as quickly but as safely as you can" he whoots seemingly in response. She gives him a few berries seeds and mealworms in a bowl before sending him off with the letter.