Alice into Darkness

Seaside Creek

It was March the Thirteenth of 1773.

Alice Layttel had enjoyed a peaceful and happy life with the Snowflakes for what had been four months already, and during this time they had really come to accept and embrace her as part of the family... everything felt just like she was a natural daughter, and all of them regarded her as a wonderful blessing that God had sent to their lives.

It was Alice the one that would take Eileen to school, collect lumber for the house, prepare breakfast whenever that Grace was busy with the winery and even look after Albert every time that he became more ill than usual...

Alice was happy to secure her place in a comfortable house, and the Snowflakes never even suspected what she actually was.

January had started just like any other January before, everybody wanted to forget the tragic death of Catherine Ayllawel and the town was as cheerful as usual, and yet Sparks Hollow continued to suffer a series of weird and mysterious deaths...

Various shop owners from Starlight Square succumbed to what the Guards explained as accidental fires, a thief that had stolen silver from a well-known violinist was later found dead in a dark street with his neck mysteriously broken, some people just vanished and seven nuns at the Monastery died in a single night from what was later explained as a fungal infection that had come from moldy old books.

The infamous Elric McAllister continued to break into houses in order to murder children and adults alike, a few houses burned to ashes for no reason and meanwhile people were getting ravaged by wolves that ventured into the outskirts of the town thanks to some dark and unknown reason...

What was happening to the once happy and peaceful town? Why so many weird and tragic things had started to happen since November? Why it would be that the Guards seemed powerless to stop all of these disasters, tragedies and deaths?

Alice Layttel was regarded as just a graceful lady that drew unbelievable portraits at Starlight Square, soon the Army was called to extensive training for some reason and Queen Amethyst continued to keep everyone in the dark regarding whatever danger that lurked somewhere out there in the sea...

"What do you think, Alice?" a cheerful Albert said, coughing a little as the family emerged together from the station- "Welcome to Seaside Creek!"

Alice was quite surprised by the scene that appeared before her eyes, since the town that they had just arrived at was indeed very different to Sparks Hollow: The streets were cobbled as well and there were grass and gardens everywhere, but the houses and shops followed a simpler style of architecture and the colorful flowers belonged to species that she had never seen before.

The air smelled of nearby sea, you could even hear the waves whispering in the distance and the shops at the other side of the street sold every water-related merchandise that you could imagine from bathing suits to pool toys, not to mention those artistic shark sculptures carved in wood and even small boats...

"This place is really beautiful!" Alice said, beaming as she enjoyed the view of the shops, those flashy green gardens and a nearby fountain that depicted a swordfish at the moment of leaping from the water- "I see why everyone likes it so much..."

"We used to come here as newlyweds, and we continued coming even after Logan was born" Grace explained, and they all began walking down the street as soon as Alice had finished staring at the flowers and the grass- "Then, the winery began to take most of our time and our visits became less and less frequent... and now, here we are again!"

"All thanks to the Wandellian Witches Federation!" Logan said, and Alice happily patted him on the back.

It had been only four months since the day that Alice had seen Logan for the first time, but the teenager had managed to grow a good four inches since then and now he was the tallest person in the family. Logan had developed some good muscle as well, and the voice that Alice had known as boyish and sweet was starting to transform into that of a man.

Actually Logan's fifteenth birthday would come in just four days, and the family was planning to celebrate it with a great party that would be endorsed and decorated by the Witches Federation itself...

"I am sure that you are going to win the championship, Logan!"

"Thanks, Alice..."

The Snowflakes and their monster continued walking for some time, they passed beside a shop that sold salty dried shark and they turned a corner to the right after that... Alice was happy to see a great park full of orange and violet flowers spreading between the splendid trees, and that was when they encountered a purple and elegant carriage that was parked beside a light post.

A tall man wearing a black suit was there, and even though he had been distracted looking at a nearby church he was quick to attend the family as soon as he saw and recognized the famous Logan Snowflake...

"The Surrey Champion is here! Welcome, Logan... Welcome, Snowflake family! Here, your carriage is ready..."

"Thank you!" Logan replied, and after that he assisted Eileen to climb into the carriage as soon as the man had opened the door- "I trust that everything is ready for the Tournament?"

"Yes, everything is ready indeed... And where is it that I shall take you, Logan?"

"We are staying at Sapphire Street, Seventeen!"

Alice was quick to get the most comfortable seat right beside a window, Eileen was silent and sad and Logan was happy to display some of his new strength by helping their assistant to place all of the luggage on top of the carriage... the heavy wooden door was closed at last, and the horses began to advance following a soft command from their driver.

The wind and the sea continued to whisper in the distance, and the Snowflakes began their journey towards the house that would be their home for the following three weeks...