A/N: say hello to Adalene!!! Adalene, why are you so sad???
"So my dad was put in charge of taking the queen's daughter to a safehouse?" I asked.
Adalene nodded, "He was the best magician in the world, Amber, you've never seen him work," she explained.
"Well, I'm not saying that he wasn't," I said, "But if he was anything like me," I continued, "Why in the world would you trust him with responsibility of any kind?"
Adalene sighed. I guess she gave up, because she stood, brushing off her pants, "Come on, Amber, we need to get moving. Veronica could be anywhere."
"Or I could be right here!"
Adalene and I twirled around, seeing Veronica's smug face. She took two steps forward, and Adalene growled, "Veronica, leave. You know I could easily overpower you."
"Yes, but you were never that great at multitasking," she took a sideways glance towards me, "You can't attack me and keep her safe."
"Amber," she looked at me, "Run. Trust me, I'll protect you. Just run."
"But Amber," Veronica whispered, "What if she can't? It would be better in the long run just to come with me, that way no one needs to get their hands dirty."
My heart was pounding in my chest. What should I do? The obvious choice was to take off, but could Adalene really protect me?
I took one step toward Veronica, then another, then another. Adalene gave me a horrified look as I reached Veronica's side. Her blonde hair smelled like cinnamon, and I almost gagged. I didn't like cinnamon. I whispered in her ear, "This is what you deserve."
And then I smacked her with all the force in my body.
"Adalene run!" I grabbed her hand and we took off, Adalene almost unable to run because she was laughing so hard.
"That was genius!" she laughed, "How did you-"
"I've wanted to do that for years," I replied.
Adalene suddenly stopped, almost making me trip, "This is far enough," she walked over to me and grabbed my other hand, "Are you ready?" she asked me.
"For what?"
"To see what you truly are," she replied.
I had absolutely no idea what the heck she was talking about, but I nodded anyway.
"Hold on tight," she said, "it could be a bumpy ride."
I saw her disappear, and then I felt myself being lifted off the ground, and my surroundings disappeared.
I took in a breath of crisp, mountainous air, and I opened my eyes. I gasped, the sight I was seeing was so... majestic. A white castle against gray mountain, the sun setting in the background, painting the sky a lovely orange. There was a chill in the air, but I was comfortable in my jacket.
I turned around. How had I gotten here? I remembered the forest, Veronica, and Adalene grabbing my hand, and then... here. And where was Adalene?
"Amber?" it was Adalene. I turned around, and saw my friend completely different. She was wearing a shimmering white ball gown, and her black hair was no longer in knots and just hanging straight, it was in a French braid going over her shoulder. her purple eyes were no longer creepy, but instead they were more mysterious than anything.
"Adalene!" I exclaimed, "You look so beautiful!"
"Thank you," she halfway laughed, "I do like this dress."
"What is this place?" I asked her, gesturing around us.
"Welcome to the Aberdon House of Magic, Amber," she twirled around, facing the castle, "This is a place where young magicians come to learn about their powers, master them, and they meet magicians just like them. It is essentially a school of sorts."
"Does that mean-" I started.
"Do you trust me?" Adalene asked.
I nodded. I'd have to be crazy not to, she had saved me so many times already in the past twenty-four hours.
She reached out and grabbed my hand, and lifted it up. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I was floating in the air. Adalene let go, and I hovered there. I tried to take a step forward, and I moved forward in the air. Adalene brought me back down, and my feet hit the ground. I felt free, like a bird.
"You're a magician, Amber," she smiled, "Now how about we go grab some dinner?"
We walked into the dining hall, which was just about the fanciest room I had ever been in. The wall to my left was completely made of windows, and it showed the reflection of the setting sun on the mountains. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting the room in a pure, golden light. A massive table was in the middle, and at least 50 kids from about age seven to eighteen stood at its many seats. Once Adalene entered, all of the others stood, and a little girl who looked like she was the youngest stood on her chair to see.
Adalene smiled, waltzing to the chair on the end of the table, almost like a throne. When she sat down, the rest of the room sat down also. Adalene beckoned to the empty chair beside her, and I sat down. When she spoke, her voice echoed around the room, easily letting everyone hear her, "We have a new friend," she said, "Please welcome Amber Delainey, would anyone like to share a room?"
A young girl who looked around ten raised her hand quickly, as did a girl around 16.
"Cocoa, why don't you wait for someone closer to your age?" Adalene asked her. The room echoed with laughter for a moment before the 16 year old said, "I mean, unless Amber has a problem with it, she can room with Cocoa. I don't care either way."
"It's fine by me," I smiled, "I would love to room with Cocoa!" the little girl seemed so eager, sweet, and adorable. I would've felt bad if I had declined her invitation. Her smile was so huge it looked like somebody had stuck a crossaint to her face.
"Alright then," Adalene stood up and gestured to the plates of food, "Let's eat!"
After a delicious dinner of baked potatoes, ham, corn, rolls, and other things of the sort, Cocoa immediately found me. She was a tiny thing, and she was so excited to meet me.
"Hi I'm Cocoa!" she rushed over to me, "I'm 10, and I have a big sister named Jade, she's 14! We room together with Scorch, she can be a little mean, but she's really a nice person. They'll probably get to the room a little late, the curfew for you guys is later than it is for me, but I'm hoping to get into a late night class anyways, which means my curfew will be two hours later than it would be, and I'm really excited, maybe I could hang out with you guys a little more! Anyway, do you want to go to the room?" the constant, rapid flow of words stopped, and I realized she had asked me a question. "Sure," I replied, shrugging my shoulders, and Cocoa grabbed me and whisked me away.
Now somebody pinch me because this dream is getting really weird.
A/N: check out Adalene's dress!!!
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