The Sun And Moom Series Book 1: The Ring Of Avlaor

Chapter 1: Jason

Okay, the whole matter of life and death thing started two days ago, after my birthday. Two days ago I was enjoying being a normal twelve (about to be thirteen) year old until...well you'll see as I get into the story.

~Two Days Ago~

"Happy birthday, Jason!" My family shouted. This is how every Castro birthday party is like, the entire family comes together, and gives you crap loads of food and presents. In most American cultures being sixteen is a huge deal, but in my family being thirteen is super important. Through out the entire party, my grandmother was pacing around the room, and muttering something that sounded like Latin, and for some reason I could understand it. She was saying "He wasn't ready, he's not ready. Not today not now." I wanted to check on her but, I saw my sister walking towards me with a bright smile on her face.

"Wow thirteen, do you feel old?" My sister was wearing a yellow t-shirt, black jeans, yellow flats, and a gold and black sun necklace hanging from her neck? That's CJ, short for Cassandra Joyce. She's tall for her age like around "5'6 or 5'7." Her golden brown hair stopped at her sholders and her bangs were pushed out of the way, so everyone at the party can see her bright emerald green eyes. Asking about the necklaces? The necklaces was a gift from our parents before they died. Anyways back to what I was saying, my sister stared to rock back and forth on the balls of her heels with the same bright smile on her face.

"A little." I replied.

"Oh," CJ said. I wanted to explain more on why I was feeling a bit anxious about being thirteen but, my sister walked off.

After the party, my aunts, grandmother, my sister, and I were stuck cleaning.  You see, my sister and I live in the upper west side of Manhattan. My two aunts helped raised me and my sister. Now, if your wondering why my grandmother lives with us is because she's sick. Since my aunts were closer, she moved in with us and have been living with us since then. Like I said, everybody left and it was just the five of us. After cleaning, everyone went off to do they're own thing. Aunt Sarah was making popcorn, Aunt Jennifer was reading, my grandmother was putting away dishes and putting them in the sink and my sister was doing her homework. Because things in the living room was boring, I deiced to go to my room. The thing about my Aunt Sarah is that she's twenty-four years old and is a college student in Columbia University. I heard that she has grandpa's brown eyes and Great Aunt Susan's chocolaty brown hair. Aunt Jennifer on the other hand is thirty-four years old and has grandma's dark brown hair and grandpa's hazel eyes. She graduated from NYU years ago on with a degree in teaching and now she's an elementary school teacher.

I collapsed on my bed and buried my face into my pillow. Before I knew it, I was asleep.

I woke up and sighed once I looked at my alarm clock. "6:30am." I threw my blankets off the bed and trudged towards the bathroom. After I took a shower, and got dressed, I went down to eat breakfast when all of a sudden I heard some yelling, my aunts and grandmother were probably fighting again. I usually ignore it but this time I didn't.  I heard mine and my sister's names brought up in their conversation, so this time I started to listem to what they were fighting about. What? I'm not being nosy, its called investigating.

"We can't protect them forever!" Aunt Sarah shouted.

"They're going to get their powers sooner or later." Aunt Jennifer bud in.

"But, not CJ, she's too young."

"I got mine when I was her age." Aunt Sarah said. "So did Jennifer and Genevieve." Genevieve? I heard that name once or twice, my grandmother told me that was my mother's name.

"I don't care, if they get their powers. They're going to be in danger."

"We'll protect them." After a few minutes I got tired of listing to them argue, so I went back into the kitchen pretending that I was already there. The room door finally opened and Aunt Sarah, Aunt Jennifer, and Grandma walked out like nothing happened.

"Hey kiddo." Aunt Jennifer smiled

"Hey." I muttered.

"Umm...how about I cook breakfast?" Aunt Sarah asked awkwardly.

"There's no time."

"We only have minutes and I have presentation in third period and I'm not prepared." CJ said as she came down the stairs.

"You're nervous aren't you."

"Is that even a question?!" CJ shouted nearly hyperventilating.

"Remember to breathe and you'll be fine."

"Come on you're going to miss your subway."

At school everything was fine, until my sister did something stupid. I was in the middle of taking my history test until, the fire alarm rang. Everyone got up quietly and lined up in front of the door. When my teacher opened the door, I saw my sister soaked and wet with panic written on her face.

What happened? I mouthed to her. She looked at me and shrugged.

I want to know what's going on, and why my aunts and grandmother are acting very secretive.