The Monster Within Me

The Sea Glass

Hello, readers! This story is quite unlike all of my other ones. All of the characters are mine, please do not use them without asking. If you ask, I would be happy to let you. I have been working on this story, trying to fix up plot holes. If you come across any major ones, please comments that I can fix them. I want this to be a fun story for you all to read! Enjoy!

I walk towards the glass, as it's my turn today to try and contact our beloved on land. It's the only time of year that I can leave the castle I call home. Most don't have anyone Above. But I- I still do. It is the 12th of December, my half birthday, and on this day and this day only, Atlantis allows me to contact my lost sister. On this day, and this only, I can leave my prison. Most wouldn't call the castle a prison, but to me, it is. I can leave the castle. But only once a year. Today. Now.

I reach the sea-glass. I have held it many times. 5 times and each memory of it is as clear as the glass itself. Smooth as silk, clear blue as water. I grab it, take a deep breath and say:

"Autumn Tiltide" My voice shakes, filled with the longing of hope and the fear of nothing. The glass blurs, and the knot in my heart tightens. Could it? But nothing. 5, now 6 years of trying and nothing. Still nothing. I remember that fatal last day I saw her. It was summer, but a bad storm was coming on. Our parents had recently died. The grief had hit me so hard. I couldn't get over it. We stood on the beach and watched the sky fill with clouds. The surf played at our toes, and the wind slapped our hair backwards. I saw something, something that looked like a someone, moving on an island in the distance. For some reason, a shiver went up my spine. I looked to my side, to see my sister watching these men, a determined look setting in her eyes.

"Go!" she told me, with a hint of hysteria, "You're no longer safe here! Go under the water, and they'll take you in! Tell them your sister is Autumn Tiltide and you need to be safe. You are in great danger! Tell them they must keep you safe! Tell them you are her! The girl! Just remember- I lo-" Lightning cut her off. It seemed rash, but I looked back just in time to see her shoot up into the sky by two bolts of crackling lightning. I screamed, and dived in, drived by fear, hoping I could trust my sister on this.

I let the sea-glass slip out of my hands. Slowly I feel rage coming on. Why can't I contact my sister? My parents are dead. Dead. I'll never see them again. Never. Emily, the youngest. Dead. All I have is Autumn. That's all that I have. But even that-even she is gone. My life in Atlantis isn't right. I want a lot of things. But here, now, all I want is my sister back. This feeling threatens to overcome me and take me over, making me a completely new person. In an instant, it's gone, just leaving behind a empty feeling. I gracefully sink to the ocean floor and collapse in a puddle of tears, if you can cry underwater. Well, a dome of air underwater. For my sister, for my parents. Do they see me from up in the stars. Stars I haven't seen in 6 years. Stars I want to see.

I duck my head, dry my tears, and swiftly walk back towards the small kingdom. I must get back before dinner. That is my deal. My heart sinks as I spot the Queen of Atlantis, Elizabeth Marie, striding towards me, her long blond hair fanning out in waves behind her. She was the woman who took me in, as she missed her own daughter, Liliana, who was kidnapped, and was up on land, with foster parents. She disappeared 16 years ago, when she was only 3. Queen Elizabeth and King Charles took me in, to help me and fill the hole in their heart that was missing Liliana. Or I think so. But if it love that made them take me in, why am I being kept locked away in the palace, with only servants for friends?

"Alissa," I look up and see Queen Elizabeth, whom I have been asked to call Eliza, next to me. She puts a hand on my shoulder, "Are you okay, honey?"

"Yes." I answer, "I just miss my sister." And with that, I begin to cry, again.

"Let's get you back home." Eliza takes my hand and guides me to the kingdom. The underwater city of Atlantis is a wonder, a beauty. But I can only see it from a window, or from the balcony in the library. My foster parents, the King and Queen, will never allow me outside. Something about it being dangerous. I have never pried. People above have dreamt about Atlantis for years, but they have never found it. When I was at school, when I was above, my teacher taught us all about the lost underwater city of Atlantis. I remember exchanging a look with Maddy, my best friend, saying: She's crazy! Only, now, I am grateful to her for teaching us about it. It has taught me what life should be like down here. It has given me hope that I can get that life, since my one Above is gone. I cannot leave the dome of a city without Eliza's permission. We arrive at the Laventa, and Eliza throws open the doors, with an air of importance.

"We're home!" she announces. "Mila, Eva, Reah!" Eliza's ladies in waiting come in speed walking into the hallway. "Dinner shall be in 2 hours. The meal is clam a la mode"

"Whatever you wish, Milady" Eva bows, and the 3 woman speed off.

"Thank you, Eliza," I whisper, knowing that she knows that I love that dish.

"Think nothing of it, Alissa," Eliza says sternly. "Now, go hurry off, and change into much more appropriate clothing for a foster princess." She gives me a hug and sends me off. As I leave the room, I think about being in here, for another year.

I reach my room. It has colorful shades of Aqua and Ocean Blue, and is covered in comfy bean bags. Not like my room above, but good enough. I reach into my closet, and pull out my beautiful pearl evening gown. Eliza ordered it for me. It's too fancy. But she insists, saying that I am a princess now, and I must look like one.6 years ago, I had a nightgown, and my own parents. We had a cottage, on the seaside. We weren't rich, but we had more than money. We had happiness. The cottage was small, but open and bright. 3 bedrooms. My mother and father, me and Autumn, and Emily. We had a garden. My mother cooked, and my dad worked with a designing company. Me and my sisters cleaned and helped out. It was a simple life. Until I found my parents and the 4 year old Emily dead. Until that fatal storm, when I dove into the ocean, on my loved older sister's orders, only to see her rise up, and into the clouds.

"Alissa! Dinnertime!" I faintly hear Eliza call. I slip the gown on, and walk into the Okaha, the dining hall. When I get there, I see that King Charles has come home.

"Alissa! So good to see you!" He calls and he comes over and gives me a short hug.

"Shall we sit down to supper?" Eliza asks. We sit down at the marble table, and I have a sudden flashback to 7 years ago, when I was 5. I remember a table, not marble, but a loved wooden table, with candles, not chandeliers. There were 5, not 3. Tonight, I miss my family more than ever. Deep in my heart, something stirs. A dark feeling. One for revenge.

That night, I lie in my bed and stare up at the ceiling, trying to remember what the feeling was that I felt during dinner. A feeling of anger. One of distrust. One of revenge. Sighing, I roll over, and drift into a sleep, not deep, but I am asleep. That night, my dreams are littered with monsters, roaring, and Autumn disappearing upwards. I wake several times, shaking, only to forget what I was so worried about. The last time I fall into sleep's waiting arms, I think I see a sliver of silver. What I never knew, was that the silver was my hope. My only Hope.