The Gift of Three

2: Pocket Watch of Doom

Aren't you guys lucky, two chapters in one day! I hope you enjoy! -A. J. L. W.

The man smiled but there was pain in his eyes.

"No, my sweet. I'm not your brother," the man answered kindly. His voice was smooth and flowing but also melcholy like there was a deep saddness under his kind demenor. He looked at me with such longing that I wondered if we've met before. His mouth had a wistful smile forming like he was remembering better times. Suddenly there was shuffling behind us and I turned to find my brother and sister waiting. Howard takes a cautious step forward.

"You can't be... We were told you..." Howard mumbled.

Winny went wide eyed, "Father?"

She rushed forward and inveloped him in a hug. I couldn't help myself I smiled. Okay, more of an idoitic, 'I can't stop this huge smile and it's hurting my face' smile. Howie was smiling to and he hugged him too. I was the only one not hugging. I didn't want to hug this man. Even if he was my father I didn't want to hug him; I didn't even want to go near him. He was the father that left my family, my brother, my sister, and me. He was never there, ever! If he thinks he can just waltz in here and be kind and gentle and just let us accept that he's back, then he's wrong. My siblings and my mother can accept it but I can't. I don't think I ever will be able to.

I stood there with my arms crossed and Mell had sat down next to me. I kept looking at them when finally my father looked back at me.

"What's wrong my sweet?" he chimed.

I stuck my chin out as a look of defiance, "You may be my father but you left us since Winter was born I can't even remember you and you think you can just walk into our lives and everything will be okay?" I practically yelled.

My sibblings released him from a hug and looked at me confused. They were also a bit upset. I suddenly felt self concious. Like the thing I just said was more hurtful then I ment, and it really did hurt him. I was astonished and I also felt kinda bad. It wasn't unlike me to act so rash but still this was extreme even for me.

"Lotus please let me explain," he dug in his coat pocket till he found an old pocket watch; then he threw it at me. I caught it and examined it.

"Open it and say, 'Nemphiera, Council of Twenty Mage,' then just hold it," my father explained.

I did as I was told and suddenly I was enveloped in a blinding white light and it pulled us all in. Well all of us except Mells. I felt bad I was leaving my dog behind. I've had him since he was a puppy. I decided I'd come back for him.

When the light was gone we were standing in a grand room. It had a domed roof that was made of glass so that you could see the sky. There were twenty seats made of gold and ivory lined up in a half circle against the wall. There was also a large dais in the middle on the room with a point facing the biggest of the twenty thrones.

I stepped toward the dais. My foot was hovering above it when my father yelled, "Don't!"

I didn't listen. When I had my feet properly placed on the dais facing the large throne, like the point, figures shimmered into existance. Nineteen thrones were filled and they didn't seem as surprised I was. But I didn't have enough time to say anything before another white light was forming around me.

The light swirled around me and suddenly there was nothing I could see but a bright light. It wasn't blinding anymore just bright. The light was starting to focus on my throat and a bubble like a ball of light and power came out of my mouth. I held my throat in confusion. The dais started rising till I was the full height of the figures. The arrow I was standing on, started to spin rappidly. I didn't feel it, but I could see it. While the arrow was spinning rapidly symbols no elements were appearing on the outer circle of the dais. It looked as if the arrow was trying to figure out wich one to point to but couldn't. Almost as if it was all of them. The elemental symbols started glowing the same white light as the one that came from my mouth. The arrow started glowing and turned into the shape of a star. Now the figures and I were surprised.