The Elements

Poison

Chapter 5                                              By: Samantha Chow

“What?” she spluttered, her violet eyes filled with shock as she stared up at the siblings. “What do you mean by the last surviving kin?” Brianna said, trying to sound nonchalant. Her heart was pounding in her chest as cold sweat collected on her palms, making her hands sticky and wet. Brianna's eyes finally adjusted to the darkness of the chamber. Looking around, she found herself in a spacious room. The ground was covered with dirt with tiny plants sprouting through the ground. The walls were painted white, but due to old age, the paint on the walls was beginning to chip off, showing a wall of red and grey bricks behind. Etched on the walls were tiny, neat words. The letters squirmed on the walls as if they were caterpillars. Squinting her eyes, Brianna noticed that all the words were the same. The power is within you; only you can reach it and set it free. She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. “What does that mean?” she thought.

“You’re suppose to be the queen of the throne.” Avery said calmly, her soothing voice pulling Brianna back from her thoughts. “Our mission was to save you from the Darkness in the world and overthrow the Dark Queen.” A chill ran down Brianna's spine as Avery said the word Darkness.

“The Dark Queen?” Confusion filled Brianna and many questions started stuffing inside her head like an air pump filling a balloon with helium. Fear suddenly rushed through Brianna, “Darkness? The Dark Queen? What do they mean?” but the most important question made her stop and ponder. “How could I be the last surviving kin?” she blurted, switching her gaze from Avery to Mark. Avery opened her thin lips to speak but Mark locked eyes with her. Brianna noticed Mark subtly shaking his head, frowning, warning Avery not to speak. “What aren’t you guys telling me?” cried Brianna impatiently.

“We will tell you that another time. Anyways, what do you know about potions and magic?” asked Avery, a smile spread slowly across the corner of her pink lips.

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Mark and Avery led Brianna through an entrance of a dark room. Avery snapped her fingers and a sphere of light appeared at the tips of her fingers and flowed to a rusty lamp, then an old brick fireplace, illuminating the room. Brianna dropped her jaw in amazement. Looking at Brianna, Avery smiled and said, “By the end of the week, you will be able to do much more than this easy magic.” They both entered the room and Brianna followed hesitantly. The room was a tiny loft, with book shelves lining the four walls of the room. The loft was so messy it looked as if a tornado had just torn the place apart. Old books scattered across the floor like sprinkles on a cupcake. A thick layer of dust covered the bookcase and cobwebs filled every corner of the room. A putrid smell of dead animals filled the cramped room. At the back corner of the loft, a man was sitting on a chair, slummed over a dusty wooden desk, sleeping. “Professor, Professor!” said Mark, shaking the withering man.

“Wh-wh-what?” sputtered the old man, looking up. Brianna tried not to stare but she couldn’t help herself. The man had frizzy, short, gray hair that stood up in all directions. Sitting on his upturned nose were crooked, thick round black-rimmed spectacles. His eyes were the color of fire; orange-red.

         “This is our potions teacher, Professor Kane,” said Avery politely, “He will teach you the elements of potion making.” Professor Kane glanced at Brianna from head to toe. He stared at her and gasped.

         “You!” he rasped. “Get over here.”

         Obediently, Brianna took a step closer. Brianna wrinkled her nose as a foul smell filled her nose. She covered her nose with her sleeve and backed away, eyes watering. He stank.

         “Your Highness!” the professor continued, ignoring Brianna’s reaction. “Have a seat.” He commanded and abruptly stood up to offer her his seat. The chair looked ancient, as if it was about to shatter into a million pieces. “Let me get you kids a drink!” He cried and raced out the room before Brianna could reply.

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            Professor Kane closed the door of his potions room quietly and raced to his cabinet. He reached in and grabbed three wooden mugs and settled it onto his desk. He reached into the cabinet again to pull out a container that read tea and poured all the substance into the three mugs. Then, reaching into his potion pouch, he pulled out a small vial. Inside was a murky yellow liquid. “Are you ready to meet your doom, your Highness?” he whispered, an evil smile creeping slowly across his filthy face. He tipped the vial and the contents cascaded into the 3 mugs. Then, he grabbed the cups and ran back to the loft. He handed the cups to the children and they gulped it down. “Sleep well my dears,” muttered the professor.....

                                                                     To be continued.....