The Crossing

Chapter 1

"Alexander!" a woman yelled from two floors under where Alexander was. "Come down here!" 

The fourteen year old boy sighed, able to hear his mother over the wind that blew back his coattails and unruly brown hair. 

"Approaching, Mother!" he replied. He dashed out of his room and slid down the banister to the ground floor of his empty castle. Ever since six years ago, when the tsunami hit, any bonds Alexander and his parents had were smashed. 

"Alexander, you aren't a barbarian, I hope. Come downstairs like a gentleman!" his father commented. 

Alexander bit his tongue and slipped off the banister, walking the rest of the way. His father's stern gaze met him as soon as he entered. 

" Well, are you going to stand and admire us or bid your parents farewell?" his father asked. Alexander nodded and strode over to his mother. She wrapped thin arms around him. His mother, Queen Victoria, was becoming ill. Therefore, his parents had to leave to try to cure her. 

"You're too young, Alexander." she'd whispered when he found out they were leaving. 

"Farewell." they said in unison. Alexander waved at his father, who waved back with a gruff "Farewell, son." escaping his lips. 

"Nathaniel and Mary will tend to you while we are away." his mother mumbled sadly. She didn't want to leave him any more than he wanted to stay, Alexander knew. As soon as they stepped out, he traveled up to his room. He removed his glove on his right hand to see a silver ring with a bright blue gem. After twiddling with it, Alexander heard his doors rattle. He whirled around, more confused than ever. His balcony doors were open that night. The fact: There was no wind blowing at all. He walked out and placed his hands on the rail, scanning the area. 

"Alexander, Alexander! We need you Alexander!" barely audible voices whispered. Alexander squinted and swore that there were two moving shadows when no one was outdoors. He threw on his coat and snuck outside. The shadows froze when he approached them. Then they soared away from him. Alexander, following the eerie-looking shadows, sprinted into the forest. The bewildered boy, depite the dark conditions, continued on before he couldn't locate the shadows any longer. There was a point when he ran that he bumped into an invisible solid. His ring began to glow as he picked himself up off the ground. He touched the invisible solid and felt a chill up his spine. Then he stepped further and was pulled into some sort of vortex.