A Different Life

1. Beginning of the End

"Don't cry, my child. You were born for greatness." A man, wearing dark clothes that barely revealed his face, held a small baby girl. Shushing her quietly, he grinned as her soft cries were silenced, and she looked up at him with round, deep green eyes.

Perhaps it was the darkness of the room. Perhaps it was the shadows cast by the nearby window, letting in pale moonlight. But however hard the little girl tried to see, the man's face was blurred and indistinct.

Yet, he continued speaking to her, and she was content enough with that. "Yes, my dear child, if you follow in my footsteps, you will be very powerful one day." His voice... it made her feel safe, somehow. "But for now, my daughter, I must leave you. But do not fear, I will be back for you... one day."

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"One day." I murmured, still half-asleep as my mother tried shaking me awake.

"One day what, dear?" I could tell she was shaking her head, hands on her hips. "Alexis McGrath, if you don't get up, you'll miss school!"

I mumbled sleepily, my words incomprehensible, turning over and wrapping my blankets around my shoulders.

It was a last resort. I vaguely heard my mother stomping down the steps. I had fallen back asleep, thinking I had won. And then, a few minutes later...

"Bacon." My head popped up, and I sniffed the delicious smell wafting into my room from the kitchen downstairs. My mother was cooking bacon, knowing the mere scent would have me up and awake in seconds. Damn her deviousness!

I jolted upright, literally jumping out of bed. I showered, brushed my teeth, got dressed, and finished up last night's homework all in a matter of about fifteen minutes. Not bad for a 13 year old.

Let me introduce myself, in case you've missed it. My name is Alexis McGrath. I'm currently 13, and I go to a witch school called Alchemist Academy... because I'm a witch. I have green eyes, and short, light brown hair, which is sort of spiked up. I live with my mother, Maria, and I have the same dream every night...

Every night. Myself as a baby, being held by who I can only assume is my father. I've never known him. My mother says he's powerful, though I have no idea if that means he's a powerful witch... or demon. She never tells me anything about him, only that they both decided a long time ago that she would raise me. Something about it being safer here... I don't know.

"Finally up, are you? And here I thought I would have all this bacon to myself." My mother smiled knowingly as I sat at the kitchen counter, drooling over the fresh bacon she was piling onto a plate.

I ate, chatting with my mother between stuffing my face with the delicious bacon. Eventually she had to leave for work, so she would be dropping me off at school on her way. Grabbing a handful of the leftover bacon, I headed out after her.

It was a quick, five minute drive, in which I told my mother about something I had done in a video game the previous night. I could tell she didn't really understand, but she listened with a smile anyway. As she slowed to a stop, I waved goodbye and ran into the school building just as the bell rang.

"Hey, morning Alexis. Some of that is for me, right?" I heard just as I entered the classroom, and glanced over at my best friend, Evan Kaida, as he eyed the last two pieces of bacon in my hand.

"Morning. It's all yours, Ev." I replied with a shrug, handing it over rather reluctantly. I could tell he hadn't eaten because his short, black hair was still messy, and his light blue eyes were still drooping with sleep. He had probably overslept again, and ran to school as soon as he got dressed.

That would be the only reason I'd hand over my food. He'd done the same for me on several occasions, as well. We had been best friends since we were kids, and he was my only friend, really. Not that I needed more than one.

Anyway, Evan instantly perked up as he inhaled the bacon. He smiled at me, mouthing "thank you" just as the teacher walked in and demanded the class's attention.

Which he got. Right away.

This definitely wasn't our usual teacher. He wore crisp black pants and a white dress shirt, with long blonde hair tied back. "Mr. Ermorian" was written on the chalkboard with a snap of his fingers.

Something about him wasn't right...

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(Note: Alright, so, most of you probably know TabithaDarkDreamer, and her current story "A Family Till The Bitter End." This is my character's prologue, sort of. If, by the end of this little story, you're still interested in Alexis's story, by all means, check that out.

The YouTube video on the side is kind of Alexis's theme song throughout the story, I suppose. The picture is her, only her hair is light brown, not black.)