Burning Tears

Prologue

The night was dark as pitch. A circle of rocks guarded the grass of the forest clearing from the wide, blue fire. A towering, one-footed black stone with a platform on top was standing vertically in the heart of the flames. Matching flames to the fire burned on the that torches stood on the circumference of the stand. Six women dressed in black garments danced in unison on the platform. Their dresses were smoothly cut and their hair was stuck back from their faces. The cloth was frayed on the edges; a piece over their breast was knitted into their back and pale grey material hung from their hips to their ankles, revealing bare feet. One of them screamed just as an eerie blue glow streamed from the swirling letters that had been etched on the pillar. Their voices grew in crescendo as they chanted. Suddenly, a blood-red flash of lightning flickered. Then it grew into a bold and steady stream. A crackle of thunder sounded. The red light vanished then flashed again and hit the midpoint of the platform. The fires died down and the women stood stiff and motionless.

"Eiiiiiiii! Danconth-e-eliraaaa! Con-quake! Cythlynn-sroundinlia!" A scream erupted from a woman who had come up to the edge of the quenched fire, unnoticed.

Immediately, every one of the women recognized the mistake. The six on the stand wailed to the spirits, pleading that they would not comply. A blue light flooded everything, emerging from the heart of the stand. The fires flared up and a black shadow whistled as it entered the small form of a baby girl, laying lifeless in the center of the platform.

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"Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, please come in." The orphanage's receptionist waved to a glass office door.

Daren and Julie stood up, clothed crisp coats and cozy scarves, and entered the familiar office.

"Good afternoon, Daren, Julie." The woman behind the desk greeted, "please sit down."

"Good afternoon." Julie sat on the edge of a comfy chair in front of the desk with a smile dancing on her lips.

"All the paperwork has gone through. You may take her home today!" She folded her hands on the desk, her eyes sparkling

Julie let out a sigh of relief, "I'm so glad!"

Daren smiled at his wife and glanced back at the woman behind the desk, "Is there anything we need to do before we go?"

"You will be receiving emails, concerning your guardianship, from me over the next few months, but there's nothing more to do today."

Julie stood up, "Thank-you for your kindness."

Two hours later, the Matthews arrived at their home to their one year-old daughter with a sister for her. Not telling their blood daughter that her sister had been adopted, the parents watched the two girls have an amazing childhood, until the night when one of them vanished, with an evident struggle.

                   Cyranda woke to a bump from her sister's room across the hall. She must be sleepwalking again. Cyranda thought.

She glanced at her alarm clock on her wooden night stand. The bright red numbers read three forty-six am. Cyranda Paula Matthews pulled the cold thick covers up over her head and shut her eyes tightly. Every time Cythlynn slept walked, she would pounce on Cyranda's bed.

But Cythlynn never came into her room this time. The only sound that reached Cyranda's ears was the sudden start of pouring rain pattering on the window panes. A draft of cold air blew from her sister's room, creeping under the blankets and cooling her pajamas.

Eleven year old Cyranda slipped out of her bed. She walked through her open bedroom door and into the carpeted hall. Her thick blonde hair fell over her blue eyes and she brushed it away. Cold air rushed through the house from Cythlynn's bedroom window. The house was dead silent, except the pounding of rain on every window.