A Witches Heart

Chapter 1

In one swift movement the creature was on the old bed staring over at me. The animal's gaze shifted to the wooden-framed window behind me and my big, hazel eyes followed.

"breath-taking...is it not?" I asked the fox. The small creature replied by jumping from the bed skidding across the cherry-red floor boards and leaping onto the window seat lying down in the cozy, colourful blankets spread across the seat's crazy patterned fabric I lay on. You see, I understand the red fox, the creature, even when it doesn't speak, and the fox understands everything I say even before I say it. In fact, we understand each other more than anyone else. I shift in my seat to face the vast scenery outside with my full interest. The view is indeed breath-taking. Hills that pierce the sky a crystal blue river trickling through them, the sun high above the trees that cover the mountains every inch. The sun shone in through the window and made the snow outside glimmer and melt. I hop out of bed and the floorboards squeak the presence of my weight. It was still early and I could smell pancakes cooking downstairs. "Amber, come along it seems breakfast is ready," I call to the small fox, but she barks in protest, "ah, yes, mother hates when I go down stairs before getting changed."

&1&

I skip down the stairs, my familiar trotting after me.

" Peighton darling, I hope I did not wake you I was just cooking you a nice breakfast for your last day here in Ireland,"  My Mother wondered, her voice soft yet demanding.

"Of course not, Mother," I reply, yet my Mother had already turned away and resumed cooking, "hmm, that was a nice chat."

I turn to my dad in pursuit of someone willing to listen to the terrors of last night. His red hair was yet to be brushed and his head was in the newspaper. I don't even try to talk to him when I notice the intense look on his face as he mouths the words before him.

"Where is Tateren?" I wonder, the question aimed more at my parents, sounded a lot more like me voicing my opinion. My familiar raises its small paw to the stairs and I huff, "Sleeping still? I'm surprised he hasn't been called down yet."

I walk back up the stairs to a big, wooden door. Before knocking I smooth out my dark green, plaid skirt and straighten my tie tucked neatly into my navy blazer.

My hand poised ready to knock but before I obtain the chance the door creaks open and I take a cautious step into the room. It was dark in there seeing as my dear brother has not yet opened his blinds. His room was freezing as he never shuts his window, leaving the rusted lock hanging loosely from the dark wood window frame pushed up in front of the other, and the heavy material of his blinds are drawn together, blocking out any possible light. His room smells of pine needles and the air is cool and fresh. Her brother's familiar hung from the door handle but as soon as I notice the odd bat it drops from the copper handle and before hitting the ground spreads out its wings that are much too big for the its miniature body. His room is filled with clutter and random objects, all his furniture was stapled with crazy patterns, for my brother and I love all things crazy and weird. His room gave off a Creepy, laboratory vibe and I began walking deeper into the room. I maneuvered around all the big, pink-toned, wood bookcases that tower high above me.

I pass the maze of pink-tinted book shelves, I reach a clearing the floorboards had been covered with an aztec patterned carpet and colourful lanterns hung from the ceiling all shapes and sizes. They emit a dull yellow glow, which was just enough light to see my surroundings clearly.

"ah, sister, what is the...YAWN...time?" A tired voice muttered from somewhere deeper within the room.

"It is seven O'clock and may I say I'm quite surprised mother hasn't come in here and woken you up."

"Yes, me too, to be quite honest, I wish she had, I hate being late," Tateren teased as I stood in the middle of the rug still oblivious to where my brother was within the massive room. How in fact did he get the bigger room? I thought to myself, was it perhaps that I had claimed the library and made it a part of my room, or had he cast a spell?

"Dare I ask for you to come out of your bed which I believe is somewhere in this room?"

"Your wish is my command."

His voice echoed through the room and with a thud he dropped from the ceiling and landed in front of me.

"So tomorrow we leave for Dunedin. I hope your packed," I inform my brother the news already known to him.

"Yes, I guess we are, I knew they would ship us off one day."

"There is a slight possibility they're doing it because they want the best for our education."

"Damn right they do! They want us to be the best sorcerers in all of time like them so that we don't give a bad impression to this damn 'legacy' or 'family', whatever the hell they wanna call it!" Tateren yelled he seemed to be angry, but his face was expressionless as he shouted.

"It seems that way, but this school is amazing we will learn plenty. At least they are letting us take are familiars," I assure my brother although, we both know our parents let us take our familiars because they didn't want to care for them.

"well, you better get going to school I'm not yet ready, hurry along then sister, I'll meet you at the gate," Tateren ushers me out the door, my familiar at my heels.

"Dunedin, we are being shipped off to Dunedin, to live in the school of peculiar witchcraft, fantastic," I whisper to myself my sarcastic tone could not be hidden. I grab my bag and walk out the massive wooden doors. The stained-glass windows showers my face with colour as I leave the house.