The Hidden Orphan (The Chronicles of Mistar - Book 2)

Thirteen · · · Evangelene (.2)

Eva knew that name. He was a famous author that died births before even her mother was born. Despite being dead, he was still talking about by every Batin on Ablatin, and his books a masterpiece to anybody who laid eyes on them. They were rare, though, their pages to frail to make copies unless all handwritten. As far as Eva knew, there were only a few copies that were getting remade as she spoke. The originals cost millions, so Eva was grateful to be holding one in her hand.

Taking the cover in hand, depicting a boy and girl sitting on water fountain that seemed to be in love, she opened it gently and found that its pages weren't as frail as she thought they'd be. They were still tough but also a bit worn from someone who had been reading it. A faint thumbprint was in the bottom corner of the first page.

On the backside of the cover, Eva choked back a sob when she saw what it was. It was a letter, written by her mother in her very own handwriting. A tear falling from her eye, Eva hugged the book to her chest. She couldn't read it but she knew she had too. If she didn't, Eva knew she would feel guilty and cry even more.

Wiping away her tear, Eva pulled the book back from her chest and read the note inside her head. She knew that if she read it aloud, she would start crying and never stop. Eva didn't know her mom since she died at childbirth, but it was always a touchy subject for her.

It said:

My Little Evangelene,

I really hoped to give you this book myself someday, but now it looks like I'm going to have to trust your father. Personally, I don't know if that's the greatest idea. After all, he is very forgetful, but I'll forgive him. I always have.

Whenever you can read this yourself, you must know that I am sick. I hope I'm alive to see your face but if I'm not, I just wanted to say I love you and I will always be there for you in your heart and in this book.

Out of all the books in the library, this one is my favorite. Its binding is gold, something your father hated me reading, but it just drew me in. We shouldn't be stuck to one other. Silver is great, but gold reminds me of the sun, something I haven't been able to get in a while.

Anyway, this book has brought me through the hardest of times. It helped me realize I was in love with your father and the lessons it taught me made me into the woman I am today. I am very grateful for this book, my Ebony in Pain.

I hope this book gives you as much joy as it did me and many thoughtful tears. Elliot Elroy was a brilliant man, his books are my favorite. Learn from his writing as I did and become the young woman I always hoped you would be.

Love you...

Love,

Mother, Queen Illis

Eva couldn't help the other tears that feel down her face, warm against her skin in the airy room. She stroked the words, now saying them all out loud. What was she kidding herself? She was going to cry no matter how she read, out loud or inside her head.

Opening up to page one, chapter one, titled: The Princess Ebony, she made her way to her mother's old chair and sat down. Its fine silver cushion was soft and bounced, making it one of the most comfortable chairs Eva ever sat on. She had seen the chair many times, but she had never dared to sit on it like her father who cried every time he sat on the plushy seat.

More blue and yellow lightning flashed through the tall, arched windows. It's constant light, flashing on and off in a matter of milliseconds, gave Eva the reading light she needed.

This time, Eva didn't read inside her head. She read aloud, listening to the words her mother read as if Queen Illis was reading them to her daughter herself as if she was still alive.