Shadow Cursed

Chapter 13: Like a Mirror

Taking book after book off the shelves then putting them back, I looked through them. Most of them I didn't understand, since they were in another language.

Alric was busy today so I came to work with him after he stayed with me for so long to recover. I guess kinda like bring your child to work day. He let me read the books on his shelves in the other room while he worked. The walls were covered in books, there was no way I could read them all. It would take weeks to.

Curious, I pulled a leather bound book out of the shelf and a page fell out of it. Bending down I picked the page up and it was a note of some kind. I couldn't read the handwriting but it was signed Ethelyn. I flipped open the book cover and there was her name in black ink. Her handwriting we neat and legible. She must of owned this book. I smelled the note, it smelled like perfume. Probably her perfume. A piece of my mother, oh I how I wished she was here.

Closing the book, the leather and the gold writing seemed familiar, had I seen this before. I ran my finger over the pages and opened to a random page. It was written in another strange language that I hadn't seen it in weeks. I wonder if he would let me borrow this book, it was probably too special. I put it back on his shelf remembering where it was and continue on the search for something I could understand.

Hours passed and my search proved to be unsuccessful. Everything here was written is anything but English. English must not be a common language here.

Another piece of folded paper caught my attention, it was sticking out from between two books. It had my name written on it the only difference was.  It was the size of a normal invitaion and looked fancier than the other notes. You are (blank) invited the the (Name) Ball. Wear your most impressive gown and dance under the stars.

I heard the door to the room of books open. Alric put his hand on the book I was trying to take out and pulled it out for me. "I remember this book, used to be one of her favorites."

"Was this her favorite room?" I held the book in my hands and flipped through it. It was a picture book. The illustrations were beautiful.

He spoke in sadness, "It was, she could spend sunrise to sunset in here. She often did, she would get lost in the world of Magik and its abilities."

"Magik," it ran though my blood yet I didn't understand it. "Such a beautiful name for such a dark art."

"Not all magik was bad. I knew a few people who were healers, like your mother." She was a healer. She had a pure heart.

A guilty feeling was eating at me. I looked like her, and possibly sounded like her. To spend time with me was like to be with his wife that had died. It must of been torture. If he lost me, he would have no one and would of lost the both of us.

"Do you have any pictures of her?" I looked up at Alric, he hadn't broke a tear yet. "I've never seen her before."

Taking his wallet out of his pocket, he opened it and there was her picture. "We took this picture after we started dating. It's the only picture left of us that wasn't destroyed."

I held the picture in my hand, it was wallet size. They were in a park, sitting on a bench together. He looked younger of course, and my mother, I looked like her. My eyes were the same shade of brown, and my hair was just a little darker and longer, but you would think we were twins if we stood side to side. "Ethelyn."

He put the picture back into his wallet and put the wallet away. "I kept everything from her I could, all her magik books, and all her note books. All her letters and notes, and her dresses."

"Do you hate me?" I came straight out with the question. I didn't avoid it because it's been bothering me.

He seemed shocked I would ask such a thing. "No why would I? You are my only daughter left." He didn't hate me. That's good.

"Good cause since you're my father, you should know I'm a bundle of trouble." I smiled mischievously. "But I'll try to stay out of trouble."

"I've been watching you like a guardian angel, trust me. How do you think you got out of some of those situations the way you did." I did get out of some of those situations pretty lightly, and sometimes with just a warning. I thought it was pure luck.

Just spending time alone with my dad made my life feel more complete, like it was healing itself. The pieces that were missing, they were filling in. He was kind, forgiving, and sad. I was weak, and had walls up to protect myself. Maybe I could tear those walls down one day when I became strong enough.

After we looked at a few more books he mentioned lunch. "We should go get lunch. I was thinking some Italian food since I never tried that before."

"I know just the place!" I hopped up from the ground. "They have the best bread and pasta in town!"

"I knew you would." He smiled and it seemed as if the world was perfect that moment. I liked the way it felt, no worries and no strings to hold me down like a puppet. I was free, like a flying bird. For the first time in forever, I could live a near normal life possibly.