Masked Glamour

Chapter One

Ferula

I caressed the wooden box above my bed. It was my mother's vault where she kept her books about different spells. There are some empty bottles of potions too.

May kaunti na iyong alikabok sa ibabaw, siguro kasi itinago ko lamang iyon sa ilalim ng aking higaan. Binuksan ko iyon at unang tumambad sa akin ang kulay pilak na anklet ng aking ina. My lips curved into a smile as I lifted the anklet. It has a half-moon shaped pendant.

"It was your father's first ever gift to me." I remembered my mother's words when she gave me the anklet after I reached the age of eleven.

"Ingatan mo ito, Ferula. Huwag mong iwawala," she said.

I smiled and looked at her. "Opo, mama."

I unlocked the anklet and clipped it to my ankle. It's been three months since my mother's death. After her death, I was left all alone here in our small house.

My father died when I was still a toddler. Mom said he was a hunter and a human. Hindi niya katulad na mayroong taglay na kakayahang gumamit ng mahika. Sa mga larawan ko na lang din nakilala si papa at sa mga kwento ni mama.

"Bakit po hindi n'yo ginamot si papa?" minsan kong tanong noon kay Mama, "we have magic."

My mother smiled sadly and caressed the side of my face with her knuckles. "I wanted to. I wanted so much but I can't. I can only cure but I can't bring dead back to life again." Her voice crack.

She told me Papa was killed while hunting. It was believed that he was attacked by some wild animals in the forest.

"You got most of your features from me. But your attidute, you got it from your father. You have both stubbornness behind your soft facades." Mother pinched my nose which I only giggled in return.

I shook my head and smiled while reminiscing those wonderful moments I had with my deceased mother. I admired her so much. Being a single mother isn't an easy thing but she cope with it.

Muli kong isinara ang kahon na pinagkuhanan ko ng anklet. Inilagay ko iyon sa malaking karton kasama ang iba ko pang gamit na dadalhin sa pag-alis.

Bukas ang nakatakda kong pag-alis sa kinalakihan kong bayan. My bestfriend offered me to live with them in Rosewood. Mahirap iwan ang kinalakihan kong bayan lalo na iyong mga taong naging parte na ng aking buhay. Kahit iyong kapaligiran na kinamulatan ko na habang lumalaki.

But I will try no matter how hard it may seem to do. I will just use it as a fresh start after losing the only family member I had.

I sealed the box where I put all the things I will bring tomorrow. Tapos ko na rin iimpake ang mga damit ko. Bukas ay susunduin ako rito ng aking kaibigan gamit ang kanilang sariling sasakyan.

I took a quick bath afterwards. I put on my ripped skinny jeans and a grey plain shirt. I just put my hair into a lose ponytail and wore my black cap. Isinukbit ko ang maliit kong itim na backpack bago nilisan ang aming bahay.

After walking for about ten minutes, I reached 'Sweets and Bread'. The bakery owned by a human where I am working for the past years as a baker.

I pushed the glass door. There are only few customers. I walked my way inside and was greeted with the bakery owner with a huge warm smile.

"Ferry!" Mrs. Grace called me by my nickname.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Grace." Naglakad ako palapit sa kanyang kinaroroonan sa counter. Agad nabaling ang tingin ko sa mga nakadisplay na mga cake roon.

"Wala ka na rito bukas." Muli ay nabaling ang aking paningin kay Mrs. Grace. "I'm going to loose my best baker," dugtong pa niya . Napangiti na lamang ako kanyang sinabi.