The snow landed softly in a precious circle around Evie’s feet. Behind her, a trail of boot prints led all the way to the Clyne residence. The moon had already begun to form, but Evie was reluctant to head back home. It’s not like she belonged there anyway. Evie gazed at the moon, a full circle shining big and bright. When had things begun to change for her? She did not know. Perhaps, the intense feelings, the dreams, the hunger, perhaps they were all a part of growing up.

  So, why did she feel like there was more to it than this?

  “Evanna!” her mother’s voice called out in the moonlight. “Where are you honey?!” Evie turned her head in her mother’s direction. She could hear the fear and desperation in her mother’s voice, but Evie felt nothing. No remorse, no concern for her parents’ worries. The only thing that she felt was that something was missing, and that her mother, no, her parents could not help her find it. No one could.

  And yet, Evie headed down the white-booted pathway. Because right now, that was the only place she could call home.

  ***

  The sound of waves crashing against the shore lulled the black-haired boy in and out of an eternal slumber. He opened his brown eyes, absorbing the world around him. A rush of foam shaped the dull form of rock and sediment and a flood of images flowed.

  His hand reached out to touch it. Each floating image. One after the other. A baby bundled up in its mother's arms. A hand-knitted doll laying amongst the ash. A striped kitten nuzzling against its mother's cold body.

  The boy's fingers caressed each image like a mother caressing her child. Sowly, the images began to fade, turning to gray foam and becoming one with the waves. And the black-haired boy returned to rest.

  ***

  Trickles of starlight filled the night sky. Evie gazed to the heavens, waiting, searching for an answer amongst the ever-glowing dots that connected the universe. She returned home just as daybreak made its way to the surface.

  "Evanna, where have you been? I was worried sick."

  Her mother emerged from the house wrapped in a thick gown, her hair messy and dark circles painted beneath her eyes.

  "I am sorry. I won't do it again." Evie headed past her mother and reached for the door just as it opened. A tall man with gray hair still in his work clothes stood at its entrance. His eyes were bloodshot but the minute they met Evie he visibly relaxed.

  "Oh sweetie," he said, reaching for her with his arms spread, "you are okay."

  Evie nodded and walked on but her father stopped her with a warm embrace. She heard her mother sigh before enfolding her in her arms. “Everything will be okay now”. Evanna stood still letting her parents embrace her silently, then headed to her room. “I’m going to bed”, she said, closing the door behind her. She could still make out her parents sobbing by her door, but it did not bother her. Pulling the covers apart, Evanna climbed into bed and laid there until the strum of a tune so hauntingly beautiful lulled her into a deep sleep.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  ***

  A sweet song, like that of a lullaby, drifted with the waves. The melody was not loud yet it woke the boy from his slumber like nothing else had before. He was not supposed to have awakened this early but the tune entranced him like a serpent dancing to the notes of a pungi.

  The song floated with the waves, twirling and foaming against the rock. The black-haired boy caught remnants of foam and it twisted and turned until it formed the image of a young girl. She stood stark against the moonlight covered in scarlet. Slowly, the image began to fade and the melody turned to the sound of a crashing wave.

  This time, the black-haired boy gazed at the sparkling sun illuminating his surroundings. He was finally awake.

  ***

  Evanna woke to the rustling of the wind against branches and dried leaves. The sound of howling echoed in the distance. Somewhere, a tune was hummed keeping her lulled in its eternity. She was still wrapped in her nightgown now covered in dirt. Her arms were bare and cold and she rubbed them in a feeble shiver. She walked through the dark, sinister forest and watched the shadows grabbing out to her but she floated past them as if they were a natural part of the forest. The magical tune drifted behind her like a guide.On, she walked with dirt, leaves and mud clinging to her form like the grubby hands of little children. On, she walked, until she finally left the forest.

  Evanna reached the edge of the woods expecting to find home, as she always did when she found herself lost on her nightly wanderings. But instead, what she came across was something entirely different. A large castle covered in ancient moss and cobwebs crawling their way from the steps of the castle, past tiny boarded windows and right up to the topmost spires. Evanna thought she saw a ghostly figure glancing at her from the attic but then it was gone.

  A chill froze her in place and for a moment she thought that she would never reach the castle. But Evanna thought of home. She thought of her mom’s cooking and her dad’s silly jokes and she found her way past the mossy steps, up the cobbled stoned entrance and turned the giant handle. It creaked open and a blinding light emerged from within. And then, she was home.

  ***

  Sweet as a dove. A gentle lullaby. Evanna's mother sang a song so foreign and sad. Evie laid in her mother's lap as she sang about distant lands and a curse that destroyed everything in its wake. And finally she ended with the ancient prophecy of one girl's destiny to restore the land to its former glory, but in so doing she would sacrifice what's most important to her.

  Ghouls adrift deep at night.

  And children huddle safe and snug.

  And just when they are all asleep tight.

  The last of them are snatched right up.

  In Valhar, the city sleeps all day or so it seems…

  As a curse visits their homes and makes mothers weep…

  And at dawn it leaves…

  Laughter and joy are stolen by cursed thieves.

  It journeys from the east to the west.

  Wiping away the harvest and jest.

  With only the promise of the one foretold.

  Destroying the curse and in so doing, cursing their own.

  Evie's mother always sang this song. Especially on days such as this when Evie seemed to be trapped in another world.

  It calmed Evie and made her feel that things were making sense and that they were normal again.

  But things were never normal and deep down, Evie knew that. That night, she let her mother tuck her into bed with a single kiss on the forehead. A pure goodnight and a graceful smile lingered at the door before her mother retired to her own room. Her father came in shortly after with his own farewell and

  a warm embrace before turning off the lights and saying goodbye.

  And then Evanna waited and waited, until the clock struck midnight and she heard his voice calling out to her. She made her way silently to the window, knowing full well the promise she was breaking and crept out into the dead of the night.