Questions

Everywhere you go there are questions. Each answer you find will only lead to more questions. There is no escape. For me, there are only questions, no answers. The only person who knew the answers died before my very eyes.

It is exactly four years since my mother died; a month and a half until my 18^th birthday. With luck, I will have only answers by that time, but that is unlikely. Aurora is the only person I know of who can answer my questions, she died.

Kaida, the aventlo I met when I went searching for The Stone of Bazile the year my mother died, lead me to Aurora's body. My father and I had left our house when two men tried to steal The Stone of Bazile and as our job as protectors of The Stone of Bazile we got it back and called The Stone of Bazile Organization. A man answered instead of Aurora so we left. I found Aurora's body and rolled her over. I remember our conversation clearly...

"Can you here me?"

"I..."

"What is your name?"

"Auror..."

"Aurora, is that it? Please say it is."

"Yes... I... Claris... Clarissa... I knew... your mother... she wanted... me to..."

"What about my mother? Please tell me."

"If she died... she wanted... me to..."

"What did she want to tell me?"

"She wanted me to tell you..."

"You can't die yet. My father is on his way here right now, with, magic books and, and potions. Please, you can't die yet."

"I... am... so... sorry... your mother..."

"Why are you sorry? What about my mother? Please tell me!" Aurora didn't answer.

I found my mother's favourite necklace in her hand which I keep in a special place next to Aurora's necklace. I will search until the end of time to find out the answers if I have to and so I will.

~*~

I had finished feeding Kaida breakfast and was sitting at my desk looking at Aurora's necklace. You often found me like this since Aurora died. I do not know why but I often mourned Aurora's death even though I hardly knew her.

"Rissa!" I heard my father call from the kitchen. "I'm going out for a few hours. I'll see you soon. Bye dear!"

"Bye!" I called back. He hardly ever left me alone these days and I wondered where he was going.

My thoughts turned back to Aurora's necklace. There was something about it that wouldn't let me leave it alone. It looked just like a miniature version of The Stone of Bazile. I turned it over and noticed scratches on the bit that attached the stone to the chain. I got out a magnifying glass. It was writing! I quickly copied out the lettering as I had no clue what the letters meant.

I was amazed at whoever got all that on the necklace. My best bet was to wait for my father to come home so I could go to the library and that is what I did.

About two hours later I heard my father call, "I'm home!"

I walked into the kitchen where my father now was.

"Where were you?" I asked. I decided it was best not to jump into things.

"Down the hill and across the bridge, there is a young man, nearly 19, whose house burnt down and his parents died. He is looking for a place to stay. He seems like a nice young man. What do you think?"

Kaida came flying in and squawked.

"What does that mean?" My father asked.

"It means she'd like to meet this man and she would prefer if you told us before you got right into business." I said trying to sound proper, "And I would too," I continued just as I could no longer hold a straight face and burst out laughing. My father joined my laughter as Kaida squawked and squawked. Finally we quieted down and my father replied.

"Well," he said imitating me as best he could. "I thought I might invite him over for dinner tonight."

I looked at the clock, it was nearly lunch time. I would have just over four hours to go to the library and back. That seemed like enough time.

"I'm ok with that," I replied.

"Good. Now come, let's have some lunch."

I opened a can of Kaida's food and put it in my room. Closing the door I left Kaida to eat and headed back to the kitchen. My father had got out a can of soup and put it on the stove.

"Isn't it horrible! The young man has no family, no house and it is the middle of winter!" My father said.

"Father, what is this guy's name?" I asked. I thought I should know before he came over.

"Charles." My father informed me. "Now what were you up to while I was gone?"

"I was looking at Aurora's necklace," I began, unsure of what to say, "When I noticed writing on it."

"What did it say?" My father asked, interested.

"It was a bunch of symbols, like a code. After lunch I was hoping to go to the library."

"I guess you will have to go on your own. That is one of the reasons I would like Charles to live with us."

"Don't worry father, I'll bundle up well. If you want you can do the spell of warming on me."

I guess he was ok with it as we said nothing more about it all lunch.

Just after one o-clock I left, promising my father I'd be back by five or sooner. I began the long journey to the library by walking down the hill we lived on in the direction of the bridge. Strolling over the bridge I past the remains of Charles house and took a left. Past the market, fire department and police station I took a right and continued walking. Waving to a few friends in the local coffee shop and restaurant I skipped down a few steps and turned left onto the beach. I went by clothing stores and ice cream parlours until I finally turned left onto a winding street fifty minutes later. I wandered through the library's garden where I saw many people reading. I then went through the front door and waved to a helper named Cindy.

"How may I help you Clarissa?" Cindy asked politely.

"I have a code I would like to decipher," I said pulling out the scrap of paper from my coat pocket.

Cindy looked at it carefully before looking at me and saying, "Follow me."

I followed Cindy through many aisles wondering all the while how I'd find my way back. At last we stopped. Cindy looked through a bookshelf until she finally pulled out a book.

"Shentlae is what that text is called. Very ancient, I didn't know it was still used," Cindy explained while drawing a piece of paper and pen from a desk I hadn't noticed before. She then handed them to me. "If you like you may copy out the alphabet and translate it when you get home. You may sit here," She pointed to the desk and chair. "To find your way out, walk down..."

She seemed to go on for ever with the directions; I really hoped I would find my way out. Sitting down I watched Cindy bustle away. I read the entire book before I copied out the alphabet. Finally it was time to head back home. I put the book back on the shelf, placed the leftover paper and pen in the desk, pocketed the paper I had wrote on and then walked back through the maze of bookshelves.

Another hour later and I was walking through my front door.

"I'm home!" I called while unbundling. I took off my spell of warming as I walked in to the kitchen where I found my father with Kaida.

"Did you translate it?" My father asked. "You still have another half hour until you have to make dinner."

"No, I just read a book on it and copied out the alphabet. It is called Shentlae." I told my father what Cindy had said to me. "I'll be in my room."

"I was just going to run down to the market to buy some bread. I may stop by Charles and see if he wants to come over early." My father told me.

"Ok, bye."

I walked out of the kitchen. Once in my room I locked the door. It took me fifteen minutes to translate it. It read:

Drop the stone in a bowl,

Pour a cup of water in,

Swirl it once, swirl it twice,

And you will learn a great deal more.

After reading this I took out Aurora's necklace and walked into the kitchen. Grabbing a bowl from the cupboard and placing the necklace in it I called for Kaida. I wanted her near when whatever was going to happen happened. I measured out a cup of water and poured it in. Using my finger I stirred it twice. A shockwave swept through the house. I heard my father enter the house as I was thrown back and knocked unconscious.

The next thing I remembered was a handsome young man looking at me as I lay on the couch. At the time it didn't hit me that this was probably Charles. All I knew was those big blue eyes, his shaggy, dirty blond hair, the touch of his hand on my face... Wait, his hand on my face! I sat bolt upright, his hand fell into my lap, my lap! He quickly removed it, must have been the look on my face.

"My name is Charles."

His voice was so soothing and calm. What was I saying!? It had to be the fall. Fall, what fall? Then it all came back, the code, deciphering it, stirring the water and the shockwave going through the house. I lay down again; the world was starting to spin.

"Just lie down. Edward! Clarissa's awake!"

My father rushed in.

"What happened dear?" My father asked.

"I deciphered the code. It was instructions so I followed them. What happened after I was knocked out?"

"We heard a crash and came running in. Your pet, Kaida, started squawking. We found you on the ground," Charles said.

"The bowl was projecting a scene of Aurora with five men. Rissa, I hate to tell you this but she ordered the men to murder Rose," my father said solemnly.

He was wrong, mad, insane. He had to be wrong. It was a different Rose.

"Rose, my mother! You're wrong, lying, crazy!" I got up suddenly. "Aurora would never do that, never!" I began to cry not caring what Charles thought of me.

"Rissa, it was your mother, my wife. She told them I'd be away, that only you and Rose would be here," my father said stroking my hair.

"I'm really sorry Clarissa," Charles said and somehow his words soothed me.

Wiping my tears on my sleeve I said, "Call me Rissa."

Replying Charles helped me up, "Thank you Rissa. Now come, I'd still like dinner."

I could feel the muscles in his arms as he helped me up. What was I saying!? I had gone truly mad.

"What time is it?" I wondered how long I'd been out.

"Ten after five," Charles informed me.

I loved the sound of his voice, so calm and soothing. I had to stop this! I hardly knew this guy! I hoped he felt the same way about me as I did about him. No, I wouldn't think about that. His eyes, his hair, his voice, everything! Stop it! Could this be love at first sight? Or was I just plain mad?

"Rissa, do you need help with dinner?" Charles brought me out of my thoughts.

"It's ok. I can do it on my own," I protested. I lost that one.

My father had placed Aurora's necklace in my room and cleaned up. He then set the table as Charles and I talked, cooked and laughed. We got along so well and had many similar hobbies. It was just about six when we were putting the last plates on the table.

I turned to Charles and said, "I'm going to get changed."

I walked into my room, took off my brown boots, leather pants and long-sleeved forest green shirt. I then slipped on a long-sleeved brown shirt and a forest green dress. The dress was off the shoulders, the sleeves ending at my elbows and then hanging down. Then I laced up the matching brown corset. Lastly I brushed my wavy brown hair and tied a black cord with a forest green leaf around my neck. I then joined the others in the dining room.

"My do you look fabulous," Charles said pulling out my chair.

I curtsied and sat down. Charles pushed my chair in and sat in the chair to my right. He thought I looked fabulous! This was the thought running through my head all dinner. Charles was so polite, always saying please and thank you, when dinner was finished he pulled my chair back and helped me clean up. Meanwhile my father got the spare room ready for Charles. Before long everyone was sound asleep expect me. All night I lay in bed dreaming of Charles sweeping me away to some faery kingdom. At last sleep over took me and my dreams were filled with Charles.

~*~

"Good morning Rissa."

Charles woke me with his soothing voice.

"How are you this morning?"

"Very well thank you," I was extremely well. "What's for breakfast?" I asked sitting up.

"Bacon and eggs. Your father is in the kitchen right now. I'll see you soon." Charles walked out of my room closing the door behind him.

I got out of bed and walked over to my closet and looked in. I chose a forest green dress that was off the shoulders with flared sleeves. I put on the same necklace as last night and brushed my hair. I then walked into the dining room. The food was amazing! Not only was there bacon and eggs but there was also fruit slices and toast! This was all neatly designed on our plates. My father was over in the corner of the kitchen when Charles walked in.

"You look marvellous this morning. What do you think of breakfast?" Charles asked.

"It's magnificent! Oh, and thank you for the compliment." I curtsied.

"It was no problem. Now come, sit." He pulled my chair out and I sat.

Finally my father joined us and we ate.

"Now Charles, what do you think about our house?" My father asked.

"It's wonderful Edward," Charles replied.

"Now, none of that, call me Ed."

"I'd be delighted, Ed," turning to me, "Now Rissa, what shall you be doing today?"

"I don't really know. I still have questions I need answering," I told Charles.

"Like what?" Charles asked as my father began to clean up.

I told Charles about Aurora and the conversation we had. I also explained about the necklaces.

"If Aurora ordered Rose's death that would explain why she had your mother's necklace. I wonder what would happen if we followed the directions on Aurora's necklace again." Charles said.

"Someone would get blasted at a wall." I said with a bit of a laugh.

"You guys be good while I learn if Charles may stay here. You don't mind?" My father said.

"No!" Both Charles and I said.

My father left as Charles and I got ready to be blasted at a wall.

~*~

Since this time we knew what would happen we put cushioning spells on everything we could. At last we were ready.

"I have an idea," I said, "One of us should make sure they're out of the way. It'd be no good if we both blacked out."

"Good idea. Seeing you are the one with the questions I'll follow the instructions while you take cover," Charles said getting a bowl from the cupboard.

I went to argue but he just waved me away so I took cover in the dining room. From where I was hiding I watched Charles place the necklace in the bowl and then pour a cup of water in. Charles turned to me, I nodded, he turned back to face the bowl and started to stir. A shockwave went through the house as I saw Charles fly back and hit a wall. I ducked into the dining room as a chair came flying toward me. I heard it crash followed by people talking. I carefully crawled forward until I could see that it was safe. I stood up and walked over to where the stone was projecting a scene. Aurora was talking with a man I recognised as one of my mother's murderers.

"Aurora, why are we only killing Rose? What about the girl, what was her name?"

"Because, Clarissa is a lovely girl. She is too young to be a problem."

"What do you mean by too young?"

"She is only turning 14. Now that is unimportant. Are your men ready?"

"Of course Aurora. I need to be sure the father is away."

"Edward is away," Aurora said.

"Why don't we wait for Edward to come back and kill the whole family?"

"Because!" Aurora yelled.

The scene faded but was replaced by another. This time it was the entire group that murdered my mother.

"Do you mean to say Aurora killed Rose because of love?" A man with blond hair said.

"Aurora wants to be with Edward forever. He needs another in the house. Edward doesn't like his daughter going out by herself and someone needs to stay home at all times. She's hoping he will marry her," the man who had been in the last scene said.

"She used us!" One man yelled.

"Let's kill her!" Yelled another.

More shouting followed. Finally the 'main man' quieted them all down.

"It's been years since Rose died. Edward is now very likely to look for a new wife. We can't let Aurora complete what she started. Hubert will take over the Stone of Bazile Organization as the rest of us kill Aurora!"

Many cheers rang out as the scene faded.

I couldn't believe what I had just seen. It had to be wrong. My father said that Aurora was a nice women, when I met her she was so kind. Was it just for show? Or was she really sorry about what she had done. The world started to turn so I sat down. Charles groaned behind me.

"Rissa, what happened?" Charles asked.

"It worked."

"What did you see?"

I told everything that I saw to Charles. When I was finished he sat down beside me.

"I can't imagine how you must feel," Charles said. "I didn't know Aurora but she sounds like a horrible person."

"When I met her," I started, "She seemed very nice. She even said she was sorry."

"She might have been sorry for how it turned out," pointed out Charles.

"True, how are we to know?"

"I'm back!" My father called entering the house.

As he walked into the kitchen he saw the mess we had made, I started to explain.

"We tried it again. Another scene was projected," I said.

"What did you see?" My father asked.

I didn't know how to tell him that his wife, my mother, was murdered because of love.

"Ed," Charles said, "I don't know how to tell you but..."

Charles started to tell my father everything that happened. By the time Charles had finished my father was on the ground sobbing. I walked over to my father and put my arm around him.

"Father," I said, "I..." I didn't know what to say.

There was a long pause before my father spoke.

"I can't believe it," he said between sobs, "Aurora always seemed so nice. I would never imagine her capable of doing something so horrific."

"Well we can't go back and change anything so let's just live for the future. Keep my mom's memory living, in both of us," I said.

"Yes," my father said, "Remember Rose. Aurora never reached her goal. Let us be glad of that."

"Ed, what happened when you went out?" Charles asked.

"You can stay," my father said, "You have a new home now."

I couldn't believe it! Charles would be living with us.

"Oh Charles," I hugged him, "I can't believe it!"

"Neither can I," Charles said. "After so many dreadful events, I never thought another happy thing would happen. I have a home now and all your questions have been answered Rissa."

"I still have one. I never learned what my mother wanted to tell me," I said.

"Hmm. What would she have wanted to tell you? Our family has many secrets. It was your ancestors who created the Stone of Bazile. She may have wanted to tell you about it," my father replied.

"Maybe."

Charles and I embraced again. I couldn't wait for the years to come with Charles living with us and my mother living on in my memory. I felt so happy. My questions had been answered.