Powers Within: Awakening

Chapter 1: My name is Lucy Starburn

     


      My name is Lucy, I have always thought of myself as different. Not really understanding other people. The way they think, how they let stuff go easily. Or how they just stand by watching bad things happen in the world. I have wanted to try and change things, just little things around my town to start off. Then I will try to do something bigger, maybe kill some power plants in the next town over.
To better understand me, I am an only child. I think so I am not really sure if I really am or not. My mom always told me I was, then I would ask how she knew for sure.
She always said, “because my sweat Lucy I’m your mother, I think I would know if you were an only child.”
“Well, you don’t know everything, What about my dad?”
“what about him?” She said glaring at me.
“For starters you have never told me about him.”
“Why on earth would you want to know about him? What could you possibly want to know? There is nothing you need to know about James!” She was yelling at me; her voice had fire in it. She was mad and I was only making it worse.
“I’m not trying to make you mad,” I said with my head down looking at the floor.
She paused for a few minutes, looked out the window. Saw birds playing in the birdbath, in our backyard. Mom always loved gardening. We had a big yard for living in town. She had her veggie gardening next to the fence. The veggie garden alone was twelve feet long, and six feet wide. She had herbs growing in a four-by-four spot, with a wood barrier around it. We had a weeping willow tree growing in the middle of the yard. It was the biggest tree in the whole county I liked laying underneath of it, just watching how the leaves blow in the wind. It was like it was graceful, how it would sway back and forth. She had almost the whole yard covered in vines, flowers, little fruit trees. Vines growing from the ground climbing up our house and over to the fence. She had lights wrapped around the vines that were handing over our heads. She had every flower our country planted in our backyard. There was one that she did not have, the Blood Lily. The rarest flower in the world. She looked everywhere for it, never could find it.
She turned and looked at me. “James found me after my mother died. Took me in, let me stay at his house. He never asked for anything in return. We got close, had a special relationship. We were inseparable. Then two years later, I found out I was pregnant with you. He felt tears of joy when I told him the news. But it only lasted so long. I guess reality hit him, He went crazy. Started talking about how it was forbidden for him to have kids. That some elder cult leaders make sure he was not going to have any. How they tried to make that happen was beyond me.”  She stopped, got quiet. I saw a tear running down her face.
“Mom you don’t have to finish, I don’t want to upset you anymore then what I have already.” I said wiping the tear from her cheek.
“You wanted to know all about your father, so by the gods I’m going to tell you all that I can.”
My mother was not one to upset. Once she got upset that was the end. She keeps on until she is satisfied. She was a slim kind of lady, about five three. She had long blood red hair; it touched her lower back when she stood up. Mom is graceful when she went anywhere. Also, her hair, not a single strand out of place. Her clothing always pressed neat with no riffles, no dust or hairs on them. I would say she is a perfectionist at the very least.
She sighed “your father..he..” her eyes rolling around trying to find the words “He wasn’t a horrible man, I have nothing bad to say about him really. We did get married right before you came into the world.”
“What, you got married? Wait you are married?” I was very confused; I never knew mom was married to dad.
“Yes, I am married.” She said with a great big grin on her face. I just knew she was already replaying their memories in her head, like he was here now. I loved how her makes her feel, just by talking about him. The looks she gives, the emotion I feel coming off her as his memories are being brought back up.
“What happened to him, why did he leave us?’ I had to know, I wanted to know. He was my father after all. Shouldn’t I deserve to know about my own father, I would think so. I thought to myself.
“I’ve explained to you what happened to him before.” She said with a stern voice.
She really did not say exactly what happen. Dad and I was at the gas station when I was a little girl. I was only six years old at the time. He got into a fight with some guy, it was a bad one. I did not get to see all of it. I remember them yelling at each other. I managed to get myself out of the car, but I was too late. As I was able to open the door of the car, there was fire everywhere. I could not tell what exactly happened when I was still in the car. I remember being scared that I was not able to get to my dad. I wish that I could have done something. But then again, I was only six, But I still would have done anything for my dad at that age.
The police came shortly after everything had happened. They asked me just a few questions, not much because of how upset I was. I blacked out being taken to the Hospital, it was the first time. Everything around me was a blur, I could just barely hear to Doctors and the nurse’s voices. But that was the only thing that came through, the only thing that processed in my six-year-old brain. Why that of all things I will never know. When I finally came through, I heard my mom’s voice, her sweet, calming voice. She was talking to a cop; I could here the officer say there was a body on fire at the scene of the crime. They Identified it as my dad. She fought with them on it, denied everything they were saying. She said it was not him that he is still alive out there. That he will come back to his family.  After some time, the officer got annoyed with her and walked away.
She came over to me and sat of the hospital bed with me. I remember her telling me that he left for some bigger reason that they will all see in time. Why would he have died when that guy was at our house a few days ago? He said he would help us all; I do not think he would have lied to us. James trusted him with his life. There is more to this and everyone will soon find out in time, they will all know James Starburn is alive. I drifted off to sleep after that, but I know she kept going on long after.
“I know you said some things about that night mom, But Something still don’t sound right to me. Why would he leave us? What was that guy you guys were talking to? Why did dad talk to him in privet for- she stopped me before I could get anything else out.
“Lucy everything adds up perfectly fine to me, yes somethings don’t seem right. But soon enough we will find out why this all happened the way it did.”
“You might be fine with all this but I’m not, I might not ever get to know him better, I was only six. I didn’t get to understand him like you did.”
“Someday my sweet Lucy, someday you will get your chance” She then ended our conversation, left and started dinner.
        I started to walk up the stairs, trying to head to my room. I pass our big mirror that hung on the wall in our living room. I face it saying the words I’ve always said “Mirror, mirror see into me, see what I most desire from what is deep in my heart.” For the first time, I see the mirror sparkle just a little. I know it could not have been the sun or any type of light hitting it. There were not any windows close enough to hit the mirror head on. This was dads’ favorite part of the house, other then the garden. I remember seeing him watching his reflection in the mirror. Maybe this little sparkle gave me some type of hope to find my dad. It is something I’ve been dreaming about since he left.  Maybe I shouldn’t go to my room. I might just take a walk around town to help me process things.
Mom came back into the living room. She looks at me and then at the mirror.
“Lucy your only thirteen, you have many years ahead of you. In this time, you can search for your father, but you have to promise me one thing.” She said with a caring look on her face.
“Yeah mom?” I said looking back, not totally sure of what I am about to agree too.
“Please give him a break, there is so much I want to tell you about him, But its not the right time.” She said as she sighed loudly.
My emotions start to get the best of me. Trying my absolute best to hold back the anger I have built up inside.  “When will be the right time then?” I said trying to bight my tung.
She paused. Thought for a minute then said, “I will tell you when I know your ready.”
      How could she do this, after all this time. I want to know about him now. That is all I’ve ever wanted. But I must wait. “I’m going for a walk, I’m not sure when ill be back.” I say as I leave for the door not giving her any chance to respond.
This little town of ours in this great big state. The town only has three gas stations, one in every part of the town, Beginning, middle and the end. For almost five years the only grocery store we had was Superfoods. Everything in there was too expensive, that is what mom says anyway. She said, “the owner of the store is just taking people’s money.” Most of the smarter ones shop in the next town over. But that changed when we got a Family Dollar. Everyone shopped there, it was extremely hard for them to keep anything stocked on the shelves for the first couple weeks it was open. There are also three bars and seven restaurants. There are a few shops here as well. Each one different then the last. If you could not tell already, we are a tourist town. People come from miles around the world. We are one of the first stops before you get to Yellow Stone National park. Just something little to call home is all we need, our little town of Dubois, Wyoming.
My house is only three blocks away from a little coffee shop. I usually go there mostly to think, I read some books. Its just a little shop, three tall tables along one wall, with three windows that tough the floors. Along another wall is four tables also in front of four windows the exact same as the others. It smells of coffee beans and different kinds of sweeteners. There is a counter only for oversized cookies and the register. The owner is an extremely sweet older lady, she has different kinds of plants hanging from the windows. There are shelves behind the counter that hold all different kinds of flavored syrups used for different things. She has a giant white board hanging on the wall for everything she can make in the shop. From teas to coffee, to even burritos, different breads all different kinds of things.
I get really into my book, like I had always done. I hear the door open then shut, doorbells ringing. Then I hear it, his voice something I was drawn too like nothing before. It could have been his accent; in that moment I forget just why I was at the coffee shop. After he ordered he sat at the table in front of me, facing me and looking at me. I could not help but to stare at him, I was so intrigued by him. After some time, he finished his drink, when he set the cup down his eyes raised up at me. He smiled then go up and walked over to me.
“Hello princess” he said ever so kindly.
“Um... Princess?” I replayed confused, not knowing what he meant. But his accent made up for the confusion. It sounds so elegant.
“I’m sorry was that too much? Its just you look like you should be a princess,” he seemed nervous, something about him was weird like he was hiding something from me.
“Its fine I guess.” My face was starting to get flushed; I could tell by how warm my cheeks felt.
“well let’s start this off differently shall we. Hello, my name is Zachary Rose. But most people call me Zack.” He seemed to be calming down at this point.
“Hi, my name is Lucilla Starburn, Lucy for short if you want.”
“Starburn you said?” He sounded scared, not really knowing what to think or do.
“Yes that is my name, is there something wrong?” Now im not sure what to think about him. Ive never had this reaction from telling someone my own name.
“nn… no.. not.. Nothing is wrong, I just haven’t heard that name for a long time is all.”  The expression on his face changed quickly.
    For a long time? I said to myself, this guy doesn’t even look much older then me. Maybe eighteen at most not a day older. He had real short red hair a bit like the color of mine. He was slim have a little bit of muscle.I could tell he took good care of himself.
“You have heard my last name before?” I said in a confused way.
“yes I have, but only just a few times. Only when my marents brought it up in  a conversation.”
    Something told me he was lying, Im not sure what it was, But I knew he was lying. Then I remember why I was at the coffee shop. I just had to play my cards right to try and get what I could out of him. But what would be my first move, a way I could take first without giving myself away. Before I could ask my question he blurted out “Who are your parents Lucy?” Why would he want to know that, of all things we could talk about that’s what he asked.
“My mother is Freya Starburn. My dad is James Starburn. Why would you want to know that?”
“I was just curious, like I said I just haven’t heard that name in a while that’s all.” He gave me the cutest smile.
“okay, I was just wondering. What brings you here?”
“My parents are here on business, I’m not sure what it is exactly.”
“Will you be staying long?”
“We usually only stay in one town for a few months at a time. Im home schooled so it helps make thing easier on them.”
“How long would be a few months/” I said hoping it would be longer then three months.
“My family mostly stays six months, but no longer then eight.”
I got really excited when he said that. For what reason I don’t know, I started to feel butterflies in my stomach. Something ive never felt before.
“Well my princess, it is time for me to take my leave. [Cumhachtai laistigh]”
“what does that mean?”
“Ill let you do a little research to find out, dig into your roots just a bit.”
Before I could ask him anything else he left. Those words stuck in my head, it was like I heard it before. But where was it that I heard it? Could it have been at home, or maybe I have read it before somewhere. Not being able to understand how to say it was harder for me to look it up.
     I left shortly after he did, I went home as fast as I could. I was trying to keep those words fresh in my memory so I wouldn’t forget them. When I arrived home, there was a strange car pulling out of the drive way. I never recognized it before, this towns too small to forget a car that fancy. It was a bright blue Cadillac. I could see two people people in the front seat, a man and a woman. Both of them had red hair.

Something strange going on. I didn’t like it, not one siglt bit. It all started when I asked questions about my dad. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to ask questions. I should be more like mom, but that never sat right in my head. She was the one to never piss off, but only let a few things slide that she wanted to happen. I wasn’t like mom, I never have been and I knew that. I never let things slide that I didn’t like. But I did not dwell on it for too long.
   I went inside that house. Entering the living room. I saw mom sitting on the couch watching the television. I walk past over in the direction of the stairs. Before I get to close I walk past the big mirror once again. Looking at myself closely, I have red hair. But not like my moms, mine was natural like hairs. But it was still different then anyones I have seen before. I had the fire look too it. But with strawberry blonde highlights. Mom always tol me it was just how my hair has always been, never dyed, she wouldn’t ever let me.
     The mirror was old, older then me and mom put together. I remember her telling me that was that only thing she had left of my dad, other then me of course. It had gold trim for the border, fancy designs around it. But I look even closer, I see something ive never never before. Was it their the whole time, how could I have missed something like this. It was writing along the very bottom, but what did it say. I get really close to make it all out. It was what Zack told me. But how could he have known this, what did it mean. Once again, I am left with a dead end. Would the truth come out to me, I need answers I need something just a little bit?
[cumhachtai laistigh] I say the words out load. Again, and again.
Mom looks at me with a strange look on her face, a look like she feared something.
“Where did you hear that from?”
“it is written at the bottom of the mirror”
“Oh, I had forgotten it was there.”
“what does it mean?”
“What does what mean sweaty?’
“those words mom, what do they mean?’
“Its something you dad used to tell you every night before bed.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t tell me what it means.” I started to get upset, this was not something I was going to give up on easily. This was something she had to tell me; she was not getting away with it this time.
” Why do you want to know?”
“Because mom, I have been left repeatedly on dead ends. I want answers, I deserve the truth for one today. Just tell me this one thing, Ill drop it for now”
She hesitates for a couple seconds, “it means POWERS WITHIN”
  The words hit me hard, I don’t understand why but they did. Chills ran down my spine, goosebumps all over my body.
“Oh” I said, but nothing else came out. I went upstairs to my room. I must have laid there for hours thinking about all the different things that happened today. Every little thought played through my head, repeatedly. I tried my best to piece it all together, but nothing I was given made since to me.  The only thing I can do is wait till I am ready like mom said.