Fairytale Fate: The Legend Begins

♚ C H A P T E R • F O U R ♚

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"The way to read a fairy tale is to throw yourself in." - W.H. Auden
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A dreary sky and soft drizzle greeted the twins as the pale grey light seeped through their curtains. The sister rolled out of their beds and descended the staircase in a drowsy haze, their hair still a mess from a long night of deep sleep.

Carolyn plucked a sticky note from the marble kitchen counter with her manicured hand, rapidly blinking her eyes to focus on the elegant handwriting. "Gran won't be home 'til late tonight, she's going into Boston for a work meeting.

Aura yawned as she gently pulled strands of hair back into a messy bun. She rubbed her eyes before looking at the note. Her eyes traveled from the neon pink paper to the stairs. "We could try to find the key to the attic? It's probably somewhere in Gran's office or bedroom."

A smirk appeared on Carolyn's tired features. "You mean put my nose where it doesn't belong? You don't have to ask me twice."

After they finished getting changed, the sisters rustled through drawer after drawer in Silvia's office before walking to the end of the hallway.

They slowly pushed open the door and tiptoed into their grandmother's small, cream-colored bedroom. It resembled a museum with how organized and neat everything was. Not a speck of dust hugged her dark wood dresser or the golden jewelry box that sat atop it.

Aura quickly checked the smaller storage bins that were on the dresser while Carolyn inspected the golden chest.

Its intricate, leafy designs traveled all around the box while gold flowers with small diamonds in the center bloomed around a metal, champagne rose.

Carolyn delicately turned the rose, popping open the box's lid to inspect its contents. Inside was a collection of rings and necklaces with a worn, golden key on top. "Jackpot!" She ripped out her phone from her pocket and hastily typed on the glass screen. "I'm gonna text Bailey to come over. We might need help sorting through whatever Gran has up there."

"Aren't you gonna invite Jewel?" Aura asked.

Carolyn sighed. "She's probably too busy hanging out with Casey to help."

"Cora, please. She's still our friend."

Carolyn quickly tapped on her phone before sliding it back into her pocket. "There."

Less than fifteen minutes later they heard their doorbell ring.

Carolyn jumped down the stairs, nearly slipping on the smooth wood floors to unlock the front door.

Bailey stood on the front porch with a sopping umbrella in hand. "Jewel couldn't make it... something came up with Casey."

Carolyn's posture slumped slightly as she opened the door wider. "I'm floored..."

As Bailey carefully took off her raincoat and boots, she said, "So what do you need my help with?"

"We're about to break into the one section of the house our grandmother has forbidden us from entering our whole lives," Carolyn said with a smirk, holding up the small key in between her fingers. "Care to join?"

The two girls met Aura on the landing in front of the attic door.

With a turn of the key and a quiet click, the door unlocked to reveal a worn-down garret containing an array of cardboard boxes and tarps strung over old furniture. The bleak daylight peeked through the shades of the attic's single window. Carolyn was quick to start wiping the dust from boxes and digging into them to unveil their contents.