The sound of my mother knocking on my door brings me out of my slumber and back into the waking world. I take my phone from my nightstand and look at the time and I saw that I some how overslept and slept through all my alarms. I felt the dream linger as if meant something but what ever it is I know Mr Stilinski would want to know about it. I shook myself out of my thoughts and I just wet my hair and started to get dressed in that horrible uniform. I then brushed my hair and teeth and went to the kitchen where my dad and sisters where waiting for me as they were almost about to leave. My sisters looked at me all confused as I was always the one to be on time. I greeted everybody and then we left for school. When we stop at my school, I turned to my father to greet him but he spoke before I speak.
"Sapphire, are you okay? You seem a little off this morning."
"Yeah dad, I am okay. I just didn't get much sleep last night but I am okay."
"Sapphire you know that you can always talk to me if something is bothering you"
I thought back to last night and thought of what Mr Stilinski said. I told myself that I wont say anything until they say something first. I just nodded at my father and proceeded to say goodbye to him and enter the school. I met Allison at the square with the rest of our class mates. I placed my bag down and said good morning to everyone. I gave Allison a hug and then she asked if I wanted to go with her to the bathroom, while giving a wink as she spoke. I got the message and nodded. When we got to the girls bathroom Allison scanned the bathroom before she spoke.
"What happened in Stilinski's office last night?" Allison asked with a curious look on her face.
"Jasper and Mr Stilinski told me more about this stuff and explained everything very briefly. Why you ask? I said.
"I know that Sapphire. Did anything happen when you and Jasper waited for your mom?"
"No nothing, we just sat there in silence while waiting for my mom. Why, did something else happen after I left?" I said to her confused.
"Jasper was a little weird. He came back after you left and just said good bye to me and left. He hasn't replied to my messages and I haven't seen him since last night"
"Is that unusual for jasper? If so then I don't know what to tell you Allison." I said to Allison.
"It is unusual for him to do something like that but I think he feel bad about how we had to handle everything last night. I mainly think he feels terrible because we were told to use Clyde and he doesn't have control over the shifting yet."
"Allison, are you telling me that I could have died last night? What if you where wrong and what is Clyde anyway?" I said shocked by the thought that they could have been wrong.
"You didn't die. We did our research" her voice lowered. "And plus you look exactly like her."
"Allison, what did you just say?" I said thinking back to my dream.
"That you didn't die and we did our research."
"Allison you said I look like her and I think I had a dream about her last night"
"What, You had a dream about her?"
"Yeah, and it was like looking in a mirror but the dream felt so real as if I have lived it before"
"Sapphire you know Mr Stilinski would like to hear about this."
"I know Allison. I need to go to his office after school anyway but first we have to get through the school day."
She nods her head in agreement and we head back to the square. When we got to the square I see Allison scanning for jasper but it doesn't look like she could can see him. We continue to talk and joke around with our classmates. It wasn't until the bell rang that Allison and I had seen Jasper. He had just came from Miss Fiona's office and walked straight to where his class stood. He didn't seem to acknowledge Allison or me. We wanted wait for morning announcements to end before we confronted Jasper but just as announcementsended we turned to look for Jasper but he was already gone and on his way to home room. We accepted our defeat and went to our homeroom. When we got settled Clint and Clyde came to sit closer to us. Their faces carrying the same worried look. Almost as if they feel bad about what happened last night.
"Sapphire I just want to say sorry about last night. I feel really bad about it, but I hope that you are okay?" Clyde said.
"Don't worry about it Clyde I am okay. I am just trying to wrap my head around all of this."
"We completely understand but at least we know that you can defend yourself when needed. You sure knew how to handle it." said Clyde
"I guess the self defence classes that my dad made me take helped."
"I don't think that was just self defence, Sapphire. You knew how to handle the situation." said Clint
"I guess. I just hope that I didn't hurt you, Clyde"
"You did do a number on me but it was nothing I couldn't handle."
"Then I am glad that you are okay as well"
Classes went by faster then I thought. I tried to keep my focus in class and tried not to think of every thing going on. When the bell for lunch finally rung. I went to place my backpack at my next class and then went to our spot. When I got there I saw that Allison and Jasper where already there and it looked like they were having a disagreement. I had decided that it would be best if I left them alone. I then turned around and left for the cafeteria to grab a few snacks for everyone. After a few minutes of waiting in line and finally getting the snacks, I went back to our hangout spot. Thankfully when I got to our hangout they had stopped their dispute and was sitting content next to each other. I greeted the two of them whilst handing them their snacks. I decided to sit far enough not to be a bother to Jasper and Allison, but close enough to still be included in the conversation. After a few minutes the rest of the group joined us. As they sat down I handed them their snacks and we started talking about how our day went so far.
"So Allison already knows this, but I had a dream, but this one wasn't your normal dream. It was about Sarina but the weird thing about this dream was I looked just like her." I spoke
"Do you think that Mr. Stilinski could maybe have a portrait of Sarina?" Jasper asked.
"Allison and I agreed that we wait until after school to go talk to him since he already asked me to go to his office after school."
"Yeah I do think that would be best." Jasper explained
"yeah, well I really hope that he does know something about why I had this dream and why I look like Sarina."
"I believe that he has the answers to your questions" Allison said smiling whilst placing a hand on my shoulder.
~
As I stare up at the clock I see that there are only 5 minutes left until the day is finished. I quickly take out my phone and send my mother a text * Hey Mom. I am going to be a little late. Alison and I are just going to help a teacher with some stuff. The teacher just asked us.*. After sending the text I put my phone away and continued to put away my books. Not long after an announcements came over the intercom, "Will Sapphire Nightshade please come to Mr. Stilinski's office after school." A combination of hushed voices and sounds of interest filled my classroom. I knew that I wasn't in any kind of trouble but the eyes of my classmates burrowing deep into my soul made me feel guilty. After what felt like hours but was just a few seconds, the last bell of the day finally rang. I picked up my bag, placed it on my back and proceeded to go to Mr Stilinski's office. Luckily when I got there Alison, Jasper, Clint and Clyde where already waiting there for me. Miss Fiona saw all of us in front of the office and announced that Mr Stilinski will be here in a few minutes and that he just went to grab a few things, but said that we could wait in his office. We then placed our backpacks down outside the office. Jasper opened the door and gestured to Alison and me to go in first whilst the rest of the guys entered behind us. Just as we entered the office so did Mr Stilinski.
"Good afternoon guys and gals." Mr. Stilinski said as he sat down behind his desk
"Good afternoon Mr. Stilinski." All of us said in unison
"Sapphire, I know that you have a lot of questions and some of the questions I have the answers too here. The others lay at our archives"
"Well Mr. Stilinski, last night I had a dream of her and that I looked exactly like her"
"I am not surprised. You do have a striking resembles to her." Mr Stilinski said while opening his drawer and handing me a photo of Sarina.
I take the photo and am in complete awe. As I study the photo I recall features that I recognize on myself. It felt like I was looking in a mirror but the other side wasn't completely me.
"Sapphire, you really do look like her." Alison said softly while placing a hand on my shoulder
"I want to see." exclaimed the rest of the group as I hand them the picture.
"Mr. Stilinski, I do have a few questions. My first is why do I look like her?"
"Sapphire, I believe that these will answer more then just one question." He opens another drawer and takes out a few pages tat look extremely old.
"Sapphire, these are the last word of you great ancestor Sarina. You can either read it now or at home. Before you do know that not everything will seem clear at first. Sarina had special gifts and she proclaimed that you would receive them all in do time. She also left a few things for you that we preserved."
"I understand that not everything will make sense now, but I plan on trying to understand everything I possibly can. I want to know what happened and what possibly could happen and if it could save more than it would harm."
"You sound exactly like her and she would have been proud of she person that you are." He said with a smile while handing me the pages.
I gently take the pages from him. I take a deep breath and then start reading the letter out loud.
"My dear Sapphire
If you are reading this then the imprisonment of Raphael was successful
As you know by now, you are a descendent of a long line of powerful witches. The bloodline will have been dormant for several descendants up until you. The reason for that was to preserve the magic in our bloodline, for it to grow and become more powerful. The knowledge of your heritage wold be passed down from each generation to the next, finally landing it in you're hands.
The day that Raphael started his dreadful army, I knew that imprisoning would not stop him but to try and kill him would not have been successful. Instead it would have meant a complete take over and the ruling of his wretched way. That is when Michael, Josephine, Alexander, Penelope, Tobias and I formed the Order and vowed to protect magical beings and humans alike from ruthless monsters like Raphael.
We knew knew that if we were going to try and kill Raphael we would all die in that battle. That is when we decided were going to weaken and trap him. All of us knew the risks and that one of us would not make it. I had a vision a few weeks after we formed the Order to fight against Raphael. This vision seems to have 2 different endings. The first if we were to try and kill Raphael, we all would die and all of human and magical kind would be enslaved. With the second outcome. We could weaken and trap Raphael imprisoning him for centuries and only one person would die. That person would be me. Having him imprisoned would call for a great witch. The spell that will be used would use every and all magical powers that I own, causing my death.
To ensure the growth of our families gift, I placed a binding spell on my son and the rest of his descendants ending with you. With the binding this would ensure pure growth and a larger increase of abilities, abilities even greater that of my own. Abilities of controlling the elements, seeing the past and future, being able to heal the broken, and to channel strength from others without weakening those you channel from.
I have seen into your future and I have seen that you will be successful in this quest of finally ending Raphael and his followers that feed his cause in his absence. I have seen the great and wonderful protector you will become. The lives you will save and the bonds you will make, but also the pain you will endure. The people that will turn against you. The heartbreak you will endure. All of this will make you the person you are meant to become.
All I ask is you look closely into those you who surround you, for some may be a wolf in sheep's wool. Pretending to be one with your cause but in reality could lead to the downfall. Always trust in the Phoenix.
From Sarina Nightshade
I place down the letter on the desk, trying to rap my head around what I had just read. I kept quiet as my mind was rasing through everything. Thinking back to 2 nights ago where I used the water from the water fountain to defend myself. To when I would have dreams and they would happen within a few and it feeling like deja vu or have dreams about thing that happened when I was a baby. Too young to even remember details like that. Details like how it felt when I got my first injection or how it felt when I my mother held me for the first time. While still sitting in silence I feel a hand on my shoulder bring me back to reality.
"Sapphire, are you alright?" Alison asked with a worried look on her face.
"Yeah, yeah. I am okay. This is just. Just well a lot to take in."
"Everything will become clearer and easier to understand in due time" Mr. Stilinski said.
"She said to trust in the Phoenix. Who is the Phoenix?"Then everybody started looking at each other and the everyone faced towards Mr. Stilinski.
"Sapphire do you know what a Phoenix is?" Mr. Stilinski asked me
"Well if I remember correctly it is a creature that is essentially immortal. When it dies of old age or by a fatal would it would burn and turn into ash and then be reborn from said ashes."
"That is correct Sapphire. These creature can also take the form of a human and can indeed be reborn form its ashes as a new born or by choice the age of their choosing. The Phoenix was by Sarina's side from the beginning and still around till this day his name is Michael."
"Mr. Stilinski where is this Michael because Sarina told me that in him I could trust.?"
"Sapphire. I am the Phoenix, but formally known as Michael Stilinski. I wanted to wait until giving you the letter to formally introduce myself." Mr. Stilinski said.
"I am guessing that I need to do a hell of a lot training before I am remotely close to facing Raphael."
"You are correct. We will need to train your abilities and also train you in combat because Raphael will play dirty."
"I am ready to do anything that it takes."
"Sapphire, I am glad to hear that and that you feel this way about the cause." Mr Stilinski said with a sad smile
There was a silence all through out the office that you could hear a pin drop. When suddenly I get this sinking realization that I have my work cut for me and this would not be easy. I looked around to see everybody has a deep look of worry and stress
"Well that will be all for today we can re join this tomorrow and we can schedule "extra classes"." Mr Stilinski said.
As we walked out of the office Alison offered to walk me to the main gate since her Mom was already waiting there for her. I picked up my bag from outside the office and threw it over my on left shoulder. I waved goodbye Clint and Clyde and turned to walk out of the front office and waited for Alison to say bye to Jasper. I didn't want to say anything to Jasper because I didn't want Alison getting the wrong idea. Id admit he is cute and all but I am not ready for a relationship now. Even if I was, I sure as hell wouldn't go after someone who's already in a relationship. Alison taped me on the back signalling she is ready to leave.
As we walked down toward the main gate I kept my head down, mind in a different place. I was thinking about everything. About what lies ahead. If I'll be strong enough to do what Sarina thinks I can do. The fact that my parents have hidden this from me and even if they were going to tell me when would they have. The fact that I could control the elements and could channel strength from other people and on to be able to see past and future. I don't know why but I feel lied to and betrayed. Alison gave me a tap on the should. I guess my fac was saying more then I was at that moment. I snapped back me face and put a smile on my face showing everything was fine. She gave a look back silently telling that everything with be alright. I give her a nod gesturing that I know.
As we get to the main gate we say our goodbye and give each other a hug. I wait till she is in her mothers car and driving off before walking back home. I pulled out my phone and sent a text to my Mom that was on my way back. To my surprise I saw that there was a messages from another unsaved number. I went into the chat and read the message. "Hey Saphi. Its Clint. I just wanted to ask you if you would mind sending me the homework from Mrs Hellbrum's class. I completely forgot."
The walk home was uneventful and before I knew I was back home. I greeted my mother and sister's. I then went to my room and got undressed from my school uniform and got dress in a pair of comfortable black leggings and a long sleeve green shirt. I then went to my desk and took out my homework and sent Clint the homework he forgot to get. After a few hour of doing my homework, my mother announced that my father was home. After my father got settle we all moved to the dinner table and served dinner. I took this as the moment to ask them about Sarina and why I wasn't told earlier. Somehow the thought of the family heritage being kept a secret caused me to boil with anger and hurt but I kept in down and stayed calm before speaking.
"Mom, Dad. I know about Sarina, about everything." I said to my parents nervously.
My parents faces drop and my fathers fork dropped on his plate with a loud clunk. Silence filled the dining room, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. My parents then nervously looked at each other. The tension in the room grew and was finely broke when Daphne and Elisa asked in unison, who Sarina was. My parent let out a sigh, admitting defeat and knowing that it was time to let the cat out of the bag even though I already knew. I just wanted my parents to tell me the family secret, but also to let my sister's know the possibilities that may await them as well. I wanted to know everything, for my sister's to know everything and to never keep these secrets again. Then my father finally spoke.
"Girls our family has a heritage, a very powerful one. One that has been in around for ages. Or family is one of many with this kind of heritage. We are descendents of a very powerful witch. You know the stories we tell you about creatures like werewolf's, vampires and everything in between… Well all of it is real. Sarina is your great great great grandmother. She was a witch and she had amazing gifts and these gifts saved so many lives, but she gave her life to save the lives of others. She did this to protect everyone from a very horrible creature, Raphael, a very powerful vampire. He looked down on all creatures and humans. He felt that the vampire race was superior to other races. Raphael created an army to eradicate, imprison and enslave the different creatures and humans. Sarina was unable to kill Raphael, but she trapped him in a prison, but Raphael's army was still around. Those who still believe in Raphael's cause, those who want to help Raphael escape and help him rule again. Sarina bound the rest of her lineages power up until you Sapphire was born. She knew that Raphael would be back again but she also knew that if she bound our powers that it would be stronger when unbound. She knew that it would be you Sapphire."
My father then got up and walked into the living room and towards the bookshelf and came back, holding a very old, thick book bound in dark leather so dark it almost looked black, despite of it looking old it wasn't worn. My father then placed the book in front of me. The cover of the book was covered in different symbols, I recognized some of the symbols as being Norse and Witchcraft. I turned the cover to the first page. On this page was a note that was meant for those who inherited the book.
"My dear children
I leave this book for you.
To help with future struggles and battles, with peace and to help others in need.
May you add to this book like I have and help our legacy grow
May this book help you through the darkness into the light
Sarina"
I flipped throw the pages, seeing spells and potions, Lore of different creatures. Creatures that I didn't even knew existed and creatures I thought would be complete fiction. Some creatures that looked as if they only belonged to fiction. After flipping throw all the pages, I flipped to the a blank page. All the other pages were blank up until the en of the book. I thought back to what Mr. Stilinski said the night of the dance, I then looked back at my parents and spoke
"Mom, Dad. Do remember the dance a few nights ago?" They nodded yes
"Well it happened. I got my powers. I think it was unbound." I paused before I continued speaking examining their faces. They looked uneasy but also calm and understanding
"That night I was walking around on the school grounds looking for a quiet spot to get away from all the music and people.(I didn't tell then that I was actually almost about to meet some random person who texted me.) I found this beautiful fountain, when suddenly I was charged at, as I ducked and trying to protect myself from any blows I may receive. When I heard water being splashed at whatever was charging toward me. That when I realised it was one on my classmates and that I was the one who controlled the water. That's when the rest of my classmates showed themselves and lightly explained what just happened. They then took me to Mr. Stilinski. Who explained everything in more detail and today after school as well. I want to help, I feel that I need to not because its my future but because its something I really want to do."
"Sapphire, we only want the best for you and we want to support you with every adventure you want to embark on, but this is not the safest thing to do. You could die." My mother said nervously.
"If Sarina's visions are right. Which they are up until now, then I wont die and that I would finally be able to kill Raphael and end the terror and pain that he has caused and still causing." I said, knowing that they care about me and that they don't want me to get hurt or worse.
"Sapphire, we will support you in whatever you decide to do. Just know that it wont be easy and that you might lose people on the way. And there will be moments where it seems that everything will go wrong but remember you should stay strong and that help will always be there." My father said, sounding supportive in my choice but also worried of the out come.
"What about Daphne and Elisa. Will they have gifts as well?"
"It is hard to say since the binding only ended a few days ago and before you turned 17. They might receive their gift at 17 or earlier." My mother said.
"Now that the binding is undone your children will be born with their gift but since you only got your gifts now you will need to practice to control them. You'll also have to learn to fight for when you have to fight physically." My father said.
"I will ask Mr. Stilinski tomorrow when we're going to start practice"
The rest of dinner was fill with tension, and worry about the uncertainty of what waits ahead for me. After dinner I went back to my room to finish the last of my homework. While I sit at my desk I know that I wouldn't be able to concentrate on my homework but I pushed through and finished.
I took out my phone contemplating if I should text Jasper to ask him if he maybe knows when we would start practice. My finger hovering over his name feeling unsure if I even should be text him or not. I scrolled passed his contact and went to Alison's instead and sent her the same text I would have sent to jasper
"Hey Alli. Do you maybe know when we will start practice." After a few min she replied.
"Hey Saphi. Not sure. Mr. S said he would tell us tomorrow. So maybe next week"