Secrets that lay within

I open my eyes to hear the footsteps of our governess coming up the hall, I look to the ceiling between the old rotted wood and chipped paint I see a rat chewing on the beam supporting the roof of the 18th-century house where I was abandoned to as a baby. The door swings open as our governess stands in the door, She is wearing long robes the expensive type surely paid for by neglecting our needs, she wears her hair like Dracula, Pulled and puffed up as if she used a house full of hair spray to keep it from moving in the wind. Then it starts, the yelling as she always does, her treatment of us is criminal not that anyone would notice with neglected orphans.

"Get up, NOW! There are chores to be done, I don't feed and clothe you to sleep in all day, Duties start after breakfast at 6 am, Don't make me tell you twice or I will get my cain" She screamed at us.

I drag myself to my feet, the bed rattling and squeaking from my body weight and plant my feet to the ground, I slid my boots on knowing that even though it is snowing and cold outside we would still need to do our chores. I stood in front of our room mirror while the clattering sound that comes from the other girls swiftly getting dressed behind me which fills the room with life. I grab a fist full of my brown long hair, its dull and unclean, "It would be clean if we were aloud longer showers" I mumbled to myself.

Most people would say I took on the appearance of a ghost with my pasty chalk-like skin but I believe that my rosy cheeks give me a much-liked advantage. My eyes are large like saucers with a deep blue and green mix of colour, I am a slim build although I could do with some toning.

I sighed to myself as I walked away from my room downstairs to the hall for breakfast. "Just toast today, she goes all out' I stated to the red-headed girl beside me. After quickly eating my dry burnt toast I go to the hall closet and grabbed the salt and the sweeper as my job was to salt the concrete outside.

Upon leaving the 18th-century Gothic revival house I felt a sigh of relief, Anything to get me out of the house with that raging witch on a rampage, Even if it is to do chores, moving around her these days is like walking on thin ice, hearing the cracks and the cold chill to come over my spine when she is near.

She had a special hatred for me, I never understood why I came here as a newborn and now 17

years later I stand outside this old run-down house surrounded in woodlands in the cold all due to a woman who hates me and a family who abandoned me. if I had a family that is.

I took a deep breath in feeling the cold stiff air through my body, I began to salt the ground and sweep the crushing sound of the salt under my sweeper drove me insane and hit every nerve in my body like nails on a chalkboard. Suddenly I hear a thud.

I whipped around and saw a possum that had fallen of the house, I rushed to the poor creatures side which I preferred over humans because let's face it, they are much more innocent then we are. I touch the creature's side as I can see it has a mild injury, a stick sticking into its ribs. I reach over to comfort

the creature while I grip the stick.

Something odd happened, I could hear things but no one was talking. It was so fast so many voices, my head begins to spin. “What do you want” I yelled. At that moment the governess came storming outside on a warpath because I disrupted her quite time.

'What is all the racket about, You are to do your chores not mess about, Did you want to be locked in the addict again all night?" she Aggressively stated. I quickly let go of the stick in immediate shock to the governesses rage. Do you know that feeling you get when your whole body tightens at the very presence of someone with so much hate? Well, that was me right now. I stood up, dirt now on my nightgown from bending on my knees, when the governess saw the animal that lay near my feet.

“ what a discussing animal, get rid of it, throw it in the bin" she waved her hand as if she was to shoo the injured creature as she made her demands. “ he is just injured, we can help him get better, he doesn’t need to be thrown away governess" I replied. She struts over to me and hits me in the face with her Cain.

“ best you take care of your self not this wild animal and do what your you are told!!!” she yelled at me. My face bleeding from the wood chips of the Cain hitting my cheek, I place my hand to my face.

I stood up with my nails digging into my palms from the amount of rage I was feeling right now.

“ right well if you won’t do it I will, you ungrateful child" she stated with disgust. She walks over to the creature and lifts her Cain into the air to strike down at it. I swiftly run in between her Cain and the animal grabbing her Cain before she could complete her swing.

All the voices started coming to me again so many voices yelling at me, so much pain, hate, sadness and sorrow. I started screaming with my eyes slammed shut yelling “shut up” “ shut up" over and over.

The pain these voices caused was like feeling the emotions of a thousand suffering victims, It filled my body and mind, non of the voices and scream I heard were making any sense, I fell to the ground wincing in pain until the light left my eyes and all I saw was black as I lost consciousness.

When I awoke I was being pulled out of bed by people with white coats, I struggled against them. “ Who are you" What do you want” “ Get off of me!" I screamed as I kicked and tried to break free. I hear a voice in the background. It was the governess! She was sobbing “ you see how insane she is, the poor girl first kills that poor animal at the front, then she grabs my Cain and went to swing it at me but hit herself” she stated between sobs.

"Liar, You're liar, Don't listen to her, She's Lying!!" I screamed at the doctors but no one was listening to me.

“ she has always been a troubled girl but I thought I could help her but now she’s dangerous and talking to herself, I fear for the other children" she stated to a man standing next to her also in a white coat.

“ it is ok madam, you have called the right people for this, we have somewhere we can put her that will be safe for her and others" he replied with one hand on the governesses shoulder.

I felt a prick in my side, hooking my head down I saw a needle, everything became black once again. I feel so foggy and weak I can’t open my eyes, I can hear the muttering of the people around me. Trying to listen to hear what is to be said but it's all clustered together I can’t make it out. I fall asleep due to the exhaustion, injury and drugs being pushed upon me.

I wake to bright light in my eyes and a voice a woman woke me from my drug-induced sleep. A light being shined in my eyes hurt, I blinked over and over from the pain and pushed the woman away from me softly.

“ I’m sorry I woke you my dear but I just had to come and check on your head injury to make sure you were OK. Are you hungry? I can have the orderly bring you some food as you missed dinner?” she asked me with a soft sweet voice.

I look at her and see she is young herself probably in her early twenties, her hair was like sunshine, it glowed with it but that could also be the drugs they gave me. She was also in all white, I saw a name badge saying, Nurse Pam.

“ Pam is it?” I asked. She smiled and replied, “ Yes dear, I am your nurse". “ I am kind of hungry do you mind getting me some food," I asked with a half-smile as to convince her I was ok. She stood up and walked out of the room to fetch the food.

I looked around my room which was empty except for a bed, a desk and a chair. I noticed there was a book sitting on top of the desk, it was a small leather-bound black book. "I didn't own anything so it couldn't be mine, maybe the nurse left it," I thought to myself. Out of curiosity, I picked the book up.

With a searing vengeance the voices came floating back but this time a males voice, mixed in with others. It called my name, I dropped the book to the floor in shock.

The door swung open and in came the nurse with a sandwich and a juice. “here you go lovely, ill just pop it on the table for you" nurse pam pushes the food tray onto the table and notices the book on the floor.

“ Oh sorry about that I must have knocked it off without seeing it" she bends down to pick the book back up, I waited with anticipation to see if she could hear it too, I clenched my eyes as she grabbed the book. Nothing happened, no reaction as she slid the book back onto the desk. "Is it just me who feels these things? Maybe I am crazy" I muttered to myself.

“ who's book is that?” I questioned. “your Miss, it was left here by your governess she stated the book and you were the only things that showed up at her door 17 years ok" she informed me. I thought to myself it must have been left by whoever gave me away...Pam left the room so I grabbed the food and started eating. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I ate the whole thing in one bite.

I sat on my bed staring at the book on the table for what seemed like hours.. but was only a few mins. What were these voices why does this keep happening when I touch things, who am I, does this book tell me, what was in it, was it left by my birth family when they left me and why.

My thoughts swirling around in my mind like a tornado I sprung up off the bed like I was on a mission but came to a hard stop the second I went to grab the book of the table. I hesitated for a moment, I looked over and saw a napkin I had for my sandwich and grabbed it. I put the napkin over the books binding and picked it up. No voices none, not while I used the napkin.

I back up into the bed and sat down still holding the book. I ripped off a piece of the napkin to open the book worried if I touched it again the voices would come back. I flipped through the entire book it was blank there was only one entrée a footnote that’s it.. it read

“ Tegan, my sweet little girl. This book and its secrets I leave to you. All will be revealed to you upon touching this book. This book will lead you back to where you came from and if I am still alive me. Don’t be afraid my daughter, you are gifted as all women in our family have been gifted. I love you and I hope, my wish is that this book finds you well and happy, goodbye for now".

“What the hell does that mean... the book will reveal secrets... gifted.. what gifted if I was so gifted and special then why did my parents give me away... I thought to myself. Wait.. touch, they said touch.. does that mean when this person touches things she hears voices also. I looked down at the book.

“ok boo,k lets do this" I stated with a deep breath. I touched the book and a flood of voices filled my head again... can’t make out what they are saying they are all speaking at once. I suddenly hear the man say focus, let yourself see, don’t be afraid. I took a deep breath and relaxed my body and focused on that man’s voice. I could suddenly see with clarity, a man was sitting at his desk in what looked like a library. He was not old but still old enough. His hair was filled with several colours, black, white and red. I saw him start to right with his quill, as he wrote it was like hearing a narrative voice-over as each word was scratched onto the pages.

I need not write this in the book in ink but something more untraceable, if you are as I suspect you will be, you would have your mothers gift. We had to hide you, the society we used to lead has become corrupted by a member named George Bradley, they have sought to kill your mother and me on the day of your birth. Sadly your mother didn’t make it to the end of this story but you must understand the importance of this. You must find the coins, the coins are the key, the key to everything”

“ There are 3 coins golden in nature, each imbued with magic, yes daughter I said magic, you see this society we belonged to and run we were like royalty we found this world you call earth many many years ago and brought magic and life to it.”

“The people who would see you and me dead sought to steal the coins and turn all magic dark, I hid them throughout the world and will wipe my memory of this very discussion after I have completed what I need to say. You will need to be strong now more than ever, you will need to be hidden, stay hidden. You will need funds and a place to stay.”

“Please remember this address and go there, there you will find books on how to glimmer yourself, money that you will need and a voice within the library to the guide you to the first coin. Be careful if you have this book now that means they are watching you. This book holds magical properties that when activated by a person with your gifts it has a unique magical signature.

This is how they will find you once you hear the address remember it and leave this book behind. You cannot take it with you, go to 42 Leicester St, London. The house is underground, there will be a magically sealed door in the alley which will only open for blood, family blood. You must cut yourself and press your hand to the door to open the house to you. Go now and be safe my child”.

Once I opened my eyes I didn’t realize I had tears falling my face from the emotions I took from the book, I wiped my face dry and tried to find a way out of here. As I was searching the window for a way to unlatch it to climb out, I couldn’t help but go back to my father's words piercing my mine.

Magic..worlds.. could this be possible, can magic exist let alone other worlds, other than this one...

As I pressed on the latch it swung open and I cut my palm. “ ouch, stupid ass window" I stated as I pulled my hand to my mouth to clean the wound. I tore off a bit of my nightgown and wrapped my hand up. I grabbed the chair from the table and balanced it on the bed as I struggled to get myself through the window. I fell on the other side on a rose bush.. “ just my fucking luck could this week get any bloody worse" I stated then I began to laugh.. “ bloody" I retorted out of my burst of laughter.

“Suddenly I hear, she’s gone!!! She left the book that little witch..” the woman said with frustration.

Hiding under the window I recognized the voice... it was Pam.. she was so nice though. how did she know the book would be a tracker.. had she known all along.. was she the one after me... As I heard running from the above room I quickly sprinted across the paddock towards the trains. I could hear people behind me yelling with desperation. “ don’t lose her we need her, get her back now!!”

I quickly jumped the train before it sped up and took off. This train was going south, towards downturn London which was my ultimate destination. I sat on the train trying to remember my father's voice, wondering what he looked like now and if he was still breathing, what my mother looked like. If this is my only gift or am I a witch also. If so could I do magic and how could I do magic.

Shivering as I am pressed against the cold metal of this storage cart, I heard the train guard call for the stop to London CBD, I went to get off the train at the platform but there she was... Nurse Pam.. how’d she get here so fast!!

There were men in black suits searching the platform, I saw two hops on the train. I started running towards the back of the train three carriages down, knocking people over as I brushed past them. I saw a coat hanging in the back of a chair ahead of me, I was cold and lost, all I know is I needed the coat for warmth, I rushed and grabbed it while I continued to move down the carriage.

I hear a man yelling “ stop her she took my coat” I sped up and jumped off the back of the train onto the sharp rocks and let out a painful yelp. I ran towards the park next to the train station, feet bloody and stabbed with rocks, rose bush scratches over my face and arms, a wrapped up now dirty ripped cloth on my cut hand. So far so good...I’m going to get myself killed I thought to myself.

On the other side of the park on this dim night, I couldn’t see the street signs, I never left the orphanage before, I have no clue where I am going... I sat down on a bus stop seat to rest as I could no longer hear them behind me chasing me.

An old man started to hobble by with his dog, I looked at him and he smiled and tipped his hat. The pain from my feet started to come in now and I could feel it so much so I physically winced from the pain, I pulled the coat over me to keep me warm because it's winter in London right now and I am barely dressed.

The man stops his walk and turns back around and continued to hobble up to me. “ are you ok miss?” he questions concerned.

“ um yes I am, I’m fine...”

The man smiles and says “yes?”

“ I am kind of lost, I ran away from home and I am just now realizing how big a mistake that was and trying to find my way back," I couldn't very much well tell him the truth can you imagine what he would think? Oh so I was abandoned as a baby but hey turns out I have magic in me and can hear and see things when I touch objects but that's because I'm on a mission front he voices to save magic and thus saving the world. He would call the nuthouse again and lock me back up, so I decided to continue with my lie. "could you tell me which direction is Leicester st?” I replied nervously.

“ oh yes you're not far, it is just one stover on the left" he stated.

I dived to my feet and started running towards the st I was so close, so close as I ran away I yelled “ thank you" back over my shoulder to the old man.

As I drew closer I could see the st, I could see it! Puffed, exhausted and in pain, I finally reached 42 Leicester st. I saw an overgrown bomb shelter in the ally, this must of been it.. as I drew near the door, I reached down to open it.. its locked...I shake the door “ come on, come on open!!”. I yelled.

What did he say about a key, how do I open this stupid door... out of frustration I kicked in the door. It didn’t budge but my foot began to bleed on the door due to the Sharp train rocks that cut my feet not moments before. The door lit up as the sun rose and it opened.

"oh that is amazing, maybe magic isn't too bad after all" I laughed to myself as I celebrated my door opening skills.

Blood I finally remembered, of course, he said blood family blood. As I entered the house I pushed past a force field like shimmering on the doorway. As I passed through my wounds magical healed. Astonished on the other side, inspecting all my now gone cuts.. or at least where they used to be.

I turn and look around the room I entered.. but it isn't a room. It's the whole house. How can they fit a whole house in a bomb shelter is massive. I slapped my forehead and stated to myself " you know some times you are a real idiot Tegan, You just opened a door with blood and had all your wounds magically healed why wouldn't there be a whole house in a bomb shelter."

As I moved further into the house to explore it I could hear the whispering once again. I followed it down this long hallway until I could see a library with a fireplace, the walls were filled with books on every part of it, even the roof...as I move further inside the room the voice becomes stronger. I pushed my long brunette hair behind my ear so I could focus on the voice direction. I moved towards the voice with my eyes closed as if I was floating to it. When I opened my eyes I was standing in front of a book between magical spells and divination. I opened the book, as I opened the book golden coins fell out.

“The book started speaking to me, my daughter there are 20 000 Golden Chits I leave to you to fund your quest for the magical coins you seek. Use these wisely.” It was my father’s voice again.

Astonished by the fortune I just received especially since I’ve never owned a dime in my life let along shoes... I began picking the coins that fell out of the deep medal book, I noticed there was a coin with an image of a keyhole on the world embedded on it. It doesn’t look like the other coins... I picked it up as I did the whole room filled with wind and light surrounding me.

I gasped “ this must be the first coin".