Knights

I marched down the halls without the worry of my footing. How did I ever get myself in such a preposterous- Okay, nobody talks like that. At least not where I'm from. Here, in this crumbling school, they do. It's like they're stuck in the 1800s! Every girl- including me- is wearing dresses that only our great grandmothers would have worn, and yes all of us are wearing corsets. I don't understand how people did this! They're so uncomfortable. I don't know why anyone would ever make these! Anyway, enough complaining. Hi, I'm Evalynn, and as you could probably guess, I'm not from here. I'm from a whole other realm. How did I get here, you may ask. Well, wonder no more…

I woke up to a quiet house, only the birds were chirping, Odd. I got out of bed, not bothering to get dressed. I ran down the stairs, eager to see my parents, but as fate would have it, they weren't there. There was nothing but a note and a credit card with twenty thousand dollars on it. I opened the note right away. It contained a number and a sentence next to it saying, "Call this number. He’ll know what to do", So, that's what I did. I dialled the number quickly, not wasting any time.

“Hello?” An unfamiliar voice asked.

“Hi, um, I don't really know what I'm supposed to do, but my parents left your phone number and a credit card on the counter, so,” I said awkwardly.

And, to spare you the rest of the awkward phone call: He got super worried, and whispered: "I knew this time would come but, why so soon?". After that, I was told to pack my bags and that he would be here to pick me up when I was done. Well, turns out the man on the phone is my long-lost uncle. Figures. Anyway, I did as he said. Despite what he said, I thought my parents were with him, oh how I wish. The second I was done packing and dressed in some comfy clothes, I went outside and sure enough, he was there in a red pickup truck waiting.

When we were on the road, he explained that he didn't know where my parents were, nor did he know if they would be coming back. He also explained that I would be going to this school called ‘Mirror high’ which is where I am now.

In about three hours and a lot of country music later, we arrived at a small farmhouse deep in the woods. I stayed there for two nights before he sent me here through a mirror by telling me to "Focus, find my inner strength" but, if you think the weirdness ends there, you are sorely mistaken, because, on my second night he handed me a small black book, about the size of my hand, and said ‘for this might not help you iI the present. I pray that you learn how to use it before it's too late. Now, may the power of the sky aid you in your journey to safety’... I'm just as confused as you are. Anyway, that's all I guess.

I'm finally in my dorm, which is where I am when I'm not in a class, though, classes are fun, and I'm now learning how to use fire magic, I'm still trying to find out what this damn notebook is for. It makes no sense!

I jumped on my bed with the notebook in hand, once wrapped in the large quilt, I opened the book and stared at the blank pages frustrated. Ugh!

I decided a shower would help me think and that I would try again later. When I got out of the shower, the full moon shined directly on my bed. I didn't realize anything at first, but soon enough, my eyes found the notebook. It's glowing! I ran over to it, realizing that the moonlight caused words to appear. I read them aloud.

“Below safety, the cobblestone dungeons of your nightmares await your power. For, if you know how to use it you will be greatly rewarded,” I mean, I guess I know a little bit of magic… Maybe, they want me to become more powerful? I guess that's the best I've got… Let the studying begin!

I studied, practiced, and trained for about a month before I was top of the class. I didn't make many friends in doing so, but it was worth it.

And, surprisingly, at this point, I've barely spent any of the money from the credit card, since my education was already paid for. I don't need lunch money. The only thing I bought was, a coffee from the restaurant a few blocks away from the school.

The next day I was called into the headmistress's office, I was quite nervous since I hadn't done anything but of all things to worry about, I was worried if I had forgotten to wear the corset one day but that wasn't it.

When I opened the doors of headmistress harper’s office, I noticed another girl standing next to her. I paused studying her face. She looks no older than fifteen, has lovely dark skin, silky jet black hair, and bold lips. Her serious eyes always focused on me, while I walked up to the headmistress.

“So, as you are the strongest of your year, Adira requested for you to join her order of knights,” Headmistress Harper said, without explaining further.

“You are still a young lady, so it is quite understandable if you do not wish to join. But, should you chose to, you will have to pass a series of tests if you pass, then you may join”

I proceed to ask questions about what they mean, and what I'm getting myself into.

Here's what I got: Adira is the highest-ranked knight in the school, though unlike most of the other kids she is not a magical being. to explain, she isn't human, she's a witch but doesn't have magic. In this school, you're either a vampire, witch or werewolf. There used to be fairies but they are said to be untame and dangerous.

People without magic often become knights so that they can serve their kingdom in some way. To my surprise, Adira is the commander of the strongest order of nights ever known in the kingdom. I still don't understand why she wants me, a witch, to be in her order. There's never been such a thing in all the history of the mirror realm.

I still don't know what tests I will have to pass, though, I'm sure I will be ready for whatever she has in store for me.

Okay, I was wrong. I am not ready! I am currently more sore than I was when I spent all day at the gym! She killed me today! I didn't know one of her tests would be whether or not I could train for hours on end, I mean I'm not unfit, but I'm not ripped!

Today, Adira told me what other tests I will have to pass: Tomorrow, I'm taking a wilderness survival test which will take up most of my weekend. Then after that, I will have to take an academic exam to see if I have the brains to be able to miss classes and still pass, though, I'm not too worried about either of those. I have always been top of my class, and my father taught me how to take care of myself. He made sure I knew which plants are safe to eat, how to cook them, whether or not they have medicinal properties. He even taught me how to hunt, and make a shelter. God, I miss him.

Before bed, I decided to look in the little black book again. I opened the book and positioned it so that the moonlight hits it, then when the text appears, I read it again.

“Below safety, the cobblestone dungeons of your nightmares await your power. For if you know how to use it you will be greatly rewarded” hmm. I don't know what it means by “cobblestone dungeons”... Oh I know! A few weeks ago in history, we learned that the school used to use the basement for the war, but it hasn't been used since. I think it's telling me to go down there… No way, l will get caught, and I don't even want to know what would happen then… But my uncle did say it could protect me, or I think that's what he meant. Ugh! Great.

I changed out of my dress and corset, and put on some sweats, and grabbed the flashlight my father gave me and creeped out of my dorm, and walked slowly down the stone stairs, making sure no one sees me. After about four flights of stairs, I finally made it to the basement. It looks like something out of a horror movie! It's all cobblestone. Most people would think it's quite eerie, but I don't, I think it's quite beautiful, in a way, but I have to focus.

I walk down the tunnels, seeing many rooms with nothing in them. After a few minutes, I come to see a small wooden door at the end of the tunnel. To my sides are two tunnels with multiple doors. I stare down the one to my left, hearing small noises, it's not until I see a figure, I realize it's too late to turn off my flashlight and hide. The figure pauses for a moment, then jogs toward me.

“Evalynn!?” The figure yells.

I shine my light onto the dark shape hoping to recognize it.

“Adira!?” I yell back the second the light touches her.

“What are you doing down here?” She asks in a more hushed voice.

“I could ask you the same,” I say, not sure if I should mention the notebook.

Right after I say that I get a swift look at her hands. I see something small and black in her hands.

“What's that?” I ask.

“Well, you see, I don't quite know myself. It's a little notebook I found under my pillow some time ago. It has an odd message...” She said in a whisper while showing me the notebook.

Oh. My. God.