The Mystic Chronicles: Locket

by Elizabeth Hawkins

  The Mystic Chronicles: Locket

  Elizabeth Hawkins

  The Mystic Chronicles: Volume One

  Elizabeth Hawkins

  Copyright © 2020 by Elizabeth Hawkins

  Chapter|One

  Chapter|Two

  Chapter|Three

  Chapter|Four

  Chapter|Five

  Chapter|Six

  Chapter|Seven

  Chapter|Eight

  Chapter|Nine

  Chapter|Ten

  Copyright © 2020 by Elizabeth Hawkins

  Publisher’s note: All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.

  Book design by Elizabeth Hawkins

  Cover design by Elizabeth Hawkins

  Author’s Note

  This book is for the dreamers. For those who live inside their heads. For those who have created an entire world inside of their minds, and disconnect from reality often. Yes, fantasy is a popular genre. Yes, there are themes in my book that have probably been done before. But I wrote this book for me. For younger me. The me, that would spend hours in her room writing and falling asleep on her bed and waking up writing and editing all over again. This book is for the eight-year-old who fell in love with the world of reading, and thought to herself that one, day, she would be doing the same thing. This book is not only for those who have dreams, but it's for the little girl inside of me, the little girl from the past who’d always wanted to become an author, and to have people fall in love with her words. I’ve never cared about anything more in my life than writing or this book, or this story. This book, we’re married to each other. Writing is the one thing that makes me feel okay, even if my life is a mess of chaos. Writing never leaves me. Writing is who I am, and it's all I'll ever be. Writing defines me. It's my safe place. A world that I've created, that nobody ever knew about. My writing is a world that only I feel like I'll ever understand. Truth is, I'm afraid of publishing this book. Afraid of people disliking it. Afraid of getting no reads at all. Afraid of people not finishing it. Being forgotten from history. I’m also afraid of tarantulas. The dark. The list goes on. But I'm not publishing this out of fear. I’m publishing this to free this story from my mind. It always finds a way to creep into my thoughts, late at night. The characters, they speak to me. The story, it screams. Screams for it to be released. And this may sound crazy, but after all, it's me.

  Chapter|One

  The room felt quiet.

  A quiet, that she was used to. A quiet, that she often found herself in. The top of the room was littered in patterns. Patterns that were most likely borrowed from the palace’s architecture. A palace that she’d only seen in images, or hidden away in the world of books. The palace that she could only ever dream of being a part of. The dark-haired girl gazed at the blade in her hands. It was beautiful. She wondered how something so beautiful could have had the ability to destroy things so easily. Maybe that’s why she envied weapons. Maybe that’s why she related to them. Scarlett found a piece of herself in the things that she would constantly throw around and practice combat with.

  Scarlett never liked parties, or celebrations, or events anymore. Often, she’d preferred to be kept to herself. She couldn’t understand why others felt the need to hang around and impress sets of random people. She hated being pieces of other people. Pieces of things. It had always been that way though, she thought. In primary school, even before she was adopted, she valued the time that she received with herself. Her mind, it was a scattered place, she felt. A distortion of all her thoughts, and memories.

  She’d often let it out with combat. Fighting. Mastering different stances. She’d developed a fascination with weaponry. It was something so simple to her, so black and white. And it always stayed the same. She sometimes fancied physics, but the laws of her universe always seemed to change every day, as new magic was constantly being discovered over and over again.

  She picked up what was called a frimonetra sword, and dangled it between her slim brown fingers. It was skinny, but lined in fresh silver. The design was simple, yet complicated. Perfect for beginners. Perfect for training.

  The girl then squinted her eyes, and licked her fangs, as she put all of her weight on her right leg, jumped up in a quick-like manor, swirled in the air, and threw it with precision. She rolled her eyes at it clambered to the ground. She missed the checkpoint. She was distracted. It was something that always bothered her, but she hated to face it.

  The slight echo of a door interrupted her from thought. She turned her head over to the doors. It revealed a pale skinned young-faced Vampiric girl. She met eyes with Scarlett and gave her a bored look. “Seriously. You’re still here?”

  Scarlett then threw another blade and rolled her eyes. “What do you want, Liv?” She said. Her hands absently touched her silver locket that had been decorated plainly against her neck and tucked underneath her dark leather jacket that was zipped.

  Liveria tapped her foot. “We have to go together this year. You’re being a loner, S. This is the event of the season in Impala. Just imagine...” Her eyes suddenly lit up, “The drinks, and how much fun we’ll have, and all the cute pictures we’ll take and post on Magicbook, and the cute一”

  “Been there, done that, almost ended up dead,” Scarlett spoke, her mind quickly reflecting on what she’d been through last year. She then dusted off a dagger. “And I can’t believe you have that stupid app. All people ever do on there is waste time. I’d for one much rather hear news by word of mouth.” Scarlett said in slight laughter, as she threw it above her head in a trained-like manner. It almost hit the center of the checkpoint, she groaned. “Oh, and I prefer Wandtube. Way better.”

  Magicbook annoyed her. And Flutter, and Pixiechat. They were apps used for nothing but petty celebrity drama, and pop culture, and everything that Scarlett considered cringe. Scarlett figured that the media was a disease, she didn’t like the way it controlled people’s emotions so she usually stayed out of it. She felt desensitized, anyway. Well, she did like Wandtube. She liked looking up how-to videos about weaponry and different fighting stances in her free time. And online, there seemed to be an entire community of people who loved weapons as much as she did.

  “What and ever. You say that ‘cause you’ve never created an account.” Liveria muttered, as she looked at her long, red manicured fingernails. She licked her right fang, “But I'm serious.” She then uncrossed her arms and leaned her head forward. “You should really come.” She spoke, as she played with a strand of her hair. Her throat and ears were decorated in cheap jewelry from a store called Avila’s. It was where she’d go last-minute shopping for party dresses and makeup. Scarlett hated that store. It was nothing like the finer jewelry she’d seen in other cities, when she liked to venture out.

  Most of all she hated flying Liveria there. But, she was her younger stepsister. Their parents didn’t allow Liveria to travel by herself yet.

  Scarlett raised an eyebrow at her when she picked up another Kilantra blade. The base of the knife was decorated golden, with flecks of silver-lined in floral engravings at the bottom. The blade of the knife was decorated in a shiny dark shade, which was reflectant. She skillfully gripped the Kilantra blade, flicked her wrist in a quick motion behind her head, and threw it at one of the silver checkpoints that decorated the walls. “I don’t know...” She trailed off, when she reached for another blade. Scarlett then gazed at her necklace. She played with the locket between her fi
ngers, and then looked back up at her sister. “I’m just not up for it.”

  Liveria whined. “Ughh. But I’m bored, S! And Mom dragged me here.” She clasped her hands. “Pretty please, just this once actually go?” The soft pink-haired girl was short, but thin. Her face structure was heart-shaped, and intricate. Liveria rolled her eyes at her sister out of annoyance.

  The knife hit the checkpoint in a vigorous clamor right in the middle. She dusted her hands, glanced at her stepsister, and then back at the pile of blades that sat on the movable cart beside her hip. Scarlett hated being alone with her thoughts more than anything, but it was a lot better than being forced to go to a festival and fake being happy. At least at the conservatory she could be miserable organically. Without any suppression.

  They both were in the indoctrination room, a place of training for the Vampric Knight program, which was mainly an elective that only few Vampric students took seriously. The room was open all the time. And for the most part, it usually was crawling with Vampric creatures. But that night, there was a celebration of the new year. Everyone absent, but Scarlett.

  She lifted a brown finger and moved a strand of her coiled hair behind her ear. Her distant eyes met Liveria’s. “Oh, so Mom sent you this time.” She observed, as she warmed up her shoulders getting ready to aim her blade at another checkpoint.

  Liveria dusted her tight white dress, and played with the buttons of her cardigan. “Well someone had to. Ever since forever ago you’ve been acting like an old ghost. If I don’t save you now you’ll start to lurk in the shadows.” She cut herself off for a second and cocked her head. “Also? You’re like the only person here. You don’t have to train so hard, you know.” Liveria uncrossed her arms once more, and finally looked up at her with steady eye contact.

  The weapon hit the checkpoint in a sharp, precise manner, the clang echoed throughout the room as if it were an explosion. Scarlett held her chin up slightly, a wave of contempt washed over her body. She loved the high of getting things right.

  “S, pleaseee.” Liveria said, in a singsong voice.

  Liveria didn’t understand why she didn’t want to go out to the celebration. Nobody did. Scarlett never wanted to open up to Liveria about it, she didn’t want her worrying about her own issues. Once again, Scarlett had hit the center of the checkpoint.

  “Just go away.”

  “Wow. Why do I even try...” Liveria shook her head and turned. She dragged her feet away from her stepsister and towards the exit.

  Scarlett pressed a palm to her forehead and dropped her shoulders. “Liv, wait.” She started, “I didn’t mean that. I just don’t care about parties or celebrations anymore. And also this program’s important to me.” She half lied. Sure, missing targets bothered her, but something else plagued her mind.

  The girl with the light hair looked to Scarlett, as concern littered her face. “Okay. I know you’re cautious because of last year, and I kinda get it.” Liveria spoke, she looked down at her nails. “I guess. But S, all drama aside? It’s not like you’re a bad fighter.” She pointed out, as lights from outside the glass windows reflected into the green of her eyes, and she tucked her head inward. “C’mon. You haven’t been to a large yearly celebration like this since you were adopted. Every year, you sit here and train like some crazy thing from the Mortal realm, or something. I mean before you know it, your life is gonna’ be packed with missions and you won’t have freedom ‘cause you’ll be wasting away at some stupid palace.”

  Laughter erupted from her. “Wasting away?” It was something only Liveria would say about the idea of becoming a royal knight. Scarlett rolled her eyes and cracked a smile. “You really think i’ll end up being a knight?” She said absently. She half-daydreamed about what it would be like.

  “Yes. Everyone can.” Liveria spoke in a flat tone, when she took Scarlett’s blade and threw it absently to the floor. Scarlett shot her an annoyed look, but Liveria ignored it. “So come.” She then gave Scarlett a knowing smirk. “Plus, I'm pretty sure Silas is going to be there with Orika and her gang of terribly dressed friends, or something.” Scarlett’s body straightened, but Liveria began to babble. “...See? Friends are good. Isolation? Bad.” She said slowly, as if her older sister were a child. She then grabbed her arm.“Now let's go.”

  Silas.

  She hadn’t spoken to him in two days. She kept a straight mouth at the mention of his name. She decided to push him from her thoughts. The dark-haired, copper-skinned girl had dropped her shoulders again, out of exhaustion. She was tired of throwing the blades. It became repetitive. Scarlett gazed into her sister’s eyes.

  “Fine, I'll come with you.” She started. “But if anything weird happens I'm so leaving.” She needed to get out of her own head. One celebration out of the millions of others to come couldn’t be too bad. Right?

  Liveria squealed in splendor, and clasped her hands together.

  Chapter|Two

  “Have you seen Corveticus anywhere?” Liveria asked, with a concerned expression. There was nothing more that Scarlett hated more than her stepsister’s group of friends. But what always came first was Liveria’s flakey boyfriend.

  Liveria raked her slender fingers through her hair, as it rested at her white shoulders. One of her arms was crossed and held the forearm of the other, as her left hand held her dangling lavender clutch. She pulled down the top of her blouse a bit, and exposed her chest. Scarlett rolled her eyes. “Who are you trying to impress?”

  Liveria pulled out her oracle and ignored her. Scarlett didn’t understand her stepsister. The younger Vampric could be so annoying at times, she thought. She then gazed at her sister’s oracle. It was a thin oval-like device that had been decorated in pink stones and glitter. Scarlett preferred less extravagant cases. She liked the calm mint green color that was hers.

  The festivities were loud. The air felt alive. Cultural music blared from all around, different types of laughter filled the space. The rich and enticing smell of food kissed noses. It mesmerized Scarlett. The festival was plagued with Warlocks, Wizards,The Fey, Merfolk, and of course her race, the Vampric. But the list went on. She hadn’t been to any of the festivals in awhile. Since she was a little girl. Scarlett grinned as she saw a family of Elves arguing over a single slice of juniberberry pie.

  Her sister whined. “Ugh. I’ve been texting him all night but he won't respond. Do you think he’s busy?” Liveria buzzed, and tapped her foot. Her eyes then widened, as she turned to Scarlett, “You think he’s with someone else?” Her eyes grew larger, and she tapped Scarlett’s arm absently, “We’re so over. For good.” Her voice went up an octave and she rolled her eyes. “I hate Vampiric boyss. They’re all the same.” She muttered. Before Scarlett could open her mouth to interject, a notification had gone off from Liveria’s oracle. “AH! So he’s coming in ten minutes.”

  She turned her head to Liv, as her face twisted in slight confusion. “Coriveticus? Why is he even in your thoughts?” She questioned. “He’s literally terrible, Liv.” Corveticus Thraslensparrow was Liveria’s lightswitch boyfriend, as Scarlett liked to think. Sometimes they were off, other times they were back on. Liveria didn’t seem to hear her as she clearly was engaged with her oracle.

  Scarlett rolled her eyes and took out her locket. It had been buried inside the pocket of her jacket. Her eyes raked over it as if it were a precious treasure. It was silver, with sinuous designs on the outside of it. Inside, it held a small photograph of a woman. The woman that she sometimes saw in her daydreams, or even nightmares. Not that she’d ever met the woman, or even knew of her, but something inside of Scarlett felt familiarity whenever she peered at it. Whenever she looked into the woman’s forest eyes, she saw a story. A story of the unknown. It’d been her greatest mystery, she thought. Finding out who the woman was, or who she could be.

  The two girls stopped at different booths, as they took in the magic of the night. They’d tasted different samples, and Scarlett had even gotten a second ear piercing on her
left ear. She admired the stud. However, Liveria still longed to meet up with her friends. The girls had approached a small corner cafe. It was decorated in blue dangly lights that had faded in and out, with tall tables in the center. Liveria gazed in awe, with her eyes wide. She pulled out her oracle and snapped a photo of her hand touching one of the lights. It glowed azure against the snow that was her skin; making it appear as if it were an icicle. She giggled at the concept, but it faded as her eyes took notice of the small bowl in the center of their table. It was full of colorful candies.

  Scarlett pinched at her dress. It was hugging her in all the right places and it made her uncomfortable. She didn’t like the attention it had been attracting that night. Especially unwanted attention from Vampires. “I wouldn’t eat that.” She told her stepsister. Part of her hated the fact that Liveria dragged her out to the festival. She resented her parents at times. She and her sister always had to be together. Liveria toyed with her long nails and narrowed her eyes.

  “I wasn’t even going to eat them, Scarlett. God, you're so boring.”

  “And you’re annoying. Ever thought of that?” Scarlett shot back at her.

  “Nope. Too busy having fun.” She said to her sister, as she pulled out her oracle to text someone. “Wow, so does that include crying over a Vampric boy and failing at Shylack?” Liveria’s mouth dropped, and she squinted her eyes. “You are such a bit–”

  Suddenly, a nasally voice cut her off. “Greetings. Would the two of you Vampresses like to try tonight's special?” When they’d both glanced over, they saw that there was a servant with black wings. The creature held a tray full of circular glasses of dark liquid. Liveria smiled tightly, as she took a sip of the drink as if she’d had it before.