The Secret of the Scarlet Stone (A Gabby Girls Adventure Novel, Book One)
Page 17
The understanding of your legacy is of great importance. So, we hope that this journey has strengthened your heart and has given you the will to make a new start. Your commitment is the key to keeping our Circle Sisterhood alive; signing your name is accepting the beginning of your new path and all of the beauty and legacy that it entails.
Porro Ago the Orbis
Zora carefully flipped through the book, looking at the pages and pages of signatures. They devoured the pages of names, not recognizing any of them until, on the very last page, they saw something that caught their attention; it was signed:
Jessica Parker
Hannah Smith
Rosalinda Diaz
Victoria Wilson
Olivia Long
“Does that say Jessica Parker? That’s my mother!” Jessica squealed with delight.
Gabrielle looked at them incredulously. “And Victoria Wilson is my mother’s name!”
Rosalinda looked at them with amazement. “And Rosalinda Diaz is my mother’s name.”
Zora adjusted her glasses. “And Olivia Long is my mother. So, from what I gather so far, they have all been on the same adventure that we just went through.”
Rosalinda looked at her with wide eyes. “I don’t understand. What is this all about?”
Startled, they jumped nervously at the sound of soft clicks.
Looking around happily, Gabrielle instantly recognized the familiar clicking sounds. Two figures mysteriously emerged from the shadows of the room. “Grandma Celeste!” She quickly jumped up, ran over to her, and hugged her tightly.
Grandma Celeste softly touched her hair.
Jessica blinked with shock when she recognized the gray-haired woman who stood grinning from ear to ear in the center of the room. She squealed with sheer joy.
“Grandma Priscilla!” She quickly jumped up and ran over to her, hugging her tightly, too.
Gabrielle looked up at Grandma Celeste, her eyes welling with tears. “What’s going on? What is this all about, Grandma? What are you doing here?”
Grandma Celeste looked down at her proudly. “Wow! Slow down, young lady. Priscilla and I are here to reveal your wonderful and rich legacy. You see, Priscilla and I made this same journey long ago, and so did your mother.”
Grandma Priscilla smiled proudly at Jessica. “And so did your mother, Jessica.” She looked over proudly at Zora and Rosalinda. “In fact, all of your mothers made this same journey as young girls.”
Gabrielle looked at her with shock. “But why didn’t you tell me?”
“Gabrielle, this was not something I could just tell you…it’s something that you had to experience. Besides, if I told you, you just would not have been able to wrap your mind around the importance of it all,” Grandma Celeste responded softly.
“She’s right; this was something that you all had to experience to fully understand the importance of what you all must undertake,” Grandma Priscilla said.
Grandma Celeste looked over happily at Jessica, Rosalinda, and Zora, leaning heavily on her cane. She softly touched Jessica’s hair. “So, we finally meet. Your grandmother told me all about you. And she’s right; you do look so much like your mother. I want you to know that she would be very proud of you if she were here.”
“Shucks, she would be happy as a gopher in soft dirt,” Grandma Priscilla said loudly and chuckled. “And, Zora, you’re as cute as a possum. I just knew that you would be able to decipher the symbols, just like your mother did years ago.”
Grandma Celeste softly touched Rosalinda’s hair. “And, Rosalinda, what a beautiful and smart young woman you are; your mother would also be very proud.”
Rosalinda looked at Grandma Celeste and Grandma Priscilla with utter amazement. “You knew our mothers?”
“Yes, we knew your mothers very well. In fact, we greeted them in this very room many years ago when they safely made this same journey,” Grandma Celeste said happily as she walked over to a chair and sat down. “Zora, pass me that book that you were just reading.”
Zora quickly handed over the book.
Grandma Priscilla sat down next to Grandma Celeste with a sparkle in her sky-blue eyes as she chuckled huskily. “Well, what are you all waiting for? I know you’re just busting at the seams to finally hear what this big brew-ha-ha adventure was all about. Come on, y’all! Gather around. There’s a lot to tell and we don’t have all day.”
They quickly scrambled in front of Grandma Celeste and Grandma Priscilla, sitting down eagerly.
Grandma Priscilla’s eyes sparkled mysteriously as she chuckled. “That’s more like it.”
Grandma Celeste’s fingers slowly opened the book, flipping to the back and pulling out a gold folded piece of paper. “Rosalinda, why don’t you read it for me?” she asked as she carefully handed the piece of paper over to her.
Grandma Priscilla clapped her hands with glee as she looked on expectantly. “Gosh darn! I just love this part. I’m as excited as a June bride on a feather bed.”
Grandma Celeste poked her playfully with her elbow. “Cut it out, Priscilla,” she said softly.
Grandma Priscilla rubbed her side playfully. “Ouch! Will you quit poking me with those boney elbows?”
Rosalinda’s fingers shook nervously as she unfolded the paper and read it aloud:
To our daughters, the next generation of the Circle Sisters:
Just by the fact that you are reading this note, we know that our fates were sealed in the everlasting embrace of the Circle Sisterhood. We are deeply sad that we are not there to greet you after all that you have endured, but we know that you have been greeted by the next best thing, our mothers and Circle Sisters.
Long ago, we too started out as strangers but ended the journey as true sisters in every sense of the word. We accepted the Circle Sisterhood with all our hearts and minds, and we know that you will, too.
We based our lives on our vow to uphold all that is good and pure, in hope that this legacy, our legacy, will never end. With our very last breath, we wish and we know that you will choose to do the same. Until we meet again, blessed be.
Your Mothers and Circle Sisters to the End
Rosalinda quickly wiped away the tear that trickled down her cheek.
Zora adjusted her glasses, looking over at Grandma Celeste sadly. “What is the Circle Sisterhood? And is it just a twist of fate that all our mothers died?”
Grandma Priscilla slapped her knee with excitement. “Gosh darn! Those are very good questions, Zora.”
Grandma Celeste smiled softly. “Let’s start with the basics; the Circle Sisterhood is a group of women with very unique gifts and powers.”
Jessica nervously bit her lip. “What do you mean by gifts and powers?”
Grandma Priscilla chuckled softly. “Honey child! What did I tell you about biting your lip? Listen to me; there’s nothing to be nervous about, ya hear.”
Jessica stopped instantly. “Sorry, Grandma Priscilla.”
“Well, as the teachings of the Circle Sisters have said for centuries, there is a big difference between gifts and powers. Gifts are what all sisters are born with; they’re something that you have deep within you. Powers are given to the chosen few of the Circle Sisterhood. As we always say, many are called but chosen are few,” Grandma Celeste said softly as she looked over at each of them.
“But don’t you worry, the gifts you have are just busting to come out,” Grandma Priscilla said loudly.
Grandma Celeste looked over at Zora. “Like you, Zora; your gift is that you can sense where an object came from with just one little touch.”
Zora looked over at her with shock.
Grandma Priscilla pointed at Gabrielle. “And you, Gabrielle, you have the gift over the mind and can wish things then make them happen. And you, baby Jessica, your gift is the ability to make all visible invisible.”
Rosalinda looked over at them anxiously. “What about me? What’s my gift? Is it the ability to see things that will happen in the future?”
Grandma Celeste chuckled softly. “You see, that’s the beauty of all your gifts. You will discover them in time. Some sisters discover them early, but for most it takes time.”
Rosalinda gave her a disappointed stare.
Grandma Celeste smiled softly. “Don’t you worry, Rosalinda; that’s the fun part of it all—the journey of discovery.”
Grandma Priscilla laughed out loud. “You’re sure right! Remember, Celeste?” She nudged her playfully with her elbow. “Shucks, I didn’t discover what all my gifts were for years. Gosh, I was as nervous as a fly in a glue pot as I watched Celeste and all the other sisters start to discover their gifts.” She leaned in closely to Zora, Rosalinda, Jessica, and Gabrielle. “Then—BAM!” She clapped her hands together loudly. “It just happened; one morning I woke up and discovered what my gifts were, and they were as strong as everyone else’s. Believe me, I was one happy camper that day.”
Gabrielle looked over at her curiously. “You keep talking about the journey, but who will help us on it?”
Grandma Celeste smiled softly. “Well if you accept your destiny, you will have to help each other on the journey. Of course, Priscilla and I will be there to guide you for as long as we can.”
Grandma Priscilla chuckled loudly. “Fact be told, your mothers should be guiding you through this journey, not us old swans.”
Jessica looked at them tearfully. “But what really happened to them?”
“Now, this is the question that I’ve been waiting to answer for years,” Grandma Celeste responded as she sternly looked at each of them. “Did you notice that five names are signed in the last entry?”
Zora adjusted her glasses nervously. “Yes, I wondered about that because I didn’t recognize the fifth name.”
Grandma Priscilla looked at them seriously. “The fifth name is Hannah Smith. You see, when your mothers made this journey long ago, there were five of them and they all accepted their legacy into the Circle Sisterhood. Then they began their long journey toward discovering and strengthening all their gifts.”
Grandma Celeste looked at them sadly. “You see, Hannah’s gifts were slow to develop; in fact, she worried that she would never discover them because each and every one of your mothers discovered their gifts rather quickly. So, Hannah became very jealous; in fact, the jealously consumed her every waking breath.”
“Eventually, she discovered all her gifts, but her discovery was not from natural means; she used other things to attain them. She used things that were so dark and evil that the Circle Sisterhood dare not mention them. Hannah also became consumed with the idea of becoming more powerful than any of the other sisters. In fact, she worked day and night on receiving powers; the more powers she received, the more evil and mean-spirited she became. Shucks, I remember that she was as friendly as fire ants,” Grandma Priscilla exclaimed.
“Anyway, one day, the Circle Sisterhood discovered the true force of her powers and knew instantly that all of them were pure evil. You see, she sacrificed all of her gifts just to be the most powerful one, a chosen one, but she forgot the true purpose of the Circle Sisterhood, which is to use our gifts and powers only for good and never for evil,” Grandma Celeste said. “The truth is that by the time we all figured out what was really going on with Hannah, her powers had became too strong for the Circle Sisterhood to control.”
Jessica bit her lip nervously. “So, what happened to her?”
Grandma Celeste’s eyes got misty as she shook her head regretfully. “Your mothers and the Circle Sisterhood confronted Hannah in this very room. In fact, we pleaded with her to give up her powers but she angrily refused. So, we did something that hadn’t been done in the history of the Circle Sisterhood; we banded together and used all of our gifts and powers to cast a spell. When the spell of binding was complete, she was powerless. We then took away her scarlet pendant and expelled her from the Circle Sisterhood.”
Grandma Priscilla looked over at Grandma Celeste. “Boy, I remember that day; she got angrier than a bull in a rodeo and vowed to break the Circle Sisterhood—and, most importantly, to destroy your mothers. And, true to her word, she eliminated each and every one of them and had all but broken the circle.”
Grandma Celeste smiled softly. “Yes, the Circle Sisterhood has almost been broken.” She looked over expectantly at the girls. “But, finally—there is hope and renewal.”
She slowly stood up, walked over to the gurgling waterfall, and placed her hands under the cascading water, whispering, “I invoke thee, orbis in! Orbis sicco!” Then she lit one of the large white candles and all of the other candles magically lit up one by one.
Grandma Priscilla looked at them solemnly. “This room that you are in is a place of great power.”
Rosalinda, Zora, Jessica, and Gabrielle’s mouths dropped open with surprise as the large bookcase slowly opened to reveal a hidden door. Three women slowly stepped out from the darkness and walked to the center of the room. One of them Gabrielle instantly recognized as the professor from the tea party: Ms. Duncan. They all wore long, dark dresses that clung to their bodies tastefully; these were the most beautiful women Gabrielle had ever seen, hands-down.
A porcelain-colored woman with piercing blue eyes smiled warmly. “I am Circle Sister Moonlight, the beacon of light that always shines in the darkness.”
A tall woman with bright red hair and green sparkly eyes looked at them curiously then smiled mysteriously. “I am Circle Sister Fire Star, the flame that ignites for all to see.”
Ms. Duncan smiled. “I am Circle Sister Passion Flower, the one that brings growth that spreads for eternity.”
Grandma Celeste smiled. “I am Circle Sister Knowledge, the whisperer of understanding.”
“And I am Circle Sister Spirit, the one that moves through worlds for centuries,” Grandma Priscilla said in a soft, Southern drawl. “So, now it’s up to each of you to make a most important decision. If you choose to accept your legacy, you will have to give up everything that you have ever known and also open your hearts and minds to the unknown.”
Grandma Celeste smiled softly. “Remember, this is your birthright, but it’s also a serious responsibility that is not to be taken lightly.” She walked over to the opening in the bookcase and waited patiently.
Gabrielle looked at her curiously. “And what if we decide to deny our birthright?”
Grandma Celeste smiled sadly. “If you decide to deny your birthright, you are free to walk right through this opening and out of this room.”
Grandma Priscilla looked at her sternly. “But with that decision, you will have to give us your scarlet pendant. And, most importantly, you will not remember anything that happened along the journey.”
From the bookcase, Grandma Celeste slowly pulled out a brilliant gold book that had a large scarlet stone wedged in the center. She walked to the center of the room and twisted the stone in a clockwise direction, causing the book to fly open with the pages flipping around wildly.
Grandma Celeste looked at the girls blankly. “You will be asked a question; if you accept, you must say, ‘I accept my gifts and my legacy, and welcome the journey into the Circle Sisterhood.’ If you choose to deny your birthright, you must say, ‘My gifts and my legacy I deny and they will no longer be mine.’” A brisk gust of cold air circled the room, causing her hair to whip around her face wildly.
Grandma Priscilla solemnly looked over at Jessica. “What is your decision?”
Jessica smiled confidently. “I accept my gifts and my legacy, and welcome the journey into the Circle Sisterhood.”
Grandma Priscilla solemnly looked over at Rosalinda. “What is your decision?”
Rosalinda smiled hugely. “I accept my gifts and my legacy, and welcome the journey into the Circle Sisterhood.”
Grandma Priscill
a looked solemnly over at Zora. “What is your decision?”
Zora adjusted her glasses and smiled happily. “I accept my gifts and my legacy, and welcome the journey into the Circle Sisterhood.”
Grandma Priscilla solemnly looked over at Gabrielle. “What is your decision?”
Gabrielle looked at each of them. “I accept my gifts and my legacy, and welcome the journey into the Circle Sisterhood.”
Grandma Priscilla’s face relaxed; she smiled as she walked over to the waterfall and muttered softly, “I invoke thee, orbis in! Orbis sicco!”
The bookcase slowly creaked closed.
Grandma Celeste smiled. “The vow has been made.” She waved her hand grandly at the book that was lying next to the waterfall. “You must now sign the book, which symbolizes your readiness to accept your gifts and the journey.”
They quickly walked over to the book, signing their names excitedly.
Grandma Priscilla walked to the center of the room to join Grandma Celeste and the three Circle Sisters. They all solemnly stepped back, looking warmly at Gabrielle, Rosalinda, Jessica, and Zora.
“Please come to the center of us, make a circle, and join hands,” Grandma Priscilla instructed. They walked to the middle of the room, got into a circle, and joined hands.
“I invoke thee, orbis, to seek the unknown,” Grandma Celeste said over the roar of the wind.
Frightened, the girls tightly shut their eyes as the winds picked up and blew harshly, whipping across their bodies.
“I invoke thee, orbis, to move through worlds for the good of mankind,” Grandma Priscilla shouted.
“I invoke thee, orbis, the light that always shines in the darkness,” Circle Sister Moonlight shouted.
“I invoke thee, orbis, the flame for all to see,” Circle Sister Fire Star said.
“I invoke thee, orbis, the growth that spreads for eternity,” Circle Sister Passion Flower shouted.
A bright gold light in the shape of a large circle shimmered with symbols that seemed to float around them. The circle danced and beckoned them.