Page 1 of In Between Darkness
Chapter One
I can’t believe this day is finally here. I step out of my father’s car onto the dusty gravel, sliding my suitcase clumsily off the car seat and thumping it down on the ground beside me. I can’t believe I could only bring one bag for the entire year. I stare in awe at what’s before me: Sun Sovereign Castle. It is even bigger in real life. And more beautiful, yet eerie at the same time. To think some of the greatest enchanters learnt everything they know at this school. And now I am here.
As I stand taking it all in, a warm gust of wind blows at my back, making my auburn curls dance in between the shadows of the castle and the rays of the sun. The air smells sweet, probably from the endless blossoms in the valleys surrounding the castle. The chatter increases around me as more students arrive. I wonder what Gift each student will possess. I come from a long line of Sun enchanters. My father is a light worker. He tells me I am likely to be one too. I wouldn’t mind this.
Sun enchanters can harness the powers of the Sun Gods. Some given the Gift can manipulate light (like my father), some can heal, and some can Influence. Others possess the power of immortality and can restore from death. But that is extremely rare. I wonder what I will have. It is written in the scribes that on the night of your eighteenth birthday, the God of your enchantment will visit you in dream form to gift you your power. Everyone in the first year turns eighteen in the first term.
“It’s so bright,” I comment, using my hand to shield my eyes from the sun so I can see my father’s face more clearly. He looks proud of me; we have always spoken about this moment. I just wish my mum were here to see it.
“You alright with that?” my father asks, gesturing to my worn red suitcase.
“I’m gonna have to be… You know I have to carry this up to my room by myself,” I reply.
“Yes, yes, no parents beyond the cherry trees. I remember it well.” His eyes travel up and down the length of the castle. “These were the best years of my life!” He smiles, and then his face drops slightly. “That was hers, you know…that suitcase.” He gestures to her pink love-heart key chain, which still clips proudly to the zip of the bag, and wipes a stubborn tear from his eye. “She’d be so proud of you, Asha, you look just like her, you know.”
It’s true; we’re the spitting image of each other from what I’ve seen in photo albums and memorabilia, apart from our eyes.
It’s hard not to feel guilty. I’m the reason she’s dead.
I put my suitcase down and pull my father into a hug. I’m going to miss him so much.
DING, DING
The first set of bells echo around the castle walls, making my father’s hug short-lived.
“Is it time already?” I ask.
“You’d better get going, Flick. Don’t want to be late on your first day.” He kisses me on the cheek and gets back into his car.
I smirk at the nickname I’ve had since I can remember. Because I have one blue eye and one brown eye, and my father swears they flicker and change in the light. He says I’m going to be a heart breaker, but I’m not so sure. My cheeks and bridge of my nose are lightly dusted with freckles, and my lips are full and rosy, but my eyes are definitely the most interesting thing aboutme. No one knows why my eyes are like this. I am yet to meet someone else with eyes as unique as mine.
Tears threaten to well in my eyes, but I blink them away and get moving. It’s all becoming real now. I smile at his retreating car, as the tyres crunch on the gravel and the familiar rumble of the engine gets further away, and savour this moment. I can’t believe I won’t see him again until next year.
Here I go. The aroma of cherries enriches my nostrils as I proceed onto the first step of this great castle. The walls are daunting; all grey and scarred with the remnants of the past. It’s over nine hundred years old and must be at least a hundred feet tall. Legend says it took over a thousand enchanters to build it. Each guided by the hands of their Gods.
Staring down at me, on each of the four pillars that tower in front of the castle walls, are the faces of all the Sun Gods. Heira, the God of Light, is characterised by her beauty and the halo of light that hovers whimsically above her head. Shirin, the God of Healing, wears white robes and has a pure white dove perched on his shoulder. Poten, the God of Life, bears a crown of rose vines. And Leia, the God of Influence, carries ‘The Staff of Influence’; a long, handheld pole that cradles a blue glowing orb of light.
The podiums loom with high purpose, guarding the entrance to the castle. I walk through slowly, embracing all that is around me. Wow, this must be the first quarter, the welcome hall of the castle. I hear my fellow students chatting and looking up in amazement. I quickly follow suit and gaze upwards, too.
“Woah,” I whisper. A dome made entirely of crystal-clear glass makes up the ceiling. Gold frames separate each large panel of glass, creating hexagon-like structures. Hanging in the centre is the grandest chandelier I have ever seen. Hundreds of crystal prisms hang from its frame, generating thousands of tiny rainbows that shoot across the room.
I look around at my fellow first years. There must be at least three hundred of us. We all gather at the far end of the room. This must be where the Enchantment Scroll is. I will find my room and roommate on this.
“Everyone face forward!” a shrewd voice bellows.
The chatter dies down, and the room is stunned into silence. I can’t help but hang on her every word. She must be a powerful Influencer. A short, plump woman is standing at the front of the room. Her ginger hair is tied up at the top of her head in a messy bun with a few amber waves escaping it.
“I am Miss Worthington, Head of Sun Sovereign and your tour guide for your first day here.” She rubs her hands together and scans the crowd briefly. “But before that, please form an orderly line and the Enchantment Scroll will show you your room arrangements.” She picks up a black and gold quilled pen and speaks. “The quill requires a drop of blood to determine your situation. Once pricked by each of your fingers, the scroll shall write your name and room number. If anyone has any trouble, I am here to help.”
I have never seen an Enchantment Scroll this close. I watch as the pen floats over the parchment paper and jots down the first name,Toby Pierce - Lux Hall, Room Seventeen. Toby looks eager. The type of kid to have all of his books labelled and in alphabetical and numerical order. Probably going to be top of his class and a teacher’s pet. He barely stomached the quill. We’ll see how he gets on in combat.
Next name isCaira Maldova - Aurora Hall, Room One. She looks like the beauty queen of the group. Blonde hair, almost platinum, hauled up in a high ponytail. She must be related to the infamous Maldova family, who are the healers to the Royal Hierarchy of Enchanters, or RHE for short. They run everything in Palidonia. The bloodlines go back to the first ever enchanters gifted by the Gods. I bet Caira will follow in their footsteps andbecome a healer as well. Although we don’t get to choose what we become. The Gods do that for us.
At least we all know that we are Sunkind in this room. That was decided at birth. Being born in the day under the presence of the Sun Gods sealed that fate for us. Those born at night are under the Moon Gods’ veil, but that is not important right now.
“I feel sick,” an insecure voice mutters next to me. I turn to face her. She has tan skin, piercing green almond eyes, and her black hair is straight, falling just beneath her shoulders. She is very beautiful.
“Not a fan of needles I see,” I smirk as the line moves forward a few steps. She extends her arm out and introduces herself to me.
