SS-BI:PI:Chapter One

Chapter One: Violet's World
June 13 -5:30pm


I loved working at home. I loved how I could get all my homework done just through books and research. Being a bookworm definitely has its upsides. Downsides? Only one: Losing track of time.
"Violet, are you ready?"
"Um . . . ready for what?"
My mother, Yvonne La Croix, gave me a glare that could kill. I called it the "you-were-supposed-to-be-prepared-for-something-and-you-don't-even-look-ready" glare.
"Darling, how can you forget about one of your biggest nights? Remember? Your violin recital at the Assembly of Lyght? You're the lead?"
"Oh! I'm sorry! I was reading this biography of Shinichi Suzuki who is one of the greatest violin teachers-"
"Tell me later! Get ready!" She slammed the door and scurried away with the loud sound of her heels clicking against the marble floor following her. I couldn't help but sigh as I traced the pages of my book with my fingers. I don't know why I was so drawn to the biographies of certain people. There are some people I can't help but admire or relate to, though most of those people were physically distant…or dead. Sure I wasn't always willing to socialize with people in the present, but those in the past I could-
"Violet Victoria La Cr-"
"Okay! I'll be ready in ten minutes!"
The people of the present have always disrupted my thoughts and force me into their time. I'm always lost in the past or daydreaming about the future. I have no shame in daydreaming, not even while I brushed my violet hair that cascades upon my shoulders blades while the long, curved bangs rested on the side of my face, or while I smoothed the vanilla scented, pudding-like lotion upon my caramel skin, or while I drew a curve of ebony powder that hovered over my hazel eyes; eyes that would occasionally change color if I dreamt for too long…
Once I slipped on my simple black dress that allowed me to walk freely with my long strides, I walked outside with my mother, but had to stop and look at our gorgeous home. Many people called it a mansion, but it looked more like a castle. I called it The Castle of Gifts. My family, consisting of my mother and my younger brother, Malachi, were all given these special gifts. My gifts were connected to music and I knew what power it held. I just didn't know what it was meant for. What purpose did it have for my future?
~ * ~ * ~

6:15pm
"Oh my! Such a large number of people! Just as I've always dreamed!" spoke the conductor who was also one of my weirder violin teachers, A giddy old man, by the name of Enrique François, turned to me and asked, "Precious Violet, are you all warmed up and ready to go?"
I couldn't help but smile, "Kind sir, I am always ready to play one of our ingenious collaborations!"
I curtseyed to him and he laughed in glee. We both enjoyed feeding off each other's weirdness.
"Ha ha! You'll look so beautiful with the light gleaming on your long, violet hair and your hazel eyes possess the undying flame of your confidence!" He kissed my forehead and then skidded playfully to the place the conductor should've been instead of fooling around with one of his students.
As I awaited for the performance to start, I held my violin like it was an infant. "Are you ready Arianne?" I whispered to my instrument of black wood and golden strings.
"Now presenting: Violet La Croix!"
I smirked a cocky smirk as I marched across the stage. I heard the crowd roar after the first couple steps. I stood at the center of the platform and spoke,"This song is titled, The Strength of Anastasia. Composed by myself and my conductor Enrique François."
The crowd applauded again. They knew this song was mine, but they are ignorant of the inspiration.
While I lifted Arianne to my neck and the bow rested on her golden strings, the audience was wrapped in silence. Gently, I played the notes con grazia . The tune was melancholy. The tempo made you feel like you were waltzing and crying at the same time; Pianissimo.
Then, a burst of strength and fire roars from your soul! Forte! Then, you would feel adventure and rebellion inside of you as the tempo quickens! Forttissimo! Maestoso! The orchestra increased the power of my flowing tune. I was determined to make every heartbeat in the room synchronize with the waltz like tempo.
I looked around to see how the audience responded, though I was searching for one person in particular.
Her absence made me feel like I wasn't playing well enough. So, I lost all consciousness of the audience, the conductor, and the orchestra and played the softer part of the song as if Arianne was telling me a story. Espressivo. I listened so very closely until she roared again! Maestoso! At this point, I almost felt like crying; there was fear and panic at this part. I had to open my eyes again.
There she was! The girl I've been waiting for! Warmth flowed through me as I saw that adorable redheaded girl with gorgeous blue eyes locked upon me. I was truly inspired now. Arianne finished the story with high notes that represented sadness being transformed into hope. The end of the melody would fill your soul with joy after experiencing the intensity of the musical tragedy. …Fin.
I lifted the bow gracefully off of Arianne. The crowd roared, but honestly, I didn't care. The only reason why I smiled that night was because my good friend was smiling back as she applauded. My friend's name was the Grand Duchess, Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov.
~ * ~ * ~
8:50pm
"That was absolutely wonderful!" Anastasia cheered in the Russian tongue. I was able to thank her since I was fluent in Russian and a couple of other languages.
"Did you really write that song for me?" Anastasia asked.
"I sure did!"
"But why? I haven't done anything for you."
I smiled at her and then looked lovingly at Arianne, "Your life story was very interesting to me, but your personality appealed to me the most. Although a storm was heading in your direction, you came off as an optimist that would persevere, no matter what happened. You're a fighter and you're adventurous, like me!"
She giggled quietly, "Well I do agree. I was pretty fiery back then!" We both laughed as we lay side by side on my satin bed.
"Do you think the song fits you?"
Anastasia nodded, "Good enough. Spasiba!"
I nodded to her thanks. Suddenly, we both felt a chill flow into my bedroom.
"Ah." Anastasia whispered sadly, "It seems I must be going now." The princess lifted off of my bed. A gray-blue energy surrounded her, which made her levitate above me. Once again, death was capturing a good friend.
"Summon me when you make another song Violet! I would love to watch and maybe even help!"
I nodded and smiled as I watched her dissipate into the air. Now, I was alone, but I was never lonely. I could summon friends whenever I wanted to. That was one of the many abilities my musical gift possessed. Contacting the Spiritual Realm.


~ * ~ * ~

June 14 -9:00am
"I think we did pretty well last night!" A female with darker skin than I, like dark chocolate, contrasted with her long blonde hair, gave a coy smile as she spoke to me, "Anastasia seemed very pleased!"
I nodded in agreement, but tuned her out. I was reading about the violinist Niccoló Paganini. The woman sighed in frustration and snatched the book away from me.
"Hey!" I yelled at her.
"Hey yourself!" The female retorted as she flew in the air and placed my book on the highest level of a nearby bookshelf. "Don't you know it's rude to ignore people when they're talking to you? Honestly! All you ever do is read and that's not a bad thing, but you really should explore the world through your own eyes instead of the eyes of others! You may see more than you could ever get out of these dusty things!"
"I think you're more worried about getting attention than me discovering the world, Arianne."
When Arianne wasn't telling a story with her strings, she would transform into a human like creature and talk my ear off. Arianne is not just an instrument, she is a spiritual being known as The Guardian of Passion. Arianne is one of my four guardians. Her human like form displayed a long, slender body decorated in black and gold attire: A long sleeved, silk dress with lines of golden notes trailing down to the bottom of the dress that revealed a design of f-holes surrounded by an intricate pattern. Her Gothic Lolita dress floated above 1900s golden boots with black buttons and black tips.
She helped me unleash the full potential of many of my abilities and exert them with confidence. She inspired me to do anything I put my mind to, like singing, dancing, learning martial arts, and, obviously, be a musician. She also helped me understand my ability that allows me to see other spiritual beings and the colors of people's souls. Without her, I wouldn't have understood how my musical gift opened the door the spirituality.
"For your information, they aren't dusty things!" I growled at her, "I can explore the world easily through literature."
"Oh poo." Arianne spoke in her saddened British accent, "There's so much more to the world than just descriptive words. Some events can't be explained in human words."
Suddenly her attention was off of me and toward my grand piano. Arianne skipped over to him.
"Arianne." I spoke stern tone.
"What?"
"Leave him alone. You know he doesn't like being smothered."
"Smothered? Whatever do you mean?"
I stood with my hands on my hips, "You're pushy."
Arianne gasped as if being called "pushy" was news to her. She playfully tapped the keys of the piano, but spoke angrily, "I am not pushy! Take it back!"
Wolfe played a tune that obviously rejected that request. I couldn't help but laugh.
"What did he say?" Arianne asked.
"He said, 'You're kidding right?'" I translated.
Arianne rolled her eyes. "How in the world do you understand him when he communicates that way? No one else can understand him."
"Well," I spoke as I tried to reach for my book that was inconveniently placed on the highest shelf of my bookcase.
"You don't understand him because you're too obsessed with listening to yourself-" I gasped when I was suddenly lifted up to the top of the bookshelf.
"And because of that," said a slender young man below me, "you never hear what anyone else is saying."
"Hello Wolfe." I smiled as he set me down. I observed his sleek, black tuxedo, his serious demeanor, his smooth black hair, which was accompanied with white streaks. A red ribbon held his hair and never allowed a strand to move out of place. His fair skin seemed translucent.
Wolfe is my grand piano. He was the very first instrument I played and the first guardian I met. He is The Guardian of Time. He helped me with my gift to see the future and the past, depending on what song I'm playing. I've always treasured what he taught me. He's like a protective older brother that accepted me for who I am and did his best to help me accept who I am.
"Good morning, Ms. Violet." He responded. His voice was deep, but very gentle.
"Hey Wolfy!" exclaimed Arianne, "Do me a favor so I can forgive you for teasing me earlier!"
Wolfe rolled his eyes and retorted, "You've run out of favors from me Arianne. I will not be engaged in another one of your practical jokes."
"Ha! You hold patience as one of your most valued virtues, but your tolerance seems thin with me."
"Why does that surprise you?"
"Okay guys," I interrupted, "Who did you want to play a joke on anyway?"
"Well Kaye, of course. No matter. I don't need you Wolfe. I'll think of something on my own!" Arianne flew through the wall to search for Kaye.
"She knows I never want to be involved," Wolfe looked at me, "Why does she keep asking me?"
I shrugged as I walked out of my bedroom with my piano behind me.
"Hey, have you seen Joseph?" I asked.
"I don't believe I have, Ms. Violet."

~ * ~ * ~
3:00pm
"You're an idiot if you think I'm gonna spend another four hours beating you at this competition! You're boring me now!"
That was Kaye who was always yelling at Arianne in an extremely blunt matter. She was The Guardian of Discernment. Her hair consisted of layers of blue, purple, and magenta, which complimented her dark blue eyes. Under her black leather jacket was her a shirt that had the colors black and white fighting for dominance, but standing out in a violet color was "Phil 4:13". Her slender black pants stained in purple paint covered her tattered black boots. As she shunned Arianne away, Kaye wore hand guards that looked like leather gloves, but were fastened with purple ribbons. She was a very bizarre and honest being, but I admired her for her strength in individuality.
She helped me with my ability to judge one's personality by the color of their souls and the color of their hearts. She also taught me how to truly understand someone's personality based on the energy that is around them. These same teachings helped me become a great fighter.
"Oh! You're the one who's boring! You're usually more competitive than this!" Arianne complained as she held onto Kaye's arm tightly.
"What part of 'I don't feel like it' do you not understand?! I wasn't placed here to entertain you! Get it in your head!"
"Enough, you children." Wolfe said as I stood behind him, "Maybe a search party will stop you from mindlessly yelling at one another. It seems we've lost Joseph again."
Kaye let out a frustrated sigh and leaned against the wall, "Last I saw him he was outside watching a flower bloom. I was trying to sneak by him so I didn't have to hear his rambling, but he caught me and asked me to sit with him."
"Watching a flower bloom? Talk about boring." Arianne snorted as she looked out the window, "I don't see him in the north courtyard. Maybe he's in the south."
"Then we can start there." Wolfe ushered all of us outside. It was a beautiful day. Clouds glided across the sky, a warm breeze brushed against our faces, and the trees whispered when the same breeze flew between their leaves.
"Oh, there he is. Ha! It looks like he slept on the flower though!" Kaye disrupted the peace by pointing out a young man sleeping in soft grass and crumpled petals. It was my beautiful cello, Joseph.
"Aw, he looks so peaceful." Arianne cooed, "Don't mention the flower. It would just break his heart."
"Yeah," Kaye agreed, "I wouldn't do that. That guy is more fragile than glass. It's such a pain when his happiness is shattered."
I sat behind Joseph and stroked his soft, reddish-brown hair. He was The Guardian of Wisdom. He wore a red, long-sleeved, button-down shirt that displayed an extended length of his shirt only on the left side. He also had red shorts that brushed his knees and wore shiny black boots.
He taught me to appreciate so many things that many take for granted. He also helped me understand how I can obtain knowledge about not just people, but of the whole world when I use my gifts correctly. His words of wisdom have saved me from getting into trouble.
Joseph shuffled in the grass and then opened his big, brown eyes slowly, like a child awaking from a nap. He rolled over to his back and looked at me. "Oh…Violet. The fire in your eyes can be seen more clearly when you look to the sun."
I smiled at him and helped him sit up.
"We're you watching a flower before?" I said.
"Hm?" Joseph thought for a while, then answered, "Yes…yes I was watching a dandelion."
"You slept on it."
"Violet!" Arianne yelled, "Why did you tell him that?!"
"There's no point in hiding anything from him. Nothing gets past him."
I noticed that Joseph was looking at flower. His eyes started to collect tears.
"Oh! See what you did!" Arianne ran to Joseph and cuddled him, "There, there little Joseph. There are many other flowers out there."
Suddenly Joseph smiled, picked up the smothered flower, and put it in my hand. "I have learned something new from this experience Violet. Would you like to hear?"
I nodded. I was always excited to hear what he had to say.
"I spent fifteen hours watching this flower live its life. I missed fifteen hours of my own life. There is a reason why I am here and it is not to watch the life of the flower that I like. I am here…" Joseph paused. He took the flower from my hand and put it in my hair. He smiled and continued, "I am here to watch a different flower bloom because I am charged to watch over that flower. I am charged to care for that flower. I'm sorry, Violet. I spent too much time being selfish." He stood up and crossed his arms. Now he was frowning. "Responsibility. I know better."
"Don't scold yourself, Joseph. I know you like to be outside and you don't have to worry. I was fine."
"No, no. You have been wondering why we are here and I neglected my duty." He looked at the dandelion in my hair. "My selfishness could've left you crushed. We need to be more responsible."
"That's true." Wolfe agreed. "Come. Let's all go inside. Violet has homework to finish."
We followed Wolfe into the castle. I was deep in thought after Joseph's words. How did he know I was wondering why they were here or where they came from?

~ * ~ * ~
June 16 – 4:30am
My insomnia caused me to shuffle around in my bed. After an hour, I concluded that there wasn't a point in forcing myself to sleep. I left my room and started to walk down the hallway. I walked clumsily while searching for the kitchen, but I stopped when I noticed a golden light emitting from one of the guest bedrooms. The door was locked so I couldn't take a peek inside. I rested my ear on the door and heard a deep voice speaking in a different language. I heard more familiar voices respond to the deep voice. My guardians were speaking to the voice I couldn't identify. Suddenly, the light faded away.
"So it seems," said Joseph, "It's time to be more assertive with our instructions."
"Yes." Wolfe responded, "We have to be more strict with our posts than more strict with her."
"I feel terrible," Arianne whimpered, "I shouldn't have let her summon Anastasia, but she was so happy."
"It was a bad idea in the first place…" Kaye retorted, "Only He has the power to allow souls to cross between the physical and spiritual worlds."
"Yes, yes, I know Kaye." Arianne was trying to sound strong, but I could tell that the guilt was burdening her.
"There's no need to worry for her, Arianne." Said Joseph, "Her destiny will be revealed in time. We must watch the Jackyls. They're not going to hold back."
"When do they ever hold back?" Kaye scoffed, "I'm not afraid of them, but Violet doesn't know how to stop them and to make matters worse, we've been ordered to only be on the defensive."
"Stop worrying." Wolfe spoke, "If we obey our orders, Violet will be taken care of. She needs to make decisions for herself. We were put here to protect her gifts, not repress her will. I know she's only fourteen, but she's growing up. Let's all promise not to disobey. Remember, our selfishness could crush her. Are we all in agreement?"
"Yes." Answered the rest of them.
Since their conversation was obviously coming to an end, I walked back to my room swiftly, but quietly. I jumped into my bed and threw the sheets over my head.
         Who were they talking to? Are those evil jackyls coming for me? And most importantly, how come they know more about my destiny than I do?
I was angry and confused. Then, I was sleepy…