My name is Aurelie Grimes, and I believe my mother is a nut job. My brother and I never leave the house, ever. Or at least that’s what Mom thinks. I go out all the time, and she doesn’t even notice. She’s so focused on my brother because he’s the ‘smart one,’ but I can use magic and have it for a long time. Mom thinks that everything my brother does is great but doesn’t even notice me sometimes, as you can tell, because of what I’ve been saying. Just because Eric is older doesn’t mean that I’m not ‘special.’ Dad’s never home, so Mom has free reign of the house and does whatever she wants.

The maid, Ellie, and her son, Marcus (about my brother’s age and Eric’s best friend), are cool, but they have permission to leave the house. I think Ellie is way cooler than Mom just because Mom is weird, especially since Ellie thinks Mom is weird. Marcus gets taught by Mom, too, and he thinks she’s great, even though I’m sure Eric feels otherwise.

When I get out, it seems surreal, mainly because people turn to look at me, and the kids want to play with me. I get sick every time I go out, and my mom is always mad about that because she has no clue how I got sick. She’s been telling me to lie down when I feel unwell. I always feel better after I lay down. Also, Eric and Marcus never get sick like I do well, not for long, because I always make them better. I usually give them some water that I messed with with my magic, and then they’re fine, which is probably why Mom cares more for Eric. Dad is rarely home because I showed him magic once, but he got scared and has stayed away from me since. I don’t hate Dad, and I miss him. Mom says that he’s a senator or something of the sort and that his job is really important to him. I honestly think he does nothing all day but says no because that’s what happens when he comes home; he keeps telling us ‘no.’ It’s weird not to see him every day like we used to, and Mom says he’s pretty stressed out. I do not know what that means, but I think I am ‘stressed out’ too. It’s hard to believe that I’m almost ten. I feel like something great is going to happen soon.

“Aurelie, are you writing again?” Eric asked, causing me to look up from what I was doing.

“Yes, Eric, “I said as I fumbled with my notebook and closed it, “Is there something you want to know?” Eric rolled his eyes.

“Why are you writing so much?” Eric asked, “Mom says that writing too much will rot your brain. You know she’s right.” I rolled my eyes.

“It’s creative,” I muttered. It’ll never rot my brain; in fact, it is helping my brain because it is helping me put my thoughts together. Also, Mom isn’t always right. Remember when she said that Ellie had no idea how to make a bed, and Ellie followed Mom’s directions to make a bed, and it wasn’t right?”

“That was one thing!” Eric said.

“Well, this is one thing too,” I said, “And I’m pretty sure she’s wrong about it because Ellie always writes every night.” I closed my notebook and grabbed it along with my pencil case.

“Oh god, Aurelie,” Eric muttered. You’re always ‘Ellie this’ or ‘Ellie that.’ Why can’t you just listen to Mom?”

“Because I have reason to believe that mom is crazy,” I said as a matter of fact, “Ellie is cool, and besides, tomorrow is grocery day; I want to ask her if she bought any fruit snacks.” I stood up and walked away because I had just remembered that fact. Sure enough, Ellie was on her computer and muttering to herself. “Hey, Ellie!” I shouted as I looked at her. Ellie looked frightened for a second and then turned to me.

            “What is it, Aurelie?” Ellie asked, “Are you asking if I’m buying fruit snacks for grocery day again?” I smiled. Ellie knows me very well.

“Of course, Ellie,” I said, “So, are you?” Ellie smiled.

“Of course, Aurelie,” Ellie said, “You ask for them every time. Also, I’m going to buy some applesauce and ice cream. What kind do you want?”

“Strawberry...” I said, “No, wait, raspberry... No... Regular applesauce should be fine. And for ice cream... You are getting Eric’s favorite, right?”

“Yes, Aurelie,” Ellie said, “I always get Eric’s favorite ice cream, chocolate, but I want to get whatever you want, sweetie.”

“I want cookies and cream!” I shouted, “It’s so yummy!” Ellie laughed.

“Okay, Sweetie,” Ellie said, “I’ll get you the cookies and cream this time then.” I smiled.

“Thank you, Ellie,” I said, “I love you!”

“I love you too, Aurelie,” Ellie laughed. Now, let me return to what I was doing, okay, Sweetie?”

“Okay, Ellie,” I said, “I’m returning to writing.”

“Okay, Sweetie,” Ellie said, “Let Marcus know that I want to see him, okay, Aurelie.” I started to leave but stopped.

“Did Marcus do something wrong?” I asked.

“No,” Ellie said, “Just let him know I want to see him.”

“Okay,” I said as I left the room running. “Marcus!” I shouted when I saw him, “Your mom wants you.” Marcus froze.

“Thanks for letting me know, Aurelie,” Marcus said as he left to see her. I continued to run around the house, having fun, until I saw Mom and Dad in the kitchen. I froze.

“You do know what this means, right, Mark?” Mom said as I watched them. Dad looked concerned for once.

“I do, Louise,” Dad said, “And I want a divorce.” I frowned; something was wrong. Dad had never said anything like that before.

“Eric and Aurelie, what would happen to them? How will they feel when their entire lives are ripped apart?” Mom said. I could feel tears welled up in my eyes. I don’t want my life ripped apart. I walked into the room crying. Mom and Dad looked at me in shock.

“What are you doing, Aurelie?” Dad asked, “Is something the matter?” Dad kneeled and wrapped his arms around me. I cried in his arms.

“I don’t... Uh... I don’t want to be ripped apart...” I cried, “What is divorce?” I could feel Mom glaring at me through my skull as I wept in Dad’s arms.

“It means that Mommy and Daddy won’t live together anymore. Not that he’s been here recently,” Mom said. It means that you and your brother have to choose who they want to be with.” I let go of Dad, rubbed my eyes to wipe the tears away, and glared at Mom.

“I want to go with Dad!” I shouted.

“Well, that isn’t very fair...” Mom mumbled.

“It goes to show how much she likes you...” Dad said.

“Rude much, Mark?” Mom said.

“Well, you were the one who hoped to get both the children, right, Louise?” Dad said, “But maybe the kids don’t like you as much as you think they do.”

“I’m going to talk to Eric...” Mom said as she turned and left. I looked at Dad.

“Are you going to leave?” I asked, “You know mom’s crazy, right?” Dad frowned as he looked at me.

“Yes, honey,” Dad said, “I am. I’m sorry that I haven’t been here much, Sweetie.”

“Are you sorry for only saying ‘no’ last time you were here?” I asked. Dad furrowed his eyebrows.

“What do you mean, Aurelie?” Dad asked, “When was that?”

“A few months ago,” I said, “It was a few days before Eric’s 13th birthday...” I watched Dad as he sank.

“Aurelie, that wasn’t me,” Dad said, “I don’t know who that was; I haven’t been here since your last birthday...”

“You didn’t come for Eric’s birthday?” I asked, “But he’s your son? Mom just can’t get enough of him.” Dad patted me on the head.

“I didn’t come because I have work,” Dad said. “She always has his birthday party in the middle of the day in the middle of the week, and it’s always when I’m most busy. She also spoils him to no end, but she doesn’t seem to care about you, and I always worry about you because of it. I love you, Aurelie. And I’m sorry if this makes your birthday tomorrow worse...”

“If that wasn’t you, then who was that?” I asked.

“I don’t know...” Dad said, “I don’t want to know.”

“Don’t worry, my birthday will be the same as always,” I said, “On top of that, it’s grocery day, so Ellie is buying me cookies and cream ice cream.”

“You’re only Ten once,” Dad said, “So please have a good birthday tomorrow. Okay, Aurelie?” I stood tall, clicked my heels, and saluted my Dad.

“Okay, Dad!” I shouted, “I will! I love you.” I then ran to my room with my notebook and pencil case. I put my notebook and pencil case on my desk and wiped my face with a tissue. I didn’t want Ellie to know I was crying, but one look at my face would show her that I cried (I know this because I looked in the mirror in my room).

I heard some noise in the hallway while trying to sleep during the night and looked to see what had happened. Ellie was glaring at Mom, speaking in a weird language that Mom only spoke when she didn’t want us kids to overhear, but Marcus always translated for me once it was over. I felt it wasn’t going well, which didn’t usually happen unless Mom was frustrated.

I scanned the hallway for Marcus, but he was on the other side of whatever was happening. Mom yelled strange language at Ellie and threw a lamp, causing Ellie to back up into the wall. Ellie looked frightened and grabbed a vase to keep between her and my mother. I lost all respect for my mother at this point. I glared at the woman who birthed me and pointed my hand at the vase, trying to get the water out and splash some sense into her. It worked, and my ‘mother,’ if I could even call her that at this point, fell to the ground in surprise. Everyone looked frazzled until they looked over at me and my outstretched hand. The wet lady shrieked in that weird language again, and Ellie put the vase down.

~

Suddenly, it was pitch black; I couldn’t see a thing. My head was messing with me, or at least that’s what I thought happened. Then, I saw a door. I knew it was a door because I could see it outlined in light. I reached for the handle, but it hit my hand to open. The other side of the door was full of light, and I felt like I was sucked in.

I fell onto my butt and looked around, it didn’t feel much different than my home, but it didn’t look the same. In front of me were two people, a man and a woman, bowing at me. I frowned.

“Who are you?” I asked as I stood up. The couple looked up in surprise and smiled.

“Are you our daughter?” the woman asked. I noticed that the man looked very similar to my Dad.

“What are your names?” I asked, figuring that was the question to ask.

“My name is Meredith Grimes,” the woman said, pointing to the man, “This is my husband, Charles Grimes. What is your name?” I looked around, trying to take in the information. Why did they have the same last name as me?

“Aurelie Tallulah Grimes...” I said after some time.

“You kept your name!” Meredith said.

“Would you like to become our daughter?” Charles said in a voice similar to my Dad’s.

“What exactly does that entail?” I asked.

“An oath and a fortune read,” Charles said, “The oath has to be performed by the head of the family and will be done with several other children. The fortune is to be done first and will show us where you will be in the future and where we shall put you in our ranks.”

“The ranks are from 0 to 12, with 12 being the highest and never happens. If you are ranked 0, you are not allowed into the family, even if you are our flesh and blood.”

“How can someone get a rank 0?” I asked.

“It is said that only murderers get a rank 0,” Meredith said, “But they are few and far between. None of the Grimes family has ever been ranked 0.”

“Okay,” I said, “When do I get my fortune read?” I heard a door creak open behind me; I turned around and saw a hooded figure walk into the room. They looked at me, and all I could see was a terrifyingly big smile, just the teeth under the hood. I quickly turned around, and the figure went and sat at the table that I hadn’t noticed in front of me. I didn’t even notice that Meredith and Charles had moved away. It was all so surreal.

“Pick ten cards.” the hooded figure said as he fanned out a deck of cards on the table. I carefully reviewed the cards and selected nine before choosing the last card in the deck as my tenth. The hooded figure took the cards and looked at them. They ‘hmm’ ed and ‘ha’ ed a few times before putting them down before me. I didn’t recognize any cards because they weren’t like Dad’s deck of cards that I played solitaire with.

“Your first card is the ‘Deep Woods,’ meaning there is much depth to you.” the hooded person said, “Your second card is the ‘Tigress claw,’ meaning that you wish to fight your problems. The third, ‘Mermaid’s Song,’ means you can move mountains with your voice. The fourth, ‘Devil’s Eye,’ meaning you are being watched, may be hunted. The fifth, ‘Serpents Air,’ means you sense movement before it is made. The sixth, ‘Angels Harp,’ means you care about others more than yourself. The seventh, ‘Twins pair,’ which is a bit strange, though it usually means you can sense what your twin is thinking; seeing as we know that you aren’t a twin, it might mean something different; it might mean that you are more in tune with the world. The eighth one, the ‘Tortoise Shell,’ means you can take others’ problems and solve them quickly. The ninth, ‘Healing Water,’ which is very rare, even within your own family, means that you are a natural-born healer and would do anything to help those around you. And finally, the tenth, the ‘Kings Thorne,’ which means you are destined for greatness, which is the rarest card of all.”

“What does it all mean?” I asked, “What is my rank?” The hooded figure shook his head and shuffled the cards again.

“That can’t be right...” the hooded figure said, “Pick again, child.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth. I calmed myself and picked up the cards again. I heard an audible gasp when the hooded figure looked at the cards again. “No, no, no, no, no way.” the hooded figure said, “It can’t be true...”

“What can’t be true?” I asked, almost yelling.

“You’re a... Rank 12...” the hooded figure murmured.

“I’m a what?” I yelled.

“A rank 12!” a man yelled behind me, “That isn’t even possible.”

“She has the ‘Kings Throne.’ She has to be a rank ten or higher!” Charles shouted, “But a rank 12? That’s impossible! The Queen of Adajowi herself is only ranked 11!”