I pull my tangle of curls into two quick braids and push the rest of the fly aways out of my face. Perfect, I think, looking at myself in the mirror. Evelyn would hate it if she were to see it. I smile and turn around, moving across the room to dig through my wardrobe and chest for clothes to wear. I find some pants and a top that allows for easy maneuvering and throw them on. I hear a soft knock on my door and run over to it, pulling it open quietly.

Elijah stood at the door. Second prince of the Elite Race, the vampires. He is my only friend in this castle, really my only friend in my life. While his brother might be the meanest person ever and his father and mother just as mean in a pretend to like me kind of way, Elijah was nice. If he didn’t look almost exactly like his mother, I wouldn’t think he was related to them.

“Are you ready?” Elijah whispers so soft I can barely hear him.

I nod with a smile. I’m absolutely ready. He grabs my hand and we run down the stone hallways. His parents and brother are gone. They leave frequently, leaving us in the castle by ourselves and the few servants they had. We always make an adventure out of it and tonight, we were going to explore the catacombs.

I look up at the stars before Elijah pulls me down into the dark of the catacombs. We’re surrounds by cold stone and darkness that is penetrated only by large stone braziers that hang from the ceiling. I smile and look around.

“Scared?” Elijah asks me.

“Not at all.” I scoff, rolling my eyes.

He chuckles quietly and we make our way out of the chamber that contained the stairway and down the main corridor. Altars line the walls in little cubbies with tapestries hanging behind them. I stop in front of one with a woman on it, pulling back a bow.

“What are these?” I ask Elijah.

“The tapestries of the four main supernaturals; Vampires, Witches, Weres, and Fairy. That tapestry there is the witches’. They used to be the hunters of the vampires and weres, still are in a way.” He says.

“Oh.” I whisper, staring at the witches tapestry. I look down the hallway and then back at Elijah. “Come on, let’s keep going.”

We begin to walk again, passing the altars and coming up to a dead end. I stop at a wall and look at it. Something pulls me to it, begging me to run my fingers along it. I press my palm against the cool stone, feeling the dirt and dust of centuries beneath my fingers. Whispers sound in my head, telling me to push, to will the wall to move, that untold secrets wait if I just will the wall to open. I close my eyes and will it with all my heart. I hear stone grating against stone. When it stops I open my eyes.

“Gwen…how did you do that?” Elijah asks.

“I don’t know. I just wanted it to happen and it did.” I tell him, looking back. “Let’s see where it leads.”

He smiles at me and we walk down the hall. I can still hear the voices, leading me further through the catacombs. I take turn after turn, Elijah by my side.

“Do you hear anything?” I ask him, curious if he can hear the whispers too. If I can hear them he should definitely be able to.

“No, it’s quiet except for our footsteps and your heartbeat.” He says.

I bite my lip as we reach another dead end. So he couldn’t hear the voices, only I could. The whisper were filling my head, drawing my hand against the stone again. Will it, will it and you can do anything. They whispered. I feel the cool stone against my hand like last time, feel the age old grime, and hear the stone grind against stone.

“No way…” I hear Elijah whisper.

I open my eyes and gasp. Before us is a room cluttered with junk. I step in and look to the left, my eyes falling on an old shelf, a dusty old tome, and a cauldron.

“I’ve heard of these but I had no idea we had one.” Elijah says.

“What is it?” I ask him. The voices were loud now, and they seemed to coming from the tome.

“It’s an alchemy station. Anyone can use it, but witches are supposed to be able to use it the best.” He tells me.

“Wow…” I breathe, walking towards it.

Something catches my eye and I look to the right of the alchemy station. An ivory stick lies on a pillow atop a small table. I walk over to it and reach for it.

“Gwen, stop.” Elijah says, stepping towards me, his head cocked to the side.

I pull my hand back and look at him. “What?”

“They’re back. We have to leave.” He takes my hand and begins to pull me away.

The stone walls close back behind us, sealing their secrets until the next time I can unlock them. The whispers abate and I let Elijah pull me back towards the stairwell, the whispered words, the alchemy station, the wand all running through my thoughts. I will come back, and I will teach myself how to access my powers.

AN: Guys! On this day I have had this blog for one whole year!! Holy cow!!! It’s crazy to think of that. Thanks so much for all your support!! I love you guys!!!! 🙂