The Forgotten Magic

After Matthew died in the war, from Kane to Kavanagh, Julie and Jody changed their surnames back. Truth be told, Julie only married Matthew because of his immense fortune. Amanda thought this was wrong, but they were the only family she had left. So she stuck with them. Julie and Jody were wretched people. They made Amanda’s life miserable and made her do everything in the house and totally took advantage of her kindness. But, with Amanda’s good heart, she didn’t complain. Rather, she did the best she can in everything they told her to do. She had a Cinderella life.

She made sure all the pots and plates were washed, all the tiles scrubbed, the mirrors and windows wiped, the floor swept and mopped, the food good and healthy, the dresses sown and mended, the ceiling and corners dusted, the leaves raked, the animals fed and bathed, the pillows fluffed, the sheets folded, the dressers and cabinets tidy, the tables clear, the fence painted, the pavements shiny, and the walls were lively. Basically, she made sure her step-family was happy and the house could be called her home.

Julie, since Matthew died, was left with all of his money. She spent it on dresses, make-up, shoes, accessories, and anything that could be bought and was to her liking. Jody did the same. But Amanda didn’t get anything. Her supposed to be share was used as payment for their bills, taxes, and food. She knew it was unfair. But she kept her mouth shut.

This went on and on for a few years until one day, they ran out of money. They couldn’t afford anything and had to sell their valuables to pay for taxes. When they ran out of things to sell, taking with them their furniture, they left their majestic house and lived in a cottage near the woods.

Amanda’s duties were not changed though. And still she has to be their maid when really she should be treated like a daughter. Like always, Amanda remained silent and obedient. She diligently got things under control and, much to her delight, Julie gave her a few dollars for her to buy anything she liked. She decided to save the money for her future.

One day, Julie asked Amanda to fetch water from a nearby well. Amanda got up, grabbed a bucket, and walked to the well. She scanned the view. There was no sign of living near the well. Certainly, like she expected, there were no other houses to live in. She got the water and walked back home.

Every day of her life she did most of the things needed and fetched water. Everything was a cycle and Amanda wished for things to change. She could not do anything for this was the life she was supposed to live, like what Julie told her.

At 19, Amanda turned even lovelier and pleasant. Jody was jealous of this fact and Julie hated Amanda for this. Amanda? Prettier than my daughter? she thought. Unacceptable. How long will it take for her to wilt like a flower so that I can crush her under my simpleton boots?

“Amanda, dear child,” her stepmother crooned. “Could you go fetch water again? I’m parched.” Amanda nodded, which annoyed Julie even more, and got out of the house, humming as she went. When she was completely out of ear shot, Jody faced Julie. “Mom, please tell me you’ll get rid of her. She’s horrible! She’s so much better than me and I hate her for that. I want to be the best. I want to be the perfect one.”

“Jody, hush.” she said sternly. “We couldn’t get rid of her with reasons like that.” She thought some more, shushing Jody every time she started to whine. An idea clicked in her head and she looked at Jody with a devilish smile. “It wouldn’t technically be our fault if it was an accident, right?” Jody, after taking a few moments to understand, got wide-eyed and smiled at her mother for whatever evil “accident” was in stored for Amanda.

Meanwhile, Amanda was taking her time because the sun and plants seemed prettier and more exquisite. The sky looked so clear and its color was turning to an ombre of pink, blue, and purple as the setting sun was close to hiding. The clouds, clearly white and cool, could’ve been low enough to be touched. The wind whistled a song as it raised pass everything there is. The birds chirped and gazelles pranced around a batch of dancing frogs. Butterflies and fireflies lit the darkening sky and played around.

Amanda couldn’t let herself be enchanted for a long time. She focused on the task at hand and reached the well. She tied the bucket to the well’s pulley system and, sure enough, pulled. When she got her bucket back, a hand grasped her wrist, startling her, which made the bucket fall and the water spill. “Oh darn it,” the old woman at her side sounded really crestfallen. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” Amanda could only look at her in shock. Where could this woman be from? “Anyway, could I drink some of the water that is in that well?” the old woman asked.

“Oh, um, of course.” Amanda answered. “I’ll help you.” And so she picked up her bucket, attached it to the pulley system again, and pulled. While working, Amanda tried to contain her curiosity at bay. The mysterious old lady was so out of the blue that she couldn’t help herself but ask the woman “Who are you and where are you from?” realizing that she might have been rude, she added “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.” The old woman chuckled, clearly amused.

“I’m Makayla Caro. I’m from…” Makayla faltered, thinking. “Oh! I’m from Manhattan.” That only confused Amanda more.

“Yeah but,” she questioned. “How’d you even get here? In the woods?”

“Woods? Don’t be silly, darling. This is a forest! This is Golden Hill State Forest, for crying out loud!” she chuckled once more. Amanda was about to ask her again but Makayla beat her to it. “Are you done with that? ‘Cause I really am dehydrated.” Makayla sat on a rock, waiting.

Amanda hadn’t noticed she’d stop pulling. She pulled some more until the bucket was back to her again. She handed it to Makayla. “About how you got here…”

Makayla looked up at her from the bucket, which she was drinking with hanker, and hugged the bucket to respond “Oh that? I was taking a little stroll and took a few wrong turns and all. Don’t worry, I can find my way back.”

Amanda watched Makayla finish the bucket. Makayla stood up and Amanda got out of her way. “Well,” Makayla said, smacking her lips as if water had a marvelous taste she couldn’t get enough of. “I must be going then.”

“Huh? But, it’s late and you might get robbed along the road or something,” Amanda warned. “If you’d like, I offer our house for you to stay in for the night.”

Makayla beamed, showing all her pearly whites. From that smile, her teeth seemed to glow, turning brighter and brighter until Amanda had to drop and cover her eyes. Amanda didn’t know what was happening but she hoped Makayla was alright. That old lady was very nice to have around and talk to and Amanda would hate it if she killed her with, probably, infected water.

The blinding light disappeared as quickly as it started. It took a few moments before she was able to blink away the dancing spots in her eyes. Searching for Makayla, Amanda saw a woman who looked so great and powerful. She stood at the spot where Makayla was right before the light.

“Who are you?” Amanda asked, astonished. She could only guess but that thought was so impossible.

The woman tittered (yes, that’s a real word, by the way, look it up). “Don’t you recognize someone you have just, not an hour ago, offered your hospitality to?

“Makayla?” Amanda’s voice drooped with bewildered recognition.

“Yes, Amanda.” Amanda was pretty sure she hadn’t mentioned her name to Makayla but she decided to let it be.

“How is this even possible? What <i>are</i> you?” she really wanted to know.

“I’m a mythical creature who’s not so mythical anymore. I’m a fairy,” Makayla deadpanned. “I know, lame, right? I mean, why couldn’t I have been a vampire? Or a wolf? Or even an elf?”

Amanda didn’t know what to say. Those things Makayla had said; they weren’t true. But just the presence of Makayla was proof that they were real. <i>Ok,</i> Amanda thought, <i>time to lower my intake of caffeine.</i>

“I know you think this isn’t real but I was here to test you,” Makayla said, voice cold and serious.

Had Amanda failed? Had she offended Makayla? <i>Uhh</i>, Amanda thought again, <i>I knew asking about herself was rude. Stupid, stupid, stupid Amanda.</i>

“I just want to say,” Makayla started again. “That you passed! As token for your kindness, I will give you a gift. From now on, whenever you say kind words, diamonds and other riches will fall from your mouth. So if you say a bunch of compliments, you might as well be barfing rainbows. Literally! Don’t worry, it only happens if you allow it. So, unless you do want a diamond or something, just will it to happen, be kind, and it shall do as you say.”

“I- I… I don’t understand…” Amanda understood but she just couldn’t believe it.

“You will get used to it. But for now, I got to go. Byyee!” she said in a sing-song manner. She disappeared in a cloud of smoke and light. But not a minute too soon, she came back again to say “Forgot to tell you: That gift has no expiration date; just like your kindness.” And then she was gone. This time, she wasn’t coming back.

Amanda hurried home, forgetting about Julie’s bucket of water. She ran, excited to tell them. When she got there, Julie greeted her with “Where’s the water?” and a frown. Amanda, still smiling, said “Not important right now. Look, I got to tell you guys something.” She willed riches to come out of her mouth while saying “You guys are my family. Even if you don’t treat me like one, I’ll always treat you guys that way.” And as she said it, diamonds and pearls and rubies fell out. Julie and Jody were surprised. The girl right there in front of them was now worth all the money in the world. They hated her a lot more and Julie couldn’t stand it. She walked to the kitchen and got out a knife.

“Do you always have to do that? Be shockingly good I mean?”

Amanda was frightened. With her voice laced with fear and worry, she said “I’m not trying to offend anyone. I’m not doing anything wrong!”

Julie couldn’t care less as she slowly walked over to Amanda. “Run. If you ever loved yourself, run.” Julie’s glare was deadly, Jody could only look at the scene unfolding scarily slow. “I <i>will</i> kill you. And burn your pretty face, until you turn to ash and smoke, and your blood,” Julie wasn’t Julie anymore. She was a monster. But she couldn’t stop herself. It was too late for her. “will be used to paint my walls!”

She thrust the knife through Amanda’s stomach. But as soon as the knife hit her, the same blinding light appeared and absorbed Julie. As for Jody, no one could be sure. When the light faded, Amanda found herself alone in the tiny cottage which was once filled with 3 people.

Amanda tried to comprehend what had just happened. That light wasn’t part of the gift. After a few more moments, she realized what she had done. <i>Ookay. </i>She felt woozy at the thought. <i>I just digested Julie.</i> And she collapsed and fell, her eyesight getting dimmer, until there was none.

She woke up not knowing what day it was and how long she was out. The images of Julie threatening her and Jody’s shocked figure kept reminding her of all that had happened. She took a deep breath.

“That’s in the past now, Amanda,” she told herself, not caring at the moment if she was going crazy. “Today, I start a new life.”

<b>AUTHOR'S NOTE</b>

Yeah, I don’t recommend this story for children ages 10 and below. This was all from my pure and holy thoughts and I just needed a story with a lot of adverbs. The old one didn’t work out. This one though, is genius, for a 12 y/o. Credits to me. To God, for the sudden burst of inspiration. To my mom for buying me what I need (like my folders and hugs) To my whole family (also including relatives) for their support even though they don’t know about this story. To my dog. And to anyone I could thank.

There are some parts in the book that may sound like it wasn't original but, I swear, I thought of this by myself. But, I don't want to risk my reputation, so, if there is a name (or something) that is the same with some of the parts in the story (like their names, or the settings, or whatever), I would like to say: I DIDN'T COPY FROM YOU AND I NEVER WILL. Ok. I'm glad you understand :)

Also, I would like say "Hi!" to my friends and cousins. But mostly to my dog. Who, I know, is guarding me in heaven.