1 Chapter One: Carmen
Camila, my twin sister, and I rarely argue. But tonight was not like any other night. My Mami, father, sister, and I have been stuck in a 2021 Toyota Sienna with our stuff for twelve days, eleven hours, and 34 minutes.
Why, you might wonder? My parents are lawyers and have found a better job. They used to work from 'home,' but their supervisor demanded that they work in the field. So Papi decided to relocate us to... wherever we are, so they could be closer to work, but he won't tell us where we are.
Anyway, Cami has been whining about how cramped she is, and it's getting on my nerves.
"Camila quit complaining, we know!" I exclaimed exasperated.
"Shut up, Carmen, the only reason you're comfortable back there is because you're short," she retorts, tossing a chip, and she's correct; I'm only 5'2", which is quite short for a 17-year-old.
"And you used to think it was a negative thing that I was short," I chuckle.
"Please, for the love of God, put an end to your bickering. We'll be there in ten minutes, Camila. When asking someone to stop doing something, Carmen, be nice "Mami scolds us.
"Please, Papi, tell us where we're going. I'm dying in anticipation, "I complain.
"We're going to be there in ten minutes anyway, so why not? We're off to Graelite, Aldovea, girls!"
"Nice! That was my third guess, " I say grabbing a book from my bag: Aldovea 101.
"Aldovea, commonly known as 'The Kingdom of Wolves,' is the world's largest kingdom, covering 3/4 of Asila. Aldovea is also home to the world's greatest wolf population, with Graelite as its capital." I read in my book.
Cami adds, "No one asked, ya nerd-bomber."
"Hey don't be rude," Papi tells Cami, wagging his finger.
"Whatever," she says as she bites into her chocolate bar, reminding me that I'm hungry. I dug into one of my bags labelled 'Food,' I have multiple, pulled out a package of unicorn doughnuts, and devoured them, followed by everything else in there. I mean I might as well, we'll be there in ten minutes.
I felt like I was pregnant when I was finished. I sat there reading more Aldovea and listening to music on my iPhone 2.
~~~~~~
I was feeling fairly full when we arrived at our new house and didn't want to leave the comfort of the car, but I had no choice. I couldn't help but admire the house as I assist in loading all of the baggage onto the porch. It was substantially larger than our one-room flat.
"Dibs!" Cami and I say in unison.
"Ah, ah, ah, before you girls start to argue, your Mami and I have decided on a way to solve this," Papi says.
"But that's so unfair! Why can't I choose first? I'm older even if it's only by a minute and a half! I knew you love her more! I'm so running away--"
Oh no, she's ranting again
"We love you the same," Papi continues, "but you're twins, and I know you're older, but you're still twins."
"Fine. How are we going to solve this?" she huffs
"So you're both going to take a tour of the house, and after you're done and have decided on a room, and if you both want the same room, we'll settle it with..."
"...¡Disputa familiar!" Mami yells excitedly.
Disputar familiar.
You have three hours to prepare three courses as a solution to settle family problems.
Unless it's Disputar familiar, it's the only area in the house where my sister and I don't fight or disagree, where we bond.
The kitchen is where it all happens.
"However, one of the doors has a sticky note on it, and you can't choose that one. Are you all set?" Mami adds.
"Yes," we both agree.
He opens the front door and says, "Touch the car."
"Ready. Set. Go!"
And then we're off, sprinting through the front door, and I'm already gasping for air. My sister is more athletic than I am. I'd rather read or eat than do anything else... I spend most of my time eating and reading but especially eating.
"Rooms are on the second floor!" Mami yells at us.
Cammi opens a door as we near the top of the stairs, and I choose the one diagonally across from it.
My jaw drops as soon as I open the door.
With a king-sized bed, a blue and white bedspread, and gold cushions. There was an oak three-drawer dresser beside the bed with a reading lamp on top. The window was draped in baby blue curtains, and there was an ivory nordic sofa chair in front of it with a blue cushion on top of a blue blanket.
I notice a door on the other side of the room. Walking over to it, I spotted an ivory drawer desk with LED lights and a royal blue desk chair, as well as an ivory bookcase at the far end of the room. I discovered a beautiful bathroom with marble walls and a blurred glass shower when I opened the mysterious door. There was a white vanity with an amethyst-lined mirror, which was my birthstone.
As I came out of the bathroom, I noticed something I hadn't observed before. Over the bed, there was a massive amethyst with a wolf in the centre surrounded by moons. Words in Shakespearean were carved around the stone, which I would have to decipher later on.
I didn't even have to look at the other room to decide this was the room for me.
I rush out of the room, downstairs, out the door, and back to the van, only to find Cami already there, bored.
She grumbles, "Finally."
"Have you made up your minds about the rooms you want?" Mami asks.
Yes, we both agree.
"Okay, when I say go, you'll yell the room's general colour. Ok?"
We nod.
"All right, on the count of three, you will shout out the general colour of the room," says Papi.
"Three... Two... One!"
"Blue!" I exclaim.
"Black!" she exclaims at the same time.
"Yes!" we both say at the same time.
"Since you've selected different rooms," Mami continues, "you may carry your belongings there."
~~~~~~
I get out my Latin dictionary, a notebook, and a pencil after I've finished unpacking my belongings. Sitting on my bed, I placed the notebook in my lap and began copying the words that were written around the stone:
Vaticinium est quod ducentesimo quadragesimo secundo lunae deae progenies initium suum verumque se reperire debet quo die ipsa et verus amor conveniant. Cum nubere volet, Ascendet ad regendum Terram, mare, et aethera sursum.
I read it aloud once I've finished translating it:
It is the prophecy that the two hundred and forty second descendant of the moon goddess shall start to find her true self on the day she and her true love meet. When they marry she will ascend to rule the land, the sea, and the sky above.
I read it over and over and over and over again until I'm suddenly brought back to reality by Mami's voice.
"Girls, come set the table for dinner!"
"Coming!" I shouted back, jumping off the bed.
The aroma of Mexican cooking wafts across the kitchen and overpowers me. Mojados burritos, beef enchiladas, empanadas, and Arroz con Leche.
I take in my surroundings as Cami and I set the table. The marble was on every surface except the walls, cupboards, and drawers, which were all dazzling white. We all sat at the table when we were finished.
"Let us put ourselves in the presence of the Lord," Papi says.
"And praise" we all respond, closing our eyes.
"In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen."
"Lord, thank you for this beautiful day in which we have found a new place of refuge. Thank you for getting us out of the terrible situation we were in previously. My wife and I have found amazing jobs and now we can take care of our daughters and that's because of you. Lord, let us pray that this family will always remain united in health. Amen," Papi says.
"Amen," we respond, opening our eyes.
"Amen," we say as we open our eyes.
Papi exclaims, "Dig in!" and we all do what he says.
As I eat, I grin at my family, occasionally chuckling at what they say and how much our condition has improved in the last several weeks. I couldn't ask for a more wonderful family.
"You must stop cramming your face, Carmen Hernández. It's not ladylike. No man would want to marry a lady who behaves in this manner "Mami chastises me.
"If a man sees me cramming my face and doesn't do the same, he isn't the one," I reply, simply to irritate her.
"Your mami and I are leaving for the legal office at 8 a.m., and you two will begin school in three weeks," Papi says.
Cami and I both sigh.
"I know, girls," Mami shrugs, "but it's life."
We said our goodbyes and parted ways after dinner. I decided to shower and put on my pyjamas. When I was finished, I picked a book from my bookcase, His Queen, which was the first book I had ever owned. It's about a poor girl who meets a prince, they fall in love at first sight, she becomes royalty, she never has to worry about anything, and they lived happily ever after.
Isn't it cliché?
I've had to work my entire life, so the idea of never having to want anything makes me sick to my stomach. I stowed it away before going to bed, thinking about the writing on my wall.
