Chapter 1: The 'Fresh Start'

Marks were left on the window as rain poured heavily on the van, creating small thumps drowned out by the obnoxious pop song from the stereo. Alessia stared outside, watching the world zoom by her as she sat still. Her Aunt Mags glanced at her through the rearview mirror, worried and hesitant, and she smiled. "Wow! I guess the locals have a reason for calling this place 'Rainfall Hill', am I right?" she laughed lightly. Alessia stayed quiet, blankly staring outside. Mags' smile slowly disappeared as she faced the road once again. "So," she started, "excited to meet your grandparents?" Alessia remained silent. "Al?" Mags looked back at the 10-year-old. "Al, are you okay?"

Seemingly startled, Alessia looked at her aunt in confusion. "Huh?" she questioned. "Sorry, what were you saying?" Mags smiled brightly, clearly trying to act unconcerned. "I was just wondering if you were excited to meet your grandparents," she said, taking a turn up a foggy hill. Alessia shrugged her shoulders. "I guess. Never really met them before." Mags laughed nervously. "Yeah, your dad and I had a bit of a falling out with them." Alessia slightly tilted her head, a habit she inherited from her mother. "A falling out?" she asked curiously.

Mags laughed nervously again. "Long story short, our parents, your dad, and I had a few issues when it came to our side of the family, and it just got worse when your dad decided to marry your mom. So, he decided to cut ties with them. I joined along since I never got along with them either." Alessia looked confused. "Plus, I liked your mom." Alessia asked, "Then why am I living with them instead of with you?" "Good question," Mags nodded her head comically, "and the answer to that is within your heart." Alessia stared hard at her aunt. "That and because I live in a van and have no job, plus I suck at saying 'no' to my very cute and emotionally and mentally questionable niece."

"You're too weak-willed, emotionally constipated, and underqualified," Alessia stated heartlessly, staring at her aunt. "Heh," Mags smiled sheepishly while Alessia sighed, already exhausted with her aunt's antics. Her thoughts began to wander. "Will my grandparents hate me?" she whispered. Mags looked at her niece through the mirror. "Listen hon, I know these people, and as much as I hate saying this," she groaned slightly, "family means everything to them, the same way you are my everything. Your dad and I were the ones that cut ties with them, not you." Alessia looked down at her hands, thinking of her father. "Plus, they sounded pretty excited when I asked them if they could take you in for a while. Well, technically, they got excited after I told them you existed, and then got even more excited after I asked them about you staying with them for a while."

Alessia looked up at her aunt. "They didn't know I existed?" she asked. Her aunt replied with a little nervous chuckle. "Yeah… well, when I said your dad cut ties with them, I was sorta putting it a little lightly." Alessia was silent. Mags, sensing her discomfort, stated in a cheerful tone, "Well anyhow, that's all in the past. Right now, it's time to think of the future: new school, new friends, and soon, a pretty, giant mansion with a huge indoor pool, surrounded by hot guys."

"Are we talking about my future or yours?"

"...Yours?"

"Right."

An old gate soon came into sight. It looked like something out of a horror movie; it was rusted and looked like it was about to fall off the hinges, and some of the bars were dented and bent. To the left of it was a huge brick wall, and to the right of it was a wall taller by an inch.

Mags stopped the van and stared at it with weary eyes. Alessia had never seen her aunt look so tired before. Her hyperactive, overly dramatic, and childish Aunt Mags looked like she had just lost all her spark. Hesitantly, Alessia reached for her aunt's shoulder. "Aunt Mags?" Mags glanced at Alessia from the side of her eye, and for a moment, it was like she was looking through Alessia. She smiled widely. "Ready, little stormtrooper?" she asked. Lightly biting her tongue, Alessia just nodded her head.

Getting out of the van, they both walked to the gate, which seemed even more intimidating up close. Mags pushed the gate open, holding onto her niece's hand tightly, and they walked in together. The walk was relatively quiet, outside of her aunt's obnoxious jokes. Alessia observed the land, which seemed to go on for miles to no end. "Do my grandparents own all of this?" she asked her aunt, who half-smiled and half-sneered. "Family business left them with enough to afford more than a few luxuries."

Mags's relationship with her parents was more than a little strained, which only made Alessia more nervous than she was when she first heard she had grandparents. Their eagerness to meet her did very little to calm her nerves.

The grass was evenly cut, and despite the lonely atmosphere, the trees grew in perfect alignment with one another. It was almost creepy how well-kept everything was. After what felt like hours, a large mansion came into view.

It looked like something out of a medieval movie, and Alessia was slightly intimidated. 'With my luck, my grandparents are probably one of those super posh folks,' she thought gloomily. The closer they got to the mansion, the more décor they passed, from garden gnomes to actual stone gargoyles. It would be a lie to say she wasn't slightly enamored by her mysterious grandparents' choice of décor. Her head shot to the left as she swore she saw something move, only to see a stone angel on a broken and old-looking water fountain.

Alessia bumped into her Aunt Mags as she made an abrupt stop. Mags looked at her niece with a strained smile. "We're here, trooper." Alessia looked up and saw beautiful pearl-white steps and a huge, rusted, and dented old door, clearly made from an odd-looking metal. Nervous and intimidated, Alessia took a deep breath and returned a shaky smile to her aunt, making her chuckle in response.

Mags walked up the pearl-white stairs, which were a complete contrast to the eerie door, and lightly knocked on it… thrice. After about a minute and a half-

BANG! Mags slammed her fist on the door.

"OPEN UP ALREADY!! GODDAMMIT."

Alessia sighed. As much as she loved her aunt, she was like a toddler; if there was nothing to occupy her attention, keeping her patience was practically impossible. The door shook slightly, not because of Mags's strength, but as it started to creak open.

Like the jaws of a beast, the door opened inwards, showing nothing but a dark room. Alessia stared inside. It felt like a doorway to another world, a dark and cold world. 'Or maybe I need to stop watching so many thriller films,' she thought to herself. A sharp pain shot through her chest as she recalled her mother's stern voice scolding her and her father when they were caught watching films considered PG-13.

Mags rolled her eyes as she took a fearless step through the doors of doom, mumbling, "Just got here and the drama already started." Alessia followed. The interior was no less intimidating than how it looked from the outside. The ceiling was so high Alessia had to strain her neck to see it, and there was a huge staircase that led to the second floor. She'd only ever seen staircases like that in princess movies. The railings were made of steel and were bent and curved with so much detail. The walls were old and made of wood, but they had a mysterious feel that she couldn't explain. There was a pale indigo vase that sat on a cabinet next to the staircase, and it looked expensive.

"Margaret, it seems time has done nothing to moderate that terrible temper of yours," a chirpy voice came from the second-floor balcony. A silhouette hiding in the shadows gracefully came into the light, revealing a woman who looked to be in her thirties. Mags huffed in a tired tone, "Hi, Mom." Alessia felt her eyes nearly fall out of their sockets. MOM?

Her Aunt Mags said she was born when her parents were 26. Her dad would be turning 33 now, so that meant her grandmother was a 58-year-old woman. "Please tell me that my looking more like mom doesn't interfere with whatever genes dad gave me to keep me from aging," she whispered to her aunt. Her grandmother softly smiled, almost as if she had heard her. Her aunt let out a dark smile. "Trust me, trooper, your mama's genes are nothing to scoff at, and you're better off with none of ours," she whispered back.

Alessia watched as her grandmother glided down the stairs, her arm barely touching the railing. Alessia would have thought that she was flying if it weren't for the light jump of her delicate shoulders as she took each step down.

"Margaret, it's been far too long." She tried to wrap her arms around Mags, who awkwardly pulled back with a wince. "It's Mags, Ma," she replied stiffly, pulling away from her mother, whose smile fell for a bit before she laughed cheerily. "Oh, darling, I see you've yet to outgrow your rebellious phase," she lightly smacked Mags on her cheek with affection. "Never mind, I can wait a bit longer." Her eyes then darted towards Alessia, who was watching her aunt and grandmother's interaction with an awkward smile.

"Ah! And you must be Alessia," she smiled as she stood in front of her. Looking closer at her grandmother, Alessia realized how similar she looked to her aunt Mags. "Hi… Grandma? I'm Alessia. It's nice to meet you." Her grandma's smile slightly dropped. "I understand if it feels a little awkward calling me that, since it's our first time meeting. You can just call me Nana Perdita. Almost all the youngsters do." Her voice was gentle, and her gaze was kind. Alessia felt herself slightly relax.

Mags frowned. "Right… now that we know who to call what," she pushed herself between the two, forcefully putting Alessia behind her. "Why don't you send one of your… servants, to bring in all of Alessia's luggage?" she smiled.

Perdita smiled back. "But of course." She gracefully waved her delicate hand. "I've already sent a few of our maids to your… erm… house? Was it?"

"My van," Mags gritted out with a tight tone.

"Oh! I thought you lived in it?" Perdita mockingly questioned.

"I do!" Mags huffed.

"That's why I called it your house."

"It's not a house. A house is a fucking building, and they don't have wheels." Mags was an inch away from blowing up. Alessia interrupted before an actual argument could start. Her aunt's arguments were always filled with cusses and swears, all being yelled at the top of her voice. Her aunt had quite a colorful vocabulary, and mixed with her bad temper, bleeding ears were the most infamous injuries her victims tended to suffer from.

Alessia was not keen to find out just how much her Aunt Mags related to her grandmother.

"So… where am I staying?" she asked with a nervous smile.

Nana Perdita smiled gently at Alessia. "I had a particular room prepared just for you," she said, looking at her with a mischievous look on her face. Before Mags could say anything, Nana Perdita swiftly turned away from them and began walking up the stairs. Alessia was so mesmerized by how elegantly she moved that she stared at her grandmother with glazed eyes.

"Well?" Nana Perdita turned her head back. "Aren't you coming?" she chirped with a cunning smile as she continued forward once more. Mags was the first to follow with a slight scoff, rolling her eyes. Alessia followed, curiously. Nana Perdita led them into a wide hallway across the balcony. Mags started to look annoyed. Coming to a room at the end of the hallway, Nana Perdita smiled at Alessia. "I thought this would be the perfect room for your stay here."

Opening the door, Alessia was stunned by what she saw. The room was a pale shade of blue, with a queen-sized bed on the right side of the room, and a window bench on its right. There was a large silk carpet under the bed, and to the left of the bed was a wardrobe. But what caught her attention were the stairs that led to a top, open room with hundreds of shelves filled with books, and at the edge, she could faintly see a sizable writing desk.

Alessia was in awe. "Wow!" she laughed. "This is amazing." Her face lit up like the Fourth of July. Mags watched her niece with a small smile, which turned into a hard frown when she faced Perdita, who pointedly ignored her.

"This was your father's room," Nana Perdita said softly. Alessia looked at her, touched. "This was Dad's room?" She looked about ready to cry. Nana Perdita looked at Alessia with a gentle and kind smile. "I know this is a big change for you," she said, "but I hope you know that I… your grandfather and I both, that is, will be here for you." Perdita held both of Alessia's hands in hers. "For anything you need."

Alessia could feel her tears but pushed them down hard. "Thanks… Nana Perdita," she said in a hoarse voice. Nana Perdita's smile grew wider as she let go of Alessia's hands. "Well, I better go check if all your luggage has been delivered yet." She clapped her hands. "I'm afraid not all my employees are as punctual as I'd like them to be."

Alessia and Mags watched as Perdita made her way down the hallway. Left alone, Mags approached Alessia with a smile. "So, I guess this is it," she sighed. "Unless you want me to stick around till you settle in properly?"

Alessia shook her head. "It's fine… I'll be okay," she said, lightly smiling at her aunt in reassurance. Mags smiled back. "If you need anything, call." She winked. "I'll be here faster than you can wink."

Alessia nodded. "Gotcha."

Mags looked at her niece with a loving look. She reached out and pulled Alessia into a hug. "You're all I've got, kid," she whispered. "So stay safe and outta trouble."

Alessia hugged her aunt tightly. "I got it. Same to you, Aunt Mags." Parting at the same time, Mags left Alessia to explore her new room.

******

Mags was leaving the house she grew up in as fast as her legs would take her. A part of her was dying at the thought of leaving her precious niece in the hell she and her brother had tried so hard to escape from. But she knew that Alessia would be much safer here, 'at least until I sort this shit out,' she thought to herself, as her heart steeled itself with determination.

Mags was just about to make it to the door until… "Leaving so soon?" Perdita came up from behind her with a knowing smile on her face. Mags looked at her mom with a hard expression, "Alessia's all settled in, I need to find a proper apartment so I can take her back in." Perdita's smile only widened upon hearing this, "Margaret… it seems you've grown up quite a bit after all," she said as she began to circle Mags, standing right between her and the door.

"You don't have to worry about that," Perdita said. "I'm more than happy to have her take up permanent residence here and—"

"NO!" Mags boomed, with anger seeping into her veins.

Perdita's smile remained. "Margaret, darling… I know we have had our differences in opinions in the past, but things are different now," she slowly began to approach Mags with a soft look on her face. Mags shook her head, "Let's get one thing straight," she stood tall and proud, "I don't trust you, and I never will." Perdita's face fell a bit.

"The only reason I am here is because I love that little girl more than I hate you. But I know for a fact that now that you've met her, you would kill anyone that tries to touch her," Mags looked at her mother in disgust, "whether they mean harm or not."

"I see," Perdita whispered, her eyes tearing slightly.

"I don't trust you. The minute you gave Alessia Dan's old room, I could tell you're up to something," Mags continued. "Just remember what Dan wanted before you end up doing something, anything… regrettable."

Walking around her mother, not caring for her tears, Mags stormed out of the house with clenched fists and a hateful expression.

******

The shelves were clean, and there was no sign of dust or dirt, despite her father having left years ago. Alessia's hand slowly guided along each book as she went through each title. 'These books,' she thought to herself, 'all these books are about legends, myths, or fairytales.' She didn't know her father was interested in such things. Outside of the children's books she often had read to her, her father never showed any particular interest in the fantasy genre.

Her hand stopped at a dull green book. The writing on its spine had been scratched off in certain places, so it was hard to read. Taking it out, she read, "Science within the Strange." Curious, she sat herself at the writing desk and began to read.

To Whoever is Reading,

I must urge you to forget all you think you know of the world,

For I have discovered a secret that has long been hidden.

Our worlds have been in collaboration with one another since ancient times,

A world far different from ours.

Alessia, curious and intrigued, continued to read.

The theory is that each world works collectively together,

Despite their clear differences.

One works in the realms of time, our world, while the other works outside the rule of time.

She was so engrossed with the book that she didn't notice how late it was. Nana Perdita entered her room and smiled as she saw her newly discovered grandchild's nose buried in a book in a similar way to her son's. "Hem… hem… hem," she cleared her throat. Alessia jumped, startled, out of the chair. "Yeah?" She looked at her grandmother in a daze, her mind still on the intriguing book in her hand.

"Dinner's ready," Perdita whispered with a gentle smile, "your grandfather just arrived from out of town, and he's quite eager to meet you." Alessia smiled back, "I'll be right there," her nervousness showing at the thought of meeting her grandfather. "Do you know your way to the dining hall?" Perdita asked. Alessia smiled sheepishly, "Not exactly." Perdita chuckled. "Downstairs there's a hallway to your right. Keep going straight, you won't miss it." Once Perdita left, Alessia placed the book face down so that she wouldn't lose the page. Deciding that it was too hot, she removed her blazer and hung it over the chair before she made her way out of the room and down the hallway.

The mansion was quiet. How many servants worked for her grandparents, and why was it she never saw them? Taking two steps at a time, she went downstairs. Looking to her right, she saw the hallway, and walking straight, she came to the end of the hallway, which was another room. 'It's more like the size of a small house than a room,' Alessia thought to herself. There was an island bar in the corner of the room, and at the center of the room was a large, long dining table.

At the corner of the table sat a figure. A man who looked to be in his forties, with auburn hair and a beard with tints of silver in it, wearing a pair of reading glasses, was sitting, quietly reading a book. Alessia couldn't see the title of the book, but she could tell how interesting it was just by observing the man's facial expressions.

Maybe it was because of how nervous she was; she paid more attention to the book than she did to the man. She took a deep breath and looked at the man with determination in her eyes, "Hi," she tried speaking with confidence, but she ended up sounding somewhat constipated, making her internally wince. The man didn't turn to her; it seemed as if the man didn't even hear her. Alessia cleared her throat, "Hello," she spoke a little louder. The man still paid her no mind as he continued with his reading. Slightly annoyed, Alessia decided to seat herself on the opposite side of the table, right in front of the man.

Feeling a bit awkward, she tried her luck once more, "HI," she spoke with more power and a bit more aggression. This time, finally, the man looked up in surprise. Noticing Alessia, he looked at her with curiosity, which then changed to awe. "Well… hello there," his gruff voice was gentle, as he removed his reading glasses and placed them on the table. A serene smile on his face. "You… huh… bright ginger hair, just like your mother and… beautiful blue eyes… just like your father," his voice began to crack as his eyes slightly glazed over as he looked at Alessia with so many emotions.

A part of her was in discomfort with how intently the man was looking at her, but another part of her connected with the man. Feeling a thousand emotions in a whole second and having so many ways of expressing them, yet still not knowing how. She smiled with a childish yet understanding look in her eyes, "Hi… Grandpa."

His smile grew even wider.

******

Nana Perdita entered the dining hall with a cheerful smile on her face. She had the servants prepare a luxurious dinner and was eager to begin her pre-planned bonding process with her granddaughter. She stopped all thought processes as she saw Alessia eagerly talking to her husband, Zared, who was just as eager in their conversation about their favorite novels and their thoughts on the author's proceedings.

Alessia was the first to notice her grandmother's entry. Her grandfather looked at his wife with a cheerful smile on his face, "Perdita! My heart," Zared opened his arms to her, still seated in his chair. Perdita gracefully entered her husband's arms, bending down and kissing him on the forehead. "Alessia and I were just having a delightful conversation on James Nymandus's last book, 'See No Sea,' a topic I'm sure you would have enjoyed," he had a twinkle in his eye as he spoke to his wife, one arm still wrapped around her waist.

Alessia couldn't tell how much her grandfather loved her grandmother, not because he didn't love her, but because he did. The type of love he held in his eyes for Perdita was the same sort of love she had only ever seen her parents share. It was a kind of love that existed beyond the level of common human understanding. It was a beauty that could not be replicated or understood by those who have been showered with love their whole life, much less a child who knows nothing outside of familial love. A unique love.

Alessia softly smiled, "I didn't know you were a fan of James Nymandus," she mumbled. Perdita turned to her and smiled, "Oh yes! It was a book I read to your aunt and father every night," Perdita's eyes shined with nostalgia, "I read it so often that your aunt got sick of it, but your father… Oh! He was just as obsessed with it as I was." Alessia leaned in a bit, "Dad never read it to me. Mom was the one who got me into it." Perdita's smile only grew wider, "Your mother's love for literature was one of her qualities that drew your father in."

Alessia's smile faltered for a minute. Her grandmother's words were kind, and her face was gentle, but there was something about how she said what she said that made Alessia feel slightly unnerved. Remembering her aunt's words on how Perdita was against her father's romance with her mother, she silently assumed that maybe those feelings weren't completely gone. Alessia felt a little awkward, considering she was the result of her father's decision to leave his family. But that didn't seem to bother Perdita; she seemed quite eager to know her.

"What was Dad like when he was a kid… when he lived here?" Alessia asked, her curiosity overtaking her. Perdita's face melted into a loving look as she chuckled softly, "He was a little monkey," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Your father was always running about the house and garden, pretending to go on great adventures." Zared chuckled at his wife's words. "There was one time your father climbed up this huge maple tree we used to have; he would pretend it was a talking tree guiding him on his adventures."

"Hah! I remember that," her grandfather's smile widened. "He had a traveling craftsman carve him a pair of eyes, a nose, and a mouth, and had it nailed to the center of the tree."

Perdita laughed, "I think half the staff thought he was mad."

Zared poked her side, "Yes, and I do recall you being one of them."

Perdita shook her head, "No… no, I was worried Margaret would start following his lead."

"My aunt?" Alessia looked surprised. Perdita laughed, "Oh yes! Your aunt Margaret was a little hellion from the moment she was born. With Dante, he was at least able to listen and understand when someone told him to do something. But your aunt… no, she always hated being told what to do."

"Remember on her 9th birthday," Zared snorted, "she handmade invitations for her party and told you not to worry about it as she sent them out. And instead of any of her school friends or cousins coming—" he broke into laughter midway. Perdita sighed with an exhausted expression on her face, "Yes, I remember, though I was trying to forget." Perdita looked like she had given up on the world. "She had 'invited' all the animals from local animal shelters for an entire day of pet care, pedicures, and such. Honestly, I still don't know how she managed to achieve such a thing."

Zared's laughter only increased, and he started to look like he was in pain as he clung to his wife for support. "For the entire day, all the servants were running all over trying to catch raining cats and dogs. By the end of the day, the house smelled like… like… a farmhouse, and for about a week it stayed that way." Perdita looked pained, "And when we tried to punish her afterward—ugh."

Zared, gaining some control over his body, replied through his laughter, "Mar… heh… Margaret's response was, 'Death after a fluff attack is the best way to go.' HAH!" He continued to laugh uncontrollably. "I still don't know what that even means, or why you found it so amusing," Perdita muttered exasperatedly. Zared laughed even harder, "I think it was more how she said it than what she meant by saying it... hehe."

"She looked like a soldier ready for war," Zared chuckled, finally calming down. Alessia smiled, imagining her headstrong and willful aunt as a child causing chaos in the name of independence. "She seems to have grown up a bit," Perdita mumbled, "mellowed down in comparison to how she was as a child."

"Don't be so sure," Alessia teased. Perdita smiled at her mischievously, and Zared smiled, happy at how Alessia and Perdita were getting along with each other.

Dinner was pleasant. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and Alessia was at ease. Stories of her aunt and father from when they were children were interesting, and it didn't hurt her heart to hear about her father.

Honestly… the quiet, clever, and mischievous boy from her grandparents' stories was nothing like the tender, cautious, and dreamy father she knew, so she couldn't see them as the same person. This just made her realize how little she knew about her father.

******

That night, Alessia couldn't bring herself to sleep. The luxurious bed was wide and fluffy, and the sheets were smooth and silky. But even so, all she could think about was her father and mother. This was the most she'd thought about them since the accident.

Her brows slightly furrowed as she thought about how sweetly her mother would comfort her after a nightmare, hugging her tightly and laughing. It was as if the monsters would run away the minute they heard her mother's laugh. How her father would chase away the shadows with her princess doll in one hand, acting as if it were a sword. It always made her laugh, and any fear or hard feelings would disappear in an instant.

Her eyes watered, and she unconsciously smiled. It's been almost a year since the accident. Even so, the pain in her chest felt fresh, as if a large gash had been made where her heart had been and had yet to close. She could cover it up with paper mâché and cloth… but in the end, covering it up doesn't make it go away. She may not be able to see it, but the stinging pain is a constant reminder.

Covering it up seems to make the pain increase, as if making up for its invisibility. A punishment for trying to forget.

Alessia sighed as she glanced at the electric clock. 02:06.

For three hours straight, she'd been up reminiscing on memories that will no doubt disappear as she ages. Alessia stared up blankly at the ceiling.

Taking a deep breath, she sighed and pushed her sheet covers off. She got out of bed. "A glass of water should help me," she muttered as she opened her bedroom door. Staring down the hallway, she felt nervous. It was still dark, and the sun had yet to rise. The once normal and mediocre hallway seemed narrower and longer than it originally was. The shadows seemed to move and warp all around as if they were all alive and quietly watching her.

Taking a deep breath, Alessia walked down the hallway. Shadows twisted and turned as if trying to reach out and grab her. The floorboards creaked with every step she took. It took all her courage not to just start running back to her room.