Danger At Home

SEPTEMBER 2009

WITCHDOM PALACE:

Well, they say all well as ends well. The last year was a lot about learning for me. I have leaner the value of friendship, trust, and most important patience. How important it is for life. It showed me a lot. I have lost and I have learned, and I am ready to endure the new life and its pain and happiness as long as it takes me to be a good witch.

I am coming home after a year. I missed my home. I was very happy. Why shouldn't I be happy? I came home after so long, I will meet dad finally after one year. Though I met grandma quite a few times but still, coming home is always a blessing.

While the carriage stopped outside the castle, I saw Dad and grandma was standing with a smile plastered on their face and was waiting for me at the gate. I quickly got down from the carriage as I ran towards them.

I was overjoyed to meet with them and excited too. I almost cried in joy as I screamed a little-" Dad!!!! Grandma!!!! Oh, I have missed you guys.". They reciprocate me with a warmed smile and a hug.

Grandma said-" Oh dear we have missed you too"

Dad gave me a long hug and said as he lift me a little-" I have missed you more my dear. We have a lot to catch up on"

I replied-" Well yeah I have a lot to tell you too"

We laughed as we came inside the castle. The lunch was already served.

Grandma turned to me and asked-" Get freshen up and we shall seat for the lunch together"

I nodded and smiled as I said excitedly-" I will be back in five"

Dad chuckled and replied-" Take your time dear, you have two months with us, not to hurry"

I nodded as I ran to my room. But I knew two months were not enough since I have lost mom, I have become alone. I was sad but getting dad and grandma by my side is always made me feel she is with us too... Just like a complete family. The family which I and my mom have always had dreamt of.

I came upstairs to my room, and to my surprise, it was the same as I left it for school. All my belongings, my toys, my presents, and everything were in the same place. I took a deep breath as I thought it feels good to come back home. My eyes fall on the picture of my mom that was kept bedside table, I hold it in my hands as tears rolled out from my eyes, remembering a few memories in my head.

I whispered in a breaking voice-" I m-miss you so much m-mom, I wish you were here, there are so many things I wish I could tell you.". I hugged the picture to my chest.

Dad walked into my room and listened to me without my notice. He said in a sad voice while walking towards me-" I am here dear, Your dad will always be with you now. I may be not able to give you the love when u grew up, but I promise you and your mom I will be there for you, to protect you will all my heart."

I hugged dad and sobbed a little. Letting out all the pains that were inside of me all these years. It felt good and warm in his embrace. We talked about school and some random thing after which he asked me to come down for lunch. I nodded as he left and I freshen up a little before coming down.

We had lunch as we laughed and had lots of talks with each other. Later that afternoon while I was just sitting by the window, a man pulled up himself just before me with a big smile and greets me-" Good evening princess!!!"

I looked at him with a confused face as I asked him-" Good evening!!! Do you need anything?"

I was a little confused with the person who just appeared in front of me. Honestly, I haven't seen him before. I waited for him to answer when grandma walked in there just on time as she said-" He is Dekker!!!" I looked at her with a frown waiting to know why is he here anyways She came towards me as she continued-"He will be your guard. He will show you around and bring you all your necessities"

I frowned as I replied-" But grandma, I have maids to attend me"

She smiled as she sat beside me while caressing my hair. He looked at Dekker who was standing there hanging his head low. She said-" Dekker is new in the guards, and his father was my royal guard. So I trusted him for your security, He will not bother you much but being a princess, here in the kingdom, while you go out you must take him"

I sighed as I know I cannot argue with her. I nodded and accepted Dekker. Grandma smiled and left and it was just us. I looked up at him who was standing still doing his duty.

I asked him-" Dekker, I appreciate it but you don't need to get bothered, I stay mostly at home, so I think you won't need to give much time to me, Besides you can do whatever you like okay?". I began to read a book from the shelves as I walked past him.

Dekker was a tall man, with good physic, his black long hairs were just a bit odd, He seemed very professional and sleek. He replied with a deep voice-" Princess, It's my duty to be attentive towards you. Don't worry you will not feel I am here, Just in case you need me I will always be there to guard you". God!!! He is stubborn like grandma... Why does she give a personal guard anyways? As I knew I can't argue with her, I just nod.

I smiled and asked-" Thank you, but what possibly I need to get security in my kingdom?"

He said after a pause-" Being from a royal family does require to stay safe always from those who seek revenge. You must be careful too" I looked at him with a little frown, his words are a little different.

While we were talking, I received a letter from my pet Heywin. He flew to us as he hand over the letter and flew away again. I opened the letter thinking who could be it from. It was from Junnie.

She wrote:

Dear Shawna,

I know it's been just a few days since we came home, but I really miss you, I and Jenny had been talking yesterday about a small gathering at my home, we intended to call you at the gathering but we were thinking you would come or not. We have informed Priam too. So, It's just that I, Jenny Brad, and John miss you guys, Shawna. Hope you have a good vacation. See you soon.

With Love Junnie

Reading her letter made me smile a little. How lucky I am to get friends like them. I thought for some time as I felt, yes, I miss them too. But am I allowed to call them over? Should I ask grandma? or dad? Will they understand? They must be... they are my friends... I can call them over I guess. I made up my mind to ask permission to call over my friends as went up to dad, and to my surprise, he said yes.!!! I was so happy finally after long days I can meet them again.

Soon I sent them off the letters for an invitation to WitchDom for a grand party at my palace. I sent the letters to Junnie, Brad, Jenny, John, and Priam. I was hesitant to send Priam, thinking all those shy moments of us also not sure if he would come or not, but somewhere I too wanted to see him again.

I smiled as I quickly wrote the letters and sent them away. I was happy to invite them over to my palace, I personally took the responsibility for the decoration. It was almost midnight when after dinner I was sitting by the fireplace in my room and looking at the window.

Just then I noticed something unusual in the fire, I was a little confused and went near to the fire and watched closely, Suddenly a letter popped out from the fire and fall to the ground. I became a little scared but I wanted to know how was it from. So, I picked it up and when I read the letter it almost took my breath away!!! I couldn't understand what should I do. But I have to reach the person who wrote this letter. But I didn't know how?

So, I came to Dekker and asked him-" Do you know where is this Place called 'Grezel'?

Dekker looked a bit concerned as he frowned and asked me-" Why do you ask princess?"

I tried to hide the actual reason, as I don't want anyone to know about it now. I replied-" Just wanted to know!!"

He frowned and replied-" Princess that's not a place that you should know"

I asked-" Why?"

He replied with a pause-" That is a place to keep prisoners that had committed a serious crime and went against the kingdom"

I was shocked but I dared to ask-" Do you... by any chance know anything about Ben Duniee?"

He looked at me with a confused look and asked me-" Princess!!! Is there any problem? are you hiding anything from me that I should know?"

I immediately clear my throat and answered-" No, I just wanted to know that's it. So do you know anything about where is this place exactly?"

He replied after a long pause-" Well, If you are asking just for the information, then It is just at the border in the western area of our kingdom."

I replied as I nod-" Thank you, and good night"

He nodded and I came back from there. I came upstairs to my room and locked my door. From the window, I have to escape. I Took my wand with me and went out. But in a hurry, I left the letter on my table.

Soon within after forty-five minutes I reached near Grezel as I flew in my broom. It was the outskirts area of the kingdom, with darkness and big castles with thunderstorms to control and contain the witches and warlocks inside. I looked at it with a scarred face. A lot of questions popped in my head!!!

But somehow I shrugged out my thoughts as I went inside from the gate about which it was mentioned, 'Be careful '. Dekker was right this was a scary place!!!. So I went inside and met a creature who was half eagle and half-human... What are these creatures called?? This is so scary. He squinted his eyes to take a better look at me as I walked towards him with a scarred face.

I asked in a shaky voice-" I-i am here to meet w-with Mr. Ben Duniee.

He looked at me closely while adjusting his specs as he replied-" That's something new over all these years. Okay you may wait here I will bring him"

I stood in a corner and waited. It passed quite a time when suddenly I heard some noise, It was all those creatures, who were calling for help. I looked around with confused eyes as I tried to understand what happened there. Suddenly I saw some dark shadowed creatures, as they started flying over the dark sky and started making very strange noises. My ears were about to burst from their call as I grabbed my ears to cover them. I couldn't understand what happened or what to do. I saw some people started running out from there in a bulk.

They look horrible as if they haven't been treated well or had good food. One of the people came out and he looked a bit odd and looked at me with a weird smirked. He attacked me!!! I tried to use a spell but his action let me slip my wand, I was struggling to save my life when someone from behind used the spell and scared him away. I looked up and it was Dekker.

He forwarded his hands and helped me to get up. I looked at him with scared eyes. I asked slowly-" How did you...? Does anyone else know...?"

He replied without looking at me, as he was busy guarding me against those creatures-" You left the letter at home, Sorry I checked through your personal belongings. But this led me to you and I can save you. And no, I haven't told anyone yet, It was important to get you first"

I sighed as I said-" Good. Thank you, Dekker"

Just then we heard the guards (Creatures) talking-" Ben Dunnie has escaped!!! Summon the Dark Prince!!!!"

the other one replied in absolute horror-" he is here... We must inform the Queen!!!"

They looked worried and they left to search for him.

Dekker grabbed my hands and said-" Let's go from here, It's not safe anymore".