Deceiving Eyes - Chapter One

The day I was born, the sky poured rain and lightning struck violently. The minute I let out my first cry, the storm went away and was replaced by sun. My mother took this as a good sign.

Like the hags had said, I looked nothing like my parents. The minute I opened my eyes, my mom had screamed. For my eyes were not newborn blue, but, instead, were lighting purple. It changed from purple to a darker purple, then a subtle blue, then a dark blue, then finally settled on a color between midnight blue and royal purple. My hair was a very pale blonde and was very curly. My parents both have straight dark hair... this was just the beginning of my differences.

My parents did their best to keep me away from the villagers... but when the rulers of a land have their first child the people are gonna want to see the child!

Ok, I'm getting ahead of myself! Let me go in order... ok, anyway, continuing on, I was nothing like my parents. Nor was I like any other child. For one thing, I grew way too fast... and learned how to speak before I was 5 months old... learned how to read and write my native language, and two foreign languages, at the age of 2. Needless to say, I was a fast learner.

My hair grew to be a bit past my waist but stopped growing after that... but my hair stayed that pale blonde and was as curly as ever. So light it could be white but, when the light hits it just right, looked golden. My eyes changed colors, but, according to my mother (my mom kept me away from mirrors for some unknown reason), it stayed a color between blue and purple.

I grew quickly as well. I soon became very tall for my age and very slim. My skin was translucent and easily turned pink at anything. It was embarrassing. But my mom told me one day women would be jealous of my figure. I told her I wish I was like her more... and not so creepy looking. She had gasped and immediately went on to tell me I was nothing creepy and I was beautiful and amazing.

I still sometimes went to bed at night thinking how creepy I was, no matter what I was told.

The one day where I let myself think I was unique was when a visiting lady from the North came to our castle and actually asked to see me. My parents were very interested in what the lady would think of me so they ordered my maids to hurry and dress me then bring me to the meeting room.

I remember every detail from that day.

I remember they dressed me in my favorite dress. It was a small little dress that went past my knees and was a bit poofy. It was a white dress with pink flowers embroidered on the skirt of the dress. On the top it had a corset design and a little pink bow right in the center, below the neckline. The sleeves were short and poofy and looked very cute. The maids combed out my hair and then pinned back my bangs with a little pink ribbon. They said I looked very mature and very pretty. I was only 5 then.

I walked down to the meeting room slowly. I kept stopping at the windows, trying to catch my reflection. But the guards shooed me away and escorted me down to my parents.

When I saw my parents I noticed them talking to a very pretty lady. She had long black hair, hair as dark as sin... and just as twisted and wavy. She was very slim and petite. I wished I was like her, so beautiful looking and so normal.

She turned around when my parents focused their attention on me. First thing that I noticed was her eyes were not the same colors. Her right eye was emerald green, as green as the grass in the castle gardens in the summer. Her left eye was as blue as the ocean, with just as many colors mixed in.

I gasped and, without thinking, said, "Oh! You have beautiful eyes!"
She laughs, "Thank you! Most people see my eyes and turn around and run, screaming."
I stare at her confused, "But why?"
She leans in and whispers, "I have the devil's eyes, they say. It's not natural to have different colored eyes."
My eyes widen innocently, "But you look like an angel! How can they think that?"
She laughs again and bends down to my level and then says happily, "Thank you! I've barely known you five minutes and already I've been complimented more than in my whole life. Thank you very much, my dear. What is your name?"

I smile timidly, "My name's Celeste, it means 'heavenly'. But my parents call me Celia."
She smiles, and her whole face lightens, "Celia... Celeste is a very beautiful name as is your nickname. Very unique and only so many people can live up to their name. You are one of those people."
I feel blood rush to my cheeks and I softly reply, "Thank you."
"My name is Serena. My friends and family call me Rena. Serena means peace, calm. It describes me well."
I smile back at her, "I like your name."

She smiles at me kindly then stands up and says to my parents, "I'd like to talk to her alone, if you please."
My parents both nod frantically, "Of course!" They quickly walk out as if there is a fire behind them.

Rena turns to me then says, "Celia, I came here to talk to you about who you are. You and I are not too different. We were both not supposed to be born to our parents... if anything, we weren't supposed to be born."
My eyes widen and I feel as if they will pop out of my eye sockets and I say quietly, "But my parents told me they adopted me... that's why I looked different... what-what are you talking about?"
Serena shakes her head and laughs a short, brief laugh and then says bitterly, "Of course they'd lie to you. They wouldn't want you to know how you were brought in." She looks at me sadly then says, "How old are you, Celia?"
Proudly I say, "I'm five! I am going to be six in two moon risings!"
Rena shakes her head, "My oh my, you grow fast. Just like I did."

I look at her confused, "Can you slow down and explain please?"
She stares at me quietly then says, "I'm sorry but I don't have time. Just demand your parents to tell you. All I do have time for, though, is to tell you this. Know how your eyes change colors?"
I nod.
"Well, they change due to the moods of the gods. I wrote down, on this paper, what each color means. Do your parents keep you away from mirrors?"
I nod, slowly.
"Of course." She sighs, rolls her eyes and then says, "Here." She hands me a small shard of glass and says, "Check every day what color your eyes are."

Then she starts looking through her satchel and then finally pulls out a cloak. It was muddy brown and shone in the light. It was very large and it seemed as if it wouldn't even fit my father, who was very big and tall. She smiles and then hands it to me, "Here you go. I love this thing so take good care of it."

I stare at her silently then say, "This is much too big for me."
She laughs, "That's the magic of it! It camouflages to its surroundings if you tell it to, or if you tell it to change color! Just put it on and it will adjust to your size."
Incredulously, I put it on. Surprisingly, it fit me just right! It was warm and very comfortable. I ask, "Do I just tell it to camouflage of change color?"
Rena nods hurriedly, already looking through her satchel, "Yes, yes. It's magical. Don't you believe in magic, Celia?"

I slowly nod and remember all the fairy stories my nanny told me. I loved them and believed them all, remembering all the princesses and mischievous fairies and all the nasty witches.
Serena says, "Aha!" Then pulls out a thin stick. It was very ordinary looking and looked as if it would break easily. She smiled and said, "If you ever need me, simply drop this onto the floor and step on it and say, 'summon Serena' and I will come to your side!" She hands it to me and then says, "One more present. This one is the most important."

I marvel my three presents and think wow; this is more than what I get on my day of birth...
Serena then chuckles, relieved, "Good, I found it." She pulled out and showed me a very nice dagger. Its hilt had dragon engravings engraved on and looked as if the creator had spent centuries, intricately designing each scale, each tiny detail. The end result was a masterpiece. The dagger itself was not much. Just jagged on the edges, as if it had teeth of its own. It was truly beautiful. I then realized I was holding my breath and softly let it out.

Serena hands it to me and then says, "Be careful. It's magical and will always hit what it is meant to hit. You can never mess with this. In secret, practice. You may need the skill one day."
I nod and then smile, happily, "Thank you so much, Serena... I can never forget any of what you did and gave me... It is amazing. Thank you."

She lightly blushes, "It's not big deal." Then sobers up and says seriously, "One day, you'll be glad I gave you all this. Be prepared and always on your toes. Don't trust anyone... only me. I know who you are and I do not hate you. Your life is not something one should envy... if anything, I feel sorry we were brought into this life of danger and lies... but alas, what can we do?"

I look up at her and then say softly, "You're really beautiful, maybe that's why people envy you?"
She laughs merrily, "Celia, you are amazing to one's ego! Thank you!"

Then she bends down and hugs me and whispers, "I got to go. Remember what you can do to contact me. Remember all that I told you, ok?"
I nod and I hug her back, tight. She was my first friend and I didn't want her to go but the thought I could call her anytime when I needed her comforted me.

Then Rena pulls back and gets up and whispers, "Goodbye. Hope I see you soon." Then she walked out of my parent's meeting room.

I stared after her. Wanting to cry but my eyes wouldn't water. So, I silently stared after her and I ignored my parent's many questions. I didn't want to talk, I wanted to be alone. So I took a deep breath and ran.

Ran away from my fears, my hopes, my parents... everything.

Five was too young to wish to die. But I never said I was normal.
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Author's Note:

So many of you guys commented saying that you loved both stories... but most of you said for me to get over my block! I will try my hardest for you guys! :) Anyway, hope you like my heroine who has an awesome name!

Well? What do you guys think? Comment and tell me! Also, pic's of Celeste's Eye... btw, I LOVE her name(: tell me if you do too! And what you think of Serena and um... yeah.(: Comment and do the poll!