Lana - Entry 3

Well, Panithea has come and gone. It was nice to have her here while it lasted. After the evening conversation that I’d overheard they were fairly careful not to let me be a part of their conversations again. They kept themselves sequestered inside all day huddled together in Madeline’s study, whispering to each other and pouring over old papers. When I’d brought them their lunch I’d try to hover but was instantly shooed away. On the up side it wasn’t that bad, I was pretty much left alone. At night they would leave and head out into the woods all bundled up. My instructions were to stay inside and lock the doors but really, what fun is that! I tried following them the second night. I just wanted to know what they were doing.  Well, I lost them before I even began…they were just gone! For two women of substantial age they moved like silent, stealthy snakes!

However, I didn’t waste the time I had alone. I did my own stealthy sneaking. I crept into Madeline’s study. Normally, her sanctuary is the picture of perfection, everything in its place. But when I crept in there it looked like a tornado had hit. Papers were strewn all over the room. It looked like they had been just dropped on the floor or discarded into haphazard piles. But contrary to everything in the room, the table in the middle stood bare, except for a single piece of parchment. Amidst all the chaos, this one single sheet of paper seemed to be at the center of the universe. In fact I felt sucked in by it. I’m not sure how to explain it, everything in the room just revolved around it. I felt like I was being carried forward, drawn to it. In that moment, I knew I shouldn’t have been there in the room with it. I was trespassing but even as my mind had that thought I felt my body moving forward, my feet taking tiny steps in the direction of that single piece of parchment. As my hands reached the table they were shaking. I had to grip the side of the table to steady myself.  Reluctantly my eyes dropped down to see what was written on it. Something drew me in, as if reaching up out of the page and holding onto me. What happened next was the strangest thing. I swear I heard the door behind me open and felt a wind hit my back…and then there was nothing.

I don’t know, maybe I just passed out. I woke the next morning in my own bed with the taste of ash in my mouth. Really, I can’t tell you what happened, I have no idea.  Madeline hasn’t said anything about it and I can’t ask her...how would that go? “Sorry I was snooping around your private stuff, that you’ve told me not to touch like a million times, when something strange happened.”

Well, that’s all I have. I’m sure things will return to normal now and the next entry will be pathetic but it has been nice to have a place to put my thoughts down. Back to the boring life.

Lana - Entry 2

Panithea is here! It’s so nice to have her around. She’s not as fun as Eve but she’s also not as old as Madeline. She seems to travel all over, bringing back stories about not only the other Malakai but of places and people I’ve never seen nor met. If only Madeline was like Pan I’d be happy to wash her clothes and fix her food as we traveled the open road together! But no, we stay in the old shack and live the same day over and over again.

At least the last few days were a break from that. Pan came at dusk. Somehow Madeline knew she was coming (which doesn’t surprise me any more). She had instructed me to roast a hare for dinner, which is fancy compared to our normal evening meal. Pan looked tired when she sat down to eat. She leaned on the table, resting her head in her hands for most of supper. I wanted to hear about her latest adventures but was scolded by Madeline whenever I tried to ask questions. The rabbit was tasty though, so that was nice.

But I knew they would talk when I went to bed and I was right! I said good night and went upstairs. I’m not quite sure how it works but if you remove the loose floorboard halfway between the end of my bed and the opposite wall, lay down and place your ear over the hole, you can hear everything that goes on downstairs. Ah yes! I found out by complete accident! I wasn’t meaning to spy. BUT… now that I know its there I just can’t help myself. Madeline doesn’t tell me anything! And it’s not fair! So, I absolutely refuse to feel bad over a little eavesdropping.

Oh and you would never believe the stuff that I heard! Pan started by updating Madeline on what was going on in the world. Same stuff as before, dark shadows creeping in, False Kings causing trouble, all the stuff I had heard before, the things that made Eve leave to go help her family. (Side note: even as I write those words they make me angry. I’d never admit this out loud but I don’t like it that Eve has family out there. I know that’s wrong of me to say but I can’t help the way I feel. She’s my family but I know I’m not her’s.) Anyway, as Pan went on I could tell that Madeline was growing impatient from her tone, as she snapped, “Pan, what about the girl?” I have no idea what girl they were talking about but apparently she’s some big deal and real important to the Malakai. I’ll try and recount what I hear as best as possible.

            “I don’t know. No one can find her. Not us, not them. As far as we know she has no formal training so she must be getting help from someone to avoid detection but everyone that knows the way is accounted for.” After that they were quiet for a long time. I almost fell asleep on the floor.

            “Its worse.” Pan’s voice made me wake up. “When we crossed paths with the others who were looking for the girl, we became the hunted. And Madeline, I swear it felt like the Fallen, well not quite them… clearly or I wouldn’t still be in this world. The False Kings are close, thank Ilak the girl left when she did, or there would have been a resurrection.” Chills crept all over my arms when she said that.

I couldn’t hear anything else after that as they only talked in whispers for the rest of the night.

Anyway, I woke up on the cold, hard floor this morning, so I’m going to see if I can sneak in a nap. I’ll write when I know more!

Lana - Entry 1

If you’re reading this you shouldn’t be! And if it’s you Madeline reading this, and you don’t stop immediately, I swear I’ll burn your breakfast everyday for a year. And don’t think I won’t know!

It’s been awhile since Eve left. The moon has grown small and then large again and I still miss her. She has left me alone with only the cranky, old crone Madeline for company. Blah! Everything to her is a lesson and she drones on and on and on…. Be mindful of this, remember that, pay attention, stay focused… Ah I could scream! At least when Eve was here we had fun. She taught me how to dye my hair red with the burnt berries and how to make crowns out of the star flowers.

My family abandoned me to Madeline’s care when I was a little girl, too young for me to remember them. Madeline says it’s a great honor, that she accepted me into her tutelage because the fates had written that I could be Malakai. Oh the honor! I get to live in the middle of nowhere with a little old lady who has taught me nothing but how to cook meals for her and how to clean her house – which I can’t even manage to do well by her standards.

Eve, though, she would teach me things she wasn’t supposed to teach me. She taught me the way of the hazewood tree, and how to cut and carve the wood and how to ask it about the future. Eve taught me how to ask the wind to carry my voice so we could communicate over long distances. She taught me other things Madeline said I was still too young to know. Eve was the only friend I’ve ever had and now she’s gone and I’m all alone. That’s why I’ve started this journal. Pretty sad, right? When the only person you have to talk to is yourself!

On another note, Panithea is coming in a few days. We don’t have company very often and it will be a nice distraction. I have a sneaking suspicion that her visit is somehow tied to the particularly testy mood Madeline has been in lately. I can tell something has been worrying her. If I had to guess it means Madeline’s raised the alarm and Panithea is coming to confer.  At least her visit will be a welcome change! Hopefully I’ll find out what all the fuss is about and I’ll write again soon.