Jillian

Through the wide window, a light shined in the morning sky, yet, oddly enough, there wasn't a hint of sunshine. Heck, that was weird, but the Abyss was where strange things happened.

I didn't know that we spent a lot of time at Aurora's house to rest. It didn't seem that long for my knee to heal, but whatever that healer rubbed on my wound, made me take a short nap.

I felt indifferent. As if something took hold of me and gave me a new form of energy!

Since we did not eat for days, Aurora gave us some crackers and tea. So, perhaps there was something in the food ... something magical or ... poisonous! But it couldn't be the latter theory for we were still alive.

Thank heavens for that!

Before we left the tree house, I sensed that Aurora didn't trust me. She might have healed my wound, but Aurora did say she only did that because I was Jack's sister and we were Glory's friends.

There wasn't a single time she mentioned my name! I'm always 'JACK'S SISTER'. Hello, I have a name!

But if Aurora did care, even just a little bit; I feared the way she stared at me. Words don't have to be explained, her evil eye wandering around warned me that something creepy would happen. But then again was I imagining things? Am I being paranoid here?

Her bulging eyes looked like my strict teacher who caught me copying my classmate's homework because I forgot when it was due! I got punished by having to write on the blackboard, which brought me to shame. But I got over it, who hasn't been in trouble in school before?

Although the obese fairy looked pretty, she had her rough features. Aurora had those crooked eye brows that made her appear to be angry, so I wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

As the famous saying goes "Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder" ... whatever that really means, I do not know. But I heard Mom say it numerous times when she saw a person who had a problem.

But she went through a lot, imagine bullying amongst fairies. Unheard of! But I wouldn't blame her for all that she went through.

I feel sorry for Aurora but what can I do?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I followed my brother out of the treehouse, I was bedazzled by the 'precious' stone. The reddish hues twinkled before me as the dawn of day arose.

But why was he the one who was chosen to have it? I could have been a great candidate as well!

Jealousy was knocking on my door; I could feel the coldness sinking in! The uneasiness was crawling up my skin, the anxiety pounded in my heart, and my devilish consciousness told me to start complaining. Those were all signs of an envious spell!

But I stopped myself from doing the unthinkable. I knew it wasn't the right thing to do. Jack had the upper hand!

If we were a deck of cards, I'd picture myself as being the lowest number ... a number 2 or 3 to be exact. Jack deserved to be number 10; a strong leader to guide me along the way! And if the pendant was the only way to keep us from the malicious attacks that would follow, let it be!

I shook my head to forget about my thoughts.

But the more I looked at the stone's oblique shape, I felt closer to it. It's as if it had a mind of its own ... calling me to be its next target. Mesmerizing me to call it 'my precious'!

As I closed my eyes, I envisioned stretching out my arm to touch the stone, even if it were just one single moment! If I could only yank it from my brother's neck, place it in my hand and run away ... perhaps I alone could end all the chaos the Abyss had to offer.

The children of another world wouldn't need to suffer as Jack and I have endured. Then I would feel proud of myself since I proved that girls have as much power as boys! I'd be standing on stage in front of a podium with a medal ... and ...

"Jill, what are you doing?"

My daydreams were cut short, for a loud voice behind my back distracted me.

I opened my eyes to see that I indeed stood on my tippy toes on the grass with something that felt slimy. I touched it to see it was a squirmy worm that I probably picked up by mistake. I screamed and assume the animal was as scared as I was because it looked at me with disgust.

Hearing laughter from my brother and Glory wasn't what I anticipated, but it was a stupid stunt that I did.

However, instead of the pendant, a smooth pebble from Aurora's pathway was in my hands. How it got there was beyond me. I don't remember bending down to reach for it. I suspect someone put it there intentionally.
~~

Jack's voice startled me and as I jumped, the pebble dropped with a thud, crushing it to billions of pieces.

I couldn't imagine that I had the capability of doing that; if there was an extreme force within my hands.

I don't think I am strong enough to shatter a piece of stone like that. Something extraordinary must have happened.

I'm short and thin. Having some buildup in my muscles that quick was impossible. Or could it? Please don't tell me I became some incredible beast overtime!

But sadly, I frowned for what happened because I did not want to upset Aurora. Unless the medical oil that was placed on my knee had anything to do with it.

I guess I got carried away with my thoughts.
~~

Thus, Jack moved away from me as we headed down the steps. I figured that because of that pebble incidence, my brother lost his confidence in me.

I knew he saw the hint of excitement in my eyes when I first saw the piece of jewelry. It was nothing close to what I've seen before. Even Mother's emerald pearls that Father bought her before his death couldn't be compared to this magical one.

I was ashamed of what I did, for I knew my brother's wrath in punishing me.

He was always like that, pick on the sister instead of the younger brother. I felt he cared more for Jimmy than me.

Safety first was what Jack would tell me all the time since I was the curious one who would venture out on my own. And even though I loved my siblings, I felt being the middle child was like being caught in a sandwich. I was the "peanut butter and jelly " caught in between two slices of bread.

Feeling sorry for myself again, I couldn't manage a smile on my face.

Thus, I held back, fighting against the will to disobey my brother's wishes.

He told me that since Aurora left it in his care, he did not want me to fiddle around with something that might hold the secret in getting us out of here. He warned me if I did one wrong move, I might sabotage this ordeal!

Excuses, excuses! Something was tearing our sibling bonding away.

Sigh!

Perhaps I should look away ... keep looking straight toward the horizon and ignore that impulse of getting even!

What's wrong with me? It's this 'Abyss'. I'm not wanted for some reason. Almost everyone has an "evil glare" towards me and think they just put a spell on Jack!

Seems like the only person I could now trust was Glory !

When I was younger, Mom used to read to me about magical fairies who did good things.

So, looking up at that the pixie, I wondered if she would be able to answer my question.

"So, Glory ... what's so special about this pendant Jack is wearing? Is it to ward of spirits or something similar?

Likewise, Glory just smiled. Although, there was something I caught between those 'rosy cheeks' a type of body language per say. A glow on her face that told me I was close to being right on my assumptions.

I pretended that I didn't know anything. Figured that if I said something out of the blue, a sense of danger would soon find me again.

It seemed like only yesterday that I forsakenly went inside that ill-minded closet! But now Tomas's words made sense to me now, the 'Abyss did not 'want' me here. I was just a nuisance to it all!