manda . r a i

[[EXTRAORDINARY]] PAGE TEN

Kevin pulled up to a house in a dark neighborhood. The car looked lost in this neighborhood of darkness. Scraggly trees lined the sidewalk, dead leaves tumbled down the street. It looked like a ghost town, the houses seemed vacant, rundown; their lawns were overgrown with weeds. Flowers were choked by unusual looking plants, their petals wilted and dried. Sandra felt anxious, she expected to be jumped by masked men carrying guns, demanding money from her. She scooted closer to Kevin, who seemed unfazed by the condition of the neighborhood. The sky grew dark, clouds rolled in. Sandra wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep warm.

It's ok, don't worry Sandra, everything is ok. But look, it's so dark and terrifying and it's going to storm. I didn't even bring a jacket. Don't worry Sandra, Kevin will help you. Trust Kevin Sandra, trust him.

"Don't be afraid Sandra, no one is going to jump you," Kevin seemed to have read her thoughts. He patted her hand, which was freezing cold. "Wow, you're chilly! Let's get you inside where it's warm."

Sandra was too bothered to notice that they had stopped in front of a house. The house's dark green paint was peeling, it's windows were boarded up. Sandra could see that parts of it were broken. The lawn was somewhat better kept than the other ones, but it's grass hadn't been cut in a long time. It reached up to Sandra's knees. The stone pathway had plenty of potholes, and Sandra frequently tripped. The old wooden door was weather-beaten, it was cracking in some spots. Cobwebs hung over the door, making a thick net. Sandra huddled closer to Kevin, she felt safer that way. Kevin put an arm around her and rapidly knocked on the door.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Sandra heard an old woman mumble inside the house. Slow, steady footsteps approached the door. "Kevy? Is that you?"

"Yeah, grandma, it's me. I brought Sandra," Kevin looked down and winked at Sandra, hoping to make her feel better. Sandra gave him a small smile.

Sandra heard a lock turn in the door with a sharp click. The door creaked open, and a tall woman appeared. She didn't look as old as she sounded. Her skin was creased by laughter lines; and her hair hadn't lost its color, it was a lustrous reddish-brown. Her eyes were elegant and high, her lips were pursed in a small apple shape. Her cheekbones stood out; she had a proud nose like Kevin, straight with a slight crook in the middle. She wore a simple, yet mature black skirt reaching to her ankles. She had on a scoop-neck dark purple top; gold chains, beads, and mysterious looking necklaces hung from her neck. She raised her hand at Kevin, and Sandra saw many heavy silver and gold rings on them. In fact, she could pass for Kevin's mother. "Come, come in Kevin, come Sandra," She whispered; her voice though, sounded much like the door creaking open. It was scratchy, yet cryptic. She sounded like a woman of great wisdom.

Kevin stepped into the house, Sandra followed. Sandra's shoes clicked on the Spanish-tiled floor. She looked around in amazement. The damp musty air smelled of candles and incense. Sandra saw that was because the house was lit by candles, and candles only. There was no electrical appliance in sight. Shadows danced on the wall, mysterious cabinets stood in corners of the room. Thick heavy curtains covered the boarded windows. An old-fashioned antique table stood in the center of the living room, with matching chairs sitting around it. A heavy glass vase sat on top of the table, it's flowers fresh; it seemed out of place compared to the gloom around it. Off in the back room was a kitchen, Sandra smelled strange fragrances coming from it. Kevin's grandmother motioned for Sandra and Kevin to sit down at the table. They obeyed. Kevin's grandmother went to the kitchen to get something. She came back with two cups of coffee.

"Here you go my children, something to warm your souls up with," she smiled, showing a perfect row of pearl-white teeth. Her gnarled hands set the cups of steaming hot coffee in front of Sandra and Kevin. "Now," she said as she took a seat at the head of the table, "I shall introduce myself properly." She smiled again, folded her hands, and continued, "I, as you know, am Kevin's grandmother. I am Zanderia Porsheta. I have been studying this Craft for many years now, since I was eleven in fact. I now am seventy-four, with only 3 weeks until my seventy-fifth birthday, when I lose all my powers. You see, I need to find someone else that I can teach the Craft to, before I lose my powers. That's why you are here Sandra," Zanderia gave a slight nod to Sandra. "You are here to help me."

What is she talking about? I'm going to help her? How can I help? I don't even know what powers she's talking about! Relax Sandra, relax, it's ok, Zanderia will teach you the craft. Don't worry.

"You have the spirit inside you my child, you have the potential to be a great Craftmaster. You have the power inside you already my child, all you have to do is to wake it up and use it." Zanderia reached over and patted Sandra's hand.

Sandra took a sip of her coffee to help her grasp the idea of what Zanderia was telling her. She stared intensely into her coffee cup, steam curled up from it, burning her eyes. What should I do? What is this Craft? Do I even want to learn it? Learn it Sandra, you will learn it from Zanderia. It will help you, it will help you against Rachel and them. It will Sandra, it will.

Sandra sighed, "so when do I start Zanderia?"

Zanderia grinned, "How about right now, my child?" Sandra agreed.

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