1 Chapter 1 - The Raven
It was August 2005 and it was the hottest day of the summer (so far.). The temperature reached as high as 92 degrees Fahrenheit but it began to draw to a close at last. As the sun slowly set in the west, an eerie silence fell over the park on the corners of Jefferson Street and South 15th Street in Hollywood, Florida. As the sun set, most of the children and their parents retreated to their cars and drove home or walked across the street to retreat into their air-conditioned homes. But only two people were left outdoors, watching the glowing yellow-orange sphere disappear into the western sky as a Spot-breasted Oriole sang beautifully. They had recently finished the 4th Grade of Elementary School and began to look forward to their 5th year of school which was about to happen in about 1 week's time and then the year after that: middle school.
One was an 11-year-old boy sitting on the bench. He was a curly brown-haired, brown-eyed, bespectacled lad who was about the height of a 17-year-old high school baseball player but he seemed like he was in good shape. He wore a gray flat cap that looked like it was about 50 years old. His name was James Evercreetch. The other was a young girl who was about the same age as him and looked like him too. She had brown hair as well, but she had blue eyes and ear gauges in her ears. Her name was Melissa Evercreetch. She almost had the same appearance as her mother. She was his twin sister. Melissa was born six minutes before James and she did not let her brother forget it, but despite this, they were best friends. Melissa loved her brother dearly and was willing to do anything to protect him, including from bullies, but they love to compete against each other. A group of 6 boys, including a blonde kid and his younger brother, came right up to the twins. James looked right at them while his sister was looking at a magazine.
"Hey, Ronnie," said James. "Beat up another 6-year-old"?
"This one deserved it," Ronnie said.
His friends agreed: "Yeah."
One of his friends, Jacob, said, "You guys missed it. Ronnie gave the kid an amazing right hook. It was awesome. He begged for mercy like a dog, didn't he?".
His friends said, "Hell yeah."
"6 against 1. That's very brave," said Melissa, who talked while she read her book.
"We'll see you later, you guys," said Mike, who was one of Ronnie's friends. Immediately after they left, Melissa jumped off of the bench and darted out to the middle of the baseball field. James followed soon after. "Mel, what are you doing?!" James asked Melissa.
"We can't just leave that little kid there alone. We need to take him home!" The 6-year-old boy was laying unconscious, flat on the ground, all beaten and sore, complete with a black eye covered in dirt from the baseball diamond. "Are you okay?", said Melissa. The young boy looked up at her as she cradled him in her arms. The young boy said: "I think so." James soon came to his sister's side. Melissa asked what his name was.
The boy replied: "My name is David."
"Hi David, I'm Melissa and this is James. He's my twin brother."
"Hi,"said James.
"Can you take me home?" said David.
"Sure. James, let's go!" said Melissa.
"Hey David," James said to the young boy while he held his hand. "When I was your age, I was bullied a lot, but I had my sister to protect me. She's a tough girl. If there's one thing I learned from getting bullied it's that you should never let them get under your skin. Stick up for yourself but don't lash out. It will make things worse. Those guys who just beat you up are nothing but a bunch of cowards. You need to stand your ground and fight."
"I don't know how to fight!" David said. Melissa replied, "Just think of someone or something that you hate." They took the young boy to his house across the street. When the twins told the boy's mother what happened to her son, she was appalled and then they went home. "That was some nice advice you gave the kid," Melissa said to her brother. "I learned it from you," said James. She smiled at him.
At the same time, 1400 miles away from Florida, tucked away in the Berkshire Mountains of New England, was Mount Greylock, the highest mountain in Massachusetts. On top of it was a large castle. It wasn't just any castle, it was a school called Ilvermorny School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry. Many people in the towns below have claimed to have seen this castle, as well as hikers on the Appalachian Trail, in which Mount Greylock is on. However, it was well-hidden by the mist and forest and the spells that surrounded the school. Emaline Goode, a young woman, who was about 27 years old with red hair eyes and green eyes, was the Deputy Headmistress of the school. She was tasked with writing acceptance letters for the class of 2012. Next on her list was James Evercreetch, followed by his twin sister, Melissa. As she finished writing the twins' letters, she placed a pair of gold pendants in the shape of a Trinity Knot in both of their envelopes. "Morrigan!" she yelled and then whistled and summoned forth a very large black raven that flew to her desk. "How are you doing, girl?" She said as she gave the raven.
"Come on, Morrigan. We're taking a ride to Florida," Emaline said. "We're gonna go look for James and Melissa Evercreetch."
She grabbed the took her broomstick in her hand and mounted it and then jumped out the window and began to fly. She had begun her long journey from Massachusetts to Florida.
Two weeks had past and James and his sister had begun their fifth year of elementary school. Both had placed in the same class and, of course, sat next to each other. As Melissa was working on an assignment, she overheard two girls talking about her and gave them both a swift, piercing look with her sapphire blue eyes. They widened as if she was about to kill them. "What was that you just did?", one of the girls asked Melissa. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. "What was what?" asked Melissa. "Never mind." the girl said.
"What's wrong, Mel?" James asked her. Melissa raised her hand straight into the air. "Miss Larson, can I use the bathroom real quick?" Miss Larson said, "Go ahead Melissa and bring your brother. Don't be gone too long." The twins went straight into the hallway. Melissa had a look of shock on her face. A few seconds later, the girl and her friend's hair all turned pink. She started screaming and the entire class was howling with laughter.
"Melissa, what happened?" James asked. "I just turned that girl's hair pink," said Melissa. "What?" said James. "I know it sounds weird but it feels like magic," Melissa said to her brother very nervously. After they finished school, their parents took them to the doctor to see if anything was wrong with her.
"Can I speak to the both of you alone?" the doctor said to her mom and dad. "Yes," said Mom. They went into the doctor's office and Dad closed the door and walked to the hallway. The doctor said, "Well, there's no easy way to put this, your daughter is fine, but I think she has just discovered her magical power. As for your son, I have no idea what it is. It will take him some time"
They both looked at each other with shock and happiness. "Have your children received their letters from Ilvermorny yet?" the doctor asked.
Both of them nodded no.
"Well, when they do, I think it should be time for you to tell them both the truth."
They both agreed.
As August turned into September, it was still punishingly humid but it began slightly cool down. The twins had entered their fourth week of 5th grade and they both had received a large pile of homework that awaited them both once they returned home. The raven is known as "Morrigan" had finally reached Florida with the letters for James and Melissa Evercreetch along with its master, Emaline Goode, the young deputy headmistress of Ilvermorny. "There they are," she said. "Go get them." The raven flew in low towards them both. Melissa looked up and poked her brother and pointed up towards the sky.
"What's that bird, James?" Melissa said. "It's a Common Raven," he said. "No, not that." she said, pointing at the sky." Who is that?" James looked up. "I think that's a witch on a broomstick," said James.
She wore a jacket and a pointed hat on her head, carrying a messenger bag. Emaline made a perfect landing on the ground in front of the twins and walked towards them.
"Melissa, get behind me," James said nervously. She held her brother's hand very tightly as James prepared for a fight.
"Shh. It's okay." Emaline said gently. "Don't be afraid. I'm not gonna hurt you. Are you James and Melissa Evercreetch, by any chance?"
They both nodded "yes".
"Who are you, ma'am?" Melissa asked.
"I'll tell you later, but first, I have something for you, the both for you," said Emaline. She took the two envelopes from her messenger bag and gave them both to the twins. The first letter had been addressed to James so plainly there was no mistake:
Mr. J. Evercreetch
1653 Plunkett St.
Hollywood, Florida
The United States Of America
Melissa's letter read the same thing. It was thick and heavy, made of yellowish paper, and the address was written in dark blue ink. There was no stamp. Turning it over, they both saw a green wax seal bearing a crest with the blazon in the form of a shamrock containing four animals on each of the four leaves: a bird resembling an eagle with three sets of wings, a panther-like creature with six legs, a serpent with horns and a human-like creature bearing a shield and a bow and arrow, all surrounded by ribbons. There was something else inside along with the letter, it felt like it was made of metal.
"Take me to your house," said Emaline. "I would like to speak to your parents. Hop on." She took James and Melissa on her broomstick. Neither of them had ever seen a broomstick. Not one that could fly through. She flew them both to their home.
"Nice little house you guys have," she said. Emaline then knocked on the front door and Mom opened the door.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Evercreetch," Emaline said. "I am from Ilvermorny School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry and I would like to speak with you and your husband about something." She let her in, along with James and Melissa. "If you wouldn't mind Mrs. Evercreetch, I would like some tea, please." Emaline said. "I have had a very long journey."
