Different Worlds: A Possession Can Ruin Her.

By Amber Lim

'Do you believe in turning points of life?' Well, I do. My life changed forever, because of a trap, a twist and a secret.

Tessa Wolfe, 14, was nearly dead, after an unexpected incident. But from a little help of time twisting, she could live. However, this doesn't mean that she's safe. Hunted by an army of heirarchers, she had to flee, because she possesses a forbidden power that divulge ultimate secrets of the story Gods written down, for the humans, known as fate and destiny. Then, a little spark happened between Tessa and Asher Hunter, an avenger, who wasn't as eager to kill as the others were.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Nov 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781482892772

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Amber Lim.

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Contents

PREFACE

1

2

3

4

5

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8

9

10

11

12

13

14

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31

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

GLOSSARY

AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY

"Where there is desire there is gonna’ be a flame. Where there is a flame, someone’s bound to get burned. But just because it burns doesn’t mean you’re gonna’ die. You gotta’ get up and try.

—P!nk (Try)

To mom and the petty arguments we had before. 55349.png

PREFACE

‘Born under the moonlight,

There goes little Tessa,

So lovely and bright,

My little fella’.’

Mom hummed the song. The newborn baby closed her eyes. Mom smiled and muttered goodnight before giving her baby a little smooch on the cheek and exiting the room.

Several years later, Mom died. Mysteriously. How? No one knows. Only the people who did this know. Magic, fairies, they were all true. Even witches that ride on broomsticks wander around at night, searching for babies with special powers.

Mom hid baby up. Her last will was for her daughter to be safe. Tessa grew up to be a beautiful twelve year-old that year. Nanny Gemma had taken care of Tessa in Mom’s place, because Mom was always away, hiding from shadows and fearful creatures, lurking in the night. Luckily Mom shifted the magical beings’ attentions, and helped saved Tessa twelve years of good health and most importantly, time.

Now Tessa’s all-alone. But she wasn’t scared. Nor is she sad for her mother’s death. Her only memories of her mother were when she was still a helpless baby—which she had forgotten as she aged.

Not long after her mom’s death, Nanny Gemma left. She was reluctant to go, as she loves Tessa as her own daughter, but she has to if she wants to earn money for her family. Tessa smiled at her and told the crying nanny that she is capable of taking care of herself—which was a big fat lie. Tessa knows this more than anyone that she cannot live alone. She needs a mountain that she can lay her back on. Nanny left her a note. It was her mother’s last words to Tessa.

Dear daughter,

I knew all this would happen. I foresaw this. But there is no other way than for me to put you under trusted Nanny’s care while I run. I was doing my best at hiding, not letting the night creatures catch me. A lot of times I struggled away from their grasps, and ended up limping, dragging myself to the shed. Yours will gradually develop, and I do hope it’s later than I expected. If you developed your eyes too early, you’ll receive the same fate as me. I’m sorry you were destined to be one of the clairvoyants. Nasty talents they are, before, after, even now, they are fated to be killed. Be prepared.

Know that what I’m doing is purely benefitted by you. I did this for you. I’m sorry for the years that I weren’t by your side, like how a caring mother should be. But I cannot do anything. You needed time to see the world. I did what I thought was right—just like my mother did. You’ll understand my actions one day soon, and we’ll just hope that day doesn’t come early.

I need to tell you I love you, and I’ll always be there for you, no matter what. We are the Diviners, clairvoyants. Diviners are forbidden as they divulge providence. I hope you’re strong enough to change that reality. Make your life different—make them shine.

I love you, my little Wolfe.

Yours,

Mom.

55221.png

Tessa always thought that the letter was of no use. But the one day that fate changed her life forever; she finally was able to understand the deep meanings that the brown letter held.

The ancient powers finally revealed.

1

Hi. I’m Tessa Wolfe. I would like to think myself normal, even if I’m not. Maybe you could just coordinate with me and think me as a normal teenager too. That would please me.

Who are my parents now? Where do I live? I don’t know. It seems like Mom arranged some sort of adoptive parents for me before she—you know… died. She might’ve known that Nanny Gemma would leave. I stayed with the Moons for a week, and the Jenkins the next. Mr. and Mrs. Moon have no children; neither did Mr. Jenkins and his wife. So my life is basically changing environments and adapting to both places each week. My mind clicks and my senses change their way of sensing things once I step in different homes. Mom might’ve paid them everything before she died.

I hate it when Nanny Gemma goes on about clairvoyants and fortunetellers and such. Before I was hundred percent presuming it was fake. But know I’m starting to have doubts about my opinion and points of view. Maybe they were real? I shake my head and convince myself that I’m overthinking, every time.

I don’t like the Moons, but the Jenkins treat me good. Maybe Mom gave them higher pay. I grew up to be a realistic girl. Since everyone left me since my mother’s death. Including my warm nanny. I don’t trust anybody at all now. So I didn’t trust my fake parents, either. Regardless of how hard they took care of me. They are just there for me, grumpily, for the money! What other reasons are there for them to adopt a gloomy little child like me, who favors nothing but loneliness? No one not crazy, it seems.

I was homeschooled. By whom? The Jenkins. The Moons rarely paid any attention to me. I dragged my stuff from the Jenkins to the Moons just to live there for a week, and to eat there for a week, before coming back to the Jenkins. The Moons are boring. I do what I want, and never get scolded when I broke vases. As I said, maybe there were just jealous that Mom paid them lower bucks. I’m positive about that.

So, let’s start by flash backing to the regular dull Monday at the Moons. The curtains were closed and the sofas patched black. It wouldn’t be a surprise if anyone were told that a bear ransacked the house yesterday. Messy as ever.

‘Hey Charles, hey Ruby,’ I muttered and fiddled with my portable keyboard.

‘Don’t play with that. It’s noisy,’ Charles commanded gloomily, showing me his displeased face. I rolled my eyes.

‘Just so you know, adoptive dad, it’s not. If you want, I can play Swan Lake, so that it won’t be as rocky, and if you want, I can play softly, so that it won’t be as noisy,’ I said, letting the venom lace in between the words, for all I care. That shut him up. His charcoal eyes darken and his face felt droopier than ever. Grunting, he left the room, with Mrs. Moon trailing after him, glaring at me non-stop until she was out of sight. It’s easy to outwit those two old couples. ‘And if you want, I can play Maroon 5 loudly!’ I yelled purposely and hit the keys hardly. The music came out nice, but very loud. I can hear Mr. Moon hit the walls in frustration upstairs in his room. He must be so annoyed that he can do nothing about my playing music. Good. Because that’s what I hope he’d be. Annoyed.

Hitting the keys louder with my left hand, I grabbed some fries with my right hand. I don’t exactly love fries, but they are okay. I flicked on the TV.

‘Coming up next… the ABC song!’ the narrator started to say charismatically—I flicked it back off. The Moons has only childish programs for toddlers, and because they think I am one, they purchased the package for the channel just for me. But sadly, they should just go find another little girl to flatter, because I don’t appreciate their effort at all. Other than the children’s channel, there was no more other programs on TV, so my only entertainment is none other than daydreaming.

‘Annoying box of wonders,’ I mumbled and munched on one last fry before getting up and heading for my room. It was forbidden to venture upstairs, into the couples’ little territory, although I insisted that we should act like real family and let each other know each other’s secrets. Of course, that was just a lie, and an excuse to snoop into their weird business. Even if I were to share any secrets with them, they must be all made up. No doubt about that. I thought maybe I could lend this chance to snoop around upstairs. It’s not like the Moons could do anything to me. I’m leaving next week anyway.

I put down my headphones and sneaked upstairs. Some of the wood needs repairing, because it creaks softly whenever I stepped on a sensitive part. It’s definitely no surprise to see the cobwebs and little insects that occupied the dirty corners. If you think I’m like those girly girls who scream, you’re wrong. I love insects, very much. Yeah, you’re right. I’m crazy. I can’t help it, since they’re the only ones there without me hiring them and paying them money. They don’t exactly love my music, but I still like them anyway. I have Georgia the Spider in a casket in my room. I know she’s not an insect, but I love her equally. There’s even a beetle named Paul. Linda the Butterfly was released when I let her go out for a little walk in the sunshine. She never came back. So I learned to not choose insects that fly after that, and so, I adopted a precious grasshopper to replace Linda. And there’s this little flying bug that I had before Linda. She never left me. Even after going out for a tan under the sun. She is my favorite, so I put her in the ruby casket my mom gave me as a one-month-old birthday present—Rhea’s a moth. I named Rhea (the moth) after the mythical mother of the twin brothers of Rome—Remus and Romulus. She’s (the mother) a descendant of Aeneas. Rhea (the moth) is the prettiest one I’ve ever seen. She has two blue mystical eyes on her wings. Beautiful things she is. She doesn’t really like being under the sun. She always stays in her little ruby home. Just like me. I love being alone, with my little pets. Be it in the dark. I must say Rhea’s personality reflects me just right. I hate Mom. So I hate to admit that Mom loved moths too. She also had a pink moth. I love blue moths better, because they seem more magical, but it’s not like I’ve seen any blue moths before and after I found Rhea. Pink Moth died with my mom. She was found dead lying beside Mom.

I slapped my head softly to remove past memories from it. They hurt.

It’s cramped up there. The stairs were long, but there’s only a room upstairs, right in front of a little ragged carpet. The creaky wooden door looked like one in a haunted house. I peered into a hole in the door. Scanning the room with my one eye, I can see that the room is quite empty, except for large bottles of mineral water and used pizza boxes scattered on the floor. The couple was gone. I wonder where they went. They can’t possibly come down. If they did, I would’ve been caught sneaking and loitering at the stairs. Then how did they leave? I tapped my nail on my jaw and pushed open the door bravely. Thankfully it wasn’t locked. It’s dusty. And absolutely dark. But I don’t mind it. I don’t have sensitive nose, either. Maybe my senses just adapted with this rotten environment at the Moons’. The Jenkins keep their house cozy and clean every time, and it’s too bright in there for my taste. But I survived anyway.

‘What’s this?’ I whispered to myself as I touched a large scar on the wall. The wallpaper was torn and scratched. What happened here? Don’t tell me bears do live here? Nah! Again with the overthinking, Tessa! I kicked something with my socked foot. Bending my knees, I picked up the little embroidered medallion. Hm. I flipped it over and caressed a finger over the detailed fragments and indents. Flowers and foreign words were carved into the golden metal and crystals sat in their dents.

‘Of course! I’ll send it to you right away!’ I heard Charles Moon’s voice booming together with the creak of stairs. I have to hide. Right away. I cannot be caught. I quickly hid behind a curtain with the medallion in my hand.

‘Yeah, it’s right he—why is this door ajar? I left it close just now. Ah no, I was just talking to myself. You were saying?’ The door pushed open. It seems like Charles is having a call with someone. ‘Yes, yes, of course! You’ll receive the medallion in no time. I can too get rid of the wretched kid. If it weren’t for the medallion—’ I heard him stop and scrambled around the room, kicking things about. ‘Where is the medallion?’ he screeched impatiently. He hastily threw his phone on the ground and grinded his teeth. ‘Where. Is. Tessa?’ he asked Mrs. Moon, that had just squeezed her plump body through the narrow door.

‘She’s not in the house,’ Mrs. Moon answered fearfully.

‘She has the medallion!’ Charles bellowed.

‘Oh no!’ Mrs. Moon gasped.

I have the medallion, so what? Busy in my thoughts, I didn’t notice the room fall silent. Under curiosity and desire to run away, I shifted the curtain a little and saw no one. I sighed and walked out.

‘Got you!’ I felt a large hand grip my shoulder. I jumped and shuddered. I turned around to see Charles Moon laughing menacingly at me. His yellow eyes widened at me and he snickered, showing his decayed row of teeth.

‘Naughty girl! We took care of you, but what did you repay us with?’ Ruby Moon seethed through her incomplete teeth.

‘I—’ I backed away until my back hit the windowpane. The two freakish people came closer, threatening me with just their eyes. ‘Hell, just stop bothering me!’ I yelled and lifted the window before jumping through it. I quickly ran away, in my hands, the ruby casket of the moth, and the other, the medallion. If they need it so much, I might as well take it. I know I’m looking for trouble, but who doesn’t love some risks?

‘Come back, filthy girl!’ I heard the Moons’ voice shrieking. The sound stretched widely across the neighborhood.

No place to stay, I have to wander helplessly outside the Jenkins’ street. Even without the money, I could at least get a free of charge day sleep at their house. At least I hope so.

I hitched a helpless breath and pressed the doorbell. A merry tune chimed loudly inside the house. Rhonda Jenkins trotted out in her Mickey Mouse apron and a spatula in her hand, her red hair piled up messily on her head. She didn’t look surprise to see me standing by the door. Instead, she opened the gate and invited me in without any further questions. And I was thankful for that. I’m not sure if I want to talk about the horrible experience at the Moons’ after the just-five-minutes-before incident.

‘Hello dear,’ she cooed as she puffed up her red cheeks and tilted her smoky specs. ‘I was cooking. Baking, specifically, and I found out I don’t have baking genes, so I moved on to the next big thing—eggs!’ She sang shrilly to emphasize the last word. She has always been extra cheerful and crazy, so I don’t mind listening to her meaningless babble anymore. I could even use it as a relaxation lullaby to go to sleep easily.

‘Mm hm.’ I bobbed my head up and down. She looked at me and ruffled my hair.

‘You’re so cute!’ she said in a shaky voice.

‘Uh thanks?’ I muttered, rubbing my thumb on the medallion. Rhonda saw it, but she didn’t ask me anything. And again, I was grateful for that. She patted my shoulder and gave me a slight push into the house before locking the doors. I never noticed the large number of latches on the door even though I come here every week. Rhonda quickly latched them all, and even swirled a heavy metal chain to secure the door handle.

‘Uh so, Rhonda… I just left for two days and you’re up with this high security system? So what are we supposed to do? Why do I feel like we’re running away from something?’ I raised my eyebrow, still standing. If I was the me last week, I would immediately flop on the bed and sleep while listening to music.

Rhonda turned away from the door to look at me, looking exhausted and relieved. I don’t get her. She forced a nervous smile and wiped away a drop of sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand. Finally, she dropped her shaking hand to both sides of her slim body. She licked her dry lips, not sure what to say.

‘Why, sweetie, just go sleep on the sofa for now,’ she said expressionlessly. No matter how much effort she put in to make me relax, I can’t. And it’s making everything worse.

‘Just tell me, or I won’t fulfill my wish to shatter my strong déjà vu now,’ I verbalized warily. I was looking at her dangerously. I stretched my dominance as far as I can go, and it worked, at least a bit.

‘First, I have been keeping high guard and security ever since you joined Jonathan and me. You just didn’t care about anything back then, and slouch on the sofa once you’re here, so you never noticed me latching all the locks. Second, you’re not ready for anything that’s coming onto you. I won’t tell you the actual truth of your destiny, but I can tell you why I’m here taking care of you, if only you would go to sleep and have tea or something, just… rest, and I’ll answer everything that you question. However, anything about…’ She seemed to struggle to find the appropriate word to continue her sentence. ‘Your karma, I won’t answer.’

‘Karma? Seriously? Why, Rhonda? Just tell me why. Ten reasons and I’ll back away.’ I put my hands on my hips and stared at her. I never talked to her like that, and we never had a conversation longer than three minutes a day. It’s quite weird that we’re having a topic to discuss about now.

‘One, you’re not ready, as I told you, to face your fate. Second, I don’t want to tell you. Third, your mom asked me not to, but grant me permission if I must. Fourth, I can’t tell you. Fifth, I was appointed to keep you safe at all costs, even if it requires my life. Sixth, I’ll be your pillar, and you don’t need to ask me what that means. It’s all in the contract. Seventh, if I tell you, you will be in danger. Eighth, I’m sure Jon won’t approve. Ninth, I will hate myself for betraying your mom. Tenth, I don’t want to betray your mom. Is this enough? Can you go sleep now?’ she asked, a firm tone in her voice. She never talks to me like that. Feeling a sudden pressure, I reluctantly dragged myself to the sofa and switched on the TV, beckoning myself to sleep.

‘Some of them doesn’t even make sense,’ I muttered under my breath, thinking that Rhonda won’t hear that. Shockingly, she replied me.

‘You asked for ten reasons, not ten logical speculation,’ she answered smartly while she hurried to close the curtains. The purple curtains draped over the large transparent sliding door. I winced. The room suddenly felt dark, and it reminds me of the Moons’.

‘Can you please keep that open?’ I kindly asked.

‘Why?’ she ventured, squinting. She sounded out of breath.

I didn’t reply. When I kept silent for too long, and when we were just staring out our eyes at each other, she finally spoke. She offered to switch on every single light in the house. The Jenkins normally hang up their curtains to let the sunrays to shine into the house. So you might’ve guessed that they have very little lights in the house. With no other choice, I nodded my head meekly. Happy for my obedience, Rhonda beamed and cut out frowning as she skipped away to switch on the lights.

‘Here’s some juice. You love them. Drink up and sleep.’ Rhonda placed a glass of orange juice on the table softly and patted my head before heading towards the kitchen.

‘Where’s Jon?’ I suddenly asked as I sipped the juice. My eyes never left Rhonda’s frozen body.