Chronicles of Allesandra Quartermaine

Chapter One:
Death,Destruction and The Beginning of A Dark Witch

The young girl, about 14, looked at the scene in front of her, horror etched on her face and in her bright green eyes. She dropped the satchel in shock,apples spilling out on the redsoaked ground that were beneath her sandals. She was gone for nothing but an hour,down by the lake that served as trading post for muggles and magic....but in that hour horrible things had happened. The Muggle Ravagers,the ones that have been plaguing the cities,towns and villages for many moons have finally stuck Nor'Del, the magical community.

Outside the main temple the girl took in what should only belong in nightmares. The homes nearby were burned down to the ground,the people laying about the street murdered....even a few hanging from the trees,beaten and burned. Several of the adults were beheaded and their head were put on pikes. The roads were colored red from the dead dogs and cats and people.Some were hanging from the branches,others...others torn limb from limb were littering the streets and the Owlery was burned down to the ground as well. Up ahead, her home and home to others, the temple was in ruins. People lying on the steps, next to the doors that they couldn't shut in time. Running past them the young ril bursts inside to see everything ruined and scattered. Pottery shattered,tapestries destroyed and the brown wooden floors soaked in blood. Her mother...where was her mother?

"Allesandra..."a broken male voice called out, hoarse. "You live..."

The young girl turns to see her father...lying against a wall,his sword at his side.

"Papa,"she cries out and rushes over.


"Ahh..my child..."the man said,relief evident in his face.

"It was the Ravagers wasn't it?"

"Ravagers."the man confirmed,taking a shaky breath. "The ones from the north. Came up from behind. Caught us off gaurd,"he started to cough,holding his chest in pain.

"Where's Mother?"

The man closed his eyes in grief. "Gone, little Allesandra. She's gone like the others, and soon so will I."

"No...."

"Yes..listen to me my child. Take the powder and go to El Dorada. Most of our kind live there. Look for the family Torr'El. They will take you in. I have only a few minutes left and I do not want to hear any arguing, do you understand?"

Green eyes filled with tears as she looked at her dying father. Blood had covered his shirt and trousers and his face had cuts on him,but he still looked like the man she looked up to. A large hand lifted slightly and ran through her long red hair and then cupped her chin forcing watery green eyes to look into determined,but fading blue eyes.

"You have strength child. Do not let this destroy that strength. You lost much here, but in time you will overcome what you have lost. Do not let yourself hate muggles. For not all muggles are like the savage ones that overcame us. Keep this lesson in the back of your head always. Never take your gift for granted. Never expect it to always help you. Rely on your mind more than your gift. Do you understand?"

Allesandra nodded her father takes another labored breath. "You will do great things Allesandra. I can see it. You will be one of the strongest of our kind. Do not let anything stand in your way of greatness. Do not hesitate in anything you do. Do what you have to in order to survive." Her father grips her shoulder and stares at her intently. "Do not let mine or your mother's death be in vain child. Do what you can to survive. Promise me."

"I promise."

"Good. Take my sword. Keep it to remind you of your father. Never forget. Never forget what happened here and carry the message on. Never underestimate the power of the muggles my child."

"Yes papa."

The man nods,smiles and closes his eyes. "I must join your mother little one,"he murmurs leaning his head back against the wall. Seconds later,his breathing stops and his body leans to one side.
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Allesandra stared from the sidelines as witches and wizards set to work preparing the bodies of their fallen people. Within an hour after her father's death, news had reached others about the massacre of Nor'Del and several others had arrived including Carena Torr'El.

At the moment they were settling the dead on large stone slabs, preparing them for the honor fire funerals. After they burned their fallen, the ashes on the slabs would be casted with a protection and preservation charm,as would be the city. As a rememberence of what happened and would be later considered a place of honor.

Carlena had tried to take Allesandra away but she stubbornly refused. She wanted to watch and then set the torch to her parents,as was her right. Sadness over the situation left Allesandra already, and hatred and a deep need for revenge replaced it.

Her parents had gone down like fighters. Her mother,Havannah Toltos was a heavily respected witch, powerful and as fiery as her red hair. Before she died she had taken 12 Ravagers with her. Her father Nikolos Quartermaine, from one of the first families of magic was just like her mother. He was taught by a master swordsman and had an even fiery temper than her mother's. He had married Havannah just two weeks after meeting, claiming he had what he wanted and wasn't go to waste time. He had taken several Ravagers down as well, before succumbing to a stab wound to the chest.

"Ready child?"A dark skinned wizard asked Allesandra,jerking her out of her thoughts. He handed the flaming torch to her. "Your parents are ready."

Allesandra nodded and walked up the two large stone slabs. Tears threatened to escape as she looked at her parents but she forced herself not to let the drop. Tears wouldn't bring her parents back.

She set fire to the branches beneath her parents bodies and stepped back watching her parents being consumed by the blaze.

"Death,"She said quietly, "will not come to me...but the ones who brought this."

Authors Note: Please review. or email me and tell me what you think. RevvinRebel@aol.com