“Star of Mendel,

Hear my call.

See the ancient words,

Incased within.

Hear the wind howl,

With the wolves.

Hear me, See me,

Heed me.

With six points,

I show my calls,

And the power within.

Come forth to the points.

And bend my will.

My life I’ll gladly give—

Star of Mendel,

Hear me call.”

The lady grinned evilly as she glanced at the roughly drawn star. “That should do the trick for you. That should do it.” Far away in a manor by the seaside, a cry was heard as the skies turned gray and Death floated by with a candle. The smoke rose into the air, as the flame of life was extinguished.

Ten Years Later

Afriendea sat under the gnarled oak tree remising of the past. She was told her mother died after a bout of sickness. However, Afriendea knew different. That fateful night from long ago was forever planted in her mind. The strange mystery that wove wispy strands tightly around her mind as Afriendea yearned to find more. What really caused her mother’s death? She knew it was something out of ordinary for sure.

Flashback

A little girl of seven or eight with bouncy red curls in her hair ran into a dark, dim room that smelled strongly of herbs and decaying flesh.

“Mommy, Mommy!” Clutching her freshly picked flowers the little girl moved closer to the large bed.

“Yes Afri?” The mother whispered using her nickname.

“Mommy, I found some pretty flowers in the meadow for you.” Afri offered the neatly plucked violets to her.”

“Thank you, dear” The mother barely got the word out when she started coughing violently.

Frighten and overwhelmed with fear, Afri ran out of the room.

“Mommy’s coughing, Mommy’s coughing,” she cried running to the healers. With a sudden storm of dust they marched into the room and shut the door snugly against the wooden frame. Frantic with worry Afri sprinted to her room, and crawled under her bed. There in the enclosed cramped space, she lifted a flap and clambered into it. Traveling quickly through the dark tunnel, Afri found a loose stone in the wall. Pulling it aside Afri looked down at the healers bustling about for herbs, water and whatnot.

Surveying the chamber slowly Afri glimpsed something peculiar. Peering closer, she saw a think smoky thread edging its way to the bed slowly. Carefully it divided in half. The first part traveled delicately into her mother’s throat, while the other split itself into several strands and wrapped its thin arm firmly around her mother. Afri watched as her mother struggled for air, thrashing and kicking at the smoky foe in vain.

With a last breath of air, the mother died, as Death blew out the flame on a white candle in the shadows ‘round the corner of the room. Sadden Afri rushed down the hidden tunnel and bursted into the room. “Mommy! Mommy! Please wake up,” she pleads. “Mommy! Mommy!” The cries went unheeded as the skies drooped to night and rose to the early rays of dawn.

Present

Thump! Startled Afri looked up. Amidst the leaves turning a wrinkle brown was Alan chewing an apple innocently. “Hello, do you want an apple?” Sighing Afri replied “NO” sharply. “Are you sure? Quite red this fall batch. Very juicy and quite sweet. Oh, it’s simply wonderful. Nice crunch to it. Oh, and none of them are bruised.”

Afri moaned as Alan went into his long chat about apples, fall, how the weather affect apples, apples, how birds love to eat apples, food made with apples, different type of apples, and oh apples! Alan could never get his mind off apples. It was his favorite fruit, kind of pie, pastry, sweet. He loved apple too darn much.

“Alan, Shut it with the apple talk.”

“But, but…I love apples. They’re really good this time of year.” Alan remarked. After a few seconds of silence…”Alan, Shut it”

“Apple is—“

“Nope, not a word. Shut it with the apple talk.”

“Fine, shutting” Alan stuck his tongue out at her.

Afri groan. “Now let’s go back to the manor.”