Thanks to hells666angel for reviewing. I appreciate it and hope that the update came quick enough for you.

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17th Entry

December 27, 2006

Dear Phoebe,

We cannot allow you to be forced into a marriage that you do not want. From everything you’ve told me about the suitors and your father, it is obvious that he does not care about what you want or what is in your best interest. If there is any way I can come to where you are, I would gladly try to get you out of this dilemma.

Your home sounds so beautiful, like a perfect scene to capture on paper. Perhaps if there is a way I can make it to your home I will bring my sketchbook with me so you can see the sketches yourself; I’m not a big fan of trying to reproduce my work.

Anyway, I shall try to keep this message brief. How soon can you arrange for me to come?

Melinda

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Entry 12

Day 360 Year 2006

Dear Melinda,

It will not take me long at all to prepare for your coming. Bring what you need and be sure you are holding it. I will call for you at sunset tonight.

Try to wear as conservative clothes as you can, preferably a long skirt and simple top.

Phoebe

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Phoebe closed the journal and hid it under the loose floorboard beneath her bed. Standing up she rushed to gather what she needed for Melinda’s coming. It would not take long at all for the preparations as she had been hoping something like this would happen for quite some time, even when it seemed as if there was no one around

If she could escape from her father’s clutches then there was a chance she could go to her mother’s home and join the community that would never dare treat her as nothing more than property.

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Melinda was almost surprised to see the words appearing on the page just after she finished with her entry. Phoebe’s handwriting was still neat but also had a rushed feel to it. After reading it all she stood up and walked over to her closet and began to dig through it, searching for clothes that would suit the needs of the travels.

She didn’t really know what to expect, especially when it came to how she was going to get to where Phoebe lived. She believed in magick but was that enough to get her there? Melinda sighed, and then smirked when she finally found what she had been searching for. She pulled the dark blue almost floor length skirt out of the closet and tossed it over onto her bed.

‘Yay for being a packrat,’ she thought as she dug for the boots and top that went with the skirt. After several minutes of searching she pulled those out as well and tossed them on the bed. Then, grabbing the simple knapsack by her bed, she dumped out the contents and put her sketchbook, pencils both colored and standard, a few granola bars, and various other small items into the bag.

‘That should do it,’ she thought.

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Phoebe took everything she needed and placed it into a small bag before hiding it in her room. She knew the only safe place to bring Melinda here was at the beach. If she just showed up here with no explanation inside the home, Father would be suspicious. But if someone showed up on the beach having had a long journey and needed a place to stay, Phoebe knew she could at least get her father to let Melinda stay for one night.

She sat down on her bed and sighed. The magick she would be wielding later that night meant she needed to mentally prepare for it. She had only performed smaller works before. Her eyes closed and she sank into herself, thinking of what would occur later.

For the rest of the day, nothing bothered Phoebe. She made an attempt to be civil with the numerous suitors and did not hole herself up in her room as she usually did. Then, as it neared sunset, Phoebe grabbed her bag of supplies and snuck out of her home, heading to the beach.

It was time.