Into the Nights

As a child, my mother frequently told me enthralling stories - portraying the never-ending struggle between darkness and light. I would always look forward to her stories, which would be very entertaining. Her constant message was that darkness holds malevolence while light embodies positivity and virtue. Her belief was that the power of light was the sole means by which darkness could be defeated. The resounding message she would consistently convey in her stories is that light will perpetually prevail over the darkness.

"Don't worry, Alassandra, light always wins," my mother would say, as she kissed my forehead and tucked the blanket around me.

Now that she's gone, I miss those stories.

As I reflect on my upbringing, one of the most prominent memories I have is observing my father, who had a career as a lawyer. Dedicating countless hours to his work, often working late into the night. In all of Moro County, my father worked for one of the most well-respected law firms. Given the widespread speculation about his unmatched talent, it came as no surprise that they gave him all the captivating cases, so to speak.

Within our small town, my mother had ownership of an herbal store. While she also worked hard, it was my father's career that truly captivated my interest. One of my biggest aspirations as a child was to grow up and be exactly like him. He was my idol, and I was unwavering in my commitment to walk the same path as him. I can proudly say that during my academic journey, I consistently worked hard and gave my all, resulting in me consistently earning top grades. Because I was determined to make my father proud.

When I was ten, my father assumed the responsibility of a massive case requiring him to be on the road often. It wasn't until around summer that I overheard my parents arguing about something that my mother called "The Valerious."

When I approached them with my inquiry, they responded by silencing me and advising me to erase any recollection of what I had just heard. I was determined to find out what was happening, so I snooped around and found a file in my father's briefcase with the word "Valerious" written on it. Just as I had taken the file to my room and concealed it under my mattress, my father's voice echoed through the house, summoning me downstairs.

"Alassandra Khairi, come down, sweetheart," my father called.

"Coming!" I yelled as I closed my bedroom door and rushed downstairs.

"Yes, father," I said as I entered the living room.

"Ahhh, there she is," he replied with a smile as he walked over, took my hand, and led me to the couch.

As I glanced over, I realized that my mother, who rarely exhibited such a serious demeanor, was standing by the fireplace with a grave expression on her face. I was so engrossed in deciphering my mother's expression that I completely missed the woman standing in the corner of the living room.

"Who is she?" I asked my father as we sat down. My father smiled and patted my head as he gestured for the woman and my mother to take a seat. As soon as they did, my father began to explain.

"Your mother and I wanted to tell you in person rather than in a note like we normally would that we have to go away for a while for work purposes," he said.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. My parents never traveled for work together. My father always would leave, and my mother would stay with me.

"Why are both of you going?" I asked.

He glanced at my mother and replied, "Your mother has to help me with this case.".

I turned to look at her, and at first, I thought I saw a faint hint of fear in her eyes, but as quickly as I saw it, it disappeared.

"Mother, who will watch me?" I asked her, placing my hand on top of hers.

With a smile on her face, my mother turned her attention towards the woman who was seated on the other couch. The woman's hair, a beautiful shade of silver, was skillfully braided into a neat French braid, complementing her bright green eyes that gleamed against her creamy white skin. Her pink pouty lips were beautifully accentuated by a small smile, while her attire, comprising black leather pants, a tight black shirt, and a long black coat, exuded an air of sophistication. In the dimly lit room, her nails stood out with their deep maroon polish, while her jewelry shimmered and caught the eye. There was a certain aura about her that radiated confidence and grace.

"This is Yadhira. She will be taking care of you while we are away," my mother replied. I turned and looked at Yadhira. She smiled politely as she spoke.

"Hello, Alassandra, my dear. It is nice to finally meet you," she said. The woman's green eyes stared into my hazel brown eyes, and as I looked into them, they seemed to glow.

I smiled at her and returned my attention to my parents.

"When will you return?" I asked.

"As soon as we can," my mother replied, her voice trembling. "I love you so much," she added as she hugged me.

As the night grew darker, my parents enlightened me with a captivating story that explored the themes of light and darkness. They expressed to me that the light holds significance as a symbol of hope, while the dark carries connotations of fear. They assured me that regardless of the circumstances, I would always have the opportunity to return to the light.

"We love you very much, Alassandra. No matter what happens, always remember we are with you," my father said as he kissed my forehead before he left my room, leaving me with my mother.

As my mother approached my bedside, I noticed she had a small wooden box in her hands. I watched as she sat beside me on the bed and opened the box, taking out a silver necklace.

"What's that?" I asked her.

A warm smile spread across my mother's face. My intention was to wait until your eighteenth birthday to give this to you. "It is an amethyst moon pentacle." As she leaned closer to me, there was a brief pause, during which she gently pulled my golden-brown hair aside before delicately tying it around my neck. "It is a symbol of protection and guidance." It will help guide and protect you when I am not with you. "I want you to assure me you will never take it off?".

I nodded. "I promise," I replied as I grabbed the pendant and looked at it.

My mother smiled as she kissed my forehead and walked toward the door. Before walking out, she turned, "I will always be with you, Alassandra; never forget that. And never forget what I have told you about the light and darkness,". She said with sadness in her voice.

Once she had departed, I made it a point to stay awake long enough to be able to hear when my father and mother left. As soon as the sound of the car starting reached my ears, I quickly leaped out of bed and hastily made my way to the window. My eyes were fixed on them, observing their every move as they skillfully maneuvered their vehicle out of the driveway, disappearing from my view as they drove away.

As the darkness enveloped the night, my mind wandered into a realm of nightmares. Where the unthinkable unfolded - the violent demise of my beloved parents. I was abruptly awakened, feeling a jarring sensation that was accompanied by a chilly sweat, a racing heartbeat, and an uncontainable flood of tears streaming down my face. As I reluctantly pulled myself out of bed, the unexpected sound of the doorbell ringing startled me.

I rushed downstairs to see two men dressed in all-black suits. They had creamy white skin and bright green eyes. I hid behind the stairs as I heard the men say, "They didn't make it. They were ripped apart".

"Was there no saving them?" Yadhira asked.

"Not this time," one of the men said. Then he asked, "The child?"

"She sleeps," Yadhira replied.

"She seems awake to me," the other guy responded as he gestured in my direction.

As I peeked behind the staircase, Yadhira's voice called out, "Alassandra, come, child."

I walked out from behind the stairs and stared at all of them.

"Come, child, we must leave. It is no longer safe to be here," Yadhira said as she approached me and gently took my hand.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Somewhere where neither light nor darkness can sense you," Yadhira replied as she led me out of the house.

Back then, I had absolutely no idea about the implications and significance of what that meant. In that moment, I painfully realized that I could never return to the place I once called home. The only things I had left were faint memories of my father and the stories my mother had shared with me.

As I have grown older and gained more life experience, I have come to acknowledge that some truth was embedded in the stories my mother used to tell. Despite everything, a lingering thought continues to occupy my mind. Could they deliberately distort those stories to hide the harsh reality that awaited me? And what if I was at the centerfold?

****Eight Years Later***

"Alassandra! Alassandra! It came! It came!" my sister Lillian shouted as she ran into the house.

After my parents died, Yadhira took me in and raised me as her own, but I was old enough to know that was not true. On the other hand, Lillian was six years younger than me then. It didn't take much to convince her that I was her sister, and I didn't mind. I needed a friend at the time. Lillian and I did everything together, as close as siblings should be. She was my best friend, and I never felt like she was anything other than my sister. We were inseparable, and to this day, we remain the same.

"What came in?" I asked as Lillian ran into the room, looking like a hot mess.

Her long black hair, tied in a bun, fell out while running from the mailbox upstairs. Her bright green eyes glowed with excitement, and her ordinarily ivory-colored skin was flushed.

"Your acceptance letter," she said as she took off her pink cashmere sweatshirt and tossed it on the bed before handing me the mail.

"Wait, really? Well, give it here!" I said, holding my hand out impatiently.

My father's death inspired me to pursue a law degree. I wanted to follow in his footsteps and be one of the best lawyers. I worked hard to keep my grades up and even did part-time volunteer work as a receptionist at a local law firm.

In the months leading up to graduation, I applied to all the best Ivy League universities. I hadn't heard from any of them since I applied, and now that the letters had come in, I was nervous.

"I hope one of them is from Harvard or Yale," I said as I waited for Lillian to hand me the letters.

"Which would you prefer?" she asked as she opened her backpack and pulled out three envelopes.

"Harvard would be nice," I said, my voice just above a whisper.

In my heart, I wanted to attend Harvard. It was the only way I could be close to my father's memory since he went to Harvard.

"Well, open them, and let's find out," Lillian replied with a smile, handing me the letters.

My hands trembled as I took them from her. I glanced down at the first envelope and then looked at my sister. "It's from Harvard," I said.

"Well, open it!" Lilian replied with excitement evident in her voice.

I nodded and took a deep breath as I ripped the envelope open. My heart dropped as I read the words on the paper.

"Please accept our sincere apologies for the denial of your application to Harvard Law School," I read aloud.

"Oh, Ala, I am sorry. I know you want to go there. But there are still other schools, and you have two more letters to open," Lillian said. I smiled at her.

"I know, and you're right," I said with a small smile. Although deep down I was heartbroken, I knew I had other options. I set the letter aside and opened the second one from Princeton Law School.

"We regret to inform you that your application to Princeton Law School has been rejected," I read. "This is bullshit," I said as I crumbled the letter and threw it across the room.

I was filled with a sense of disappointment and anger. I had worked so hard to get into school and felt completely and utterly let down.

"We still have another letter. This is the one I promise. Come on, third time's the charm," Lillian said as she hugged me tightly.

I shook my head, "I'm sorry, Lil, I can't," I said, pulling out of our embrace and sitting on the bed.

"I can open it for you and read it first. I-If you want?" she said.

"Sure," I replied, grabbing a pillow and hugging it. I watched as she opened the envelope and read the letter.

"What does it say?" I asked worriedly as Lillian read the entire page with blank eyes.

"Lil, what does it say?" I asked again.

"Unfortunately," she said, pausing momentarily, "you have been accepted into Whimsic Law School. Congratulations." She yelled, jumping up and down.

"WHAT?" I exclaimed as I stood to my feet and grabbed the letter. I had to read it for myself. I couldn't believe it. My heart had dropped when Lillian said I had been accepted. I thought I had been denied a third time, but there it was in black and white.

"We are pleased to announce that you have been accepted to Whimsic Law School." I was so excited and relieved. I had been accepted! I couldn't believe it. Tears welled in my eyes as I reread the letter. Even though it wasn't Harvard, I was still following in my father's footsteps.

"Why are you crying?" Lillian asked. Her voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Oh, I-I'm just so happy," I replied.

Keeping the truth from Lillian was bittersweet, just another secret to add to the list of many I kept hidden. The truth wouldn't change anything if I told her, but Yadhira had asked me to keep it between us.

"I'm so happy for you, Ala, but sad because y-you're leaving," Lillian said softly.

"Oh, Lil, I won't be that far away, I don't think," I replied, furrowing my brows in confusion as I looked at the acceptance letter once more.

"What's wrong?" Lillian asked.

"Nothing, it's just," I said.

"What?" Lillian asked.

"Umm, I don't remember applying to Whimsic. I didn't even know it existed, to be honest," I replied, looking at her.

"But it says here that you applied. Are you sure you didn't?" Lillian asked, raising her eyebrows.

I shook my head and said, "No, I'm pretty sure I didn't."

"Well, then, let's look them up and find out where they are, and while we are at it, we can check your application submission. I'm sure there has to be a record of it," she said as she pulled her laptop from her backpack, opened it, and began searching the web.

After a few moments, she pulled up Whimsic's webpage.

She patted the bed beside her for me to sit on, saying, "Here it is." She showed me the screen as I sat next to her.

"It looks like an old manor-type building," I said as we flipped through the gallery photos.

"It's actually really nice looking, in an old kind of way," Lillian said.

"Yeah, it gives a serious yet mysterious vibe," I replied, then added, "Can you check the application submission?"

"Yeah," she said. She spent a few moments scrolling through her computer, then said, "It seems like the application was submitted three months ago."

I shrugged. "Hmm, I suppose I must have forgotten. I did send out a lot of applications," I said as I glanced at the letter in my hand one last time before turning back to Lillian. "Where is the school?" I asked.

According to the website, New Hampshire," she replied, her voice just above a whisper.

"Don't be sad, Lil. I promise I'll come visit you, and you can come visit me," I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulder.

"It's not going to be the same without you," she replied.

"Hey, I will always be with you," I said, pulling her into a tight hug.

After a few moments, Yadhira's voice could be heard calling us.

"Girls, come down to dinner," Yadhira yelled.

"Come on, let's go tell Mom," I said, extending my hand to her as I pulled away from our embrace. She smiled at me, and we walked downstairs hand in hand. When we reached the kitchen, Yadhira was waiting for us with a smile.

As we sat down for dinner, I couldn't help but feel saddened by the idea that this would be one of the last dinners I would have with Yadhira and Lillian. I had grown so close to them that I couldn't imagine what it would be like not having them around.

"Alassandra, dear, is something wrong?" Yadhira asked.

"Hmm, n-no," I replied.

"You haven't touched your food," she said, glancing at my plate and then at me.

I glanced at Lillian for a moment, then turned my gaze back to Yadhira.

"Actually, I want to tell you something," I replied.

"Go on," Yadhira said as she put her fork down on the table and crossed her hands together.

Although I knew that Yadhira couldn't read minds, she had this way of making you think she could. Those bright green eyes I envied gave off a different vibe. I took a deep breath before I spoke.

"Well, you know that I have been wanting to be a lawyer since I was a child. Umm, I received three letters today from three of the top schools," I said.

"And what did they say?" Yahira asked.

"My applications were denied by two, but I received a full scholarship for law school from the third," I responded.

Yadhira remained silent for a moment. "Mom, are you alright?" Lillian asked.

"Hmm, yes, child, I-I am just processing everything. I am very happy for you, Alassandra. Congratulations," Yadhira replied.

"Thank you. I am really excited, and I can't wait to start!" I replied.

"What school will you be attending?" Yadhira asked as she took a sip of her red wine.

"Whimsic Law School," I said.

The moment I said the name of the school, Yadhira dropped her glass and stared at me as if she had seen a ghost. She looked at me with wide eyes, and her mouth gaped open.

"Mom?" I called to her.

She slowly stood up from her chair, her face ashen white. She covered her mouth with her hand, and her eyes were filled with dread. I knew something was very wrong.

"Forgive me, girls, I suddenly don't feel too well. Excuse me," she said as she hurried out of the dining room.

I turned and glanced at Lillian, who was just as confused as I was about what had just happened.

"What was that about?" I whispered. Lillian shook her head, her face still full of surprise.

"I have no idea." She said as she looked at me. Her expression was a mixture of confusion and fear. Lillian and I finished our dinner in silence, then cleaned up the kitchen before heading to our room. We both had separate rooms, but as long as I can remember, we always ended up sleeping in each other's room.

"Ala," Lillian called out to me.

"Yeah," I replied, turning to her.

"What made you want to be a lawyer?" she asked. I stood silent for a moment, trying to think of what to say to her. I couldn't tell her the truth without breaking Yadhira's trust, but I didn't want to lie to her either.

"Umm, well. When we were kids, there was this family I knew, and they had a little girl I used to play with. Her father was a lawyer, one of the best in town, and her mom owned this flower store. Anyway, one day her parents went on vacation and the same day they left the police found them. They never made it to their destination or back to their little girl," I told her.

There was a moment of silence from Lillian. "Wow, that's crazy. Did they ever figure out what had happened to them? Did they ever find the person who killed them?" she asked.

I shook my head. "Sadly, no," I said, lowering my gaze as I recalled the very day the two men came to our house and said my parents had died.

"Well, what happened to the little girl?" Lillian asked, breaking me from my thoughts.

"Oh, she moved away," I replied as I started to pull the covers back on the bed when Yadhira's voice sounded from the bedroom door. "Alassandra, my dear, can I please speak with you?" she said.

I smiled, made my way to the door, and followed her into the living room.

"Please sit with me," she said, patting the seat next to her. I sat down next to her and looked into her eyes.

"I remember the day we first met. It was just like this. Dark night, fireplace, you were just a small girl," she said, pausing for a moment. "Earlier, you said you were accepted into law school."

"Yes," I replied.

"I made a promise to your parents long ago to always watch over you. I fear that with you leaving, I will no longer be able to protect you, so I must warn you. Out there, you will be vulnerable. Some things in this world don't always appear as they seem. You must remain vigilant and keep in mind that people are not always what they seem to be. You must always trust your instincts and be aware of your surroundings. If ever you find yourself in a difficult situation, do not hesitate to call out for help. I will pray to the goddess for your safety daily," she said, gazing at the fireplace.

Her words took me aback. Gods? Things were sometimes different from what they seemed. What did that mean? I thought to myself. I remained silent for a moment, unsure of what to say.

As I was about to say something, Yadhira spoke again. "What I mean is, you are very special, Alassandra, in more ways than you know." She stopped, sensing the confusion on my face.

"When you find the real truth, you will understand." She said as she stood and began to walk out of the living room before turning around and saying, "You are capable of always coming back to the light. Good night, dear child." She said, then turned and left, leaving me to ponder her words.