1. SURPRISES

" And now I felt a rising power surge through each cells of my meagre human body. I felt electric adrenaline through my viens.

It was something out of ordinary...but I knew, thinking such was pointless... I felt immense power. I mirrored myself from the glassy waters and saw that my hair was turning straighter and lighter... and in a point to pure white. My ears were growing longer and I was now very tall for a 17 year old.

I moved my fingers in front of my face and admired at how smooth, fine and elegant it had become.

I moved closer to the water and looked down at myself. I had become an elf. "

It's Friday night and just as I was about to sleep my brother, who was two years older than me, came to my room and said that mother and father had asked us to pack our bags.

I asked him why but he had no idea and was as confused as I was.

I had packed a couple of my best dresses and my other important stuff. It had to be a road trip to somewhere I would not be pleased at all, like to my grandparents who had a knack for losing or misplacing everything they own and blaming it on me and my brother.

It had to be 5 or something early in the morning. I was expecting to see mother pulling of my covers and waking me up but to my great surprise it was Emily. 'What are you doing here early in the morning?' I asked quite puzzled.

'You'll see' she said slyly and walked out the room.

I was still in bewilderment but I just shook my head clearly still in morning sleep laziness.

I was halfway up the stairs when I saw Emily and my family having breakfast in the kitchen.

I casually walked to take a seat at the end of the table. Emily just took my spot and I was very uncomfortable with the seat I was sitting on.

'Where are we going?' I asked unusually polite. Joseph, my brother had raised his eyebrows when he heard the difference in the tone of my voice which I usually use in case I needed to butter up someone. 'Josie didn't Mr and Mrs Clitch tell you? We are going to your cousins' Emily said quite excitedly.

I looked at my parents accusingly. They didn't tell their own daughter about this and when I looked at Joseph he was equally surprised. 'Why didn't you tell us?' he asked them.

'Oh we thought to keep it as a surprise' said Dad winking 'Oh and we invited Emily to tag along'. I looked wide eyed at my brother who also looked like his eyes were to pop out any moment.

'I know it's cool right....I could take loads of pictures for my photography project' said Emily bouncing on the seat.

Didn't anyone tell her that we were going to my cousins house which was located near a big forest. Last time we took Em to a forest trek she was nagging and blaming and complaining non stop of how bad the mosquito bites are and how her designer boots got ruined in the mud.

I looked at my mom questioningly but she just shook her head refusing to give me answers.

Dad and Joseph carried our baggage to the car and we were all set to the trip. I would have been excited to go to my cousins if Em here hadn't tagged along. She could be really annoying. Plus she had to bring three megahuge suitcases which one I had to place on my lap.

Well atleast she didn't play her music while we were travelling. She loved to hear the Beatles which I considered had grown really old for my ears and liking. Whenever I dozed off to sleep Emily would call me up just to show the scenary around which I had seen many times.

Joseph was lucky enough to sit in the front seat with dad and he was taking a big nap. I was sure to get dark circles soon. I couldn't sleep with Emily wooing and oohing at my ear. What did I ever do to deserve her. Her blond hair was slapping my face quite hard so I asked her to pull it up in a ponytail.

'I'm planning on throwing a big party after my win win' she said.

'Am I invited?' I asked. 'Well ya... What party of mine is there without you' she said

'Your deathday party' I murmured.

I looked at her and admired how pretty she looked. Yes I was jealous, she was energetic, curious, beautiful all at the same time. Her popularity at school was just great and people knew me as her sidekick. Heh... sidekick much. I joined the cheer team to raise my popularity but I was too chubby for their liking. But I eventually got into photography club with Em. Em took the photography cuz I did eventhough her parents wished her to join the cheerleading.

3 hours had passed when we finally reached our destination. Cousin Hanna and Harris were sitting at the porch of their house waiting for us, while their parents at the door. They all rushed to us with hugs and kisses.

'Oh Josephine darling you have grown so much. You look just like Hanna here' said Aunt Sue. I looked at Hanna, she shrugged at me. Well I think aunt Sue was right about us looking almost the same. Hanna and I had shoulder length black hair, tan skin and dark eyes but other than that we were two different people.

'Who is this beautiful young lady right here' asked aunt Sue patting Emily's cheeks.

Emily extended her hands to greet aunt Sue and uncle Robbie and introducing herself.

'Well mannered this one is' coughed uncle Robbie. My parents smiled agreeing to that. My brother and I had to control ourselves from rolling our eyes and seeing that Harris gave a suppressed laughter.

'Hey come on I have a surprise for all of you' said Hanna and pulled me and Emily with her while Joseph and Harris came stridding slowly behind us. We entered a small bedroom which had two beds so I supposed that this bedroom was Hanna's and Harri's.

The boys entered the room a minute later and at that moment Hanna had opened a beautiful small trinket box and handed all of us a small brooch. I looked at mine, it was a blue gem pigeon hanging by a white design that looked like a long branch. It looked beautiful. I pinned it in front of my dress.

'It looks good on you' said Emily smiling at me, I smiled back at her.

Emily jumped into Hanna's arms and pulled her into a big bear hug. I gave Hanna a hug too thanking her. 'I gave her mine' said Hanna shrugging and pointing towards Emily who was checking her flower brooch on her dress.

'It was pretty and I promise to repay you with a good gift' I said to her.

' I know you will' she said lovingly with so much warmth.

It was afternoon and Emily wanted me to join her while taking photos of the forest. I was ready with my newly bought camera which dad had bought me for my 16th birthday.

Emily had said it was a beautiful camera and honestly it was. With its smooth polished black surface and mega focus triple lens. I brought my tripod along with me while Em said she had forgotten hers.

Emily had finished her pasta long before anyone else had and she was quite eager to go to the forest. After my lunch I hurriedly tied my hair in a bun and wore blue frill top with a white jeans. I rushed down the stairs with Em while Aunt Sue asked us not to go into the forest, 'We won't' said Emily sweetly while looking at me devilishly.

No sooner we had reached the lake near the house Emily started to complain of the heat.

I just took a deep breath in trying to take in the idyllic scenary altogether ignoring Em's cries. We settled down the grassy bed of the bank and I started to click photos of dragonflies.

'I expected more from this place' sighed Emily, 'Oh yeah? What did u expect to see here?' I asked her rolling my eyes. 'Oh y'know boys with no shirt and stuff'.

'You expected boys to come here in the forest?' I asked quite annoyed.

'Relax I was just pulling your leg and by the way I don't think we're going to get the prize for best photography if we just keep on taking photos of dying dragonflies' she said laughing.

'Ok then' I said getting up 'What do you have in mind?'.

I regret asking that because the next the second we were walking down the grassy path to the forest. 'There's nothing but trees here' cried Emily, 'Then what'd you expect to find in a forest dummy' I said quite happy with the thought we wouldn't have to go further if I kept on discouraging her and surely I believe we were quite far.

But Emily wasn't stopping. 'I'm sure we'd find something picture worthy' she murmured loudly.

We were walking for quite a few minutes and we were already deep in the forest. I stomped in front of her, caught her shoulders and shook her a little bit. 'Do you know where your going? There could be animals out here'.

I have never been to this part of the forest just forget about the photos, we can do it tomorrow' I said solemnly. But Emily was staring straight up ahead looking transfixed. I turned around to see what she was gawking at.

There was a small cave covered in thorny brambles and vines. It looked quite enchanting I felt drawn to it. I felt Emily trying to tug her hand free from mine but I got my conscious back then and turned Emily from the cave.

'Whoah...!' said a surprised Emily 'Did you feel that? It was like that cave was calling out to me. We have to go there.' 'Not a chance' I said. Emily smirked. Well since when had Emily ever listened to me....