#20: Just Mysterious

*****Amber's P O. V****

I was very happy, that I finally got a chance to meet Mr. Sterling. But I forgot why I even wanted to meet him. From the next day, that is after the International Meet, I lost almost all the hazy memories and got a new set of memories. Me, Amber who was born into a well off family, with Jade as my brother, and I had gone to school and high school. My friends were Daisy Case and my enemy was the popular girl, Bella. I had a crush on Leo and Luan, not at once! Leo till junior high and later Luan. I don't quite remember Luan but after yesterday's incident with Atlas, whenever I see the name Luan or even think of it, I am reminded of him.

I remember one thing, I had a nanny, a very sweet nanny who is a friend or a relative of Mr. Sterling. Maybe I wanted to meet Mr. Sterling so that I could ask about nanny who could in turn help me find my parents! The other way would be to check the police reports, searching for me. But I don't even know which country I belonged to....

"Mommy? What's wrong? ", I heard a voice.

" Mommy! ", It screamed again.

I opened my eyes and it was Jade. He was pulling my sleeve.

" Mommy? I told you already! I am Amber call me Amber or sister! If you call me mommy I am not gonna respond! ", I said.

" Ok! Amber! ", He said smiling and hugging me.

" This guy... seriously.... how can you be so cute~ you are 13, but you seem like 6 year old kid!! ", I said slightly pinching his cheeks.

" I am a big mwan! ", He said. I don't know if he said it deliberately but 'mwan' was a really masculine word.. *(this is sarcasm.. in case you don't get it ;))

" It's man... not mwan! .. " I said and tickled him till we both were running in the hallways doing swerves with our body as from a sudden turn there would be a maid holding fresh laundry or a bowl of hot tea.

We ran till I almost knocked into the secretary of Caesar.

"Miss! I was searching for you! ", He exclaimed.

" Me? Why? ",

" I don't know, Mr. Caesar was looking for you", He said pointing towards the far end of the very long hallway.

"Well ok. Jade! Come back I am not gonna do it! ", I said and he peeked out a room.

" Really? ", He asked.

" Yes... And come let's go. ", I said and followed the secretary to that room. The whole mansion was like a palace. I had never been to any except one, probably from an amusement park with Daisy. This mansion was a killer! It had a very cool garden all around it and the rooms, I guess there were at least 25 rooms. There are four floors and the whole designing was awesome, it was more of a high class hotel than a house.

The rooms each had a separate purpose. But the most majestic of all, was the library, in the third floor, middle and marvellous! It had mainly some non fiction books, but there was a fiction side too, which had classic fictions.... Yes, Mr. Storm, is a boring man after all.

"Ah! You're here! Mr.Sterling just called to inform that his grandfather is ready to meet you!", Caesar said the second he saw me. His office room or study room, I don't know what, had a beautiful setting, in middle, Caesar looked like male lead out of a romance novel! He was really matching the weird office setting even though he is over thirty.

"Really? when can I?", I asked.

"Well, apparently, his grandfather is taking medical treatment for his arm fracture in...Tokyo. So, I think you would meet there.", He said looking at some book.

"You don't know?", I asked.

"Well, in the call which Mr.Sterling gave me, he just said, that his grandfather is recovering from a surgery and is at Tokyo. Even the fact that he isn't in a condition where they can shift him back hom so, They have bought the entire hospital there. ", He said.

"Ohhh, So, When can I go?", I asked.

"Well, since you are a lucky girl, Mr.Sterling has sent you a private jet. Scheduled to leave tomorrow morning. So, I guess you need to get packing and not forget to bring souvenirs.", He said smiling.

"Thank You Caesar!", I hugged him. Maybe after meeting Mr.Sterling I can find home and I would have to leave....

"Aww, It don't matter.", he said patting my head once again. I didn't know if he was the naive one or I was. He was too good and unsuspecting to be one of the 2%. But I guess though rare he is the best one out there.

"I will go and pack my stuff, I can take Jade right?", I asked.

"Yes, of course you have to take him! How can you even think of going alone when you aren't even an adult!", He said.

"I am eighteen, well, nineteen if I can say, I am an Adult!", I argued.

He came near and pinched my nose and said, "when you turn 25, get a job and have a stable life, you are an adult. Okay...not the stable life. At least stable emotions!", he said finally leaving my nose.

"I think a lot of adults would disagree with you on that.", I said.

"Well, I get to have my own opinion, and if they are 'adults' they must surely know to let people have their own opinions.", he said.

"Wow...you sound like a 'Karen'.", I said. Karen? I don't know why the term sounded so different. Like I never ever used it before.

"Fine Fine, enough debate rounds, Go pack and inform your brother. I have loads of work left to do, If I want to send you off, I need to complete going over these by tonight.", he said pointing to a whole pile of files with papers sticking out on every paper.

"Wow, Fun time I guess, Bye!", I said as I ran out the door and went towards my room and packed my clothes, while packing, I kept all my clothes and my belongings. I even had a weird diary of childish stuff like vampires and all, but there was some other thing that bothered me. A bag, which I never had memory of ever having. But I decided, as Caesar had said, the sudden happening of that wormhole or whatever might have caused my brain to go in a kind of shocked or a traumatic state which might have left my memories to be unclear.

I held the bag and my whole head throbbed, I opened it, There was nothing but an inkless pen, weirdly styled and a small card, the business card of Mr.Sterling. Well, there wasn't any other bag or a cover which could hold such a precious card safe. So, I decided I would get the bag too. I kept it all in and went over to Jade's room.

As I went in, I saw Jade standing in front of the mirror and crying.

"Jade? What happened?", I asked running over.

"I don't know, I am just scared I don't want to be alone.", He said hugging me.

"Chill, You are never alone, I am your sister remember? I will take care of you!", I said hugging him.

"No You are lying! I know that I am not your brother! I know... whatever memories you have those are all my magic!", he said crying more.

"Ok Silly baby! You are still in your fantasies.", I said somehow managing to console him. But why did whatever he said sound so true to me? Is it just my imagination?

"Listen up! We are going to Tokyo! Tomorrow! So.... Shall we pack your stuff up?", I asked.

"I don't have much.", he said bringing out a green robe and a gold belt which should have been in a museum for its magnificence.

"Look, I know we aren't as rich as Mr.Storm but stealing is a big no...Got it?", I said holding his hand.

"Huh, I hope a month passes by sooner, I like the vamp girl better. And. This is a gift! Got it.", he said flicking his finger on my forehead.

"Whatever. I am going to my room. By the time I come back, you better put back those things in their original place! Bye!", I said.

"Okay...",He said staring at the mirror again.

******

While sleeping on the bed, my mind was totally in chaos, I had an uneasy feeling, though I should be happy to have finally gotten a lead onto finding my parents and possibly my memory back. But the uneasiness increased. I had a sharp pain in my teeth and I went to check, My canines were a bit sharper and more protruding. Dang! Should I get a check up from a dentist? No...They look cool enough. I just went and laid down. My hand went to my earring, It was strange that I had only one. Did I lose the other? My hand kept playing with it but my mind decided to roam.

I got a sudden jolt of fear and a sudden relaxation. Was I going crazy? or was I already a crazy one? I just tried sleeping and somehow slept. I didn't regret sleeping, In my dream I encountered a very handsome Atlas, who was fumbling on wearing a simple shirt, he looked at buttons as though he had never seen them in his life. He eventually gave up trying to wear and looked at me, saying " How long will you stare? Come help this royal.", He said. Royal? But I guess he did look like royalty. I did help. After all, how could anyone resist...Hehe~ (*@u@*)

I did a bit more than help actually, but. Let's not get onto the details much, It is not good for your health. After having such a dream I woke up with a start, and it was 3:30, in the morning. I was somehow energized and ran over to get my morning things done! I had a checklist too, get up, wash your face, brush your teeth, floss, unsharpen and ...wait..unsharpen? What are my teeth? a pencil? Why the hell did I even write it in my checklist, and again another head throb followed by a great headache. When I had a bath, I realized I had no clothes to wear since all were packed in and sent to the porter. So, I took out the one which had come just then from being washed, the jeans and cream top gifted by Atlas.

I wore that, as it was washed it didn't carry any scent of chocolate or the new clothes smell, but jasmine scent. Probably the detergent.

I came down, and I saw Jade sitting in the couch and playing video games with a maid, and apparently he was losing almost every time, so the maid decided to go slow and steady. Still, she managed to win... Wow, what a noob, well I know he is, but racing should be easy to play. I argued so, the end result of the argument was a match between me and Jade.

I chose the red console and he the blue one. The maids supported me and the butler trainee supported Jade. One vs Uncountable. Hehe. I would win. Starting it was hard, I couldn't control myself properly and gave my brother a headstart but it was just the beginning till I got the hang of playin and won! It was way more fun than anything I ever did. It was so addictive that I almost had a match scheduled with all the maids. But it was time for us to leave for the airport. I and Jade had a brunch on the way.

****

"Welcome to our airplane. Sir Gerard is waiting for you.", the air hostess said as we climbed aboard the jet, somehow this was way cooler than Mr.Storm's. I went in and saw the guy who was waiting for us.

"Hello, Miss Amber and Master Jade, I am Gerard Ville. secretary of Mr.James. I came here to guide you in the city as you may not speak Japanese.", he said with a smile.

Mr. Gerard had a slight golden brown hair with a good amount of facial hair, he had a quite a chubby figure which made him look harmless and naïve but it was not so, his eyes had a special glint which could tell me that he was planning and judging my every move. Trying to read into me.

"So, Thank you, I am pleased to meet you Sir Gerard", I said smiling.

"Yes, Nice to meet you Mr. Gerard.", Jade also replied.

"Nice to meet you both too. Now go on and sit down, you can either watch anything on the screen or have a nap, it is going take us a while before we reach our destination", he said and he himself sat on the seat adjacent to ours, took out a pink cat eye mask, pink earmuffs and a toffee, he put on the earmuffs and the eye mask(I know I must not judge but, pink kitty over a large mustache and beard made him look cute.) he kept munching the toffee.

I chose to have a nap, yesterday's dream was good but it kept me awake till it was 6. I laid back and took out the complimentary eye mask and put it over my eyes, just before putting on my eyes, I buckled Jade in completely so he wouldn't move about. he too slept. In a very cute way. I wrapped in a blanket as it was a bit cool and put on an eyemask over his eyes. I closed my eyes and fell into sleep. I slept a bit too well, that I had to be woken up by an air hostess. I quickly checked to see if I had drooled. I did not. yay Me. It seems I had missed to see the landing, it was special for two reasons, the Tokyo sky looked beautiful and Mr. Gerard apparently was scratching a plushy toy while landing. It was kind of refreshing to see that big man like Mr. Gerard was afraid of heights.

We landed and were immediately taken to a resort of sorts where we could rest or play. I chose rest again. I felt a bit tired and somehow Jade ruined my rest. He wanted to check out the kid's zone and needed me to supervise him, I somehow agreed but....He changed his mind and now wanted to go swimming??? I barely stayed alive till afternoon. When it was time for lunch, I was invited to eat with Mr.James, who had also come here.

"So, Shall we discuss your visit?", He asked in his eyes, there was a weird expression.

"Well, I want to know if Mr. Gregory knew my nanny. So, I could find a way back home.", I said.

"A way back home, you say... Do you know how you came here?", He asked.

"Well, I followed your assistant who led me here..", I said

"I didn't mean that kiddo, wait...give me your hand.", he asked.

"Why?...well ok.", I gave my hand and he just stared at it for a while.

"Jade? Is that your name?", he asked Jade who seemed drowsy, no... more like drunk.

"YEs? >W< It's me!", He said. YEs, Definitely drunk and we both saw what he was drinking, he wasn't drinking milk nor water but a whole big glass of sake. Great. Underage drinking, was it legal? I don't know.

"Oh great... He drank a whole glass? without any water or soda? Hmm.. he has potential.", He said holding and staring at Jade's hand when he suddenly looked at me, and said,

"you need to leave this place. Now."

"But Why?", I asked as he rushed to pack and leave. But the door slid open and there was a man, fully dressed in 70's English men style, with a stern expression, he looked mighty, scary and fierce like a mountain except for the cast on his left hand, he said.

"Why didn't you call me, Jamie?", he asked.

"Shit..", Jamie...I mean Mr. James mumbled.

"What?", the new guy asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"Please sit, was what I was saying Grandpa.", He said, moving over to create space for Mr. Sterling to sit.

"Hmm, So you are Amber?", he asked.

"Yes, and this is Jade. We wanted to know if you knew this woman.", I said offering the card, on the card's back there was a name written, my nanny's name, Ariel. I gave it to him and his eyes widened.

"Where did you get this? Who are you?", he asked getting all defensive.

"That woman, Ariel was once my nanny. I think you might know her.. Do you?", I asked.

"Yes, I know. Come, I will take you to her. ", He said.

"No.. They are my guests.", Mr. James said holding my hand.

"How rude. Well, I don't want to disturb you, I am going.", He said.

"No! Wait. I need to find her. Please?", I begged.

"Okay, follow me.", He said.

"I am coming too.", James said.

****

We went from the hotel to a vast mansion, with the exterior similar to the Japanese traditional style but the interior ranging from various styles, from Western to Eastern. It was very huge. As we entered. I felt a throb in me and fell down. My eyes and my whole head hurt. I tried getting up, but I wasn't able to, even Jade felt the same way. Mr. James smiled as we fell or was that my imagination?

I got up after a minute or so and followed them as we went in, across many rooms we finally came to the centre of the house, in Middle was a huge white pedestal with a pair of wings upon it. How weird. I kind of expected a woman holding a jug or something. I went in and saw a single room. With a woman sitting in it.

She was fair skinned, with bright red hair, her eyes shone blue with the sunlight falling on her face as she was embroidering a few flowers. Her face had a lot of wrinkles, she looked around 60 or 70. Her smile was so kind, it melted everyone.

It was my nanny, I found her. I found her!! I ran and hugged her. She immediately recognized me,

"Amber? Oh My goodness! Look how well you have grown! 118 now?", she asked.

"18.. and you look amazing too even though you are old.". I said.

"well, it is a stage of life, but, why did you come here?", she asked.

"You left me! So how could I just leave you! I would come anyway!", I cried in her arms. It felt a bit different from my memories though.

"There there, you mustn't cry that much. So, shall we have a cup of tea, I am quite thirsty.", She said pouring a cup for me and her.

"Yes, I will.", Was there always two cups on that table? Or did I not see it before...I drank the tea as I too was thirsty. Something felt Mysterious, Just Mysterious. Something wasn't adding up. What was it? I didn't know, Jade was also beside me and drinking from another cup, I looked at her as I drank, there were three cups now?How?...As I thought more and more, I fell down, asleep... no.... I was sedated.

***

"So... Amber is missing? But where could she have gone? Which place could have that much magic?", Luan/Atlas kept wondering.

"I don't know, Last I checked she entered Tokyo.", he said.

"Tokyo is a vast place, and if it was that powerful, the one who cast the magic on the boundary must be that powerful too. We can't get in without being discovered. but....If it was the ones who were already there?... ", I suggested.

"Then... they could follow our orders and find that location!", Vane continued.

"Yes, contact our werewolves near Tokyo. We need them to find that location ASAP.", Luan said.

"Yes, sir, Of course.", Vane said contacting and talking.

*Beep beep*

There was a sudden message from the werewolf king, Titan.

"What is it Brother?", Luan asked,

"I got some really crazy news.", He said

"What is it? I have got a great problem too.", Luan replied.

"Well, the princess, Amber, had given her brother a box of sorts and made him promise not to open it till she went to the Elves, so he didn't but yesterday when he opened he discovered something.", He said.

"Discovered what?", Luan asked impatiently, he had no time for gossip, he needed to find Amber.

"That, Amber gave up her right to throne. She is no longer of royal blood.", He said.

"What? But it is her blood, leave the succession rights, but still she could enjoy her title right?", Luan asked .

"No, she even gave up her title, her gifted lands, everything.", He said.

"Oh.. great.", Luan said.

"That was not the problem.", He continued.

"Then what was the problem?", Luan asked.

"All the vampires assigned to find her, have been called back.", He said.

"Ohhh nice, no vamps.", he said.

"Let me finish! They had been called back, but now 3/4 of the entire military is coming to kill her. On sight.", He said.

"What??? Why?", Luan asked genuinely shocked. 3/4th? that meant a lot!

"I too don't know why.. Our spy just said, that she was a potential threat, as she held many secrets of the imperial palace and weaponry. They say this, but the reason seems to be something else. So you have to protect her at all costs! okay.", Titan said.

"About that, I have a news...", Luan said suddenly feeling guilty.

"What?", Titan asked suspicious over Luan's sudden change of tone from aggressive teen to a young kid who just broke his mother's favorite vase.

"Well, she is missing, and there is a strange power of magic shielding her. It is in Tokyo, the last we recorded. And, it could be that she is in danger.", Luan said.

"What? but who could be so powerful? Bellatrix the vampire was the last.....Oh no... Not them...", Titan panicked, so much that the change of color of his face was clear. He turned from a strong and proud king to a man who just saw a ghost.

"Them? Them Who?", Luan asked.

"The Anonymous creatures, the ones in the East....I heard the last time they appeared, their magic was so powerful it could set the whole mirror world in a great danger... It has to be them! But what would they need of Amber??? Anyway ! get her back! Immediately!", He said.

"Yes, I will...", Luan said getting up and wearing his best suit.

"Vane! Pack your bags, Let's go Lady hunting...", Luan said with a slight smirk on his face.

Vane, who was busy managing calls from five different telephones, and his spectacles all the way across his face to his hair, said," Bad Pun! And are we going? What happened to 'we too shall be discovered' stuff?",

"It's alright, My brother ordered me to go...Oh My God... You good?", Luan asked.

"Yes... except for the fact that I am working a lot of time. Overtime, and whatnot.. but no raise..Should I say more?", He asked.

"No.. no.. let's go, there might be a damsel in distress.. waiting for us..", Luan said as they both went towards the airport. They took their private jet, and landed in another country, but teleported from there to Tokyo. It was so that they wouldn't be tracked down. The moment they entered in Tokyo, both of them had a feeling something wasn't right...