4. Food for Thought

*Elentari*

“What was that about?” I asked her. She shook her head and mumbled something about it not being her place to talk about it. I nodded, confused, but set to planning our menu for the final. We were in groups of 10 and made a full three-course meal. We chose a traditional Italian menu. The only thing I did that wasn’t purely Italian was a spinach salad with walnuts and poppy seed dressing. I can’t eat Italian dressing. I’ve never understood why. Minestrone Soup or salad for the first course, stuffed shells with sweet Italian sausage for the main course, and tiramisu for the dessert accompanied by a cup of espresso. This used to be one of our favorite meals to make as a family before we gave up hope on mom coming back, or if she was even alive. I was 8 years old the last time I made it with dad. The step-witch didn’t let us make it. 

Our team took three hours to make the meal. We plate our presentation pieces and felt good about it. “Good job team!” I praise them. We could put Hell's Kitchen to shame. with the good job we just did. I sat down and took a breath just as the door opened. Chef was back. He looked happier. 

I swear I could see a silver glint at the edge of his shirt collar but I couldn’t see it again once I blinked. I figured my mind was playing tricks on me. Audra seemed stupidly happy. “Sorry about that, everyone.” He turned to the sub, “Did you get the teamwork and prep grades down?” He asked her. She nodded to him. “Okay, well I’ll take over from here.”

She laughed at him and gave him a look that was almost challenging, “Oh, I see how it is, but my payment is that I get to eat too!” 

Chef laughed and agreed. They went around to the four groups and sampled the food. After they ate everyone was allowed to try all the food. Most of these kids I had seen eat full lunches and now they were eating multiple meals. I just wanted to know where they were putting it all. 

“Good grief, Audra, what is your plate count?” I ask her as she hasn’t stopped eating in almost an hour. 

“This will be my fourth!” She proudly exclaims. “Got one from each group but saved the best for last!” She said, grinning like an idiot. “Yours!” She whispers to me. Everyone knew she was partial to my cooking. I internally facepalmed as I ate my comparatively tiny portions. After “eating hour” is up the Chef clears his throat, getting everyone's attention. I was always in awe of how all the teachers and professors had that ability to make the slightest noise and everyone just obeyed. 

“Grades will be out Monday. No school for seniors on Monday or Tuesday. Graduation is Wednesday. Congrats to the graduates. Now all of you get out of here so I can go home!” He proclaimed, with a huge smile on his face. I knew Chef lived alone and was never excited to go home. This was weird. Hell didn’t just freeze over, it became a tropical paradise. 

I clear out as quickly as I can, saying goodbye to everyone. I waved at Audra as well, as she was helping clean up too. As I walk to my car I spot Manic and wave at him too. Suddenly both of them are at my side while I’m looking for my keys. I jump, “Didn’t I leave you in the kitchen?” I asked Audra. “And weren’t you just… I think I need to get home and take a nap.” I truly think I’m going crazy, 

“I ran, lady.” Audra says with a laugh. “Anyway, open this up after midnight.” She hands me an envelope that looks like it belongs in the 18th century. It’s got a wax seal on it and everything, I feel weird holding it. 

“Uh, okay…” I responded quietly. Even my headmates had nothing to say. 

“Happy Early Birthday!” They said one after the other and jogged away. I didn't even know they knew when my birthday was. I never made a deal out of it. 

My life just keeps getting weirder. 

I get home and my dad is still at his computer. He’s been like that for ages. I can’t remember the last time I talked to him and he wasn’t working. Always working. I knew Lyssandra wouldn’t be home for a while so I put a couple of pizzas in the oven and set a timer that would go off on the echo in the basement to let the gaming hellspawn know to get their food. Just because I put it in for them didn’t mean I was gonna serve it to them too. I grabbed a couple of protein drinks for myself and went to my room. I could go the rest of the night without being bothered. I didn’t think I was tired, but suddenly I was sleeping. I opened my eyes to look at the clock. 11:45pm. It was almost my birthday. I took a deep breath and grabbed my mom’s journal that I found. 

Here goes nothing. 

It was midnight on the dot. Time to begin. I lit two black candles for protection, reading from the journal. It was a full moon. I have no idea how she knew it would be a full moon. I almost feel like so much has been hidden from me for so long. A shadow howled in my head. 

“What the fuck…” I said to myself. Serenity laughed, “Sometimes they do that.” I shook my head and began to cast my circle.

“The sun rises to the East, 

Bringing fire to the day.

Sets to the West, 

As the wind makes trees sway.

The star of the North

Guides the ocean-bound home.

The warmth of the South

Grounds us to the Earth’s warmth. 

All together, all combine,

Bring forth spirit Devine.”

I felt as if I were floating. Warm energy swirled around me. I opened my eyes to see a silvery, purple glow coming from the letter in my hands. It starts to open on its own, the wax peeling away and disappearing. Immaculate crimson ink starts to appear in the most beautiful calligraphy I had ever seen. 

“Happy Birthday, Elentari Tirisil,

You have come of age. I’m so proud you made it this far. I hope to see you very soon, but there are things you need to know. Trust your inner voices and your intuition. All is not what it seems, or if you’re as intuitive as I hope, it is exactly as it seems. After today, your human life is no longer your life. I hope you will not hate me for having to stay away, for hiding you away. I hope you’ll let me make it up to you. Let us make it up to you. We’ve always loved you and always will.

Love, 

Mom and Dad”

‘Elentari?’ I thought to myself, ‘Who is Elentari?’ Suddenly I’m yanked into the zone. It seems bigger now. Fields of grass and flowers, cliffs off in the distance. It looks more like a fairy tale meadow now. There are still mists, but there are now four full figures. Serenity now has huge translucent wings that have rainbow tones in them. The span was huge. Next to her was a gigantic blue dragon with rainbow shimmers on the scales. Next was a wolf, white as snow. Finally, there was a girl that looked just like me, almost like a mirror. 

“You know me as Serenity,” she started to say, “I am your fairy and control your magic.” She then gestured to each figure in turn. “This is Arashi, she is your dragon soul, princess of dragons. This here is Lucinda, your wolf spirit and healer. Finally, this is Silk, your sprite. She controls your vampire magic and is the form you’ve been adopting since you were 8.” 

I felt like I was going to fall over. “So you’re saying werewolves, vampires, fairies, dragons… it’s all real. And, I am all of them? No this can’t be right. And the way I look isn’t me? What is that supposed to mean?” I’m almost in full-blown panic mode. “And by that reasoning, I don’t have DID?” 

Serenity smiles, exuding patience. “Technically, by human standards, you do. But it’s so much more than that. You’re a supernatural and a Royal. And, your outside will change to match the spirit you need at the moment, we all can think independently. Just, we’ve reincarnated many times and have the knowledge of hundreds of lifetimes.”