Chapter 4

Her grandmother, Terese-White sat on a wooden rocking chair, rocking away gently as she waited for the little ones to settle before she started her tale. A tale that the girls never grew tired of. They wanted it read to them every night, every day. They would give her an earful if ever she slightly changed the tiniest bit of the story.  Better yet, if she ever began a story other than that, they would dismiss her. The other four sisters would walk out of Shinja's room as though their grandmother had not started anything of importance. They blocked her out as if she was invisible. 

"Grandma, grandma, tell us the story, the boy with silver hair," Shimpi eager with anticipation pestered.

"No, it was silver eyes." Shimi chided in insistently.

"No, it was not," Shinja squeaked.

"Girls..." Terese crooned gently, "May I begin?"

"Of course, grandma, do start." Shinja pleaded.

"Yes, yes, yes please," Shimpi, ever in a good mood bounced on the springy mattress.

Terese laughed silently, her form shaking with mirth at their eagerness. She hoped they would remember this tale. For it was a tale never to be forgotten. Enthralled by their curiosity, she thought, 'they will make wise queens someday'. 

"Grandma..." Shimki nagged, "Would you start already?! Pleaseee..."

"Please grandma," Shinka chimed, "Or we might fall asleep and then, and then... we will never know how the story ends."

"As always..." Shimpi added matter-of-factly.

"Okay my dears, lets get on with it then." Terese said smiling throughout.

The other girls did not know that Terese had always completed the story even when they had fallen asleep, however, she did not know that Shinja had always stayed awake to the end. Always eagerly listening to the end of the story and she liked how it ended. 

"In the dim and distant past, there lived a prince. He was young, brave and handsome. He had the purest eyes and fairest hair.  He believed in magic..." she was interrupted by a grumbling Shinka.

"But grandma, you said he believed in love..." Shinka mumbled grudgingly with a groggy voice. 

"Yes honey, love. He believed in love..." she seemed to rethink her comment then she hastily added, "And magic too." 

"Of course, Shinka you can believe in love and magic. Not so grandma?" Shimi asked pointedly.

"I see you are all very attentive. Now I will finish the story, if you promise to be quiet." The girls became silent immediately. She read the story from a charm book that their mother had left behind. A chapter in there brought things into existence. She knew this and that is why she told the tale of the Silver prince with the charm book in hand. Terese had decided long time ago that Shinja would take it up after she was gone, for that time was nigh. She had used up her time with them but gladness flooded at the deepest depth of her heart because the time with her grandchildren had not gone to waste. 

"So soon?!" Shimpi pleaded, "Grandma a little more, please. We promise not to fall asleep."

"Please, please, please..." they all sang in singsong except for Shinka who had already dosed off.

"Okay if you will all be quiet and let grandma complete the story." 

She drawled on about the Silver Kingdom whose heir's hair was all but fair. She did not bother to reach the time of his growth for the girls were lost in sleep with a contented countenance on each of their little faces speckled with little pebbles of sweat as they breathed in deeply. Shimpi snored lightly.

Terese blew out the lamp after placing the charm book in one of the drawers in Shinja's dressing table. Then she headed to the window that was letting in azure moonbeams like that of a calm clear ocean whose waves swayed effortlessly, she began mumbling to herself in deep thought and concentration.

"I hate to do this to them but Pink will teach them all that I have not tackled in this short time that I have been with them. The memories we share will hold them through the tough times. I will find a way. I will guide them whichever way I can but for now, I have to go."

Tears rolled down her pale cheeks as she turned to watch the sleeping forms of her granddaughters for she knew leaving them behind was risky but staying with them would be more risky. Their survival depended on her disappearance even though it broke her heart into little pieces. To not be affected by the Gipus Curse, she had to leave them and head into the land of immortals. Staying behind to watch them grow was going to be disastrous as it would not be in honor of the agreement they had made with the witches of Gipus kingdom.

She padded softly to the bed and kissed each one of them on the forehead.

'"I will miss you," she whispered, "Your father knows I must go. I love you. I will always love you.'"

With that she walked out of the bedroom leaving the girls in Shinja's room snoring lightly, their delicate forms rising with the action. She heard footfalls as she headed out of Shinja's room but she dismissed the thought as paranoia concerning what she was about to do. 

She moved towards the stairs and seemed to abruptly change her mind for what she was about to do there was nothing in her room that was required for it to take place. Without taking a single step to her room, she dashed over to the sitting room where the plush furniture faded out with the effect from the glow of the cackling fire place as it died out. 

Reaching for the poker from its vase that stood in the left corner of the the fireplace, she poked at the dying coals with it. A silent fire rekindled as she put out her hand on the shelf and felt for a match on its marble top casing. She got it and lit the candle that stood firmly on its candlestick sitting on the fireplace. Tears were cascading off her cheeks making her sniffle as she wiped away the salty drops that were flowing from her eyes.