Chapter 2 - From Birth to Middle School (Part 1)

Who was Lexi Skyler? Well, she was a 17-year old girl with

soft wavy hair of auburn color. She had dimples on both sides of her cheeks,

which could only be seen when she smiled. It was unfortunate that when Lexi

grew up, her smile disappeared. She became someone who was not fond of smiling.

On rare occasions, her dimples would sometimes whenever she curved her lips

slightly. Those who had seen them were often mystified and asked why she had

those dimples, which usually remained hidden.

She had an air of innocence surrounding her, and it was

seldom seen among girls her age. She had a nice body, though it was still not

fully developed. Her face could launch a thousand ships, only if people could

appreciate it clearly. It was indeed unfortunate that no one could see her

remarkable appearance. She was fond of wearing loose pants and shirts. Her wavy

bangs had hidden most of her face. She liked to wear her hair that way, and she

was already used to it.

Lexi and her adopted mother, Carmen Montes, settled in the

town of Woodard. According to Carmen’s story, Lexi’s mother was about to give

birth in an alley when Carmen happened to pass by. She helped Lexi’s mother to

hail a cab, and they went together to the hospital.

It was difficult childbirth. Lexi was fortunate to survive

the ordeal, but her mother died in the process. Her mother chose to save her,

even though the doctors warned her that the child may not be able to live at

all. She refused the doctor’s suggestion to save herself and not the baby.

Before Lexi’s mother got admitted in the delivery room, she

made Carmen swear to take care of Lexi for her. Carmen nodded without

hesitating. From birth, it was Carmen who took care of Lexi. She devoted her

time and youth in raising the child.

Although Carmen told the same story to other people, Lexi

had doubts about the veracity of the information that Carmen gave.

“Do I resemble my mother?” When Lexi was eleven, she asked

this question to Carmen.

“Only so-so, I guess you may resemble your father more,”

Carmen explained calmly.

“Was it the first time that you met my real mother?”

“Yes, that was the first time.”

“How come I always feel that you know her for a long time?”

“What made you think so?” Carmen was beginning to get

anxious.

Lexi felt her anxiousness, even though she was only eleven

years old then. Sometimes, she had thoughts that Carmen was her biological

mother.

“I don’t know. I just feel like you know my mom for a long

time. I think you’re sisters.” Lexi flashed her pearly whites and her dimples

appeared.

Carmen was stunned. She almost broke into tears when she saw

those dimples. She remembered someone so precious from her past, and she could

no longer control her emotions.

“Will you please excuse me for a minute?” Carmen dashed out

of the house and went to the garden.

The young Lexi followed her in secret and saw her crying.

Lexi just watched Carmen sobbed quietly. She was wondering why her adopted

mother suddenly became sad. That image remained imprinted on Lexi’s memory. She

still remembered that day even though she had grown up.

Carmen never got married. Lexi had no father figure to look

upon. Carmen tried her best to be Lexi’s mother and father. They moved to

Woodard when Lexi was three years old. She never asked Carmen for the reason

they had to move so far from their previous residence.

The neighbors knew that Lexi was Carmen’s adopted daughter.

She told the neighbors the same story that she told Lexi regarding her mom.

They believed that Carmen had such a good heart.

“If you did not tell us that Lexi is your adopted daughter,

we really thought that you are a mother-daughter duo. The child looks so much

like you,” commented Mrs. Eliza Parks.

“Yeah, I thought so too.” Another one voiced out her

thoughts.

It was a nice neighborhood. Everyone tries to extend a

helping a hand whenever possible. Carmen told their neighbors that she knew how

to prepare traditional herbal medicine because she learned it from her

grandfather, who happened to be half- Chinese.

Some of the things that Carmen told their neighbors were

lies. There was no half-Chinese grandfather. Carmen really knew how to make

herbal medicine. Even though she was still very young when they left their

former place, Lexi could still remember the garden full of different herbs. She

could still remember the scent of the different herbs and be able to tell their

names.

Carmen had the same garden as before. The entire community

was thankful to Carmen for having a vast knowledge of herbal medicine. She

often concocted some for a particular ailment of her neighbors. Everyone agreed

that her herbal medicines are more effective than the ones that can be bought

over-the-counter.

She never charged a single cent for every herbal medicine

that she had given. The whole community sang praises of her and her daughter.

They often brought some fresh vegetables and meat for the mother and daughter

since Carmen refused to accept monetary payment. Lexi was only four years old

at the time.

“Young Lexi needs a father. Don’t you really want to get

married?” It was Mrs. Eliza Parks who popped the taboo question while everyone

was busy preparing for the annual feast of a good harvest. Everyone in their

community had participated in the preparation.

Everyone seemed to had forgotten how to breathe when they

heard Mrs. Parks’ question. Carmen spat out the water that she had just drunk.

“Sorry.” She apologized for her behavior as her cheeks

flushed a deep crimson.

“You are beautiful, virtuous, and talented. Any man would

love to have you as his wife. Take Mr. Matthew Larson, for example. Although he

doesn’t say much, I know that his intentions are pure.” Mrs. Parks tried to

convince Carmen.

Everyone knew that Matthew Larson was Mrs. Parks’ nephew. He

was five years younger than Carmen. He did not look mature enough, although he

was responsible and hardworking. It was a known fact that he was interested in

Carmen, and he was quite vocal about it. Carmen had no reason to turn him down,

except she looked like his aunt whenever they stood together. She hated that

feeling.

Carmen coughed a couple of times to clear her throat. She

knew that she needed to make it clear to Mrs. Parks and her nephew to avoid

misunderstandings and possible conflict in their relationship as neighbors.

“I know that he has good intentions, but I promised myself

that I will just devote my time taking care of Lexi in this lifetime. Besides,

I am not someone who can take care of her husband properly.” Carmen tried to

sound calm and convincing. She wanted Mrs. Parks and Matthew to stop.

Mrs. Parks could not believe her ears, but she still

respected Carmen’s decision. She patted Carmen’s hands and said, “I

understand.” Mrs. Parks got up and simply walked away from Carmen.

Not far from where they were, Matthew observed everything

and saw that his aunt stood up and walked away. He knew that Carmen turned down

the idea. He simply shook his head, and then he looked at Carmen, who was so

absorbed in gazing at the retreating back of Mrs. Parks.

When Lexi turned five, she still refused to play with other

children of the same age as her. She often stayed with Carmen who often busied

herself discovering other herbal concoctions. At a young age, Lexi could

prepare an effective remedy for colds and flu. Carmen even praised her that she

was better than the master of the house.

When Lexi was still a very young girl, Carmen did not force

her to play with other kids. Carmen just let Lexi do what she wanted to do as

long as it wouldn’t cause harm to anyone, including herself.

“Mom, why do you use this plant when making that?” Lexi

would often ask Carmen whenever there was a new herb that she had never seen

before.

Carmen looked at Lexi and sighed. She knew that the little

girl wouldn’t stop asking. She stopped what she was doing and picked up the

little girl.

“Lexi, if mom teaches you to read now will you be fine to go

to the library by yourself? The librarian there was an old acquaintance of

mine. She will take care of you.”

“Can she answer all of my questions?” The young Lexi looked

at Carmen with mirth in her eyes.

“Of course!”

Carmen taught Lexi how to read and she looked forward to

better days ahead. Lexi took the initiative to open a book when Carmen could no

longer give a satisfying answer. One day, Carmen brought Lexi to the library

that she mentioned before.

“Good morning madam,” greeted Mrs. McMillan, the librarian,

who looked like a 90-year-old woman.

“Good morning Mrs. McMillan. This is my daughter Lexi

Skyler, the one I mentioned to you before.”

“Ah, yes. Don’t worry madam, I will take care of the young

mistress for you. No one will dare come near her while I’m around.” Mrs.

McMillan gave Lexi a warm smile as she reached out for her.

Lexi hid behind Carmen when she saw Mrs. McMillan’s bony

fingers. Lexi was afraid at first, but she felt warmth all over when Mrs.

McMillan handed her some cookies.

“T-thank you very much.” Lexi took the cookies, and her

mother pointed her to a chair. She obeyed and seated herself while Carmen had a

talk with Mrs. McMillan.

“What are your plans, madam? Did you tell the young mistress

the truth?”

Carmen shook her head. “No, I haven’t told her anything yet.

She’s still too young to know things.”

“Do you want my honest opinion madam?”

“Go ahead, don’t hold anything back.”

“I think it is best to tell her now before it’s too late. We

never know when Endera’s minions would discover us here.”

“I know. If I could, I never want to return to that place.”

“How about Master? Didn’t he promise you that he would wait

for your return?”

“Do you honestly believe that Endera will just sit still and

do nothing? For all we know, Lucian may not even know his own name anymore.”

There was frustration in Carmen’s tone.

Mrs. McMillan remained silent. She knew that what Carmen

told her was not far from the truth. She witnessed Endera’s brutality with her

own eyes. Mrs. McMillan was only forty years old. It was Endera who turned her

into a wrinkly old lady. Carmen was able to stop her inner body from aging too

fast but could do nothing about her outward appearance.

Carmen had given Mrs. McMillan a special kind of tonic that

must be taken every day to prevent her skin from aging fast. Even though Carmen

was able to stop her internal aging, she would still perish if her skin kept

deteriorating.

They both looked at Lexi who was already busy reading a

book. Tears began to fall from Carmen’s eyes. She had to lie that Lexi was not

her biological daughter to mislead their pursuers. The mother and daughter, as

well as Mrs. McMillan, belonged to a region known as the 9th Realm. There,

everyone had a special ability to jump from realm to realm.

The solar system belonged to the 3rd Realm. Everyone in the

3rd Realm had no idea about the existence of the other realms. Carmen envied

the people in the 3rd Realm because they kept living a blissful life while

being kept in the dark. It was best for them not to learn about the existence

of the 9th Realm and the other realms for that matter.

“Mommy, look at this man.” Lexi ran to her mother and showed

her the picture that she found in the book she was reading.

Carmen quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks. She smiled

at her daughter and asked, “What is it, sweetheart?”

“Look, this man looks like me! It’s like his my real uncle

that I have never seen before. Could he be my real mother’s brother?”

Carmen took the book from Lexi and she could not believe

what she saw. The man in the book was Lucian Burnell in his younger years.

Carmen looked at her daughter once more and could not decide whether she should

tell the little girl the truth or let her live a happy, blissful life.

“Lexi,

listen carefully…”

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