She
could hear them all talking amongst themselves.
She could hear their voices, but she could not understand the
words. When she walked in a hush fell
over the room and she felt a momentary panic.
Were they going to kick her out now?
She tensed and waited.
Demon
came over and kissed her hand. "Good morning, my lady.” He greeted.
“Did you sleep well?"
In
a very shaky voice Miranda replied, "Yes, thank you."
Starchild
walked to the door and gently took her hand, leading her into the dining
room. "Come have breakfast with
us. We have been waiting for you."
Celestial
cackled, "Yes, Demon has been pacing up and down waiting for you to wake
up. He gets very grouchy and grumpy when
he hasn't had anything to eat."
Beast
laughed and Demon grumbled.
Starchild
said, "Miranda come, sit down and eat with us."
Miranda
sat down at the table, not sure what to do next. There was fruit and bread on the table for
her. They all watched as she very
carefully picked up what was there for her to eat. No one seemed to know exactly what to say or
how to say it.
Finally,
Starchild said, "Miranda, we have been talking amongst ourselves and,
well, we want to help you. We have
decided that you will stay here with us.
Celestial will be your teacher. He can teach you things to help
you."
Miranda
did not know what he was talking about.
He
continued on, "Beast will be your companion. Whenever you feel lonely he
will be there for you, and Demon will be your protector."
Miranda
still did not understand but she said, "What will you do?"
He
said, "I will be your heart."
Miranda
suddenly felt calm as if this was the right place to be, and somehow she knew
no matter what, they would take care of her.
So this was how it was to be. She
would live with The Masters and they would take care of her. But what would they ask her to do for them?
Miranda
moved in to the manor house with The Masters.
She spent her time with Beast. In
his cat form Beast would curl up and sleep on her pillow nuzzled up by her
head. Miranda carried Beast with her
everywhere she went. It was their
special practice and Beast promised her no one else would ever carry him around
like that. A link was formed between
Miranda and Beast that each felt in their hands.
She
spent her time with Celestial. He taught
her things she did not know, such as how to tell day from night, even though
she could not see. Celestial taught her
how to use her senses to learn about the world around her. He showed her, in her mind, how to see the
stars anytime she wanted, day or night.
Celestial promised he would not show anyone else how to see the
stars. That was his special promise to
her. A link was formed between Miranda
and Celestial that was felt in their heads.
She
spent time with Starchild out in the garden, in the roses. Starchild always gave her a rose, one he
grew especially for her. He called it
simply "The Rose”. He promised he
would not give The Rose to anyone but her.
A link was formed between Miranda and Starchild that was felt in their
hearts. Each day he gave her a rose and
said "from my heart to you".
She
spent time with Demon. One day Demon
took her out to the meadow where he changed into his dragon form. He picked her up in his arms and took her
flying. She laughed and she called him "my dragon". Demon’s heart soared. Demon's special promise was that he would not
take anyone else flying with him. A link
was formed between Miranda and Demon that they both felt in the pit of their
stomachs.
Miranda
lived with The Masters and she was happy.
The happiest she could ever remember being. She did not think about Uncle Joseph any more
and she did not think about her mother or her father. She did not dream of them or wish that they
were there, for the first time in a very long time, she was happy. She felt as if she had finally come
home.
After
a few months of living with The Masters, Miranda realized she was finally home
where she belonged. She was with The
Masters and she loved each one of them in a special way. But, she also knew, her heart really belonged
to her dragon. He was her special
protector.
One
day, when they were all in the great hall in front of the fireplace laughing
and talking about the day's events, there was a bright light and Christine and
David were in the room with them again.
Christine
and David smiled at the sight of their daughter grown and almost 18. The prophecy would begin on her
birthday. She had learned to trust The
Masters. She had fallen in love with them. It was time for her to regain her eyesight
and to take her rightful place as Lady of the Manor.
Christine
was so excited to see her daughter.
David could only smile at the beautiful woman that she had grown
into. Miranda knew instantly who these people
were. All of her memories came flooding
back to her. A time of a little girl
with a mother and a father who loved her so dearly. Of being a child playing here in this manor
house and always loving The Masters. She was so excited to see her parents
again. She had fulfilled Christine and
David's wish that she trust The Masters, and now her eyesight had
returned.
She
had the most beautiful violet colored eyes.
For her to see the world again was truly exciting. Christine gathered her daughter in her arms
and told her how much she loved her. She
reassured Miranda they had always been with her. Even though bad things had happened, they had
watched over her and they cried over her pain.
Christine
and David explained to her the need for her to be blind and that it would
actually help her when she became the Lady of the Manor. Miranda was so excited to see her parents and
have them back, even if for a short time.
But, now she was to be able to see, to finally see 'her dragon' and 'her
heart', 'her companion' and 'her teacher'.
Her heart was overjoyed.
It
was almost Miranda's 18th birthday.
They were planning a huge celebration at the manor house. Of course, it
also meant it was the beginning of the prophecy. Miranda did not completely understand what
this meant but The Masters knew she would be entering a new stage of her life
and they hoped that she was ready for it.
Unbeknownst
to The Masters and to Miranda, The Dark Ones also knew about the prophecy and
the approaching of Miranda’s birthday.
They knew that Miranda was to become The Lady of the Manor. The Dark Ones had to stop this and to stop
the prophecy, for it was The Lady's child that would defeat them. They conspired with a local king for his
daughter to take Miranda's place in the hearts of The Masters.
“Princess,”
The Dark Ones began. “ When have learned that a commoner is to become The Lady
of the Manor. We are outraged at the
sacrilege. The audacity that this
commoner has in thinking she can be The Lady.
You on the other hand,” The Dark Ones continued, “you are royal born
with proper breeding. You should be The
Lady.”
Princess
Selina was startled at this announcement.
She knew the legends and had always dreamed of being The Lady, but in
her heart, she knew, she was not the one.
“I
do not think I am worth of being The Lady.” Selina responded dejectedly.
“Oh
Princess, you are worthy. You are the
true Lady of the Manor.” The Dark Ones
quickly responded. ”Let us help you take
your rightful place.”
The
Dark Ones convinced Princess Selina that Miranda was not as good as she, and
Selina should be The Lady of the Manor.
After all, The Lady would have great power and would rule all the
lands. She would be even more powerful
than The Masters. They told the Princess
that they only wanted to get rid of Miranda.
They had no interest in The Masters.
The Masters were really no threat to The Dark Ones.
Believing
The Dark Ones, Princess Selina set out to overthrow the Lady of the Manor.
Princess
Selina and her escort arrived at the manor house on the premise of paying
homage to the new Lady. But Selina had
other plans.
The
Dark Ones had given Princess Selina a special pendant to wear. As long as she wore this pendant Starchild
could not read her mind. The Masters
could not find out what she was really up to and The Dark Ones could see what
was happening to The Masters.
The
Dark Ones also gave the Princess spells to use on The Masters to make them
forget about Miranda.
She
came into the manor and one by one she began to work her magic on The
Masters.