The Persecution Begins

Latvia flipped her mother’s book open. Scribbled in her mother’s handwriting on the inside of the front cover was a small note: “I gave my divinity for you.” The note vanished as soon as Latvia read it. So the book was magical, Latvia thought with a smile, as she wondered what the vanishing note might have meant. She turned to the first page, which read “Property of Alethea Swan.” Latvia traced her mother’s name with her finger. It had been some time since she had seen her mother’s handwriting… a handwriting that looked so much like her own. Latvia turned the page, and began to read…

“My dearest Latvia,

“Don’t wonder how I knew you’d be the first to read this book, and don’t expect this book to answer all the questions I left unanswered. My time with you and your sisters was limited, but it was what it was meant to be. I knew I would have to go away, and I knew I would have to leave you and your sisters at an age too young to receive my guidance. That is why I created this book, and you have found it now because you, and your sisters, can remain in the dark no longer.”

Latvia paused. Already she was wondering how her mother had timed the book’s discovery—and how she had known Latvia would be the first to find it. Had her mother actually meant for her to discover the book now? Or perhaps Latvia had chanced upon the book just a little too late—and that was why Lithuania was now lost in LusciousLocks?

Then a splash of text splattered across the page. “Don’t doubt me,” it read. A second later, it was gone. Heart racing with excitement, Latvia read on.

“The first thing you must understand is your abilities. The three of you carry the name of Starr—an illustrious name, to be sure, but entirely irrelevant when it comes to who you really are and what you can do. Your abilities were not artificially produced. They are not the product of some mistake. They are merely the result of our union.”

Latvia paused yet again. Initially, she had thought her abilities had come from the mysterious marble box she received on her birthday, almost one year ago. She and Estonia had theorized several times as to what the specks in the box might have been—reengineered blue energy particles, hyper-charged gene scramblers, even magical brain lice. They never came anywhere near to a conclusion.

Then Latvia had started wondering who the gift came from. A family friend. Whoever the family friend was, he or she knew of Latvia’s gift of foresight, because that was precisely what had been enhanced by the blue specks. Ever since she opened that box, Latvia’s visions of the future were stronger—more frequent—more accessible, and more accurate. More than once she suspected the box came from her mother. After all, her mother had told her not to worry about how her ability worked—that she would understand everything as soon as she was old enough. And now that she was without a doubt old enough, her ability was supercharged. Could the gift have come from her mother, trying to communicate with her from some far away galaxy?

“The gift you received one year ago did not change who you are. It only brought you and your sisters closer to your true identities. Even as a child, you had incredible foresight and intuition—a mere hint of your full abilities, and a part of your true self that your father and I were unable to mask. Your sisters also have abilities—abilities which, unlike your own, we managed to cover completely. This was for your safety. And that safety is now gone. You must be more cautious than ever. Already you are being observed.”

Observed? Latvia instinctively looked out the small, circular window. “As for your and your sisters’ powers, they are reflected on your Fortune Box.” Latvia beamed. She knew it. “Though I believe you already knew that. Estonia can move through space. You can see through time. And Lithuania can bend reality. You will learn more about this later. But it’s important for you to know now that your powers—particularly yours, and especially Lithuania’s—are merely developing.”

Latvia furrowed her brow. Developing? So she’d be able to know more than just the future? Would she be able to see the past? And what would happen to Lithuania? Her power was hard enough to understand as it was. Space. Time. And infinity? How did infinity relate to bending reality? At least in her vision, Latvia thought she had seen Lithuania do the same thing as Estonia: teleport.

“Now, I know you have found the quilaire. And I know you have given it to someone else. You must retrieve it as soon as you see it. Not sooner. It has already caused a disturbance someone understood. Someone has already tracked the disturbance back to you. You are in danger.” A loud thud came from the roof. Latvia looked out the window, suddenly fearful. “Think of Estonia, now.” And the book slammed shut in a swirl of blue specks. A groaning sound, and suddenly—the roof caved in.

Latvia screamed, as a dark figure came hovering through the enormous hole in the roof. Shrouded in black—wearing black gloves—and through the shadow of the figure’s hood, Latvia could just scarcely see those stale, lifeless eyes.

“NO!” she screamed, clutching her mother’s book as the figure soared at her, hand outstretched towards her neck. “Estonia!” she shrieked, and just before the being could reach her, Latvia vanished into thin air.