Citrine Goldstone: Sword of Ice (#1)

Chapter Eight (#8); Casper Cove

Citrus waited impatiently for school to end. During ELA, her teacher, Mrs. Love (everyone knew that wasn’t her real last name), mentioned something that got Citrus’ gears moving.

“Just because you lost, doesn’t mean you’re not a winner,” She read from a book called, The Last Mermicorn/Omega to Alpha Luna. It was two books in one. She read it out loud at the end of the English Language Arts every day. Citrus pulled her journal out of her pocket.

LESSON NINETY: JUST BECAUSE YOU LOST, DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE NOT A WINNER. Citrus wrote in her journal. Lesson Eighty-Eight then caught her attention. She was glad she had noticed it. She would need it for her journey to Casper Cove.

LESSON EIGHTY-EIGHT: BE PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED, BECAUSE IT’S JUST AROUND THE CORNER. Citrus said a silent thank you to whatever force had made her notice that lesson. Citrus closed her journal and tucked it back into her coat pocket. After that, things were smoothly going. Citrus managed to keep herself together (though seemingly impossible) and got to the end of the day effortlessly. She was assigned homework which she groaned and moaned about.

“Why?!” She said aloud.

And today of all days! She said in her head. Of course, none of her classmates were Diamondback agents (She had no classes with Pearl or even Topaz) so of course, they wouldn’t understand. Citrus hurried to Kurt’s, not even stopping at her house to say goodbye. Once she made it, she realized Pearl was there too. She had to wait until 3:20, their arranged meeting time, before entering. She didn’t have the key to unlock the door, so Gemstone Sophia had to open the door for them. But this time, Citrus and Pearl weren’t heading inside.

“Got a coat?” Gemstone Sophia asked as she opened the door, “Where we’re going is quite cold!” Of course, Citrus had her jacket. Pearl did too. Gem Selena came outside and turned to Pearl.

“It’s best if you stay here. Citrus is going to free Diamond Kurt and get out of there before TIC can kidnap her.” Gem Selena monotoned. Since Topaz’s nickname for The Insanely Criminal, the whole Diamondbacks group called The Insanely Criminal, TIC. Pearl’s eye twitched in annoyance.

“Why?” She asked, her voice filling with sadness. Her eyes teared up and a single tear slipped down her cheek. Pearl, of course, could be very dramatic and could cry on the spot. Citrus admired that about her best friend. Citrus patted Pearl’s back.

“It is me that they want in trade. But don’t worry. I’ll make it out with Topaz, Diamond Kurt, and myself. Pearl reluctantly agreed on the term that Citrus would text her updates. Citrus agreed and then Gemstone Sophia was taking her to Casper Cove. It was a long drive. At least, to Citrus. She figured it was about an 8 hour drive and questioned if her watch wasn’t working. Her watch said it had only been 30 minutes since they had set off. Soon enough, they arrived at Casper Cove. It was a mansion that stood tall in the darkened sunlight.

“No way am I going inside… That!” Citrus pointed to the house that looked like it belonged in a horror movie. Unfortunately for her, that was Casper Cove.

“Well, you have to. Otherwise, we can’t free Topaz and Diamond Kurt.” Citrus turned to Gemstone Sophia and found her looking down, her face flushed. Citrus ignored her and stared up at the house. Snow started falling and lightning flashed at the highest tower.

“Okay. Time to save some people.” Citrus took a deep breath and threw open the gate to Casper Cove.