Free December Moon (The Raven Saga) by Suzy Turner

decorated with cream and gold swags and tails. The same colours dressed the ornate looking three piece suite in the centre of the room, beneath the chandelier. There was no television, but a large oak bookcase covered the length of the far wall.
    "I like to just sit and read in here, but don't worry sweetheart, there is a television in the snug!"
    December couldn't imagine wanting to watch the TV when she had so much to discover about her new home, so much to talk about and so much to learn about her true self, but she smiled cheekily just the same.
    "Here is the downstairs toilet and across there is the entrance to the basement, but there's no need for us to bother going down there... not yet, anyway," she said with another of her cheeky grins. The two followed her down a couple of stairs into a smaller room that was clearly the snug. It was filled with comfy sofas and what appeared to be hundreds of soft cushions, all facing a large flat screen TV. Moira turned, with a smile and a wink, "I do like to watch a good movie in here whenever I can."
    The dining room was just as grand and with the same gold and cream colour scheme as the living room, with a table that could easily seat twelve people with room to spare. There was a little pass-through in the wall that opened into the kitchen, making it convenient to hand out hot dishes and drinks during a dinner party.
    "And if we come out here, you can see our garden and all of our land."
    December smirked when she heard her mother describe it as our land.
    The three of them walked out of the back door via the kitchen and out into an overgrown maze of wild flowers, lawns and rickety old walls and gates. Monty's smile outshone them all. Originally a gardener before he became someone who did just about everything for Penelope, Monty was at his happiest when he was busying himself among flowers, trees, weeds, grass and the fresh air.
    "Wow," he said, "it's beautiful. But I'm thinking it needs a fair bit of work... I could plant some pretty tea roses in here, and perhaps a lavender bed over there and what about some...." the sound of his excited voice trailed off as he wandered away to investigate further.
    Moira and December turned to look at each other and both laughed at the same time. "I was hoping that he would sort it out a bit."
    "Well, he is in our employment. We can get him to do just about anything we want!" said December loudly.
    "I heard that!" he yelled back and they all began laughing again.
    "Come on upstairs, let me show you my room," Moira said as December followed her back indoors and up the stairs into the largest bedroom at the far side of the house.
    She pushed open two large white doors into a near replica of December's own room. The only difference was that it was somewhat larger and the floral patterns were not identical. But it was equally as beautiful.
    Moira patted the bed for December to sit down on and then went over to her closet to pull out a pretty faded blue jewellery box. When she lifted the lid, a little ballerina appeared while music began to play. It was Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
    December was startled, not expecting it, but it soothed her. It was a beautiful sound, almost magical.
    Moira smiled and lifted out a ring. It had a very familiar design on it. It matched the necklace that December wore around her pale neck, the one that she had received in England just a few days before.
    "They were your grandmother's, this box was too. She wanted you to have the necklace and for me to have the ring. She was adamant about it!"
    "What happened to my grandmother, Mom?"
    Moira looked into her daughter's eyes and December saw the pain that lay deep within. The story of her grandmother was clearly a sad one. December said nothing, waiting for Moira to explain.
    A smile turned the sides of her mouth upwards, even though it did not reach her eyes and she began to speak.
    "Your grandmother was one of the greatest witches I ever knew. She was such a character,