Annika sighed and spun around on the ball of her right foot. She tucked her hands behind her, clasping them, and walked into the hallway with her father. The house had shifted again, something that Annika had grown used to it. It made hide-n-seek [i]a lot[/i] more fun.

She looked up at her father, measuring his words and the truth behind them. Magic made sense to her. It had come easily, but more challenges came as Annika grew. It came harder for a spell to work just right, but the thrill Annika felt when it did work made all the frustrations more bearable. 

[color=#663399]”I understand,”[/color] she said. [color=#663399]”Doesn’t make it any less frustrating.”[/color]