The Secret O: Chapter 1.1

So this is the first installment in my surprise for my sister (see my previous post if you missed it). I wrote this one out quickly, so it probably won't be the final version. It really does still need to be edited, but here it is in all its raw glory.

Chapter 1

Alyssa awoke to the sound of a door closing. Brushing aside her shoulder length blonde wavy hair, she peered at the clock on her beside table. 2 am, who could be coming into the bed and breakfast at this time of night, she thought to herself.
Getting up from her bed, she quickly wrapped herself in a robe and headed downstairs. The front lobby was illuminated with Christmas lights, and with a quick scan around she found it empty. Turning to the left, she headed into the living room and quickly spotted the figure who had woken her. The figure stood by its luggage, with its back to her, holding its jacket and surveying a bookcase in the corner.

"Excuse me?" she said cautiously, "I'm sorry but we're all booked up, it is Christmas eve after all"

"Too booked up even to accommodate your older sister" said the figure. Alyssa jumped into her sisters arms as she turned around.

"Isabelle, I knew you said you'd be heading in early this morning, but I thought you'd meant 6 am early, not 2 am early"

Isabelle smiled at her younger sister, she was six years older and stood a foot taller than Alyssa. But other then her shoulder length brown hair and dark brown eyes, contrasting Alyssa's hazel eyes, they we're identical; both shared their mothers lean features and youthful looks.

"Shall I set you up with a room?" asked Alyssa, "I think this is the first time you've come to visit my bed and breakfast" Alyssa had bought the old Victorian Inn that had been built on a mountainside and opened up a bed and breakfast just the year before. None of her family had been able to visit so far.

"Yes, but it's quite lovely!" answered Isabelle smiling, " I love the style!"

"So, should I show you to your room?"
Isabelle's face suddenly turned grim as she said "Not yet, we have some important business to discuss"

"At two in the morning? Surely this can wait till tomorrow" But Isabelle simply shook her head. Alyssa surveyed her sister, a grim expressions now creeping up onto her own face, "Isabelle whats happened? Has something happened to mum and dad?"

"No, nothing like that. This is more business oriented" She answered. Alyssa had never seen her sister so nervous, stumbling over her words as she tried to explain, "You see, you've had a proposition, more of a recruitment actually..."

"Isabelle, sit down and take a breath" Alyssa responded, guiding her sister to one of the sofa's that sat before the large fire place in the living room, "Sit and I'll make us some tea"
As Alyssa began to walk away, Isabelle reached up and grabbed her sisters arm, "Alyssa, you should read this, it'll explain it much better than I ever could" she said, reaching into her coat pocket and pulling out a letter.

Alyssa took the letter from her sister and sat down. On the top side of the envelope, Alyssa's name had been written in big beautiful calligraphy letters and on the bottom side the letter had been sealed with wax. Alyssa looked closely at the wax, a winged staff with two snakes curled around it had been imprinted into the wax. She looked up at her sister, but Isabelle showed no sign of what the letter held. Standing up, she walked to the main desk in the lobby and found a letter opener. Breaking the wax seal, she returned to her seat in the living room to read the letter.

A the top of the letter was a crest with the words Secret O, in the center. Underneath the crest was beautifully handwritten calligraphy text that read:

"Dear Alyssa,

It is my great pleasure to invite you to join the H section of the Secret O. Along with this letter you will receive a special book, all the information you need will be enclosed in this book. We will be in contact for your first assignment, until then, please inform yourself upon the society.

Sincerely,

Hermes"

After Alyssa had finished reading the letter she looked up at her sister, "Hermes? As in the Greek god of thieves?"

Isabelle quickly met her sisters eyes, "Hey, he's not just the god of thieves, he's also the protector and patron of travelers and herdsman and..."'

"Isabelle" interrupted Alyssa, "They call it mythology for a reason"

Isabelle simply shook her head and stood up. She walked over to her luggage and pulled out a book and walked back to her sister saying, "Alyssa, please, if there is anything ever that I will require you to listen to in your life time, it is this. The Greek gods are real and they need our help"