Chapter 1

 There was an ornate glass box sitting on grandmother’s mantle which had intrigued Lara since she was a very small child.  There was a curious gold cup inside the box with a unicorn’s head carved on one side and a pentagram on the other.  It was sitting on a base of blue velvet as dark as midnight.  Never before was Lara quite tall enough to see inside the box without standing on a chair.  Now, when she stretched as high as she could, she could see the three small objects lying in the box with the cup.  They were on a strangely glowing silky cord, and always, summer or winter, there was a fresh sweetheart rose in the box.

“Grandmother, what kind of cup is that?”  Lara asked, pointing to the box, as her Grandmother came into the snug living room carrying two steaming cups of hot chocolate.  “Why is it so strange looking and what are all those things, and where do you get the fresh roses when it’s winter and cold and snowing outside?”

“Whoa!”  One question at a time, please!  That box is a long story, and those ‘things’ are an even longer one.  Are you really sure you want to hear the whole long story?”

“Oh, yes, Grandmother, tell me!”  Lara pulled her grandmother to the big soft couch by the fireplace and curled up beside her, sipping the delicious chocolate.

“It was a long, long time ago, but it seems like only yesterday.”  She began.  Lara squirmed with anticipation and squeezed her grandmother’s arm.

“I was just a young girl then, about your age.  In fact, I looked a whole lot like you.”  She paused to reflect on her grand-daughter’s pretty face as Lara smiled up at her.  “Let’s see now, where do I begin?  Ah, yes.  My very first UNICORN.